Alliance Pediatric e-Journal: How cultural or religious differences affect care 
The National Alliance for Care at Home; by the Alliance’s Pediatric Advisory Council; multiple issues, most recent August 2026 
The Pediatric e-Journal is the world’s longest consistent pediatric palliative and hospice care publication, continuously published since 2002. ... Welcome to the 84th issue of our Pediatric e-Journal. The focus of this issue is on topics related to cultural or religious differences and how they affect pediatric hospice and palliative care. Cultural and religious differences are often deeply imbedded in the children, adolescents, and family members we serve, not to mention the professionals and volunteers who provide such services. In addition, they are the special province of chaplains and other clergy who help to provide pediatric hospice and palliative care.

'They took care of me too': HIA Heather's House marks 1-year, nearing 400 patients 
InForum | Fargo Forum, Fargo, ND; by Kevin Wallevand; 8/28/26 
Heather's House is celebrating its first year open, with nearly 400 patients receiving care through HIA so far this year. [HIA's Heather's House is North Dakota's first freestanding, inpatient hospice house. HIA had previously been known as Hospice of the Red River Valley before changing its name in June.] 
Editor's Note: Congratulations on this significant success. From an article we posted one year ago when they opened: "Ground was broken for the facility three years ago and administrative offices were moved into the building in February, but the dream began many years before that with hospice trailblazers Mary Lou Dahms, Sonia McManus and Edie Lohr." Be inspired by connecting-the-dots between their "dreams" and your own with today's "Today's Encouragement."

District One Freemasons commit $50,000 to Aroostook Hospice Foundation Suite 1 dedication 
The County, Presque Isle, ME; by Aroostook Hospice Foundation; 8/30/26 
The Aroostook Hospice Foundation is pleased to announce a generous $50,000 commitment from the District One Freemasons in support of the Aroostook House of Comfort. ... David Basley, representing District One of the Freemasons, shared the significance of the commitment, “The decision made by the 1st District Freemasons to present a gift of $50,000 to the House of Comfort was an easy one for us. Since the facility first opened in 2018, we have had several members of our Masonic fraternity or family members experience the most compassionate end of life care offered by staff and volunteers. ..."

The death I feared, and the peace I found 
Gillette News Record; by Michelle Mathal; 8/29/26 
... From the dreaded day my brother was diagnosed, to two years later when my parents tragically died in a car accident and I surfaced from the glacial water knowing I had to live to be his caregiver, to grieve alone. ... We enrolled in hospice earlier than most because Tomas was falling and losing movement in his left hand. ... No one told me that caring for a dying person would be so intimate. When I dressed him in the morning, I realized we had the same hands and feet, big enough that we should’ve been a foot taller. No one told me about the deep trust between caregiver and patient. It is a sacred pact not bound by blood, but an understanding that we would be seen at our most vulnerable and sensitive times, but not judge each other for these moments, but respect one another despite them.

Week ahead in health care: MedPAC meeting with in-person audience 
Inside Health Policy; by Jessica Karins and Amy Lotven; 8/28/26 
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) will meet Thursday (Sept. 3) and Friday (Sept. 4) virtually and, for the second time since the COVID-19 pandemic, with limited in-person public seating.

AHA comments on CY 2027 Home Health proposed payment rule 
American Hospital Association; Press Release; 8/28/26 
On behalf of our nearly 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other healthcare organizations, including approximately 1,000 hospital-based home health (HH) agencies, our clinician partners — more than 270,000 affiliated physicians, 2 million nurses and other caregivers — and the 43,000 healthcare leaders who belong to our professional membership groups, ... The AHA has two significant concerns. First, CMS’ proposed payment update of 2.4% is inadequate. ... Second, the proposed rule includes substantial changes to Medicare provider enrollment authorities that would apply not only to HH agencies but also to all providers and suppliers enrolled in Medicare. 

CMS says it has blocked or recovered more than $1.6 billion in suspect Medicare lab payments 
VIN News, Washington, DC; by Reven Rosenfeld; 8/28/26 
The Trump administration has blocked or clawed back more than $1.6 billion in potentially improper Medicare laboratory payments since President Donald Trump took office and removed 157 laboratory providers from the program over alleged billing fraud, officials with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said Friday.

Students get inside look at healthcare through PCIPs 
Pomona College, Claremont, CA; Press Release; 8/27/26 
Pomona College students already know they want to be physicians. Others are undecided, but are considering a future in healthcare research, counseling, public policy or biotech. ... All of them want to change lives with their work. ... PCIP provides Pomona students with generous stipends for multiweek unpaid or low-paid internships that offer experiential learning and professional insights—career-building opportunities that might not be possible without funding support. Here are four students whose internships broadened their understanding of healthcare and provided hands-on career experience in cardiology, hospice care and mental health private practice.

• Holding a human heart in her hands ...
• Researching cutting-edge developmental cardiology ...
• Understanding life, loss and happiness in hospice care ...
• Sharpening skills in mental health private practice ...

[United Kingdom] Stirling University expert helps design dementia friendly flat for F1 legend Jackie Stewart's wife Lady Helen 
Edinburgh Evening News, Edinburgh, England; by The Newsroom; 8/28/26 
An architect from the University of Stirling has helped design a dementia-friendly apartment for Lady Helen Stewart, wife of former racing champion Sir Jackie Stewart. Lady Helen was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2012 and Sir Jackie has become a passionate campaigner raising millions of pounds for research through his charity Race Against Dementia. The couple celebrate their 64th wedding anniversary today, Friday, August 28. ... Dementia-friendly features in the renovated apartment include: low-level counters to allow Lady Helen to interact and participate in cooking; a see-through and easily accessible fridge; visible open cabinets and front-facing clothing in the bedroom; integrated lighting for personal items; subtle and custom-made medical, cleaning and disinfection areas; and private medical areas for Lady Helen and her care providers.

Hospice site featured in Ted Lasso's new season 
BBC News, England; by Nathan Briant; 8/31/26 
A Berkshire hospice took center stage in hit show Ted Lasso after an unused wing was transformed into a film set. Thames Hospice's Otter Wing in Maidenhead was used by the cast and crew of the Emmy-winning program, which follows the fortunes of the fictional AFC Richmond, when filming took place last September. Chief executive Rachael de Caux said hiring out the space is an important revenue stream for the hospice, which needs £44,000 a day to provide its services.

[France] 'You cannot have a good assisted dying law without good palliative care’ 
GuardianTV; Press Release; 8/30/26 
François Picard is pleased to welcome Anne Reynaud, Board Member of the Association for the Right to Die with Dignity. France’s long awaited assisted dying legislation marks a profound shift in the country’s approach to end of life care, but as Reynaud makes clear, the parliamentary vote is less the end of a debate than the beginning of a new ethical and legal era. Speaking from both personal experience and her professional role, Reynaud argues that the law represents meaningful progress while remaining more restrictive than the recommendations of France’s Citizens’ Convention. 

A year from now, you may wish you had started today. ~ Karen Lamb
Happy September from Hospice & Palliative Care Today!