Literature Review

A first look at first of its kind children's hospice in Florida Ocala StarBanner; by Doug Engle; 6/3/26 The Bailey Family Tree of Wonder graces the hallway in The Foundation of Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s new Dorion Family Pediatric Center at 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville. The $10 million center was built within Community Hospice's Earl B. Hadlow Center for Caring and is named in honor of the Dorion family, led by Dorothy "Dottie" Dorion and her late husband, George Dorion, longtime Community Hospice supporters.

Community Hospice and Health Services invests in behavioral health Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 6/3/26 California-based Community Hospice and Health Services is extending its mission to improve quality of life into the behavioral health space. In addition to the nonprofit’s bereavement care program, five years ago it established Hope Counseling Mental Health Services, to provide talk therapy to individuals from the community in need of additional support. Licensed clinical social workers and a marriage and family therapist staff the center, according to Monica Ojcius, director of strategic development at Community Hospice. “We formalized a mild to moderate outpatient mental health program. We did that because folks heard about our services for people experiencing grief and bereavement after hospice,” Ojcius told Hospice News.

FBI Public Service Announcement: Emerging hospice fraud targeting Medicare recipients Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Public Service Announcement, Alert Number I-060326-PSA; 6/3/26 The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is issuing this Public Service Announcement to warn the public of an emerging hospice fraud scheme that targets vulnerable Medicare recipients who are not in need of hospice services. Scammers are enrolling Medicare patients in hospice care for services they do not need or for services that are not provided. ... Tips to Protect Yourself:

NPHI submits comments on FY 2027 Hospice Proposed Rule, urges CMS to strengthen transparency, support access, and advance meaningful reform  National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation, Washington, DC; Press Release; 6/2/26The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), the national voice for nonprofit hospice and advanced illness care, has submitted formal comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update, Hospice Conditions of Participation Updates, and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements proposed rule. In the letter, NPHI welcomed CMS’s continued engagement with hospice stakeholders and offered detailed recommendations designed to strengthen patient access, improve transparency, reduce unnecessary administrative burden, and support high-quality, community-based hospice and palliative care. 

Lawmakers boost grant awards for local nonprofits The Honolulu Star, Honolulu, HI; by Andrew Gomes; 6/1/26 About 170 Hawaii nonprofits providing food, healthcare and other services are slated to share $40 million in legislative grants this year. ... ... This year, the biggest award was $1 million for Hospice of Hilo [doing business as Hospice of Hilo] ...  in part to help the organization build a workforce training center in Hilo that would help turn out a new generation of palliative care professionals to serve more Hawaii island community members.

Minster Baseball Hospice Night raises record $8,000 for Grand Lake Hospice Mercer County Outlook, Minster, OH; by Mercer County Outlook Staff; 5/30/26 The Minster Wildcats baseball program once again brought the community together for a meaningful cause during its annual “Minster Baseball Hospice Night,” raising a record $8,000 this year to benefit Grand Lake Hospice. ... In addition to fundraising, Hospice Night serves as a time of remembrance and recognition for local families who have been touched by hospice care. The Minster baseball program continues to honor those individuals, reinforcing the personal connections that make the event so impactful. 

New Iowa law allows ‘adult close friend’ to make end-of-life medical decisions KCRG-9 ABC, Iowa City, IA; by Lacey Reeves; 5/28/26 Starting in July, a close adult friend can make end-of-life medical decisions for someone who is unable to make them themselves under a new Iowa state law. When a patient can’t make medical decisions for themselves, a hierarchy establishes who can make the decisions for them. Typically a spouse, adult child or adult sibling of the patient can make those decisions. “Not everybody has a family member who is available, willing, capable to make decisions for them,” said Sara Krieger, CEO of Iowa City Hospice. Iowa City Hospice said it has been working for years to add “close adult friend” to that list through legislation.

HopeHealth Hospice & Palliative Care 50th Anniversary Gala raises over $410K to support care for all who need it HopeHealth, Providence, RI; Press Release; 5/27/26 HopeHealth, the second oldest hospice in the country, today announced that it raised over $410,000 during its 50 Years of Hope & Gratitude gala on May 21. Celebrating HopeHealth’s extraordinary 50 years of care at the WaterFire Arts Center were 400 supporters, community leaders, and advocates, including Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed. The event also marked the public launch of HopeHealth’s The Gift of Hope campaign, which supports the organization’s growth and investment in three strategic priorities: providing support for seriously ill patients and their caregivers; expanding outreach to underserved communities; and providing hospice access through the Arthur S. Robbins Hope Fund, named in memory of the beloved community leader and former HopeHealth board member. Campaign Tri-Chairs Ruth Fain, Jonathan Fain, and Christopher Marsella announced that the campaign has quietly raised $4.2 million to date. 

‘A Night at the Derby’ raises $156,731 for hospice, breaking fundraising record Black Hills Pioneer, Spearfish, SD; by Pioneer Staff; 5/26/26 Monument Health Foundation broke its previous fundraising record at this year’s “Night at the Derby” event on April 25, raising $156,731 to support Northern Hills Hospice. Once again proceeds from this year’s event supported hospice care in the Northern Hills. A fund-a-mission portion of the event supported the purchase of SoloProtect ID Touch technology: discreet, wearable devices that connect caregivers to 24/7 emergency support.Editor's Note: In 2025 this event raised "more than $136,000" and in 2024 it raised "nearly $110,000." Congratulations on these significant increases, paired with their innovative "fund-a-mission portion of the event."

Hundreds pack Northport 5k, raising more than $50k for hospice care Patch, Northport, NY; by Kepherd Daniel; 5/22/26 More than 500 runners and walkers gathered in Northport on Saturday May 16th for the 26th annual “Run for the Health of It” 5K hosted by Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk, raising more than $50,000 to support hospice programs and Hospice House. ... “The turnout at this year’s ‘Run for the Health of It’ is a testament to the incredible spirit of this community and the meaningful work being done every day by the staff and volunteers of VNS and Hospice of Suffolk,” Silvia Cota, chief executive of Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk, said.

Veterans Guest House hospice program nears one-year milestone ahead of Memorial Day KOLO 8 ABC NewsNow, Reno, NV; by Hana Altenburg; 5/25/26 As Memorial Day approaches, a Northern Nevada nonprofit is encouraging the community to reflect on the sacrifices made by veterans while highlighting a growing need for hospice care services in the region. ... According to Veterans Guest House, there are an estimated 10 hospice beds dedicated specifically to veterans in the Reno-Sparks area, despite Nevada being home to more than 150,000 veterans statewide. Nearly half of those veterans are age 65 or older. The Cynthia Lake House provides free accommodations for veterans and family members during hospice care.

Public Notice: Nine compete to develop hospice home care office in McDowell County North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services; 5/11/26 Nine applicants have filed certificate of need applications with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to develop a hospice home care office in response to a need determination in the 2026 State Medical Facilities Plan (SMFP). Each applicant proposes one project.

Hospice fraud is real — but so is ethical hospice care Mountain Democrat, Placerville, CA; by Tim Meadows, CEO of Snowline Health; Molly Corbett, CEO of Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice; Deanna Brooks, CEO of Hospice of San Joaquin; Sarah McSpadden, CEO of The Elizabeth Hospice; and Craig Dressang, CEP of YoloCares; 5/20/26 Recent headlines detailing hospice fraud investigations across California are deeply troubling. ... These investigations are necessary, long overdue and effective. ... However, amid this justified scrutiny, it is critical not to lose sight of an equally important truth: Hospice fraud is not hospice care. ... Just as important, there are clear ways to identify ethical hospice providers. Families can protect themselves by taking a few simple, informed steps: