Most newly enrolled California hospice agencies flagged for fraud, CMS says 
Washington Examiner; by Mia Cathell; 3/18/26 
A top official at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services informed Congress on Tuesday that federal investigators have stripped billing privileges from three-fifths of newly enrolled hospice agencies that have continued to pop up in California, a state long riddled with healthcare fraud. Of the remaining California-based hospice service providers that emerged over the past six months, 35% were flagged for corrective action, Kimberly Brandt, the chief operating officer of CMS, told the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

The secure leader: How attachment styles shape leadership | part one 
Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast hosted by Chris Comeaux with Jamie Goff; 3/18/26 
What if the greatest barrier to effective leadership isn’t a lack of skills—but a lack of self-awareness?  What if the real challenge isn’t learning more tactics, but understanding the internal stories, beliefs, and patterns that shape how you lead every day? In Part One of this powerful conversation, Chris Comeaux sits down with Dr. Jamie Goff, executive coach and author of The Secure Leader, ... Dr. Goff challenges the traditional focus on technical leadership skills and instead shines a light on the internal mindset shifts that truly transform leaders.

Addus HomeCare details 2026 priorities as Medicaid redeterminations ease at KeyBanc Forum 
Transcript Daily; by Lauren Steadman; 3/17/26 
... 2025 focus areas: hospice improvements and personal care growth mix
CEO Dirk Allison said a major internal focus early in 2025 was rebuilding performance in the company’s hospice segment. He said Addus made investments beginning in October of the prior year, including leadership changes as well as sales and marketing training, with the goal of returning the hospice business to pre-pandemic performance. Allison said the company saw “really good progress” during 2025 and is encouraged heading into 2026.

Hospice of Southern Kentucky celebrates revitalization of memorial garden 
ABC 13 - WBKO News, Bowling Green, KY; by Avery Catalano; 3/18/26 
Hospice of Southern Kentucky is celebrating the revitalization of the Geri Buchanon Smith Memorial Garden on its Bowling Green campus. The garden honors the late wife of longtime board member Dr. David Smith. The couple shared a deep love of gardening, and hospice leaders said the space is meant to reflect that.

Akron-area teen remembered for facing cancer with grace, laughter 
Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH; by Ralph N. Paulk and Marilyn Miller Paulk; 3/18/26 
Darren Hampton smiled and laughed almost incessantly. ... His family reminisced how he fought an agonizing battle with grace and a seemingly habitual smile long after he was diagnosed with cancer in 2016 at age 7. ... Darren wasn’t afraid to die,” Hampton said. “He understood what was going on.” ... Then, shortly after arriving at the hospice center, he asked Abood, “Are you telling me I don’t have to go to school?” Yet, he expressed a willingness to take his state tests. “He was always concerned about his schoolwork,” ... "(Darren) was full of energy and always positive. He wanted to step in and change the world. He talked about recycling in rivers and lakes.” ... On the day he died, Darren summoned his family.  ... 

Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer: Now what? 
University of Michigan Health | Michigan Medicine; by Nicole Fawcett; 3/17/26 
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest of the major cancers, with a five-year survival rate of only 13%. It's a complex and stealthy disease that is often difficult to treat and can be scary for patients and their family. ... “As research advances our understanding of pancreatic cancer, we’re doing better at taking care of patients. ...” said Evan Glazer, M.D., Ph.D., Clinical Director of the Pancreatic Cancer Program at University of Michigan Health and Associate Director of Clinical Research in the Rogel and Blondy Center for Pancreatic Cancer. ...

• Why is it especially important in pancreatic cancer to find the right place to receive care? ....
• How does a multidisciplinary approach to pancreatic cancer make a difference? ...
• What role does research play in pancreatic cancer treatment? ...

MedPAC debates hospice payment updates via outlier, add-on payments 
Inside Health Policy; by Sigi Ris; 3/17/26 
When it comes to addressing hospice provider’s high-cost treatments for patients with end-stage renal disease or cancer, Congress’ Medicare advisors seemed to support updating the hospice payment system with outlier payments rather than an add-on payment and commissioners debated the merits of creating a transitional care model for those patients that would reduce barriers to these support services. [Full access requires subscription, with option for 30 days free access.]

Hospice CARE Act reintroduced 
Hospice News; Jim Parker; 3/18/26 
Rep. Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) and Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) have re-introduced the Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement (Hospice CARE) Act, designed to modernize the Medicare Hospice Benefit, fight fraud and expand access to care. The bill contains a blend of program integrity provisions and payment reforms intended to “strengthen” the benefit, according to the lawmakers. The bill would establish new safeguards to prevent fraudulent providers from enrolling in Medicare and bolster federal oversight of hospices. It would also change payment structures to incentivize high-quality care. 

What the BrightSpring-Sevita deal means for large health care transactions 
Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 3/13/26 
Though not a hospice transaction, the trajectory of BrightSpring Health Services’ (Nasdaq: BTSG) divestiture of its ResCare community living business could signal changes in the way the federal government approaches large health care deals. BrightSpring in January 2025 entered into a definitive agreement to sell ResCare Community Living to Sevita, a provider of home and community-based specialty health care, for $835 million in cash consideration. Closure of the transaction was delayed by a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) anti-trust complaint. The FTC later cleared the deal after reaching an agreement with Sevita, which required the company to sell 126 intermediate care facilities to reduce any anti-competitive impact of the acquisition. ... 

LLUH and Kara Health form joint venture to launch Loma Linda University Hospice 
Public; Press Release; 3/17/26 
Loma Linda University Health (LLUH) and Kara Health are partnering to expand access to hospice services for patients and families across the Inland Empire. LLUH, a leader in clinical care and education, and Kara Health, a technology-enabled post-acute care organization, today announced the formation of a new joint venture: Loma Linda University Hospice. The collaboration combines LLUH's clinical expertise and longstanding community presence with Kara Health's hospice infrastructure and technology platform. 

[Spain] Queen Letizia supports universal access to palliative care 
Aragon Health Research Institute | Biomedical Research Center; Press Release; 3/16/26 
Her Majesty Queen Letizia received a delegation from the Spanish Society of Palliative Care (SECPAL) with representatives from all essential professional profiles in palliative care. During the meeting, they conveyed to Queen Letizia the current situation of palliative care in Spain as well as the important challenges that persist ... Queen Letizia showed her sensitivity and commitment towards ... those facing advanced illnesses or who are at the end of their lives, and conveyed to SECPAL her support for initiatives aimed at strengthening the development of palliative care in Spain. ... Faced with this reality, SECPAL handed the queen over a decalogue [ten-point plan] which outlines the priorities for the development of palliative care in our country, such as ensuring that there are sufficient resources and appropriately trained teams at all levels of care.

May the best, most random "I don't watch basketball much" bracket win your office pool.

• 2026 ANCC Men's Bracket
• 2026 ANCC Women's Bracket