National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation

11/21/2025

Did you know...?
Palliative care isn’t just for the end of life; it’s about improving comfort and quality of life at any stage of a serious illness.

It works alongside ongoing treatment to help manage symptoms, reduce stress, and support both patients and their loved ones through complex care decisions.

Our Caring Well Guide offers clear, practical information about what palliative care is and how it can help.

Check it out below:
https://www.nphihealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Hospice-Palliative-Care-Month-2.pdf

11/19/2025

We’re thrilled to welcome two new mission-driven members to NPHI! Please join us in welcoming St. Anthony's Hospice and Transitions LifeCare - NC as the newest nonprofit organizations to join our growing membership of community-based, nonprofit hospice and advanced illness care providers.

Both organizations bring deep expertise, a strong commitment to compassionate care, and decades of service to their communities. We are honored to have them as part of our membership and look forward to working together to advance our collective mission ensuring patients and families have access to the highest quality care.

Learn more: https://www.nphihealth.org/nphi-welcomes-two-new-nonprofit-members-st-anthonys-hospice-and-transitions-lifecare/

11/18/2025

NPHI proudly supports the bipartisan Legacy Act; a critical step forward in ensuring that every person’s end-of-life wishes are known, accessible, and respected.

Introduced by Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC), the Legacy Act would establish a secure, standardized national system to store and access important documents like advance directives, health care proxies, and living wills.

“Too often, families and care teams struggle to locate critical documents that express a person’s preferences for care and decision-making,” said Tom Koutsoumpas, NPHI Founder and CEO.

“A secure, national system will help providers uphold patient values, ease stress on families, and honor the deeply human desire to be known, heard, and respected during life’s final chapter.”

Read more: https://suozzi.house.gov/media/press-releases/suozzi-and-murphy-introduce-commonsense-bipartisan-bill-ensure-end-life-wishes

11/18/2025

This November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. We’re taking a moment to recognize the people and families living with lung cancer and the strength they show every day.

NPHI members across the country care for patients with all types of lung diseases, including lung cancer. They continue to share stories, resources, and tools to help patients get the support they need.

We also offer an Advanced Cancer Care Patient & Caregiver Guide, created with the American Cancer Society. It’s an easy-to-use resource to help families understand their options and feel more prepared.

📘 Learn more and explore the guide:
nphihealth.org/cancer

11/17/2025

Not sure what hospice or palliative care are? You’re not the only one.
Many people have questions or hear things that aren’t quite right, so we’re here to help clear things up!

Here are some facts that surprise people:

✅ Palliative care isn’t only for the end of life. It can start early and help people feel better while they’re still getting treatment.

✅ Hospice isn’t just for people with cancer. It helps people with many illnesses, like heart problems or memory loss due to advanced dementia.

✅ Choosing hospice doesn’t mean giving up. It means focusing on comfort, support, and feeling as good as possible.

There’s a lot more to hospice and palliative care than most people think.

📘 Check out our Public Guide to Hospice & Palliative Care, Caring Well. It clears up common myths and helps families understand their care options:https://www.nphihealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Hospice-Palliative-Care-Month-2.pdf

11/17/2025

Staff at Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo called on NY Governor Kathy Hochul last week to sign legislation preventing for-profit hospices from growing or opening until better patient safeguards are in place.

"The bill is simple but powerful," said Jeanne Chirico, President of Hpcanys Albany NY. "It would prohibit the state from approving new for-profit hospice programs until stronger oversight and consumer protections are in place. Why is that important? Because evidence from across the country has shown us what happens when hospice becomes a business model instead of a mission."

Read more:

Workers gathered to call on Governor Hochul to sign legislation preventing for-profit hospices from growing or opening until better patient safeguards are in place.

11/14/2025

Our members' work is vital; not just to patients and families, but to the communities they serve. From rural towns to major cities, their commitment to delivering high-quality, person-centered care makes such a lasting difference.
Thank you to the care teams, staff, volunteers, and everyone involved in making this compassionate care possible every day!

11/13/2025

Last night, President Trump signed into law a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded through January 30, 2026. The bill remained the same as the one we detailed yesterday afternoon, meaning Medicare telehealth flexibilities have been reinstated and temporarily extended through the end of January. This includes the hospice face-to-face recertification, removal of geographic requirements, and the expansion of originating sites flexibilities.

As a reminder, the bill retroactively dates the extension of these flexibilities back to October 1st. This essentially requires CMS to reimburse providers for any claims furnished under the Medicare telehealth flexibilities during the shutdown.

11/13/2025

Every person’s journey is different; and their care should be too.

This , we’re shining a light on what whole-person care really means. Hospice and palliative care support more than physical needs. They also care for a person’s emotional, cultural, and spiritual needs.

When care meets every part of who someone is, it helps them feel seen, supported, and understood.

11/12/2025

Yesterday was Veterans Day, and each year we honor those who have served. For us that means recognizing how NPHI members like Community Healthcare of Texas (CHOT) are standing beside our veterans in life’s most vulnerable moments.

When 93-year-old Korean War Veteran and Purple Heart recipient Norman Laux began to experience declining health, CHOT’s palliative care team stepped in to ensure he and his wife could stay together and focus on what mattered most: time with family, comfort, and peace of mind.

Their veteran-trained team coordinated care with the VA, provided in-home visits, managed his symptoms, and supported his wife and family every step of the way. Even after Norman and his wife transitioned to assisted living, CHOT continued to stay alongside them — helping them navigate change with dignity, compassion, and respect.

This is what makes CHOT, and all NPHI members, so extraordinary. Their care reminds us that behind every veteran’s service record is a life, a family, and a story worth honoring.

Read more about Norman’s experience here:

This Veterans Day and National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, we honor Korean War Veteran Norman Laux and his journey with compassionate care in Texas.

11/12/2025

What is hospice care really about?

Not everyone understands hospice or palliative care; and that’s okay! Our Public Guide to Hospice & Palliative Care helps explain what they are, how they’re different, and why they matter.

Many people think hospice is only for when you give up on treatment. But that’s not true. Hospice isn’t about giving up; it’s about focusing on comfort, clarity, and quality of life with those you love.

Hospice care helps people and families feel supported during one of life’s hardest times. It’s not less care; it’s the right care.

Explore our guide here:https://www.nphihealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Hospice-Palliative-Care-Month-2.pdf

11/11/2025

Today on Veterans Day, we honor the men and women who have served our country with courage and dedication. We’re reminded of this during ; that honoring veterans means ensuring their care reflects the dignity and respect they’ve given to others.

Across the country, our members care for more than 26,000 veterans each year, representing up to 10% of patients served, providing support that honors each person’s physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

As we honor their service, we’re reminded of the importance of seeing every veteran as a whole person; recognizing their experiences, values, and the lives they’ve built beyond their service.

Read more: https://www.nphihealth.org/?p=988875