National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation

09/25/2025

CMS has launched the Rural Health Transformation Fund (RHTF)—a $50 billion initiative (2026–2030) designed to strengthen rural health care delivery. States, not individual providers, will apply for funding by 11/5/25, and strong stakeholder engagement will be critical in shaping proposals.

This presents an important opportunity for hospices to have a voice at the table and ensure serious illness and end-of-life care are part of the conversation. NPHI strongly supports hospice and palliative care being prioritized in these efforts and will continue advocating for members’ inclusion as states develop their plans.

Members can read our full update on the Member Portal Policy & Advocacy Hub https://members.nphihealth.org/resources/advocacy-hub/

09/25/2025

When one hospice patient expressed a lifelong dream of visiting the North Carolina Zoo, the Carolina Caring Foundation stepped in to make it a reality. From arranging transportation to ensuring comfort and safety throughout the day, the team worked with love and dedication to give this patient and their family an experience filled with joy and wonder.

Our members are always at the forefront of putting patients first; going beyond care to honor their wishes and create these meaningful moments.

Read the full story here:

NEWTON, NC—A hospice patient fulfilled her lifelong dream of meeting and feeding a giraffe thanks to the Life Enrichment Fund through the Carolina Caring Foundation. Deborah, a patient at Carolina Caring, has always been fascinated by the wildlife of Africa, the work of Jane Goodall, and the uniqu...

09/24/2025

Our Medical & Clinical Leaders gathered for a Happy Hour at last week’s Washington Leadership Conference. The group included leaders with diverse professional paths — from a CFO turned CEO to an MD turned CEO, alongside chief clinical leaders and CMOs. This gathering of experts was truly a highlight of the week.

We are pleased to be able to offer gatherings like these at all future in-person events. A place where our members can connect, share expertise, and strengthen relationships with like-minded colleagues (in similar professions) from across the nonprofit hospice & healthcare community.

09/24/2025

As you know, we love to share innovations and unique ideas on our social media channels. Like the introduction of cuddle beds that some hospice programs have incorporated into their care. These are wider hospital beds that allow loved ones to lie beside patients in their final days.

It’s a reminder that innovation in hospice care is about more than medicine, it’s about treating the person with dignity and going the extra mile to bring comfort to patients and their families.

Read more:

The beds widen to allow patients to lie next to and embrace their love ones or pets.

09/23/2025

🌟 Recap: NPHI Washington Leadership Conference 2025

Last week, nonprofit hospice and advanced illness leaders from across the country gathered in D.C. for NPHI’s annual Washington Leadership Conference. It was one of our greatest meetings in the capital, and the energy and momentum was inspiring.

Some highlights included:

➡️ Senator Mark Warner reintroducing the Improving Access to Advance Care Planning Act
➡️ Kim Brandt, CMS Deputy Administrator & COO, sharing insights on hospice program integrity and tackling bad actors
➡️ Over 60 Hill Day meetings with congressional representatives advocating for patients and families

You can read the full recap here: https://www.nphihealth.org/recap-nphi-convenes-national-leaders-in-washington-for-annual-fall-leadership-conference/

09/23/2025

We are proud to share that Cameron Muir MD, Chief Medical & Innovation Officer, and Marian Grant, Innovation Lab Clinical Advisor, will represent NPHI at the LeadingAge Annual Meeting & Expo in Boston, November 2–5, 2025.

The LeadingAge Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of nonprofit aging services professionals, bringing together leaders from across the country to exchange ideas, share innovations, and shape the future of care for older adults.

Dr. Muir and Dr. Grant will lead a session titled “Tools to Enhance Your Hospice and Palliative Care Referrals” on Sunday, November 2, where they will share strategies and tools to strengthen referral pathways and improve access to high-quality hospice and palliative care.

Learn more about the meeting and make plans to join them in Boston: https://annualmeeting.leadingage.org/attend/

09/22/2025

At NPHI, we are committed to improving the quality of care and health outcomes for people across the country. We recently joined together with likeminded organizations to support the Administration’s proposal to dramatically reduce payments for skin substitutes that are harming Medicare patients.

We strongly support the Administration’s proposal to reduce payments for these products and to protect beneficiaries in traditional Medicare.

Read a quick summary in the Washington Post under “Agency Intel”: https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-intelligence/health-brief/2025/09/12/brace-yourself-vaccine-policy-upheaval-cdc/

09/19/2025

Day 2 of NPHI’s Washington Leadership Conference pushed us to think bigger — about care, about quality, and about possibility.

📊 Population Health & Care Management — Anthony Evans, Marian Grant, Mel Hillier, and Gayle Mattson (moderated by Cameron Muir) shared their expertise on care management and care coordination, discussing how improving these processes can enhance the delivery of care and positively impact patients. They also highlighted NPHI’s upcoming Care Management Certificate Program, launching in 2026, and discussed how it connects to NPHI’s Clinical and Caregiver Guides along with key considerations from population health subject matter experts.

✅ Fireside Chat with CMS/CCSQ — Melissa Daly from CCSQ and Judi Lund Person discussed quality, safety, and oversight in hospice care, including updates on the HOPE tool, survey timelines, and the importance of collaboration to strengthen accountability and improve care.

📸 Keynote: Steve Uzzell — The acclaimed photographer and storyteller reminded us that while none of us can change our beginnings, we do have the power to change our endings. “Each of you will become known for the problems you solve,” he said, leaving us inspired to approach challenges with creativity and purpose.

A special thanks to Chapters Health for sponsoring today’s keynote and gifting attendees a copy of Steve’s book — the perfect reading for the journey home. ✈️

09/19/2025

Our Thursday afternoon sessions at the Washington Leadership Conference highlighted the leadership and expertise of nonprofit hospice and palliative care organizations.

Peter Benjamin (NPHI Strategic Advisor), Rebecca Ramsay (CEO, Housecall Providers), Shawn Sullivan (President & CEO, Midland Care Connection), and Bob Tavares (VP & General Manager, HealthPivots) led a discussion on Value-Based Care for frail elders and the impact on hospice organizations.

The panel explored key metrics that most effectively demonstrate the value proposition of an advanced illness provider from a payor’s perspective. Shawn and Rebecca, leaders of hospice organizations participating in an ACO, shared their experiences and highlighted how they have utilized data to position their programs as a cost-saving service line.

Cameron Muir, MD (Chief Medical & Innovation Officer, NPHI), Stephanie Patel, MD (President & CEO, Care Dimensions), and Mike Smith (President & CEO, Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County) took a deeper dive into our brand-new Member Quality Dashboard — a powerful tool for measuring and demonstrating the value of care.

Shawn Martin (EVP & CEO, American Academy of Family Physicians) spoke about the history and future of health policy in a rapidly evolving political environment — sharing lessons from the primary care community that can help shape how we position ourselves in the hospice community.

Robin Shultz provided a highlight of our Member Engagement work - sharing some of the enhancements we have made during the calendar year and what changes members have to look forward to in the coming months.

The day closed with members sharing stories with the audience from over 60 meetings on Capitol Hill this week, amplifying the voice of nonprofit hospice and palliative care directly with their congressional leaders. 🏛️ See a couple of our members photos included.

09/18/2025

A strong start to Day 1 of our Washington Leadership Conference!

This morning, our senior leadership, Tom Koutsoumpas (founder & CEO), Carole Fisher Hayward (President), and Board Chair Diana Franchitto (president & CEO, HopeHealth) opened the conference sharing key updates since our Summit, and highlighting the importance of convening in person here in Washington, D.C. Tom shared more about NPHI's role in the capital and how our organization is respected by those at the highest levels of government.

Our congressional keynote was delivered by Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), who emphasized the importance of protecting hospice care and encouraged members to stay engaged in advocacy, “We need to stand up for what we believe is right or those rights and benefits will be taken away.” Hearing directly from a congressional leader underscores the vital role our members play in shaping policy and protecting patients and providers alike. Senator Warner used the stage to reintroduce bipartisan legislation to expand access to advance care planning with his Improving Access to Advance Care Planning Act.

We welcomed CMS Deputy Administrator & COO Kimberly Brandt for a lively discussion focused on CMS's efforts to address hospice program integrity challenges. Kim encouraged our members to talk to her team. “Use your association (NPHI) to talk to us. We are really grateful for our partnership with you”.

Our own policy leaders, Ethan McChesney and Quinten Lyons, highlighted NPHI's policy and regulatory priorities including, an extension of telehealth flexibilities and efforts to address fraud, waste, and abuse, among a variety of other pressing issues

We’re energized by the conversations already underway and look forward to a full day of collaboration in D.C.

09/18/2025

NPHI’s annual fall Washington Leadership Conference is officially underway — and the first day was filled with energy and momentum.

We convened our Board of Directors for an in-person meeting yesterday, setting the stage for the important work ahead. A highlight of the afternoon was a special listening session with Kimberly Brandt, Deputy Director and COO of CMS. Having a leader of her stature in the room was invaluable as our Board engaged in a candid discussion about the most pressing issues and potential solutions in hospice care.

In the evening, we welcomed members to our D.C. home for a lively Welcome Reception. There’s nothing more exciting than gathering together to celebrate, and we were thrilled to honor the birthday of our own Judi Lund Person, MPH, CHC, Senior Advisor, Fraud and Abuse, a trusted and respected voice in the hospice community. Happy Birthday, Judi! 🎉

It was a meaningful first day, and we’ll be sharing more updates later today about our Thursday sessions.

09/16/2025

September is World Alzheimer’s Month; a time to honor those living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers, and to raise awareness about the importance of compassionate, person-centered support.

Through innovative approaches to care and resources like our Dementia Care Guide, our members are helping families navigate the challenges of dementia and Alzheimer’s with dignity and compassion.

This month, we invite you to explore tools and resources like this Dementia Care Guide that can make a difference in care.

Explore our Guide to learn more: https://www.nphihealth.org/dementia/