Pediatric Concurrent Care Convening: A national conversation [Oct. 16, 10:00 – 11:30 MST]
National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care; 8/26/26
[Virtual] attendees will participate in a Q&A with Lisa Lindley, PhD, and Meaghann Weaver, MD, two experts on the current state of pediatric concurrent care. This national conversation will provide an overview of the current state of pediatric concurrent care and create an opportunity for participants to connect with colleagues from across the country, share experiences and challenges, and identify resources and supports that could help advance pediatric concurrent care in their states. [The convening is free, but there is a cap on attendance.]

Event Recap: NPHI Unites Healthcare Leaders in Washington to Shape the Future of Hospice and Advanced Illness Care
NPHI press release; by Matt Wilkinson; 10/6/26
The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), the national voice for nonprofit hospice and advanced illness care, brought together members, partners, sponsors and national healthcare leaders from across the country for its 2026 Washington Leadership Conference, held September 30 – October 2 in the nation’s capital. The three-day gathering focused on strengthening the quality and integrity of hospice care, advancing innovation and addressing the challenges facing patients, families and providers in a rapidly changing healthcare landscape. The conference featured direct conversations with senior officials from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG), congressional staff and national healthcare leaders. Discussions covered Medicare policy, program integrity, quality improvement, caregiving, artificial intelligence and new opportunities to expand access to serious illness care.

Reserve Care, University Hospitals end joint venture to improve care coordination
Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 10/2/26
Reserve Care [OH] has ended its joint venture with University Hospitals in a move designed to reduce burdensome transitions of care and improve timely access to hospice... Reserve Care and University Hospitals provided end-of-life care to thousands of patients during the nearly eight-year joint venture, which dissolves effective Jan. 1, 2027. The JV created unique opportunities to better reach patients in hospital settings, according to Reserve Care President and CEO Bill Finn. The hospital system and hospice are now seeking new opportunities to improve access to patient-centered care, Finn stated.

Hospice patient fulfills final wish
WITN [NC]; by Max Alfonso; 9/30/26
A 97-year-old veteran in Duplin County saw one of his final wishes come true Wednesday thanks to his assisted living facility. George White spends his days in hospice care at Daysprings Assisted Living. He spent more than 30 years as a truck driver and served two terms in the Navy, including in the Korean War, according to facility staff. White’s wish became a reality Wednesday through a PruittHealth yearly challenge in which the organization selects one hospice patient whose wish they will fulfill. “One of his dreams was getting back into the truck because he loves truck driving; he talks about it all the time,” PruittHealth Director of Nursing Kelly Roascio said.

The future of palliative care starts with better evidence [An interview with Dr. Jean Kutner]
University of Colorado Anschutz; by Carie Behounek; 7/30/26
Research is lacking about which palliative care approaches work best for different patients and healthcare settings across the country. Through a $64 million NIH-funded national consortium, CU Anschutz is leading efforts to generate the evidence needed to improve quality of life for people with serious illness, strengthen care delivery across the lifespan and help research findings become standard practice... “Ultimately, we're trying to change practice – or provide the evidence needed to change practice,” Jean Kutner, MD, MSPH, said. “We have to do this work because people living with serious illness – and the people who care for them – are depending on us to generate the evidence that will make their care better.”

Doctors’ grief after losing a patient
Medscape; by Silvia C. Carpallo; 9/25/26
Analyzing the experiences of 109 healthcare professionals, 58% in oncology and 42% in palliative care, the study found that 30% witnessed intolerable suffering at least nine times a month, 45% reported moderate-to-high levels of burnout, 39% suffered from anxiety, and 11% from depression. This raises a fundamental question: Interventions are needed to help professionals cope with patients’ deaths, especially for those who experience them firsthand.

How to include a pharmacist in the palliative care mix
CAPC blog; by Mary Lynn McPherson, Kat Walker; 10/18/21
A discussion around the importance of palliative care pharmacy, including strategies for programs to partner with pharmacists. For complex patients ... pharmacists are gaining recognition as valued members of interdisciplinary palliative care teams. They are expanding their practice across different settings of care, and educating patients and their families, colleagues, and health system leaders about medication use in serious illness.
Publisher's note: While the blog is a little dated, CAPC recently emailed members this article which continues to remain relevant.

Fiscal Year 2027 Hospice Final Rule
CHAPcast by Community Health Accreditation Partner; by Jennifer Kennedy, Kimberly Skehan; 9/12/26
We break down the FY 2027 Hospice Final Rule and why CMS is becoming increasingly more aggressive in oversight tied to program integrity and beneficiary protection. We walk through the increase in non-hospice spending, and finalized the new SSVI risk scoring model.

Hospice medical review top denial reason codes Q2 2026
Palmetto GBA; 8/28/26
Hospice Medical Review Top Denial Reason Codes: April to June 2026. We encourage all providers to review this information when filing claims to prevent denials and to ensure their claims are processed timely. The following information affects providers billing 81X bill types. Top five denial reasons include [see article for entire list]:

1. Auto Denial — Requested Records not Submitted
2. Not Hospice Appropriate
3. No Plan of Care Submitted
4. Physician Narrative Statement Not Present or Not Valid
5. Face-to-Face Encounter Requirements Not Met

Free webinar for physicians and healthcare professionals: Advanced lung disease - prognostication and role of hospice
VITAS Healthcare; Press Release; 9/14/26 for 10/21/26 webinar

• Wednesday, Oct. 21, 1-2 p.m. ET
• Dr. Henri Nammour, VITAS senior medical director and board-certified pulmonary medicine specialist, will present a case study on symptoms of burden, prognosis, and hospice eligibility in advanced lung disease.
• Virtual. 1 CME/CE credit available. 
• Registration: https://www.vitas.com/events/2026/10/webinar-advanced-lung-disease

Aging In Place: The Shifting Care Landscape For Older Adults
Health Affairs; 9/22/26
As America’s older adult population continues to grow, demand for aging-in-place services is increasing. This report explores the impact of changing age demographics on the health system and policies that provide a framework for the future of care.
Subscription may be required to access the full report.

The less talent they have, the more pride, vanity, and arrogance they have. All these fools, however, find other fools who applaud them. ~Erasmus, 1509