Hospice fraud enforcement in America: A running record of every publicly announced federal and state criminal action against hospice fraud between April 2025 and April 2026 
LundPerson and Associates; by Judi Lund Person; updated 4/15/26 
The facts, data, players, and more, with ongoing updates by Judi Lund Person, hospice regulatory expert.

• Dashboard ...
• At a Glance ...
• Fraud by State ...
• Case Outcomes ...
• Common Scheme Types ...
• Case Database (searchable) ...
• Defendant Index ...
• Key Findings ...

This tracker is for informational and analytical purposes only. All charges are allegations; defendants are presumed innocent until convicted. Data is sourced from public press releases and official announcements.

Editor's Note: From our many sources, this is the definitive go-to source for unfolding facts from a wide scope of reputable sources. Examine. Learn. Equip yourselves with information relevant to your leadership roles, responsibilities, and influence for fighting fraud and ensuring hospice integrity. 

A father's dying wish comes true at special graduation ceremony 
YouTube | ABC WNEP-16, by Michelle Charlesworth; 4/23/26 
It's one of his last wishes, to see son Cooper Crawford graduate from Northwest area high school. It's one wish that came true Wednesday night. "I think it was really cool that we have a community that size that can come together to support my father and my family. ... I wish I could be half the man my dad is." ... The school district put together this ceremony for Cooper a little over a month before his graduation date. ...  Cooper's older sister gave a speech. His younger siblings were given honorary diplomas so that their dad could be there. Jess's mother, "I'm realizing the finality of what's happening." 
Editor's Note: Against the backdrop of hospice fraud headlines, this story reflects what hospice care can hold at its best—a father’s wish honored, a community leaning in, a moment this family will carry forward. May it inspire us all to create space for what matters, when it matters most.

Future-proofing care: the challenges we face in hospice and palliative care | part two 
Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast hosted by Chris Comeaux with Cordt Kassner; 4/24/26
In Part Two of Future-Proofing Care: The Challenges We Face in Hospice and Palliative Care, Chris Comeaux and Cordt Kassner explore the accelerating forces reshaping hospice and palliative care—from shifting patient demographics to the rapid rise of AI and regulatory complexity. As the industry transitions to serving a more diverse, resource-variable baby boomer population, leaders are challenged to rethink how care is delivered, personalized, and sustained in an increasingly complex environment. The conversation dives into the tension between innovation and regulation, the transformative (yet imperfect) role of technology, and the growing mental health crisis impacting patients, families, and care teams alike.  

AAHPM Hospice Statement approved by the Executive Committee on April 17, 2026 
American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; Press Release; 4/17/26 
The AAHPM Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, in close coordination with Academy staff and trusted stakeholder partners, has been actively monitoring and discussing recent events and actions, including those by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as well as Congressional hearings related to hospice fraud. ... The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) should target fraudulent hospices. We have provided guidance to CMS on our recommendations to do so with precision, including but not limited to identifying red flags such as those below, which should be applied with clinical context and should not be applied mechanically to penalize providers serving complex patient populations. [Continue reading]

Not just California: A national hospice ‘Blue Book’ is needed to fight fraud
The Hill; by Robin Heffernan; 4/22/26
Congress has finally decided to wade into the deep waters of hospice fraud in California. That is a good thing. But what members need to know is that this problem is not new, and it is not confined to one state. What’s more, enforcement alone will not solve it — what is desperately needed is more prevention... What is missing is a so-called “Blue Book” for the hospice industry — an ongoing, up-to-date reference of providers and their quality performance, to distinguish high-quality providers from those that should not be in the program. The data for this already exists. Claims patterns, visit reliability, length of stay, revocation rates and patient experience can make outliers visible early. Unfortunately, that information is not consistently surfaced or used at the point where decisions are made.
Publisher's note: I wholeheartedly agree with Robin’s insightful article and strongly encourage everyone to explore the National Hospice Locator. This valuable resource represents a meaningful step forward in improving access to compassionate end-of-life care. Also, Robin has participated in several Teleios Collaborative Network TCNtalks podcasts. [Robin Heffernan is co-founder and chief executive of Empassion Health.]

Tom Koutsoumpas: California’s hospice fraud crisis demands action 
Redlands Daily Facts | Commentary; by Tom Koutsoumpas; 4/23/26 
Throughout the 1980s, in the early days of building hospice care into the American healthcare system, those of us on the frontlines helped shape what would become the Medicare hospice benefit. It was a turning point in how this country cares for people at the end of life. At its core, the hospice benefit is simple. ... For millions of families, it has meant more dignity, more support, and more time focused on what matters most. That’s why the scale of fraudulent hospice activity in California is so deeply concerning. This is not a gray area. It is widespread fraud, targeting vulnerable patients and exploiting gaps in oversight.

Palliative care loss hits Durango patients 
The Durango Herald, Durango, CO | Letters to the Editor; by Stacey Ebel; 4/24/26 
My emotions are running high after learning about CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital discontinuing their palliative care program. ... My mother moved here in 2020 with numerous health issues, and I enrolled her in palliative care as I knew that at some point she would need to transition to hospice. Her palliative care nurse practitioner, Jen, visited my mother monthly in her apartment ...  Potential and past patients will now have to go to the ER or their personal PCPs for treatment. Recently, the last palliative care nurse had to discharge 200 patients. 

CMS educational video: Hospice levels of care and how to bill for service intensity add-on (SIA) payments 
CMSHHSgov YouTube and CMS MLN Connects Newsletter; posted on CMS's YouTube channel 4/17/26, posted in CMS MLN Connects Newsletter 4/23/26 
This video is intended to educate hospices on a service opportunity called a service intensity add-on payment. Hospice agencies are paid a daily rate for each patient enrolled in hospice regardless of the number of services provided on a given day, including days when hospice provides no services. Hospice benefits allow hospices to bill an additional payment on an hourly basis for registered nurse and social worker visits during the last seven days of a patient’s life in addition to their standard daily reimbursement. [Follow the prompts below the video for its transcript.]

Building empathy for dementia patients 
The Vindicator; by Susan Wojnar; 4/24/26 
As dementia rates continue to climb across Ohio — particularly in the Mahoning Valley — a new hands-on training is helping caregivers and community members better understand what it’s like to live with the condition. ... Mahoning County ranks fourth in the state for the highest percentage of seniors living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Approximately 6,000 residents age 65 and older — about 12.1% of that population — are affected. ... In response to the growing need for caregiver support and education, Ohio Living Home Health & Hospice has introduced a new training program called Dementia Live. ...

Who pays for hospice care in a nursing home? 
U.S. News & World Report; 4/23/26 
... Some people who pursue hospice care through nursing homes do so after a period of skilled nursing care, whereas others move to a nursing home in direct pursuit of hospice. However you time your transition, initiating hospice is a big decision.. To make sure you or your loved one is ready to make the change, consider the differences between how nursing homes provide hospice treatment and skilled nursing care, and how you’ll fund the transition.

• Hospice at a Nursing Home ...
• Does Medicare Cover Hospice at Nursing Homes? ...
• What hospice services does Medicare cover? ...
• What hospice services does Medicare not cover? ...
• How to Pay for a Nursing Home Stay on Hospice ...
• Does Medicaid Fund Hospice at a Nursing Home? ...
• Skilled nursing treatments vs. hospice treatments ...
• When to Transition to Hospice Care in a Nursing Home ...

[Canada] Palliative Care Coalition of Canada (PCCC) Blueprint for Action 2025-2030 
Palliative Care Coalition of Canada (PCCC); 4/24/26 
The Palliative Care Coalition of Canada (PCCC) released the Blueprint for Action 2025–2030, a national roadmap that identifies key priorities needed to ensure that more people in Canada have access to high-quality, culturally safer, and affordable palliative care. 

1. Engaged, Informed Public ...
2. Skilled, Supported Care Providers ...
3. Knowledge to Improve Quality of Care and Life ...
4. Equitable Access to High Quality Palliative Care for All ...

The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it. ~ Michelangelo