Literature Review

Navigating the Wage Index: Insights from industry experts Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast by Chris Comeaux with Annette Kiser and Judi Lund Person; 8/20/25 The healthcare landscape is transforming before our eyes, shifting away from hospital-centered care toward home-based models.  This fundamental change raises urgent questions about Medicare's outdated reimbursement systems, particularly for Hospice providers facing a mere 2.6% rate increase while battling significant inflation. Join us in this illuminating conversation and in-depth discussion with industry experts Annette Kiser, Chief Compliance Officer with Teleios, and Judi Lund Person, Principal, Lund Person & Associates LLC, as they sit down with Chris and explore the complexities of the final 2026 Hospice Wage Index and its impact on Hospice organizations.

Marine veteran’s hospice wedding celebrates love and compassion Greater Good; Guest Contributor; 8/18/25 When Marine Corps Veteran Ivson Shelley entered hospice care at the Lebanon VA Medical Center in Pennsylvania, he had one final wish: to marry his lifelong love, Wanda Rivera. Their story, shared by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, is a testament to enduring love, the compassion of caregivers, and the power of community. As a Vietnam War Veteran, Shelley’s journey is already marked by service and sacrifice. But it is this deeply personal moment—his wedding in hospice—that has touched hearts across the country and highlighted the dedication of VA staff in honoring Veterans' final wishes.

The mixed home-based care dealmaking outlook Home Health Care News; by Joyce Famakinwa; 8/18/25 ... Kris Novak, managing director of The Braff Group, explained that M&A experts are seeing similar volumes to the last couple of years. While some segments of home-based care face significant challenges that can slow dealmaking, others are insulated from some external factors. Overall, an uptick in transaction activity is right around the corner. ... Novak noted that, in addition to home care, we can expect to see a number of hospice acquisitions as the year continues. ... Novak also predicts that we may see PE interest in what are described as more niche segments of home-based care, such as private-duty nursing or pediatrics.

Everyone deserves a dignified death. But will everyone get one? U.S. News & World Report; Commentary by Tom Koutsoumpas; 8/18/25 Before hospice care first came to the United States in the 1970s, the experience of dying in America was often a cold and lonely one. Most people spent their final days in stark, unfamiliar hospital rooms – places that felt more like holding cells than spaces of comfort – often without the warmth, dignity or closeness of those they loved most. ... Nonprofit hospices that are grounded in their communities deliver comprehensive support to patients and families and reinvest every dollar back into mission-driven services. They have consistently delivered some of the highest-quality outcomes for patients and families. ... The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation, which I founded in 2015, supports nonprofit hospices in upholding high standards and making sure end-of-life care is delivered with compassion – not profit – in mind. We have advocated for policies that put patients first, strengthen hospice regulations and advance quality, community-based care.

Attorney General Bonta conducts first-ever review of proposed hospice affiliations, conditionally approves transactions to ensure continued access to hospice services California Department of Justice, Rob Bonta - Attorney General, Oakland, CA; Press Release; 8/20/25California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced conditionally approving the affiliations of Chapters Health System, Inc., a Florida not-for-profit hospice provider, with two nonprofit hospice providers in California. Chapters Health System, Inc. is seeking to expand its current operations, which are largely based on the East Coast, through the creation of “Chapters West Region,” a nonprofit hospice network covering California, Nevada, and Oregon. Specifically, in California, Chapters Health System, Inc. proposed affiliations with East Bay Integrated Care, Inc. (doing business as Hospice East Bay) and Hospice of Santa Cruz County. Both Hospice East Bay and Hospice of Santa Cruz County are longstanding providers of hospice and palliative care in their respective communities. Under California law, any transaction involving the sale, or transfer of control and governance of a nonprofit health facility, must secure the approval of the Attorney General’s Office. Today’s conditional approval represents the first-ever review involving nonprofit hospice providers by the Attorney General’s Office; the overwhelming majority of hospice providers are for-profit entities.  

With time running out, advocates mount push for telehealth, hospital-at-home extensions McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 8/15/25 With the Sept. 30 expiration date approaching for telehealth flexibilities implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, industry advocates are urging lawmakers to pass a two-year extension. “We have only 48 days to avert a telehealth shutdown on October 1, and we’re relying on continued bipartisan, bicameral support to win the day,” Kyle Zebley, executive director of American Telemedicine Association Action and senior vice president of public policy for the ATA, said Thursday [8/14] in a statement.

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is wrapping a present and not giving it. ~ William Arthur Ward

How to estimate your EHR implementation cost: Factors that impact your budget Joyrulez; by RickD32; 8/14/25 Implementing an EHR (Electronic Health Record) system is one of the most significant investments a healthcare organization can make. Beyond the obvious benefits of digital recordkeeping—such as improved patient care, streamlined workflows, and regulatory compliance—the financial implications of EHR implementation are considerable. Understanding the factors that influence costs is essential for accurate budgeting and successful project execution. This guide will break down the key considerations, providing insights into an ehr implementation cost breakdown, the roles involved, and hidden expenses that organizations often overlook.

A photo essay of birth & death doulas Charlotte Magazine; by A.M. Stewart; 8/17/25 I photographed my first death at 17. It was my great-grandmother’s funeral, and something inside me said it was an important moment to document. But it wasn’t until 2018—19 years later, when my father died—when I began to devote part of myself as a documentary photographer to the subject of death and dying.

Musical organization brings comfort to hospice patients CBS 19 News, Charlottesville, VA by Jadyn Howard; 8/14/25 The Front Porch, a nonprofit music organization, partners with Hospice of the Piedmont to give musical performances to patients in their final months. "Mom doesn’t know her grandchildren or great-grandchildren, but Clara sings the song and words come out it’s beautiful so something about the brain remembers music," said Beth Johnson, daughter of a patient at Linden House for Assisted Living.  Clara George is a Front Porch musician who performs for Johnson's mother every Thursday. "People who have dementia a lot of times they can felt isolated or lonely or agitated and when I start playing with them I see their hands start to clap and sing along," said George.