Literature Review
How to move a parent with dementia against family resistance—and stay legal
09/09/25 at 03:00 AMHow to move a parent with dementia against family resistance—and stay legal Advisorpedia; by Carolyn Rosenblatt; 9/3/25 The phone call came to Dad’s daughter (FD) at 6 AM. Again. This time, it was the night caregiver reporting that her father had fallen while trying to get out of bed. She had jumped up and tried to stop him but she could only get to him in time to break his fall. ... The caregiver was exasperated. She needed more help and SW did not provide it. It was the third incident in two weeks, and FD knew something had to change.
CMS: Annual Change in Medicaid Hospice Payment Rates—ACTION
09/09/25 at 03:00 AMCMS: Annual Change in Medicaid Hospice Payment Rates—ACTIONCMS, Department of Health and Human Services; email from Rory Howe, director; 9/5/25The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the Medicaid hospice rates for FY 2026. They are slightly different than the Medicare rates and should be used when billing for Medicaid hospice patients. This memorandum contains the Medicaid hospice payment rates for federal fiscal year (FY) 2026. The rates reflect changes made under the final Medicare hospice rule published on August 1, 2025 (CMS-1835-F). Please inform your staff and all state agencies in your jurisdiction of these new payment rates, which are effective October 1, 2025. We expect state agencies to share the Medicaid hospice payment rates for FY 2026 with the hospice providers in their state.
When I go, I'm going green
09/09/25 at 02:00 AMWhen I go, I'm going green KFF Health News; by Paula Span; 9/8/25 More Americans are choosing burials in which everything is biodegradable. ... “Do you see a lot of interest in green burials?” I asked the friendly town cemetery commissioner who was showing me around. “I don’t think we’ve had a traditional burial in two years,” he said. “It’s all green.”
SECU Foundation awards $170,000 grant to Carolinas Foundation for Hospice and Home Care
09/09/25 at 02:00 AMSECU Foundation awards $170,000 grant to Carolinas Foundation for Hospice and Home Care SECU Foundation, Raliegh, NC; Press Release; 9/4/25 SECU Foundation recently awarded a $170,000 grant to Carolinas Foundation for Hospice and Home Care (CFHHC) to assist with the development and implementation of a standardized training curriculum and onboarding model for personal care aides. The project will help address the critical need for qualified care aides and improve the retention of employees in the field. CFHHC was established in 1998 by the Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina (AHHC) to support innovation that improves access to quality hospice and home care services in the state.
[New Name] Hinds Hospice ‘Beyond the Stars’ Gala celebrates new chapter and community compassion
09/09/25 at 01:00 AMHinds Hospice ‘Beyond the Stars’ Gala celebrates new chapter and community compassion Clovis Roundup; by Steven Sandage; 9/6/25The Clovis Veterans Memorial District was filled with compassion and celebration last night as Hinds Hospice hosted its annual “Beyond the Stars” gala, an event that was both a fundraiser and a pivotal moment for the organization. The gala, held on Friday, September 5th, served as the venue for a significant announcement that will usher in a new era for the well-known Central Valley nonprofit. ... The annual black-tie event drew approximately 350 guests. ... The most significant moment of the evening was the soft launch of the organization’s name change. As part of a rebranding initiative, Hinds Hospice will now be known as Hinds LifeCare. This new name, according to Weakland, is a more accurate reflection of the comprehensive services the nonprofit has always provided.
The dying man who gave me flowers changed how I see care
09/08/25 at 03:10 AMThe dying man who gave me flowers changed how I see care MedPageToday's KevinMD.com; by Augusta Uwah, MD; 9/2/25 Today for the first time, I got flowers from a grateful patient. And I reflect on how rough the week has been, all the things that seemed impossible and insurmountable, and everything that has brought me to this point. The patient is going on hospice, he’s going to die, yet he felt that I made a significant impact that he wanted to show his gratitude. And that almost brought me to tears. ...
Job Board 9/8/25
09/08/25 at 03:00 AMCOUNTDOWN: 22 Days Until HOPE Tool Starts, October 1, 2025
Home health groups press for a piece of rural health funding
09/08/25 at 03:00 AMHome health groups press for a piece of rural health funding Modern Healthcare; by Diane Eastabrook; 9/2/25 Key Takeaways
The rise of psychedelic therapeutics for end-of-life care: A new frontier in mental health and palliative medicine
09/08/25 at 03:00 AMThe rise of psychedelic therapeutics for end-of-life care: A new frontier in mental health and palliative medicine AI Invest; by Julian Cruz; 9/3/25 Aime Summary
68 hospitals, health systems cutting jobs
09/08/25 at 03:00 AM68 hospitals, health systems cutting jobs Becker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch and Kristin Kuchno; 8/29/25 A number of hospitals and health systems are reducing their workforces or jobs amid financial and operational challenges. [Listed] are workforce reduction efforts or job eliminations announced in 2025.
VIA Health Partners acquires primary care company Equity Health
09/08/25 at 03:00 AMVIA Health Partners acquires primary care company Equity Health Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 9/4/25 North Carolina-headquartered VIA Health partners has expanded into the home-based primary care arena with the acquisition of Equity Health. Financial terms were undisclosed. Michelle Schmerge, president and founder of Equity Health, established the company about five years ago. Equity Health’s model involves offering a full spectrum of primary care services in the home, with the goals of reducing burden on caregivers, reducing hospitalizations and improving chronic disease management. ... VIA Health Partners is an independent, community-based not-for-profit provider of hospice and serious illness care, serving more than 5,000 patients and families daily across 38 counties across the Carolinas.
Update on malpractice claims
09/08/25 at 03:00 AMUpdate on malpractice claimsLinkedIn; by Elizabeth Hogue; 9/3/25New analysis by Claggett, Sykes and Garza Trial Lawyers shows that registered nurses (RNs) and physicians continue to top the list of health professions most likely to be sued for malpractice... While the total number of malpractice suits has decreased by almost 20% in ten years, the severity of claims has risen... Home care nurses, including those providing hospice and palliative care, were the most vulnerable to professional liability claims of all nursing specialties... [The article includes factors that may contribute to increases in claims against home health nurses and strategies that nurses can use to protect themselves from malpractice claims.]
College of Nursing receives $1.8m gift from Mark Bruce Swillinger
09/08/25 at 03:00 AMCollege of Nursing receives $1.8m gift from Mark Bruce Swillinger Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL; by Kristine Gobbo; 9/2/25 Florida Atlantic University's Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing has received a $1.5 million gift from Mark Bruce Swillinger in memory of his wife, Marilyn Lee Swillinger, to establish an endowed professorship in hospice and palliative care nursing. The Mark Bruce and Marilyn Lee Swillinger Endowed Professor will expose nursing students to specialized studies in hospice and palliative care throughout their nursing education.
What executives can learn from how and why hospitals plan for a crisis
09/08/25 at 03:00 AMWhat executives can learn from how and why hospitals plan for a crisis Forbes; by Edward Segal; 9/2/25
Irish man uses ChatGPT for sore throat advice, later diagnosed with stage 4 cancer
09/08/25 at 03:00 AMIrish man uses ChatGPT for sore throat advice, later diagnosed with stage 4 cancer TimesNow; by Ashima Sharda Mahindra; 9/1/25 A 37-year-old Irish man from Kerry sought advice on ChatGPT on chronic sore throat and swallowing difficulties – and was ultimately diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal adenocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive throat cancer. Warren Tierney said ChatGPT had reassured him that cancer was “highly unlikely,” which led him to a delay in seeking professional medical care. Months later, Warren was diagnosed with cancer, which has a five-year survival rate between five and ten per cent globally.
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to ...
09/08/25 at 03:00 AMCourage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. ~ Winston Churchill
Food drive will aid hospice patients
09/08/25 at 03:00 AMFood drive will aid hospice patients The County, Presque Isle, ME; by Contributed; 9/3/25 Northern Light Home Care and Hospice is holding a patient food drive now through Sept. 22 to support patients experiencing food insecurity. Home Care and Hospice clinicians and home health aides make more than 169,500 in-home visits each year caring for patients across the state. They see first-hand the food insecurity patients are experiencing. “We know that nutrition helps patients have better healing outcomes from a recent surgery or a chronic condition. Worrying about where their next meal is coming from should not be one of their concerns,” said LeighAnn Howard, vice president of clinical operations at Northern Light Home Care and Hospice. Editor's Note: The autumn season is an excellent time to hold your own patient food drive to "support patients experiencing food insecurity." Read this learn from Northern Light Home Care and Hospice innovative outreach and support.
Our Hospice Concert raises $71,000
09/08/25 at 02:00 AMOur Hospice Concert raises $71,000 The Republic, Columbus, IN; by Hallie Gallinat; 9/3/25 Organizers say more than 1,200 people attended the 39th annual Our Hospice Summer Concert Saturday at the Circle K Fieldhouse at NexusPark to listen to the music of Elton John, Billy Joel and The Eagles. This year’s concert raised $71,000 to benefit Our Hospice programs and services. Funds raised from the concert directly support Our Hospice’s mission to provide hospice care, bereavement services and palliative care for patients and families across South Central Indiana.
This Calif. woman is dying of pancreatic cancer: 'Why I'm choosing to end my life in 2 days' (Exclusive)
09/07/25 at 03:55 AMThis Calif. woman is dying of pancreatic cancer: 'Why I'm choosing to end my life in 2 days' (Exclusive)People; by Eileen Finan; 8/29/25California resident Roseana Spangler-Sims, 72, was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in 2024. After undergoing treatment with no improvement, she decided she wanted to end her life through California's Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) law. Spangler-Sims will ingest her lethal medication Sunday, Aug. 31. She's sharing her story with PEOPLE to raise awareness of MAID as an end-of-life option.
Publicly traded hospice companies seeking acquisitions, reporting substantial growth
09/07/25 at 03:50 AMPublicly traded hospice companies seeking acquisitions, reporting substantial growth Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 8/28/25 The nation’s largest hospice companies are seeing significant hospice growth amid executive changes and rising interest in M&A. These are the key themes that emerged during this year’s second quarter earnings season, in which publicly traded home health and hospice companies report their financial results, guidance for the remainder of the year and other key announcements. ...
Protecting Florida's seniors: Fighting fraud and financial exploitation
09/07/25 at 03:45 AMProtecting Florida's seniors: Fighting fraud and financial exploitation Targeted News Service; 8/29/25 The Senate Special Committee on Aging released the following testimony by Brandy Bauer, director of the Senior Medicare Patrol Resource Center, from an Aug. 7, 2025, field hearing entitled "Protecting Florida's Seniors: Fighting Fraud and Financial Exploitation": Chairman Scott, thank you for inviting me here today on behalf of the Senior Medicare Patrol program. The nation's 54 Senior Medicare Patrol, or SMP, programs are managed by the U.S. Administration for Community Living, with the mission to help empower and assist people to prevent, detect, and report Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse. ...
CMS updates AHEAD model: 6 things to know
09/07/25 at 03:40 AMCMS updates AHEAD model: 6 things to know Becker's Hospital Review; by Alan Condon; 9/2/25 CMS on Sept. 2 unveiled policy and operational updates to the Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design Model, a state total cost of care initiative launched in 2023 to curb spending, improve population health and advance health equity. Six things to know:
Honoring the lives and legacies of hospice leaders - August 2025
09/07/25 at 03:35 AMHonoring the lives and legacies of hospice leaders - August 2025
Social workers’ role in improving hospice live discharge processes
09/07/25 at 03:30 AMSocial workers’ role in improving hospice live discharge processes Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 8/26/25 A lack of standardized care coordination is challenging the ability for patients and families to receive support following a live discharge from hospice. Deeper integration of social work services may help address the issue. This is according to findings from a recent study published in the Journal of Gerontological Social Work, which examined different methodologies for preparing patients, family caregivers and providers for hospice-initiated live discharges from social worker perspectives.