We can fight fraud without threatening access to care 
RealClear Health; by Peter Pitts; 5/8/26 
... In recent months, the Trump administration has identified a small but significant number of bad actors that have cheated the system. These fraudsters aren’t just stealing taxpayer dollars — their actions are threatening access to quality care and undermining patients and families’ trust in Medicare. Those criminals should be removed from federal programs and prosecuted. ... But that’s not the full story. Not even close. ... This doesn’t have to be a choice between fighting fraud and protecting access to care. We can and must do both: root out fraud and protect access to high-quality hospice and home health care at the same time.

New Windsor American Legion Post 1796 raised nearly $10,000 for Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties 
Westfair Business Journal; by Westfair Online; 5/8/26 
Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties was the beneficiary of a dinner fundraiser hosted by New Windsor American Legion Post 1796 on March 28, raising nearly $10,000 to support patients and families receiving end-of-life care. More than 150 dinners were served during the evening, with proceeds generated through ticket sales, raffles, sponsorships and donations. ... “We are deeply appreciative of the New Windsor American Legion and everyone who contributed to this event,” said Eric Gatsik, president and CEO of Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties.  

VITAS® Healthcare is expanding hospice services along Florida's Gulf Coast, coming soon to Manatee County 
PR Newswire, Bradenton, FL; by VITAS Healthcare; 5/12/26 
Residents of Manatee County will soon have greater access to compassionate hospice and palliative care as VITAS Healthcare, the nation's leading provider of end-of-life care, prepares to begin serving patients and families in Bradenton, Palmetto, Parrish and Lakewood Ranch this summer. ... Located along Florida's Gulf Coast, Manatee County is home to more than 468,000 residents. Of the county's population, 29% is age 65 or older, significantly exceeding both the Florida average (22%) and the national average (18%). 

Valley Hospice receives $150,000 grant 
Your Ohio News; Press Release; 5/11/26 
Valley Hospice recently received a $150,000 anonymous grant to support its Caring Connections Palliative Care Program, allowing the organization to expand care and support for patients and families across the region. “We are deeply grateful for this extraordinary gift. This $150,000 donation ensures that our growing community-based palliative care program can continue to meet the expanding needs of those we serve,” said Andrea Hale, Valley Hospice CEO. 

Partners In Care announces new Chief Executive Officer 
Cascade Business News - CBN; Press Release by CBN; 5/12/26 
Partners In Care, the leading nonprofit hospice, home health, and palliative care provider, recently announced the appointment of John Weinsheim as its next chief executive officer, effective July 1, 2026, and the upcoming retirement of current CEO Greg Hagfors, who has led the organization since 2022. The selection followed a rigorous search process that recognized exceptional talent and reflected the remarkable depth of leadership that exists at Partners In Care.

Children’s Minnesota establishes first endowed chair for pain, palliative care and integrative medicine program 
BusinessWire, Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN; Press Release; 5/7/26 
Children’s Minnesota is pleased to announce a new investment in easing pain and improving comfort for children facing serious illness. Thanks to a generous $2 million gift from the Hanson family, the health system has established its first endowed chair dedicated to pediatric pain, palliative care and integrative medicine. Kris Catrine, MD, medical director of Children’s Minnesota’s pain, palliative care and integrative medicine (PPCIM) program, has been named the inaugural holder of the Hanson Family Endowed Chair in Pain, Palliative Care and Integrative Medicine.

Palliative care and age-friendly care - CAPC Position Statement 
CAPC | Center to Advance Palliative Care; Position Statement; 5/11/26 
The U.S. health care system is evolving to better meet the needs of a rapidly growing aging population by advancing age-friendly care. CAPC’s position statement outlines how palliative care can accelerate IHI recognition and support success with CMS measures. It also offers practical recommendations for leaders and policymakers to integrate palliative care into age-friendly care.

Clinician grief is a hidden crisis in modern hospice care 
MedPage Today's KevinMD.com; by Linda Ellington, RN; 5/12/26 
I stood knocking at the door of my hospice patient like I did every Monday for the past eight months. A musically talented man in his early 40s was always waiting for my weekly nursing visit, more so for the aspect of socialization. He was diagnosed with colon cancer two years prior and had a colostomy bag, leaving this once vibrant, social, even handsome man a shell of what he once was. He became introverted and allowed only one friend to check on him occasionally. He had no family and only one estranged child who lived in another country. There was no answer at the door ...

DOJ doubles down on healthcare fraud enforcement with new West Coast strike force 
MedCity News; by Katie Adams; 5/10/26 
... The DOJ rolled out a strike force targeting healthcare fraud in Arizona, Nevada and Northern California. The new strike force — which the DOJ is calling its “West Coast” healthcare fraud strike force — comes seven months after the department launched a similar strike force going after healthcare fraud in Massachusetts. Florida is not on this list yet, even though it has a reputation for healthcare fraud, but it might be next. 

Proposed Rulemaking - Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing: Licensed Practical Nurse Pronouncement of Death 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; 5/9/26 
... Background and Purpose: Prior to the recent amendment to the VSL, the authority to pronounce death in a home hospice setting was limited to registered nurses (RN), physicians, physician assistants and coroners. As a practical matter, that means that an LPN, who is often present and delivering end-of-life care to hospice patients, has to contact an RN and wait for the RN's arrival for the deceased to be pronounced dead, the family contacted, if they are not present, and the body released to a funeral director or county coroner. This approach is not practical or efficient. Moreover, it is not compassionate to grieving families to wait, sometimes for hours, for the RN to arrive to have their loved one removed.

AI ethical minefields in clinical decision-making 
Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 5/11/26 
... Quickly evolving AI technologies will play a role in hospices’ sustainability as demand rises and workforce resources dwindle. Hospices need innovative care models, which involves leveraging AI in different ways, said Dr. Kimberly Curseen, the new board of directors president at the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM). ... Ensuring accurate data and safeguarding patient privacy and autonomy can lead companies to run into certain AI ethical “danger zones.” Hospices need to understand the limitations of AI, particularly when considering the use of these technologies to augment clinical decision making, according to Dr. Javier Zaglul, hospice and palliative care fellow at Florida Atlantic University.

Having a vision for your life allows you to live out of hope, rather than out of your fears. ~ Stedman Graham