1520ai and Hospice Analytics announce strategic combination to advance data-driven hospice care and AI innovation
1520ai & Hospice Analytics press release; by Mark Cohen, Ernesto Lopez, Cordt Kassner; 4/28/26
1520ai and Hospice Analytics today announced that Hospice Analytics will become part of 1520ai and the broader simPAL Solutions family, bringing together Hospice Analytics’ hospice data expertise with 1520ai’s vision for a new generation of hospice-native AI capabilities designed to help providers turn data into better decisions and improved care. Hospice Analytics will maintain its core branding, products, and services while operating as part of 1520ai. Founder and longtime leader Cordt Kassner will continue to lead operations and guide the organization’s ongoing work with hospice providers across the country. “This builds on Hospice Analytics’ long-established foundation of innovation, expertise, and reliability,” said Ernesto Lopez, CEO of 1520ai. “Cordt and his team have earned deep trust in the hospice community by turning complex data into meaningful, actionable insights. Together, we have an opportunity to integrate AI into that work and create tools that help hospice leaders make better decisions, improve operations, and support better care for patients and families.”

We spoke to over 30 CEOs and business leaders. Here’s what worries them most 
CNBC; by Lee Ying Shan; 4/27/26 
Business leaders are confronting a new operating reality: one where war, inflation, AI and supply chain shocks are no longer exceptional events, but part of the baseline. CNBC spoke to more than 30 CEOs, business executives and industry leaders at the annual Converge Live event in Singapore last week. Across sectors — banking, energy, shipping, technology and manufacturing — a clear theme emerged: uncertainty is no longer episodic. It is structural.

1. A world of constant shocks ...
2. Supply chains are under strain and getting costlier ...
3. Inflation is testing the consumer ...
4. AI is an opportunity, but also a threat ...
5. Cyber and trust are keeping CEOs up ...
6. Energy security is back at the center ...
7. The leadership playbook is changing ...

Hosparus Health thrift store opens in Louisville to support hospice 
WHAS-11 ABC News; Louisville, KY; by whas11.com; 4/26/26 
Hosparus Health is opening a thrift store in Louisville. Donations and sales will help fund hospice and end-of-life care across Kentucky and Indiana.

Empassion, Karoo Health partner on cardiac-to-hospice transitions 
Hospice News; by James Warda; 4/28/26 
Empassion Health and Karoo Health have unveiled a strategic partnership designed to provide a more seamless transition for patients from cardiac management to specialized serious illness care. This transition point, often referred to as “the gap,” is the period when traditional care cannot typically sustain the patient long-term, but they are not yet considered ready by insurance standards for hospice or palliative care, according to Empassion. Patients with advanced heart disease often drop into this gap. By bringing together Karoo’s cardiovascular care and Empassion’s palliative and hospice services, both organizations are working to eliminate that gap. 

Hope, uncertainty, and hard truths: the complexity of goals-of-care discussions in oncology 
OncLive - Oncology Live; by Maurie Markman, MD; 4/10/26 
... While appreciating considerable variation in how individuals deal with their [cancer] diagnosis, as well as understanding the potential for difficult conversations regarding the specifics of available therapeutic options and anticipated statistically defined survival, it remains essential that such discussions be held. ... What is the most appropriate conclusion regarding a goals-of-care discussion? Should this patient have been offered further testing and therapy, or, based on the facts of this case, was hospice referral perhaps a more reasonable suggestion?

Seven key moments: hearing on Medicare fraud 
United States House Committee on Ways & Means, Chairman Jason Smith, Washington, DC; Press Release; 4/27/26 
[This is the official post from Rep. Jason Smith, Chairman  of the U.S. House Committee on Ways & Means.] Medicare fraud is a massive problem that costs taxpayers $60 billion every year and denies Americans access to their Medicare beneficiaries.

• Trump Administration’s Anti-Fraud Focus Gives Hope After Democrats Ignored Fraud Warnings ...
• “How Do You Put a Hospice in a Burrito Stand in California?” ...
• Medicare Fraud Victim’s Story: “It Was Terrifying.” ...
• Value-Based Doctors Are an Effective Force for Fighting Fraud ...
• Accountable Care Organizations Fight Fraud Because It Costs Their Bottom Line ...
• Hospice Fraud Has Life-and-Death Consequences: A California Senior’s Story ...
• “Never Been Easier to Work with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services” ...

Editor's Note: Addressing fraud—particularly in hospice—requires bipartisan commitment, regulatory oversight, and coordinated action throughout care systems. The focus must remain on accountability, transparency, and patient-centered care—prioritizing people over politics. For additional context, see our recent coverage of the full committee hearing, hospice fraud briefing, and enforcement tracking:

• U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means - Full committee hearing on protecting patients and taxpayers: cracking down on Medicare fraud, posted 4/22/26 and 4/26/26
•  Hospice Fraud Briefing: one page summary, posted 4/23/26
• 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, posted 4/27/26

The Alliance and the Research Institute for Home Care Release Inaugural Medicaid Home Care Chartbook 
National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 4/27/26 
The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) and the Research Institute for Home Care (the Institute) today released the 2026 Medicaid Home Care Chartbook, the first report of its kind providing a broad overview of the Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) user population, workforce, organizational trends, and economic contributions of Medicaid home care providers across the U.S. 

Superior Health Holdings acquires Compassion Homecare and Sans Bois Hospice, expanding into Oklahoma 
Business Wire | The Standard-Journal, Metairie, LA and Stigler, OK; Press Release; 4/28/26 
Superior Health Holdings ("Superior"), a portfolio company of Renovus Capital Partners, today announced the acquisition of Chant Healthcare ("Chant"), a leading provider of home health, homecare, and hospice services headquartered in Southeastern Oklahoma operating through two core entities — Compassion Home Care, which provides home health and homecare services, and Sans Bois Hospice. The transaction marks Superior's entry into Oklahoma with services in both home health and hospice, along with personal care services across 11 counties.

Health systems add IT leadership roles 
Becker's Hospital Review; by Naomi Diaz; 4/24/26 
Hospitals and health systems are adding new executive positions to address the growing demands of artificial intelligence governance, cybersecurity and data management. Many of the roles being created are inaugural appointments, reflecting a shift in how organizations are structuring technology leadership. From chief digital officers to AI strategy leads, hospitals are redefining their IT structures to enhance cybersecurity, data management and innovation. Here are new IT roles hospitals and health systems have added to their C-suites since March 17: ...

10 best, worst states for nurses in 2026 
Becker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch; 4/28/26 
... To determine the best and worst states for nurses, the personal finance company evaluated all 50 states across two two dimensions: opportunity and competition, and work environment. Those dimensions were evaluated using 20 metrics, ranging from monthly average starting salary for nurses to average commute time. ... Here are the 10 best and worst states for nurses in 2026, per the ranking:
Best: 1. Maine; 2. New Hampshire; 3. Washington; 4. Oregon; 5; Arizona; 6. West Virginia; 7. Minnesota; 8. Montana; 9. Connecticut; 10. Florida 
Worst: 50. Oklahoma; 49. North Dakota; 48. Alabama; 47. Mississippi; 46. South Dakota; 45. Louisiana; 44. Tennessee; 43. Arkansas; 42. Hawaii; 41. Virginia

Your kids don’t care: 9 reasons to have someone other than your children as your medical power of attorney 
SavingAdvice.com; by Drew Blankenship; 4/25/26 
... When it comes to naming a medical decision-maker, most parents automatically choose their children without thinking twice. But being your child doesn’t necessarily make someone the best person to make life-and-death decisions on your behalf. A medical power of attorney gives that person enormous responsibility, often during highly emotional moments when clear thinking is critical. Here are nine reasons why choosing someone other than your children may actually be the smarter (and safer) decision.

1. Emotional Stress Can Cloud Judgment ...
2. Sibling Conflict Can Delay Critical Decisions ...
3. Proximity Matters More Than You Think ...
4. Not All Children Understand Your Wishes ...
5. [Continue reading ...]

Small wins in April lead to bigger achievements later.