Statement by the American Nurses Association on organizational restructuring within the US Department of Health and Human Services 
American Nurses Association (ANA); Press Release; 4/8/25 
The American Nurses Association is aware of the recent personnel changes and organizational restructuring within the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These developments have sparked concerns among nurses nationwide regarding the potential impact on essential programs and services delivered by HHS in collaboration with nurses, patient advocates, and other healthcare providers. ... The association will monitor that re-structured capacity and promptly report any gaps we identify to the Administration and Congress to ensure the needs of nurses, and the public are met by our federal partners. It is imperative that Secretary Kennedy and Administration leaders ensure the uninterrupted continuation of the vital work of these agencies. Federal agencies must have the necessary staff to carry out the public health, research, quality, and operational work that the American people rely on for their health and well-being. [Continue reading ...]

Our newsletter's "Healthcare Observances" calendar 
Hospice & Palliative Care Today; by Joy Berger; 4/9/25 
To strengthen your engagement with your employees and volunteers, community, partners and more, we invite you to use our newsletter's "Observances" calendar. This helps you plan for numerous annual observances like National Volunteer Month (April) and Week (April 20-26); National Nurses Month (May) and Week (May 6-12); National Nursing Assistants Week (June 12-18); and much more. To find, go to our webpage's "Resources" tab and click on "Healthcare Observances." Do you have edits to suggest? Freely email me.
Go directly to our Healthcare Observances calendar ...

Las Vegas’ non-profit urges families to research hospice care after facilities see surge of transfers, neglect 
Fox-5 KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV; by Jaclyn Schultz; 4/9/25 
The Las Vegas Valley’s only non-profit hospice is among many facilities urging families to thoroughly research their choice of hospice care, after doctors see a rise in patients seeking transfers after suffering from neglect or poor care somewhere else. FOX5 told you how numerous doctors called for tougher hospice care standards across Nevada, as Assembly Bill 161 progresses through the Legislature. Nathan Adelson Hospice tells FOX5, from 2022 to 2024 alone, the non-profit took in more than 150 transfers from other facilities across the Las Vegas Valley. The rise coincides with another trend: more than 250 new facilities opening up across the Las Vegas Valley, as other neighboring states enact tougher regulations. [Continue reading ...]

How housing instability complicates end-of-life take care of growing old unhoused populations 
Health Medicine Network; by Pilar Ingle; 4/8/25 
Research estimates that one-third or more of the unhoused inhabitants within the U.S. is age 50 or older. Unhoused individuals of all ages face high rates of ... severe sickness. They additionally die at younger ages in contrast with people who find themselves not unhoused. Yet, there are few choices for palliative and end-of-life care for unhoused individuals. ... As a health care and aging researcher, ... I interviewed 17 well being care and social service suppliers in Colorado to grasp how they attempt to deal with palliative and end-of-life wants for his or her unhoused shoppers.

• Homelessness and end-of-life care ...
• Lack of assets ...
• A humanizing strategy ...
• Solutions ...
• [Continue reading ...]

How hospices can leverage social media marketing 
Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 4/7/25 
Social media has emerged as a crucial engine for hospice marketing, allowing them to reach consumers directly rather than through a referral source. Unsurprisingly, the use of social media is skyrocketing worldwide. As of 2023, nearly 94% of people in the United States have internet access, according to data from Statista. By 2029, more than 342 million of those users are expected to belong to at least one social media platform. ... [Continue reading ...]
Editor's note: What social media Policies and Procedures do you have in place? Especially with the vulnerability and privacy of patients and families you serve, you must examine uses and potential misuses of social media platforms. Who posts? What is posted? For personal stories and photos, what media release permissions do you  use? Do your well-meaning, uninformed volunteers and/or staff post any type of confidential--or otherwise identifiable--private information? What accountability measures do you have in place? When complaints or negative comments are posted by others, how are these handled and by whom? Social media is here to stay and will continue to evolve. How are you leading the way, ensuring integrity and ethics for those you serve?

Hospices ‘tapping brakes’ on M&A in uncertain economy 
Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 4/8/25 
Predictions of a hospice M&A rebound have fizzled as a volatile regulatory and economic climate threatens to curb transaction activity in 2025 and beyond. ... 

• Economic forces at play in hospice M&A 
• Uncertainty about interest rates, inflation trends and the new tariffs is indeed brewing, according to Tom Lillis, partner at Stoneridge Partners Strategic Consulting. ...
• Regulatory winds steering hospice M&A ...
• ... Also at the crux of the issues is that the Medicare Hospice Benefit has remained largely unchanged since its inception in 1983, he said. More providers and stakeholders have called for changes to “modernize” the hospice benefit to better support reimbursement that meets the needs of today’s patient population.
• [Continue reading ...]

A hospice nurse made a promise—and found homes for 1,300 pets  
Miami Herald, Miami, FL; by Jen Reeder; 4/7/25
Working as a hospice nurse, Joanne Bonicelli spent years offering comfort to dying people. Then, in 1998, a request from one patient changed her life. A young woman in her 40s had a fluffy white dog named Jasper, who never left her side while she was at Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  One day, the woman called Joanne to her bedside. “I don’t know where Jasper will end up or who will care for him when I am gone…it’s just too painful to bear,” she told Joanne as tears streamed down her face. “I can’t die in peace worrying what will happen to him…can you euthanize him in my arms as I pass?” The heart-wrenching request stunned Joanne. She asked a veterinarian about what they could do, and after meeting Jasper, the vet’s eyes welled with tears at the prospect of putting down a healthy dog. There has to be a better way, they both agreed. [Continue reading ...]
Publisher's note: Another great story on Safe Place for Pets! As a former Board member and volunteer for Safe Place, our hope is for every hospice patient and family to have access to similar services.

You've got a friendtor in me: Innovations in peer mentoring for mid-career palliative care clinicians 
American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care; April Zehm, Andrew J Lawton, Leah B Rosenberg, Sudha Natarajan, Bethany-Rose Daubman; 3/14/25 
Mentoring is crucial to professional success, but little is known about the professional development needs of mid-career hospice and palliative medicine (HPM) clinicians. ... An interprofessional "friendtor" group of five HPM clinicians from three academic medical centers met monthly and for a year-end focus group. ... Several themes emerged that highlight the importance of ...

• peer support when navigating major life decisions,
• boundary-setting,
• non-clinical practice challenges,
• celebrating friendtors' personal and professional milestones, and
• having a productive space for shared academic pursuits.

[Continue reading ...]

Medicare and Medicaid officials finalize rule to clarify that medical marijuana isn’t covered by federal health programs
Marijuana Moment; by Kyle Jaeger; 4/8/25 
The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized a rule to clarify that marijuana products are not eligible for coverage under certain health plans for chronically ill patients because “they are illegal substances under Federal law.” In a notice set to be published in the Federal Register next week, CMS said that a series of policy and technical changes for its Medicare Advantage (MA) program and other services, including rulemaking related to cannabis products, will now take effect on June 3.
[Continue reading ...]

What role do immigrants play in the direct long-term care workforce? 
KFF; by Priya Chidambaram and Drishti Pillai; 4/2/25 
President Trump has made a slew of immigration policy changes focused on restricting entry at the border and increasing interior enforcement efforts to support mass deportation. While these actions are focused on undocumented immigrants, they likely will have ripple effects across immigrants of all statuses and millions more people living in immigrant families. Mass deportations could negatively impact the U.S. economy and workforce, given the role immigrants play, particularly in certain industries. ...

• Immigrants make up 28% of the overall direct care workforce for LTC services.
• Immigrants play a particularly large role in the home care workforce, making up one in three workers (32%) in home care settings.
• Immigrants have made up an increasing share of the direct care LTC workforce over time.

Together the data show that immigrants comprise a large and growing role of the direct care workforce providing LTC services, particularly in home care settings. [Continue reading ...]

The cost of nurse turnover in 24 numbers | 2025 
Becker's Hospital Review; by Molly Gamble; 4/7/25 
Nurse shortages and mounting labor costs are among health system CEOs’ top concerns, and a new survey puts numbers to the financial risks hospitals face from nurse vacancies and churn. The 2025 NSI National Health Care Retention & RN Staffing Report features input from 450 hospitals in 37 states on registered nurse turnover, retention, vacancy rates, recruitment metrics and staffing strategies.  It found the average cost of turnover for one staff RN grew from January through December 2024 to $61,110, among other dollar figures and statistics that are helpful to understand the financial implications of one of healthcare’s most persistent labor disruptions. Here are 24 numbers that illustrate the cost of nurse turnover, according to the most recent edition of the report, which is available in full here. [Continue reading ...]

Conversations today to empower tomorrow: VITAS Healthcare elevates National Healthcare Decisions Day 
VITAS Healthcare; Press Release; 4/7/25 
Only one in three adults in the United States have a written advance directive, a document critical in providing guidance to medical teams regarding one’s end-of-life wishes. As a pioneer and national leader in hospice and palliative care, VITAS Healthcare advocates for National Healthcare Decisions Day (April 16) and advance care planning––regardless of a person’s age or health status....  On April 16, VITAS will host a free webinar, Advance Directives and Advanced Care Planning, exploring the history, application and types of advance directives. VITAS Regional Medical Director Heather Veeder, MD, will provide practical advice to help healthcare professionals engage in difficult but necessary conversations with patients and families/caregivers. [Continue reading ...]

Transforming communities through leadership with Quint Studer 
Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast by Chris Comeaux with Quint Studer; 4/9/25
In this episode, Chris sits down with Quint Studer, Founder of Healthcare Plus Solutions Group and one of his most trusted mentors, to dive deep into the transformation of Pensacola, Florida.  Quint reveals his powerful framework for community change, sharing essential leadership insights and the challenges of driving real transformation. From the importance of active participation to fostering a growth-driven culture, Quint offers valuable wisdom on leadership, change management, and empowering others.  He emphasizes the need for effective communication, ownership, and a positive mindset in organizations.  He encourages leaders to focus on creating memorable experiences and fostering a culture of learning and growth, this episode is a must-listen!

Family Hospice partners with Alzheimer’s Association to expand educational outreach 
EIN Presswire.com, Atlanta, GA; by Brittany Brown, BPR Ineternational; 4/8/25 
Family Hospice announces an official partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia Chapter, to enhance educational outreach and raise awareness of available resources for individuals facing Alzheimer’s or other dementia.This collaboration will provide families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals with critical information on hospice and Alzheimer’s and dementia-related support. As part of this effort, Family Hospice and the Alzheimer's Association are planning an upcoming statewide initiative in Georgia aimed at expanding awareness and support. Both organizations will share educational materials at community events and through social media to ensure families and caregivers have access to the guidance they need. [Continue reading ...]

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. ~ Anne Frank