National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation

05/21/2026

We issued a statement yesterday following the introduction of H.R. 8883, the Protecting Seniors and Stopping Fraudsters Act, introduced by Representative Van Duyne (TX-24). The legislation is aimed at strengthening oversight and accountability within the Medicare hospice benefit through targeted program integrity reforms. We expressed support for several provisions in the bill, including stronger oversight of newly enrolled hospices, increased penalties for providers that do not report required quality data, and greater transparency around CMS audit and oversight activities.

At the same time, we emphasized that these reforms should serve as an important starting point rather than the final step in strengthening the Medicare hospice benefit. NPHI continues to advocate for a broader approach that aligns payment policy, quality, accountability, and access to care while protecting high-quality, mission-driven providers and ensuring patients and families continue to receive high-quality, community-based care.

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NPHI issued the following statement following the introduction of new House legislation by Rep. Van Duyne (TX-24), H.R. 8883, the Protecting Seniors and Stopping Fraudsters Act, aimed at strengthening oversight of hospice providers under the Medicare program: “NPHI greatly appreciates and supports...

05/21/2026

A recent op-ed co-written by leaders from several NPHI member organizations addresses the growing concerns around hospice fraud and the importance of protecting access to ethical hospice care.

While recent investigations in California have highlighted serious fraud and abuse, our members emphasize an important distinction: hospice fraud is not hospice care. The piece highlights the role of trusted, community-based nonprofit providers in delivering compassionate, patient-centered care grounded in accountability and clinical integrity.

The op-ed also outlines practical steps families can take to identify ethical hospice providers and make informed care decisions.
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Recent headlines detailing hospice fraud investigations across California are deeply troubling. State and federal authorities have uncovered criminal schemes involving sham operators who enrolled people who were not terminally ill,

05/20/2026

NPHI is supportive of the bipartisan Nursing is a Professional Degree Act recently introduced by Senators Jeff Merkley and Roger Wicker. The legislation would restore access to higher federal student loan limits for nurses pursuing post-baccalaureate nursing degrees by classifying these programs as professional degrees.

At a time when healthcare organizations across the country continue facing workforce challenges, supporting the more than 5 million registered nurses nationwide and strengthening the future nursing workforce remains critically important. Expanding access to nursing education helps ensure patients and families continue receiving high-quality care across the healthcare community.

Read more here:

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced a new bill in response to a decision by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) that fails to classify post-baccalaureate nursing degrees as “professional degrees,” imposing stricter limits on federal ...

05/20/2026

Last month at our 2026 Summit, Jay Mahoney was recognized as the recipient of the NPHI Lifetime in Excellence Award.

Jay was one of the early leaders who helped shape hospice care in America. As part of the sustained legislative effort that led to the creation of the Medicare Hospice Benefit in 1982, and later the effort to make the benefit permanent in 1985, his leadership helped lay the foundation for hospice care as we know it today.

Through years of advocacy and national leadership, Jay worked alongside policymakers and providers to help shape how hospice care would be structured and delivered for patients and families across the country.

We thought you might enjoy hearing Jay’s acceptance speech, where he reflects on that story.

Listen to his speech here:

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05/19/2026

If you haven’t yet tuned in, episode 2 of Inside View by NPHI is available.

In Episode 2, Tom Koutsoumpas and Carole Fisher are joined by Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider for a conversation on End Well and the importance of bringing honest conversations about declining health and end of life into the open. Together, they discuss communication, storytelling, and how asking patients what matters most can fundamentally change the care experience.

The episode then turns to Laurie McWright, former Deputy Director at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, who shares insights on healthcare innovation, lessons learned from VBID, and where future care models may better support patients earlier in their care journey.

Listen to it here: https://www.nphihealth.org/podcast/

05/19/2026

NPHI Members: Join us this Friday, May 22 for a special Member Engagement Call Briefing with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on understanding the temporary hospice enrollment moratorium.

This is an important opportunity to hear directly from senior leadership at CMS, including Deputy Administrator & Chief Operating Officer Kimberly Brandt and Jeneen Iwugo, Acting Director of the Center for Program Integrity, and engage in conversation around the new temporary moratorium, enforcement, and ongoing program integrity efforts focused on hospice oversight.

The session will also include opportunities for member Q&A and discussion.

🗓️ Friday, May 22
🕚 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM EST

We encourage all member organizations to join this timely and important conversation.

Add to calendar: https://members.nphihealth.org/event/nphi-member-engagement-call-briefing-with-cms-on-understanding-the-temporary-hospice-enrollment-moratorium/

(Or you can email our Member Services team to get the calendar invite if you haven't already received it).

05/19/2026

Many older Americans serve as caregivers for loved ones while also navigating their own health needs and challenges. As serious illness progresses or additional support becomes necessary, access to compassionate, high-quality care and trusted resources becomes even more important.

This Older Americans Month, we recognize the important role older adults play within families and communities, while also acknowledging the need for greater support and access to care. That’s where NPHI comes in. Through resources for patients, families, and caregivers, we aim to help individuals better navigate hospice and advanced illness care with clarity and confidence.

Check them out here: https://www.nphihealth.org/resources/

05/18/2026

NPHI Founder & CEO Tom Koutsoumpas recently authored an op-ed for HomeCare Magazine addressing the urgent need to protect the integrity of the Medicare hospice benefit and confront the growing issue of hospice fraud.

In the piece, Tom reflects on his role in helping build the modern hospice system and emphasizes that while fraudulent operators must be rooted out, hospice itself remains one of the highest-value, most compassionate models of care in healthcare today. He outlines NPHI’s call for a temporary nationwide moratorium on new hospice provider enrollments, alongside targeted oversight measures that focus on bad actors while protecting high-quality, mission-driven providers.

Read the full op-ed here:

As a leader in the creation of the modern-day hospice system, I have spent my career helping build and strengthen hospice care in the United States. Working alongside a small group of advocates, policymakers and providers in the 1980s, we helped shape what would ultimately become the Medicare hospic...

05/15/2026

We’re excited to welcome several new organizations to the NPHI community.

These mission-driven providers continue strengthening hospice and advanced illness care through their commitment to high-quality, community-based care for patients and families. We’re proud to have them join our growing community of nonprofit providers and healthcare leaders.

Please join us in welcoming Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, Hospice of South Georgia, Hospice of Washington County (IA), and Adventist Health to NPHI’s community!

You can find all of our members here: https://www.nphihealth.org/memberdirectory/

05/13/2026

Today, CMS announced a temporary six-month nationwide moratorium on new Medicare hospice enrollments — an important step toward protecting patients, safeguarding taxpayer dollars, and strengthening the integrity of the Medicare hospice benefit.

NPHI was the first organization in the nation to publicly call for a temporary nationwide hospice moratorium earlier this year, and we applaud CMS for taking decisive action to address the growing threat posed by fraudulent operators exploiting vulnerable patients and families.

Importantly, CMS also preserved existing telehealth flexibilities for hospice recertification encounters — a key recommendation advanced by NPHI throughout our discussions with the agency.

Read our full statement: https://www.nphihealth.org/nphi-commends-cms-action-to-implement-temporary-nationwide-hospice-moratorium-to-strengthen-hospice-program-integrity/

05/12/2026

Dear Members,

CEs are now available for our 2026 Summit through the NPHI Member Portal Education Hub.

You can now watch recordings from our 2026 Summit: Quality in Action to earn continuing education credits or revisit sessions at your convenience. More than 13 CEs are available for select sessions for a small fee, and even if you were unable to attend the Summit, you are still eligible to participate and earn credits!

Purchase CEs here: https://members.nphihealth.org/education/

Watch Summit session recordings here: https://members.nphihealth.org/2026-summit/