Stakeholders fear ‘chilling effect’ of heightened hospice scrutiny 
McKnights Home Care; by Liza Berger; 4/9/26 
Advocates and experts, by and large, are supportive of the federal government’s intense efforts to root out fraudulent hospice providers. But they are also concerned that the laserlike focus on fraud could have unintended consequences for high-quality providers. “We’re certainly hearing from members that they want to know whether policymakers and lawmakers truly see the value of hospice and that, yes, there are bad things going on in California and it’s getting a lot of publicity, but people are concerned that this could have a chilling effect,” Scott Levy, chief government affairs officer for the National Alliance for Care at Home, told McKnight’s Home Care Daily Pulse. “Hospices around the country at large are good people doing incredible work for meaningful periods of time for meaningful periods in their beneficiaries’ lives. And we want to make sure that that doesn’t go backwards.”

Frontpoint Health names new CEO 
Home Health Care News; by Morgan Gonzales; 4/12/26 
Home health and hospice provider Frontpoint Health has undergone a leadership change, with Brent Korte stepping down as the company’s CEO. Taking over from Korte is Jay Wendt, who most recently served as CEO at the durable medical equipment (DME) company Stance Health Solutions. “I am thrilled to announce Jay Wendt to the Home Health and Hospice Industry,” Korte wrote in a LinkedIn post. “Jay is a Texan, who brings expertise in leading multi-site post-acute care organizations. ..." Backed by Cimarron Healthcare Capital and Tacoma Holdings, Dallas-based Frontpoint Health offers home health and hospice services across 176 counties in Texas.

Puzzle competition raises money to build hospice house 
KBTX-3, Bryan, TX; by Tyler Hoskins; 4/12/26  
The Acara Hospice Foundation announced the winners of its inaugural Puzzling with a Purpose speed puzzling competition, a community fundraiser supporting the Foundation’s mission to build a community hospice house in the Brazos Valley. The event challenged teams of four to complete a 500-piece puzzle as quickly as possible. All proceeds from Puzzling with a Purpose go towards Acara Hospice Foundation’s vision of establishing a dedicated hospice house in the Brazos Valley that they said would provide dignified, compassionate care for patients and families. 

What is a hospice nurse? Salary, role and career guide 
allnurses; by allnurses; 4/11/26 
Learn about the role of a hospice nurse, including daily responsibilities, salary, and how to enter this compassionate field. [Go to the source article and scroll down to "Hospice Nurse Salary: How Much Do Hospice Nurses Make?] 

Bridging access gaps in pediatric palliative care 
Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 4/10/26 
... Serious and terminally ill children can have a wide range of complex, unique needs along their illness trajectories, said Dr. Kimberly Curseen, the board president for the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM). Building collaborations with community organizations is key to better understanding the gaps in care that exist across diverse and underserved pediatric patient populations, Curseen indicated.

“Transitions Supportive Care” program undergoes name change to “Big Bend Palliative Care” 
Big Bend Hospice; Press Release; 4/13/26 
Big Bend Hospice announced today that its Transitions Supportive Care program will be renamed Big Bend Palliative Care, effective June 1, 2026. The name change reflects a strategic effort to align the program more closely with the Big Bend Hospice organization and the broader Big Bend Health system while providing greater clarity about the services offered. While the name is changing, the care remains the same, delivered by the same experienced team with a continued focus on comfort, support and quality of life.

Expanding access to palliative care for patients with advanced liver disease
AAAS - EurekAlerts!, Philadelphia, PA; describes JAMA Internal Medicine at doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2026.0571; 4/13/26 
A new multicenter trial led by Manisha Verma, MD, and Victor Navarro, MD, at Jefferson Einstein Philadelphi Hospital demonstrates a new approach that could potentially transform access to palliative care for patients with ALD and address a major care gap. In the PAL LIVER trial, a large cluster-randomized study conducted across 19 U.S. centers, researchers evaluated whether hepatologists trained in primary palliative care could match the effectiveness of palliative care specialists in delivering quality-of-life benefits to patients with ALD, including those with decompensated cirrhosis and liver cancer. With 935 patients enrolled, this is one of the largest trials to date in liver disease palliative care.

Oregon governor signs Ryan’s Law, requiring care facilities to allow medical marijuana 
The Marijuana Herald; by Anthony Martinelli; 4/10/26 
Oregon’s governor has signed House Bill 4142, known as Ryan’s Law, establishing new requirements for certain care facilities to allow qualified patients to use medical marijuana while also setting statewide standards for safety, storage and staff training. The measure was approved by the House in a 39 to 3 vote and by the Senate 20 to 8 before being sent to the governor. With the governor’s signature, the legislation now moves toward implementation, with most provisions taking effect in 2027. 

What to do when a dying friend refuses contact 
Times.News; by Sofia Alvarez; 4/13/26 
The experience of facing a terminal illness is often framed as a time for reconciliation and the strengthening of bonds. However, for some patients, the reality is a profound retreat from the world. When a dying friend refuses contact from friends, it creates a complex emotional vacuum for those left behind, who must balance their desire to provide support with the need to respect a patient’s autonomy. This tension often manifests as a “silent goodbye,” where the dying individual chooses isolation over the emotional labor of maintaining relationships. 

Your wishes, your voice: Ochsner doctors encourage families to plan ahead for National Healthcare Decisions Day 
NOLA.com; by Amanda McElfresh; 4/12/26 
Every year on April 16, National Healthcare Decisions Day serves as a reminder that medical emergencies rarely arrive with warning. When they occur, the decisions surrounding treatment often must be made within minutes. For healthcare providers, including those in Ochsner emergency departments, the day highlights a simple yet powerful message: Conversations about medical wishes should happen long before a crisis unfolds.

The giant thrift store in Wisconsin that turns shopping into an all-day adventure 
Taking the Kids; by Hazel Vaughn; 4/12/26 
... Walking into Agrace Thrift Store for the first time, most people slow down just to take it all in. The layout is thoughtfully designed so that moving from one section to the next feels natural rather than chaotic. ... The store is operated to support Agrace, a nonprofit hospice and palliative care organization that serves patients and families throughout southern Wisconsin. Every purchase made in the store contributes directly to that mission. ... A customer loyalty program adds another layer of value for frequent visitors. 

The only man who makes no mistakes is the man who never does anything. ~ Theodore Roosevelt