Literature Review

How to include a pharmacist in the palliative care mixCAPC blog; by Mary Lynn McPherson, Kat Walker; 10/18/21A 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.

The future of palliative care starts with better evidence [An interview with Dr. Jean Kutner]University of Colorado Anschutz; by Carie Behounek; 7/30/26Research 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.”

Reserve Care, University Hospitals end joint venture to improve care coordinationHospice News; by Holly Vossel; 10/2/26Reserve 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.

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.]

Medicare Advantage looks great when you’re healthy - Here’s the trap that springs when you get seriously illFinanceBuzz; by Kristin Hitchcock; 10/5/26The extra benefits for seniors offered by Medicare Advantage can look attractive when someone first enrolls. Low premiums, bundled drug coverage, and dental or vision benefits may make a plan seem like an easy choice. But a serious diagnosis can change what a person needs from their coverage. A recent study found that Medicare Advantage members were likely to leave their plans as their medical needs became more complicated... The more medically complex a beneficiary became, the more likely they were to leave their plan.

DAI closes HCA hospice, home health transaction Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/5/26Deaconess Associations Incorporated (DAI) has closed its acquisition of 31 home health and hospice agencies from HCA Healthcare. The deal includes 24 home health locations and seven hospice locations across eight states... Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, DAI is a faith-based, independent, nonprofit health care enterprise with a portfolio of more than $1 billion spanning diversified health services, programs, investments and community grant initiatives nationwide. The organization operates in 23 states, including six where it offers home health and hospice services. Across its broader footprint, DAI also provides physical, occupational and speech therapy services in senior living communities. The 31 acquired operations are concentrated primarily in Texas and Florida, with additional locations in Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, Missouri, Kansas and Colorado.

Medicaid provider allegedly billed $165K for dead patient's rides among fraud exposed in explosive reportNew York Times Post; staff writers; 10/5/26A Colorado resident [Wesam Yassin] was charged with trying to steal hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars by billing the state’s Medicaid program for transporting a patient to doctor’s appointments — rides that would have taken place after that person had already died... It also pointed to charges against Ashley Marie Stevens, who is accused of trying to bilk the state for over $1 million in taxpayer dollars. She is accused of billing the state some $400,000 for non-medical rides for herself and her family in addition to “ghost rides,” which never even took place.

Why are people so afraid of death? Psychology has a surprising answerYahoo!Life; by Chigozie Nzenwa; 10/5/26Fear of death is not just about physical survival, but also about the psychological problem of death anxiety that can influence everyday behavior. Fear of death can look like a simple survival instinct, but psychologists think it goes much deeper than wanting to avoid physical danger. Humans can imagine the future, understand that death is unavoidable and picture a world continuing without them. That combination creates a kind of psychological problem other threats do not. Researchers call this death anxiety. It can involve fear of pain, nonexistence, losing control, leaving loved ones behind or simply facing something no one can fully know in advance. One influential theory argues that people cope with this awareness by building meaning, identity and self-worth around themselves.

New Castlewood event raises $450,000 for Hope Hospice [CA]Pleasanton Weekly; by Jeremy Walsh; 10/4/26The inaugural “Plays for Hope” fundraiser held at The Club at Castlewood over three days this summer generated more than $450,000 to benefit Hope Hospice... “We are incredibly grateful to our partners at The Club at Castlewood and to everyone who participated, volunteered, sponsored, and supported the remarkable weekend,” said Skelly Wingard, CEO of By the Bay Health, the nonprofit that operates Hope Hospice.

Hospice East Bay workers strikeHospice News; by Holly Vossel; 10/5/26Dozens of workers at California-based Hospice East Bay on Monday launched a seven-day strike. The strike includes 70 bereavement counselors, chaplains, nurses, social workers and pharmacists at the hospice. The workers joined the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) in 2023.

DAI closes on HCA Healthcare deal Home Health Care News; by Morgan Gonzales; 10/2/26 Deaconess Associations Incorporated (DAI) has closed on its acquisition of 24 home health locations and seven hospice locations from HCA Healthcare. The new agencies, which span eight states, have joined Central Pyramid, one of DAI’s four owned subsidiaries. DAI CEO Trey Crabb previously told Home Health Care News that the acquisition was part of the company’s plan to double down on home health and hospice.

A perfect strike: hospice resident relives glory days as professional bowler with special trip to Wayward Social Time-Republican; by Robert Maharry; 10/3/26 Barbara Rothman, a current resident at Iowa River Hospice, has lived an extraordinary life: she served in the U.S. Army and helped to design and create outfits for the soldier shows, and she also enjoyed a career as a professional bowler in the Newark, N.J. area many years ago. So when it was time to plan a special surprise for her through IRH's "Making Moments Matter" program, the answer was simple: she just wanted to go bowling one last time. [See inspirational photo]

Telehealth as a bridge for palliative and end-of-life care in nursing homes Journal of the American Geriatrics Society; by Rachael Alexander, Rebekah Perkins, Amy Powell-Versteeg, Pamela Barrientos, Laura Block, Rebecca M. Goodwin, Megan McClure, Rebecca Utz, Paige Patterson, Theresa A. Allison, Lynn Flint, and Caroline Stephens; 10/1/26 ... In interviews with multidisciplinary nursing home staff, participants described telehealth as enabling timely palliative and end-of-life care for nursing home residents, particularly where specialty services were otherwise unavailable and when units were closed during infectious outbreaks.Telehealth can reduce travel burden for nursing home residents, increase family engagement, improve symptom management, and facilitate goals-of-care discussions.