Oversight Committee launches investigation into rampant taxpayer fraud in California hospice programs 
U.S. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Washington, DC; Press Release; 3/23/26
Following alarming reports that California officials failed to properly safeguard federal funds, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and Oversight Committee Republicans today launched an investigation into rampant taxpayer fraud in California’s hospice programs. ... The Oversight Committee is now requesting documents and communications regarding California’s oversight and internal controls to detect and prevent fraud for its federally funded hospice programs.
Editor's Note: CMS Testimony at the Oversight Committee by Kim Brandt, Deputy Administrator & Chief Operating Officer, CMS. 

• Read the transcript
• Watch her testimony, starting at 31:35 minute marker

Important changes coming to National Government Services 
National Government Services; email; 3/24/26 
National Government Services will begin operating as Wellpoint Federal on 4/1/2026. ... While we embrace the opportunities of the Wellpoint Federal name, this change does not impact our team structure, service levels, or the operating model that has earned your trust for the past 60 years. Beginning April 1, we will start adopting our new brand identity. During this transition, you may still see National Government Services referenced online or in existing printed materials.
Editor's Note: Getting to this source page can be tricky. Many thanks to Judi Lund Person, one of our Guest Editors, for her guidance.

• Click here for the NGS website. 
• You will see a blue box on the left that says “Access NGSMedicare.” 
• In its field/dropdown titled "I am a ...," select "HH+H."
• In the next field/dropdown, select a state (any state is fine).
• "Enter" and you will arrive at the NGS Home page.
• Scroll down until you see the announcement, “New name, same trusted partner.” Or, scroll down to "Latest News" and select "Important changes coming ...," dated 3/24/26.
• Arriving at this article, you can scroll down further to "Resources" for "Provider Frequently Asked Questions." 

Mercy Hospice House reopens after five month hiatus 
Durango Herald, Durango, CO; by Elizabeth Pond; 3/21/26 
The Mercy Hospice House, an end of life care wing of Mercy Hospital, officially reopened this week after a five-month-long closure, according to a Monday news release by Mercy’s owner, CommonSpirit Health. The hospital wing temporarily closed because of a change in outpatient service ownership and a required licensing review, a CommonSpirit spokesperson told The Durango Herald in November. The facility transferred leadership of outpatient services to its national entity, CommonSpirit Health at Home, on a for-profit basis in October, with inpatient ownership remaining under its original regional leadership and nonprofit model.

3 potential policy options for high-acuity palliative services 
Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 3/24/26 
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) is considering new policy options to expand access to high-acuity palliative services for hospice patients. The treatments under exploration include palliative radiation, chemotherapy, dialysis and blood transfusions. Though these treatments can aid in palliation, patients often do not receive them due to high costs and questions as to whether they fall within the scope of the Medicare Hospice Benefit. To identify potential approaches, MedPAC conducted a literature review, stakeholder interviews, site visits and data analyses. 

Society of Critical Care Medicine 2026 Guidelines on the Care and Management of Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Patients at the End of Life 
Pediatric Critical Care Medicine; by Sabrina Derrington, Elizabeth G Broden Arciprete, Matthew C Lin, Simon J W Oczkowski, Amanda Alladin, Uchenna E Anani, Amanda K Borchik, Cassandra A Collins, Claudia Delgado-Corcoran, Mindy J Dickerman, Christopher G Harrod, Natalia Henner, Alexander A Kon, Mithya Lewis-Newby, Blyth T Lord, Ashley-Anne Masters, Sarah McCarthy, Katie M Moynihan, Sara M Munoz-Blanco, Lauren Rissman, Kathryn E Roberts, Amy B Schlegel, Ashleigh Schopen, Linda B Siegel, Harriett Swasey, Sarah E Wawrzynski, David J Zorko, Danielle D DeCourcey; 3/20/26 online ahead of print 
Objectives: To develop and provide evidence-based recommendations for EOL care and management of critically ill neonatal and pediatric patients and their families.
Results: The [21-member multidisciplinary panel of experts] generated five conditional recommendations and one good practice statement, focused on advance care planning, pediatric palliative care consultation and education, systematic symptom management, bereavement support, and health equity in EOL care.

Trauma-informed palliative care: A systematic scoping review of evidence sources describing concepts relevant to an emerging field of practice 
Palliative Medicine; by Rebecca Salama, Jane Simpson, Fiona J. R. Eccles, Maddy French; 3/23/26 
Background: Trauma-informed palliative care aims to improve end-of-life experiences by recognising and responding to the presence of psychological trauma. While many practitioners support the approach, they also acknowledge the need to build a stronger evidence base.
Results: ... the review identified a substantial body of evidence that describes concepts relevant to its approach. These findings provide a valuable starting point for future research.

It’s time to let stereotypes about older adults die 
McKnights Home Care; by Liza Berger; 3/6/26 
They say there is strength in numbers. If that is true, the nation’s roughly 67 million baby boomers should not be afraid to speak up about how to talk to and refer to older adults. It’s time they did.  I was reminded of this after reading a smart post by Anthony Cirillo, a caregiving expert. In the post, he talked about how people (younger ones primarily) casually make ageist comments without realizing the harm they cause. Cirillo gives the examples of a young adult referring to him as “Pops” and another asking him if he knows how to use an iPhone.
Editor's Note: Pair this with our 2025 post, "Honey, Sweetie, Dearie: The perils of elderspeak." 

Larchmont woman sentenced to nearly 3 years in federal prison for her role in hospice and diagnostic testing fraud that conned Medicare 
United States Attorney's Office - Central District of California, Los Angeles, CA; Press Release; 3/24/26 
A woman from the Larchmont area of Los Angeles was sentenced today to 35 months in federal prison for defrauding Medicare out of more than $14 million by submitting fraudulent claims for hospice care and diagnostic testing services that were either unnecessary or not provided at all. Sophia Shaklian, 38, was sentenced by United States District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld Jr., who also ordered her to pay $14,103,043 in restitution. Shaklian pleaded guilty in November 2025 to one count of health care fraud.

CMS looks to kill the fax machine 
McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Kimberly Marselas; 3/23/26 
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is moving forward with a interoperability rule that aims to “eliminate” faxing and replace it with universal electronic healthcare claims and documentation exchanges by mid-2028. ... While it applies to all providers covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, including health plans, the new rule could strike fear among the many nursing homes still reliant on faxing or other manual communication methods for referrals and approvals.

Next Level Hospice Care receives Texas Medicaid hospice license and expands access to critical care services 
EIN Presswire, Houston, TX; by OAK Interactive; 3/24/26 
Next Level Hospice Care is proud to announce that it has received contractual approval for a Texas Medicaid hospice license as a Home and Community Support Services Agency (HCSSA), effective February 4, 2026. This milestone approval was granted by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) following a rigorous and comprehensive review process.

AI is coming for admin jobs, CFOs say
Becker's Hospital Review; by Andrew Cass; 3/24/26 
Artificial intelligence is expected to disproportionately affect routine, clerical and administrative roles, while having a limited near-term impact on overall employment, The Wall Street Journal reported March 24.  The Journal cited findings from a working paper recently published on the National Bureau of Economic Research website. The study, produced with economists from the Federal Reserve Banks of Atlanta and Richmond, surveyed about 750 CFOs across multiple industries between late 2025 and early 2026. Five things to know: ...

Your mind is a garden. Your thoughts are the seeds. You can grow flowers or you can grow weeds. ~ "Osho" / Rajneesh.