Literature Review

Event Recap: NPHI Unites Healthcare Leaders in Washington to Shape the Future of Hospice and Advanced Illness CareNPHI press release; by Matt Wilkinson; 10/6/26The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), the national voice for nonprofit hospice and advanced illness care, brought together members, partners, sponsors and national healthcare leaders from across the country for its 2026 Washington Leadership Conference, held September 30 – October 2 in the nation’s capital. The three-day gathering focused on strengthening the quality and integrity of hospice care, advancing innovation and addressing the challenges facing patients, families and providers in a rapidly changing healthcare landscape. The conference featured direct conversations with senior officials from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG), congressional staff and national healthcare leaders. Discussions covered Medicare policy, program integrity, quality improvement, caregiving, artificial intelligence and new opportunities to expand access to serious illness care.

Dancing with the Stars returns for annual Hospice fundraiser Richmond County Daily Journal, Rockingham, NC; by Ana Corral; 10/1/26 Richmond County Hospice’s annual Taste of the Sandhills & Dancing with the Stars fundraiser returned Saturday, bringing dancers and community members together for an evening of fundraising. Before audience members entered the auditorium, Jeff Smart, partner and owner of Mabry’s Drug & Home Care, shared that Hospice had already raised around $79,000. “We’re so proud we can be the main event sponsor again with Dancing With The Stars as we have for so many years,” Smart said. At the end of the night, Smart shared that the final amount raised had not yet been determined but estimated the total was under $90,000.

Hospice of the Valley receives $100,000 grant to support dementia caregivers Arizona Foothills Magazine, Phoenix, AZ; by Mallory Gleich; 10/1/26 Hospice of the Valley has received a $100,000 Mercy C.A.R.E.S. Community Reinvestment Grant to support its Supportive Care for Dementia Program across Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties. The program provides in-home clinical and emotional support for families caring for loved ones with dementia at any stage of the disease. It is the only program of its kind in Arizona to provide this type of comprehensive in-home support. Services include personalized guidance and care plans from an experienced dementia team, free education and support for family caregivers, low-cost in-home respite care through the RISE student engagement partnership and 24-hour access to clinical advice and care coordination.

Rebranding a ‘huge success’ in improved hospice access Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 9/28/26 Some rebranded organizations that have recently removed “hospice” from their company name are seeing increased awareness, utilization and other positive results. A rebrand can sometimes better position a hospice in terms of improved awareness, according to Tony Kudner, chief strategy officer of Transcend Strategy Group. Formerly RP Marketing, the Ohio-headquartered consulting firm works with hospice and home-based care organizations. The company rebranded in 2020 after 27 years of operation.

Center for Hospice Care spotlights doula volunteer program GreatNews.Life, Valparaiso, IN; by Bennett Silveus; 9/25/26 Over the years, Center for Hospice Care (CHC) has worked to provide a wide range of specialized hospice and palliative care options to members of the Northern Indiana community.  ... End-of-life doulas are trained, non-medical professionals who provide emotional, spiritual, and personal support and guidance to patients and families navigating the transitional period between life and death. ... Each CHC end-of-life doula works as a general volunteer for the non-profit, often starting off as a home visit or patient volunteer before moving to work as a doula. From there, the volunteer must take a 16-hour course and shadow a current doula to become fully trained in the practice.

Congress weighs how, not whether, to rein in private equity in health care HealthAffairs; by Yashaswini Singh and Jared Perkins; 9/24/26Six pending federal bills would regulate private equity in health care, from an outright ban to disclosure, licensing, and antitrust tools. Rather than a categorical ban, federal policy makers could learn from states’ transparency-first approach. ...

Hospice of South Texas dedicates new building The Schulenburg Sticker, Schulenburg, Fayette County, TX; by News Staff; 9/22/26 Hospice of South Texas celebrated an exciting milestone with the dedication and blessing of a new support services building on the campus of the Dornburg Center of Compassion in Victoria on Wednesday, Aug. 26. Officiating were area pastor and board president Herb Beyer and Bishop Brendan Cahill of the Catholic Diocese of Victoria.

Homecare Homebase announces 2026 Customer Award Winners and Home Care Aide Scholarship recipients PR Newswire, Dallas, TX; by Homecare Homebase; 9/22/26 Homecare HomebaseSM (HCHB) today announced the winners of its 2026 Customer Awards and the recipients of its Home Care Aide Scholarships. The annual programs recognize organizations and individuals demonstrating excellence across clinical quality, operational performance, industry leadership, innovation, and professional development. This year's honorees reflect the breadth of work underway across home-based care to strengthen patient outcomes, improve performance, and support the professionals who deliver care in homes and communities nationwide.

Modern Healthcare announces rankings, “Best Places to Work in Healthcare 2026” Source, Modern Healthcare, compiled by Hospice and Palliative Care Today; list by Modern Healthcare with additional information compiled by Joy Berger; 9/21/26 In early June we posted Modern Healthcare’s May announcement of its alphabetical list of “Best Places to Work in Healthcare 2026” honorees. Modern Healthcare revealed the rankings on 9/16/26 at its awards gala in Houston. The ranked-list article is behind a paywall, but each honoree has an individual page that is freely accessible, so every hospice and palliative care organization below links directly to its own ranking. Modern Healthcare scores two separate lists of 75 organizations each — Provider/Insurer and Supplier — so a rank reflects placement within that category, not across all honorees. If we have inadvertently omitted an organization, please email jberger@hospicepalliativecaretoday.com.

Valley Oaks Health awarded $828,375 GROW grant to expand rural health access across northwest central Indiana PR Newswire, Lafayette, IN; 9/17/26 Valley Oaks Health announced today that it has been awarded $828,375 through the Growing Rural Opportunities for Well-being (GROW) Region 3 Grant initiative to strengthen access to integrated healthcare services across rural communities in northwest central Indiana. The funding is part of the Indiana Rural Health Transformation Program (Indiana RHTP), a statewide initiative designed to improve healthcare access, strengthen healthcare infrastructure, promote innovation, and support strategic partnerships that improve the health and well-being of Hoosiers.

Nearly 700 turn out for St. Charles Running Festival and raises nearly $30K for Hospice of the Chesapeake Southern Maryland News Net; by Elizabeth Marcussen; 9/18/26 Hospice of the Chesapeake was honored to once again to be included as the official charity partner for the St. Charles Running Festival, presented by Lennar. Hundreds of runners, walkers and neighbors gathered on Sept. 12 at the Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Maryland, for a morning of competition, camaraderie and community giving. ... Once again, the festival rallied to raise tens of thousands of dollars for its official charity partner. With nearly 700 participants and many generous sponsors, the event delivered nearly $30,000 to support patients and families facing serious illness and grief in Charles County. 

Loved ones remembered with release of 1,000 monarch butterflies The Courier, Waterloo, IA; by Maria Kuiper; 9/15/26 A break in the clouds Sunday seemed too good to be true as 1,000 monarch butterflies were released during Cedar Valley Hospice’s Release and Remember event. Despite the rain, about 2,000 people showed up for the fundraiser event where butterflies could be bought and dedicated to loved ones that died during hospice care. ... “Butterflies represent to so many people that transformation between one life and the other because they’re literally going through that transformation,” Suzanne Benda, Cedar Valley Hospice’s chief growth officer, said. “I think it does show that, I mean, what a special moment as they come out and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” is playing and we see the butterflies start to take off.”

[United Kingdom] Bristol Airport charity ride raises record £110,000 for Children’s Hospice South West TravelPRNews, Bristol, UK; by Sheryl Rivera; 9/15/26Bristol Airport has turned a two-day cycling challenge into its biggest charity fundraiser to date, with 38 employees and business partners raising £110,000 for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW). The riders completed a 180-mile journey from Tenby in Pembrokeshire to Bristol Airport on September 10 and 11, covering a mix of roads, coastal sections, countryside and gravel tracks. ... The fundraising total also surpassed the event’s original aim and became the largest amount Bristol Airport says it has raised through a single charity event. ... While the main group was on the road, airport colleagues recreated the challenge inside the terminal by cycling the equivalent distance on exercise bikes in the departure lounge.Editor's Note: Creative. Community engagement. Enthusiasm. Successful. Read and be inspired.