Texas floods: "Ways you can help" and "Community crisis and grief resources for hospices"
Lists and links compiled at Composing Life Out of Loss - Community Grief; by Joy Berger; updated 7/8/25 

• LIVE UPDATES from NBC News

• Ways You Can Help
• ABC News: vetted organizations
• CBS News: vetted organizations
• FOX News: vetted organizations
• NBC News: vetted organizations
• Community Crisis and Grief Resources for Hospices
• Public Service Video: Community Crisis and Grief
• CMS Emergency Disaster Preparedness Requirements for All Hospice Providers
• Key National Organizations for Community Crisis Preparation, Relief and Recovery

Hospice Foundation of America mourns passing of David J. Abrams – HFA board member and leader 
Hospice Foundation of America (HFA), Washington, DC; Press Release; 7/8/25 
David J. Abrams, 85, a longtime member of the Hospice Foundation of America (HFA) Board of Directors, died on July 8. Abrams, who oversaw operations at HFA from its formative years until 2007, leaves in his wake a legacy of service and commitment to hospice care in the United States. “David’s passing will be deeply felt by many, both personally and professionally. Through his leadership positions at HFA, for many years, he greatly advanced the knowledge and quality of hospice caregivers throughout the palliative care community,” said Thomas J. Spulak, chairman of HFA’s Board of Directors. “As a friend and colleague to many, we will all miss his smile, care, concern, and intellect that he brought to us every day. David will never be forgotten.” ... “David always described hospice as the gold standard of end-of-life care,” said Amy Tucci, HFA’s president and CEO. “We at HFA are grateful that he truly experienced that gold standard of care in the final days of his life.”

HR1: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act - Provisions relevant to Medicaid HCBS providers
National Alliance for Care at Home; 7/7/25
The Alliance has created a detailed summary for providers that deliver Medicaid-funded home and community-based services (HCBS) about provisions in the House Resolution 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, also known as the “Reconciliation” bill. View the Alliance's recent statement following House passage of the bill. President Trump signed the legislation on July 4, 2025, and therefore the provisions below will now become law.
Publisher's note: Membership required to access full analysis. Also, direct hospice impact appears minimal; indirect hospice impact (e.g., hospice impact as a result of Medicaid nursing home impact) unclear.

The 8 virtues of great leaders 
Forbes; by Eli Amdur; 6/27/25 
... I write on leadership (and a few other topics) because I’m supposed to be an “expert.” Well, let me set the record straight. That word – expert – makes me nervous. ... But I’ve learned along the way since my career began 57 years ago, and leadership is one area in which I can share some value ... [Leadership theory] should support the axiom that it is not skills alone that will determine leadership in the 21st century and beyond. It’s the humanity of the leader that will do it every time. ... So, as I rest my case about leadership virtues being the differentiators, here’s what I’ve learned along the way: The Eight Virtues of Great Leaders.

• Vision ...
• Forthrightness ...
• Strong sense of self ...
• Sphere of awareness ...
• Energy ...
• Creativity ...
• Trust ...
• Humor ...

... From the first leader I ever coached to the last, not to mention my own leadership development, leadership virtues outplayed leadership skills every single time.

Support for serious illness: Palliative care is here to help
NIH News in Health; 7/7/25
Being diagnosed with a serious illness is life-changing. Many decisions must be made, with many unknowns. But there are experts who can help you navigate the complicated landscape of a long-term, serious illness. Palliative care specialists focus on comfort care and improving your quality of life during a serious illness. “Palliative care is a holistic approach to medicine and caregiving,” explains Dr. Matthew DeCamp, a physician at University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus. “It places the patient’s quality of life and needs and values front and center.”
Publisher's note: Interesting this story appeared in NIH News in Health and it might be helpful to promote your palliative care programs...

How to give physicians autonomy—and protect them from burnout 
American Medical Association (AMA); by Georgia Garvey; 7/1/25 
Almost everyone appreciates having autonomy at work. But when physicians spend more than a decade in high-stakes and grueling medical training, only to enter practice with virtually no control over their work environment, schedule or day, it can lead to the kind of spiraling frustration that often turns into burnout or leaving the profession entirely. “It’s one of those things where the more you try to micromanage a physician’s schedule, the more a feeling of distrust you give to the physicians ...” said Jill Jin, MD, MPH, an internist and senior physician adviser for the AMA, one of the authors of the AMA STEPS Forward® “Value of Feeling Valued Playbook.” ... Though the percentages of those experiencing burnout have declined from the peak during the COVID-19 public health emergency, 43.2% of physicians still say they have at least one symptom of burnout.  ... When physicians feel valued—... as competent professionals who have devoted immense time and energy to becoming experts at their jobs—it is proven to be positively associated with lower levels of burnout.

Carolina Caring launches specialized program to support dementia patients 
Carolina Caring, Newton, NC; Press Release; 7/3/25 
On Tuesday, July 1st, 2025, Carolina Caring launched a new Dementia Care Program designed to provide expert support and services to patients with a dementia diagnosis. As part of this launch, Carolina Caring also announced approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to participate in the “Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience” (GUIDE) Model of Care, a national initiative which seeks to improve quality of life for dementia patients. The expansion of this Dementia Care Program builds upon years of Carolina Caring’s internal development and collaboration with universities and professional partners. The program is now accepted as a National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) Dementia Care Program.

‘Family’s Voice Diary’ improved support for caregivers of patients at the end of life 
Oncology Nurse; by Ryner Lai; 7/1/25 
The authors of this study sought to understand the challenges that caregivers face when a patient is approaching end of life. For this study, they worked with bereaved relatives, members of the public, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to develop the Family’s Voice Diary (FVD), an initiative that allowed participants to freely express their thoughts regarding end-of-life care and the role of caregivers. ... These interviews illuminated some of the challenges that were faced when providing end-of-life care. For example, families expressed a lack of knowledge regarding what “normal” dying looks like and they wanted more support from healthcare staff, but were reluctant to ask or didn’t know how to approach the subject. Healthcare professionals themselves appeared to be reluctant to discuss matters associated with death. 

Two California residents plead guilty in connection with $16M hospice fraud scheme and money laundering scheme
DOJ press release; 7/8/25
Two California residents pleaded guilty yesterday in connection with their roles in defrauding Medicare of nearly $16 million through sham hospice companies and to laundering the proceeds of the fraud as part of a multi-year scheme. According to court documents, Karpis Srapyan, 35, of Winnetka, California, conspired with others, including co-defendants Petros Fichidzhyan and Juan Carlos Esparza, to bill Medicare for hospice services that were not medically necessary and never provided. To conduct their fraudulent scheme, they used a series of four sham hospice companies: one owned by Esparza and the other three owned by foreign nationals but controlled by the defendants. Srapyan and his co-defendants concealed the scheme by using foreign nationals’ personal identifying information to open bank accounts, submit information to Medicare, and sign property leases. They also misappropriated names and other identifying information of several doctors, two of whom were deceased, to fraudulently bill Medicare for purported hospice services. In total, Medicare paid the fake hospice companies nearly $16 million.

Joint Commission cuts standards by 50% in sweeping overhaul 
Becker's Clinical Leadership; by Paige Twenter; 6/30/25 
The Joint Commission is transforming its accreditation process by reducing the number of requirements by 50% — from 1,551 to 774 standards — in its most significant rewrite since Medicare was established in 1965. The overhaul, first shared with Becker’s, underscores the organization’s effort to reduce the regulatory burden on hospitals and healthcare organizations, uphold public trust and help organizations achieve the highest level of safety and quality, according to Jonathan Perlin, MD, PhD, president and CEO of The Joint Commission Enterprise. ... The redesign, called Accreditation 360: The New Standard, features an updated manual with clearer definitions of CMS conditions of participation and the Joint Commission’s national performance goals, now distilled into 14 critical categories.

Sutter’s CEO outlines its billion-dollar expansion and what’s next 
Becker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch 7/2/225 
Sutter Health is doubling down on its growth strategy, with a focus on expanding access and attracting more physicians to California. Headquartered in Northern California, with executive offices in Sacramento and Emeryville, the health system‘s 57,000 staff and clinicians and 12,000 affiliated physicians provide care to more than 3.5 million Californians. Now, the organization counts San Francisco’s East Bay region among its opportunities for growth, President and CEO Warner Thomas told Becker’s.

Enzo Health forms Advisory Board of industry titans to drive innovation in home-based care 
Associated Press, Lehi, UT; Press Release; 7/8/25 
Enzo Health, the AI-powered automation platform redefining how home health agencies deliver and document care, today announced the formation of its Advisory Board. This influential group unites nationally acclaimed experts in home health operations, clinical excellence, healthcare regulation, and digital health innovation. 

Mayo Clinic gets $50M gift to boost innovation 
Becker's Health IT; by Naomi Diaz; 6/30/25 
Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic has received a $50 million donation from Florida philanthropists Gilchrist and Amy Berg — a gift dedicated to the health system’s innovation efforts. The money will support Mayo’s Innovation Exchange, a program that helps healthcare startups and entrepreneurs bring new technologies to patients. In recognition of the donation, the program will be renamed the Mayo Clinic Berg Innovation Exchange, according to a June 30 news release. The Innovation Exchange serves as a hub for global collaboration, bringing together experts in AI, digital health, product design and more. It has a footprint on six continents and supports startups working on tools in diagnostics, therapeutics and medical devices, according to Mayo Clinic.

How do you value your life? 
Sandusky Register, Sandusky, OH; by Sue Daugherty; 7/7/25 
According to the Pew Research Center, the U.S. has the second-highest number of centenarians, 108,000. Japan has the most, 146,000. As time passes, the projections are that the population of those who are age 100 and older will continue to get larger. If you are an older American who is motivated by the number of years you get to remain on this Earth, this is good news for you. If you are motivated by the quality of your life while you remain on this Earth, then you ought to become more knowledgeable about advanced directives and palliative care.

What's important? Flash flooding lets you know. ~ Adapted