Hospice Keys, 2 University Plaza Suite 100, Hackensack, NJ (2026)

02/21/2026

We’re about 60 days into the new HOPE assessment requirements under HQRP.

The findings reported in this interview report:
- High compliance rates
- Little to no increase in documentation time

From a clinical perspective, I’m curious:
Is HOPE helping you think differently about patient assessments?
Is it leading to a meaningful improvement in quality of patient care - which was CMS' objective - or does it feel like another reporting layer?

HHS is looking at how the care plan is supporting the patient, says Sandy Griffiths, senior product manager for Homecare Homebase.

02/20/2026

This article explores the concept of whether end of life should be seen less as a medical event and more as a human journey that includes spiritual and existential dimensions.

Clinical practice guidelines already recognize the importance of addressing psychological, social, and spiritual needs alongside physical symptom management. Despite this, often much of the focus near life’s end is on interventions versus presence, meaning, and dignity.

Rather than taking a position, this article invites us to think about how we integrate medical care with other forms of support that matter deeply to patients and families.

Demedicalize dying by choosing dignity-based care over medical interventions. Learn how dignity doulas and spiritual support can transform end-of-life experiences.

02/19/2026

The proposed Credit for Caring Act would offer up to $5,000 in tax credits to eligible family caregivers.

In hospice and serious illness care, caregiver capacity directly affects what is possible at home. When caregivers are stretched - financially, emotionally, or physically - it impacts medication management, crisis calls, safety concerns, and may even result in earlier transitions to higher levels of care.

The proposed tax incentive doesn’t change clinical complexity nor does it replace skilled support. But it does attempt to address one component of caregiver strain: financial pressure.

The real question is whether financial relief meaningfully shifts caregiver sustainability or whether the structural challenges run deeper.

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Carey (R-Ohio-15), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, and U.S. Rep Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.-38), as well as U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), reintroduced the Credit for Caring Act, bipartisan legislation...

02/18/2026

I listened to a fantastic interview with hospice pharmacist Dr. Jason Kimbrel. Lots of valuable insight packed into one conversation.

He covered everything from:
- Common patient misperceptions about medications used in hospice
- The importance of deprescribing
- Pharmacist input in the IDG
- Monitoring and managing pharmacy spend
- When it actually makes sense for a hospice to hire a pharmacist

What really stood out was the broad impact hospice pharmacists have on patients and families. Dr. Kimbrel’s own journey into hospice pharmacy was also fascinating to hear.

Highly recommend giving this one a listen. 🎧 It’s informative, practical, and incredibly meaningful.

From clinical rotations in Maine to guiding strategy at a national scale, Dr. Jason Kimbrel has defined his career by "living in the gray." As the COO of Yel...

02/17/2026

Many hospice leaders are familiar with PEPPER report, but far fewer are regularly checking their eCBRs. These electronic reports are CMS’s way of highlighting where a hospice agency’s billing stands out from the crowd.

Our latest post on Hospice Keys explains what a "90th percentile" ranking actually means for an agency and how to respond to "Significantly Higher" signals without drowning the team in unnecessary data.

Check your data before an auditor does. Read more here: https://tinyurl.com/rhc9wny6

Learn how hospice leadership can utilize the Comparative Billing Report (CBR) and eCBR as targeted tools to identify billing outliers and improve compliance.

02/16/2026

We’re becoming more comfortable talking about dying but there’s still a huge gap between knowing we should and actually saying the things that matter most. 💛

Studies show that 90% of people think talking about death is important, yet far fewer actually have these conversations.

Saying what truly needs to be said - “Thank you,” “I forgive you,” “I love you” - before someone can no longer express themselves isn’t just meaningful. It's healing. These heartfelt words can bring connection, peace, and closure for both the patient and loved ones.

Don’t wait for the last moment. Start the conversation today.

By Anna Lamb Harvard Staff Writer More than 90 percent of Americans believe that we should be able to talk about death and dying, according to a recent poll. But only 27 […]

02/14/2026

A new development in hospice oversight may signal where the industry is headed.

Empassion Health just announced Empassion Assured, described as the first independent certification program for hospice providers. The launch comes amid increased CMS and DOJ enforcement actions related to fraud, eligibility, and improper billing - issues that have led to tighter scrutiny in several states.

This raises a key question:

Will independent, outcomes-driven certification become a new layer of trust in hospice - beyond licensure and surveys?

As enforcement increases and pre-payment reviews expand, high-quality providers are looking for ways to differentiate themselves from bad actors. Is third-party validation the answer? Or will regulatory oversight continue to expand instead?

Interested in hearing the perspective on this from clinicians, policy leaders, operators, and others in the hospice field.

Medicare hospice fraud cost the US a reported $3.4 billion in bogus claims in FY 2023. Now, a new standard introduces transparent, continuous, real-world...

02/13/2026

This Hospice News article reports on insights gathered from hospice leaders on what they believe will be the biggest focus areas and challenges for the industry in 2026.

Topics include staffing and workforce sustainability, regulatory pressures, technology’s growing role in care delivery, and how hospice continues to evolve to better meet patient and family needs.

This is a valuable and insightful read for anyone in the industry.

Hospice News interviewed several industry leaders to identify the most significant market forces and trends expected to shape the sector in 2026. Their

02/12/2026

Many families enter hospice care wishing they had talked about death sooner.

When end-of-life conversations happen early, they can reduce fear, ease decision-making, and allow families to focus on connection rather than confusion. This blog explores why talking about death matters—and how hospice care supports families when clarity and compassion are needed most.

Avoiding conversations about death leaves families unprepared. Learn why early discussions matter and how hospice care helps reduce chaos and fear.

02/11/2026

More people are choosing at-home palliative care. For many patients and families, hospitals feel rushed, noisy, and clinical. At home, care happens in a familiar, peaceful environment that honors comfort, connection, and dignity.

This shift tells us something important about healthcare: patients want care that meets them where they live -- literally and emotionally. As we rethink healthcare delivery, at-home care models highlight the value of comfort, personalization, and human connection in serious illness care.

Read the full article and reflect on what it means about the future of care.

For decades, end-of-life care meant one thing. A hospital room. A facility bed. A rotation of staff. A fluorescent light that never quite turns off. Families told themselves this was

02/10/2026

Big steps are being taken in palliative care -- and it’s not just happening in clinics.

Researchers and policymakers at the Solomon Center for Health Law and Policy at Yale Law School have launched a first-of-its-kind initiative focused on palliative care law and policy. This effort includes a new open-access policy database that tracks state legislation and supports evidence-based reforms across the country.

Palliative care is more than end-of-life care. It helps people with serious illness live better with symptom relief and support across their life journey.

By building stronger research and policy tools, experts are helping lawmakers, clinicians, and communities improve access, quality, and equity in palliative care for people of all ages and backgrounds.

The Solomon Center for Health Law and Policy has established the country’s first comprehensive interdisciplinary initiative dedicated to palliative medical care, law, and policy — a pathbreaking effort that is already shaping reforms for patients of all ages.

02/09/2026

Many people don’t realize that hospice care is often introduced far later than it should be. One reason may start in medical school.

A recent article written by a medical student highlights how limited education is around death, dying, and end-of-life care. When doctors aren’t trained to recognize when a patient may benefit from hospice - or feel uncomfortable having those conversations - referrals often happen very late, sometimes only in the final days of life.

Late hospice referrals can mean:
- Less symptom control
- More hospitalizations
- Fewer meaningful moments at home
- Increased stress for families

Better education around end-of-life care leads to earlier, more compassionate recommendations and better experiences for patients and loved ones.

This is why conversations about hospice matter sooner than we think.

Although physicians play a critical role in end-of-life care, U.S. medical schools vary widely in how death and dying topics are taught. This scoping revie

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