National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation

01/07/2026

Healthcare leaders in Nevada recently discussed workforce shortages, rising operational and insurance costs, and access to care across the state. The conversation also explored workforce development and collaboration as ways to support long-term sustainability.

The discussion included insights from our Board Treasurer Karen Rubel, CEO of Nathan Adelson Hospice, offering useful perspective for hospice and advanced illness care providers seeking to better understand broader healthcare trends and system-level pressures.

Read more:

Recently, a group of experts in healthcare met at a roundtable sponsored by Nevada State Bank to discuss the industry and the many challenges it faces.

01/05/2026

Members, have you secured your ticket to the most impactful hospice and healthcare conference of 2026?

We’re thrilled to welcome you to NPHI’s 2026 Annual Summit: Quality in Action, and we want to make sure your organization is fully represented and prepared.

🚨 The Early Bird Rate expires January 17, 2026: register now to secure discounted pricing!

What to expect:

✅ First‑ever Pre‑Summit Field Trips

✅ CE‑eligible sessions and plenary speakers

✅ Networking, evening events, and awards

✅ Breakout sessions focused on real‑world challenges and forward‑looking solutions

Learn more and register here: https://summit.nphihealth.org/

12/31/2025

As we step into a new year, we’re taking a moment to look back with gratitude — and forward with purpose.

This past year our work has continued to be shaped by: stronger collaboration, thoughtful innovation, and a shared commitment to dignity, compassion, and high-quality care for people and families across the country.

In the year ahead, we’ll keep listening to what patients and families need and we’ll continue working alongside our members to push healthcare forward in ways that stay deeply human.

Here’s to a year of progress, partnership, and impact.

Happy New Year from all of us at NPHI ✨

12/23/2025

Happy Holidays from all of us at NPHI!

As the year comes to a close, we recognize those who care for loved ones and support patients and families during this season. Your work continues to make a real difference every day.

12/21/2025

The holidays bring families together — making this an ideal time for conversations that often get postponed, but matter deeply. 💛

In a new column for McKnight's Senior Living, our founder & CEO, Tom Koutsoumpas speaks directly to senior living communities and nursing homes, outlining practical ways leaders and staff can help residents and families talk about end-of-life wishes before a crisis forces those decisions. The focus: making advance care planning approachable, values-based, and part of everyday community life — not a last-minute scramble.

Read Tom’s 5 ideas for helping residents and families start these conversations here: 👉

For senior living communities, this time of togetherness presents an important opportunity to encourage meaningful, values-based conversations about end-of-life care.

12/18/2025

A recent FOX 11 segment highlights the major differences between nonprofit and for-profit hospice providers, featuring our member Unity Hospice and their commitment to community-based, patient-centered care.

The story highlights how nonprofit hospices like Unity reinvest resources directly into care and their community, prioritizing quality and access over profit.

We’re proud to see nonprofit hospice leadership recognized in local and national conversations about the future of care.

Read more:

Executive Director, Alisa Gerke from Unity joined Fox 11 Living to talk about some important tips you should know when choosing a hospice provider.

12/18/2025

CMS has proposed a new ACP quality measure (MUC2025-020) that would track whether adults age 18 and older with inpatient encounters have documented advance care planning in their medical records.

If finalized, the measure could be applied across multiple federal quality programs and would expand current ACP requirements to include younger adults and inpatient and post-acute care settings.

NPHI views this proposal as an important step toward strengthening advance care planning across care settings and patient populations, particularly for individuals experiencing serious illness or hospitalization.

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a proposed new Advance Care Planning (ACP) quality measure, MUC2025-020, and is accepting public comments through January 6, 2026. The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) supports the proposed measure an...

12/17/2025

Registration is now open for the 2026 Virtual Winter Leadership Meeting, taking place Thursday, February 19 from 12:00–5:00 PM EST.

This annual members-only meeting is a key opportunity to hear directly from policy experts and national leaders about what’s ahead in 2026, and to engage with timely topics that affect your teams and the communities you serve.

✅ 2026 Congressional outlook and federal priorities

✅ Anticipated Medicaid changes and provider impact

✅ HOPE, compliance, and evolving quality measures

✅ NPHI’s Member Engagement strategy + open discussion

Whether you’re a CEO, clinical leader, compliance specialist, or program director, this virtual meeting is your opportunity to connect, learn, and help shape the conversations guiding our national efforts in 2026 and beyond.

We encourage you to register multiple team members from your organization to get the most out of this event.

Register here: https://www.nphihealth.org/events/wlm-2026/

12/17/2025

We’re pleased to share that Big Bend Hospice has joined NPHI! Based in Leon County with services across the Big Bend area, including Tallahassee, FL, Big Bend Hospice continues its mission of providing high-quality serious illness care and support to individuals and families.

We’re excited to partner with their team and support their work throughout their region!

Since 1983, Big Bend Hospice has been your hometown hospice, providing a full range of services to patients and their families throughout the Big Bend area.

12/16/2025

🎭 Big News: The Second City Is Headlining Our Summit Celebration!

If you know comedy, you know Second City. Chicago is their home turf; the place where so many of the comedy greats got their start. Think of it as the unofficial talent pipeline straight to SNL and half the sitcoms you’ve laughed at over the last two decades.

We’re thrilled to share that The Second City will headline our Summit Celebration, bringing a custom show created just for NPHI. It’s the perfect way to close out our time together; with sharp wit, quick improv, and plenty of laughs.

Members, don’t forget to register for both the Summit and the Celebration Dinner so you can be part of an unforgettable final night with Second City!

Register here: https://summit.nphihealth.org/

12/15/2025

NPHI has just issued an official statement this morning addressing proposed federal student loan changes with implications for training and workforce sustainability.

The proposed changes could deepen workforce shortages in hospice, palliative care, and serious-illness specialties.

We’re urging the Department of Education to reconsider policies that create new barriers for future clinicians.

🔗 Read the full statement: https://www.nphihealth.org/official-statement-on-the-department-of-educations-proposed-changes-to-federal-student-loans-for-graduate-medical-programs/

12/11/2025

Our member Alive Hospice recently celebrated its 50th Anniversary Gala, honoring five decades of care and support for families across middle Tennessee. The event brought together community leaders, supporters, and partners to recognize Alive Hospice’s long-standing commitment to high-quality hospice and advanced illness care.

Congratulations, Alive Hospice on this incredible milestone! Here’s to continued growth and many more years of doing mission-driven work.

Read more:

Alive Hospice celebrated its 50th anniversary with a heartfelt gala at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, honoring longtime leader Susan Simons and reflecting on the organization’s legacy of compassion, dignity and end-of-life care.