Literature Review

Hospice waits on a court order when no family can speak for youThe Podcast by KevinMD; 10/8/26A man is dying. He cannot speak, and no one in his life can say what he would have wanted. Kirsten Engel is a palliative medicine physician, and Medha Tripathi is a health writer and incoming Fulbright research scholar. This episode is based on their article “Guardianship and hospice care fail dying patients,” published on KevinMD. They explain what happens when a patient has no family and no health care proxy, and a court appoints a guardian who has never met them. A move to comfort measures then needs a court date that can take weeks, while the hospital works in hours and days.Publisher's note: How often do hospices serve patients with no family and/or health care proxy? What challenges do you face? What solutions are available?

How investing in AI can help home care head off Medicare denials, suspensions McKnights Home Care; by John Roszkowski; 10/9/26As government regulators are increasingly using artificial intelligence to identify irregular billing patterns to detect potential fraud and health insurance companies use AI to justify claims denials, home care providers often find themselves at a major disadvantage. Providers need to proactively invest in the right AI technology to address compliance gaps or risk the possibility of regulatory audits, claims denials, or even worse, possible suspension or revocation from the Medicare program.

The blessing of hospice transportLas Cruces Bulletin [NM]; by Mike Cook; 10/3/26“We are the only hospice we know of who is able to arrange our own transportation,” Mesilla Valley Hospice Chief Operating Officer Mario Prieto said Sept. 24, after MVH’s first ever non-emergency transport vehicle received a blessing and became available for use... Having the vehicle means MVH can transport patients to the hospice from a hospital or a private home, Prieto said, which provides another important service to the families of MVH patients, and it means hospitals won’t have to hold a bed for a patient while waiting for transport or be responsible for the transport.

Hospice tech execs have changing role in age of AI Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 9/30/26 The proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the hospice space is changing how chief information officers and other technology-focused leaders are approaching their jobs. Hospices nationwide are investing in AI systems to transform virtually every aspect of their businesses. This includes both nonprofit and for-profit providers and organizations of all sizes, though larger, well-capitalized companies and investing more heavily.

Recruiters say health systems must define the mandate before searching for a chief AI officer Complete AI Training; 9/25/26 Only 6 of the top 100 health systems had a dedicated chief AI officer in 2024, though that number is now growing fast as organizations weigh hiring one or folding AI oversight into existing roles. Health systems are formalizing AI leadership as adoption accelerates, with many weighing whether to hire a dedicated chief AI officer or fold the responsibility into existing roles. ... Recruiters say the mandate must be clear before the search begins, because the pool of qualified candidates remains small and the role is still taking shape.

Establishing an AI policy: a comprehensive white paper for life sciences teamsSakara Digital; by Amie Harpe; 9/21/26Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved from a niche technology to a foundational element of business operations across all sectors. ... This white paper provides a comprehensive, narrative-driven guide for business and compliance leaders ...  Special attention is given to the unique regulatory, ethical, and operational considerations in life sciences and healthcare, with tangible guidance for governance, validation, training, monitoring, and audit strategies.

Interoperability’s blind spot: What happens to data after systems retire? HealthData Management; by Shawn Fichter; 9/18/26 As healthcare advances FHIR-based exchange and replaces aging applications, interoperability strategies must account for the historical records left behind—ensuring legacy data remains accessible, secure, governed and usable long after its original system leaves production. ...

CMS posts revised Model Election Statement and Addendum CMS; compiled by Guest Editor, Judi Lund Person; 9/10/26 CMS has posted the revised model election statement and addendum to the CMS website, which includes language for the mandatory addendum effective October 1, 2026. Hospice providers can use these model forms as the guide to the revised form. Pay particular attention to using the forms with an August 2026 date.

Hospice Savannah launches Georgia Care Innovators to unite growing family of services WJCL-22 ABC, Savannah, GA; by Emma Hamilton; 9/3/26 After more than 45 years of providing end-of-life care, Hospice Savannah has launched Georgia Care Innovators, a new organizational identity to reflect its expanding range of healthcare and community services. Hospice Savannah will continue operating under its established name as a central part of the organization. ... “Our story has never been defined by a single service,” said Kathleen Benton, president and CEO of Georgia Care Innovators. “It’s been defined by listening to our community, recognizing unmet needs and asking how we can help.” ... The Georgia Care Innovators family includes:

Before you sign that AI contract: 7 questions every healthcare CFO should ask MedCity News; by Purnendu Bala; 8/25/26 Every healthcare CFO’s inbox now has an AI-in-RCM pitch in it. The promises are consistent: lower denial rates, faster collections, leaner overhead. What’s inconsistent is the due diligence behind the decision to buy. Most of these deals are still evaluated like traditional software purchases: features, price, timeline. That framework misses what actually determines whether an AI investment pays off or becomes a costly write-off eighteen months later: data readiness, workforce redesign, and governance exposure that never show up on a vendor’s feature sheet. Before approving a budget for AI in revenue cycle management, CFOs should be asking seven specific questions, and most vendors are hoping they won’t.

Wound care fraud: key insights for healthcare providers in 2026 JD Supra; by Lynette Byrd; 8/21/26 The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG) are prioritizing wound care fraud enforcement in 2026. Healthcare providers are facing scrutiny under the False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute, with audits and investigations leading to substantial liability (among other consequences) in many cases. ... Allegations of wound care-related health care fraud can take many different forms. ... While it is critical that elderly patients (including hospice patients and other terminally ill patients) receive appropriate care, there are limits to what is considered appropriate when billing Medicare or Medicaid for wound care. ...

Anonymous donor helps Grace House buy Highland Square’s Leonora Hall Signal Akron; Akron, OH; by Shams Mustafa; 8/17/26 A new chapter is beginning for Highland Square’s Leonora Hall after a nonprofit organization, Grace House Akron, purchased the property with the unexpected help of an anonymous donor. ... The acquisition means the property has a new owner following the closure of the Francesca Residence and the displacement of its mostly elderly residents. In a statement, Grace House representative Jen Boroff said that the nonprofit, which provides end-of-life care and housing for people who are indigent, unsheltered or abandoned, sees potential for the site to strengthen its mission and serve the broader community but that the organization has not yet decided how it will use the property.

Concordia Hospice of Washington Donnell House closes Observer-Reporter, Washington, PA; by Karen Mansfield; 8/3/26 For nearly 25 years, Concordia Hospice of Washington Donnell House has helped patients and their families through life’s hardest moments. Now, the hospice facility in Washington has closed its doors. “Concordia Hospice of Washington can confirm that inpatient hospice services are no longer being provided at the Donnell House,” the company said in a statement. “This change reflects a continuing decline in the need for inpatient hospice care as more patients and families choose to receive hospice services in the comfort of home, supported by advances in community-based care.” The hospice team continues to provide in-home care and support to patients and families throughout the region, according to a spokesman.