Private Equity, AI, and the Future of End-of-Life Care | Part One
In this thought-provoking episode, Chris Comeaux and Cordt Kassner unpack some of the most pressing forces shaping the future of end-of-life...
2 min read
Public trust, quality of care, and the future of hospice are on the line—and this quarter’s headlines are a call for leaders to act.
In Part One of Hospice at a Crossroads: The Top News Stories Leaders Can’t Ignore, Chris Comeaux and Cordt Kassner examine the stories that captured the field’s attention during July, August, and September 2026—and the leadership questions behind them. Drawing on readership trends from Hospice and Palliative Care Today and Dr. Ira Byock’s framework, they explore how hospice organizations can protect public trust while strengthening their commitment to compassionate care.
From CMS’s hospice rule and the Service and Spending Variation Index (SSVI) to pediatric care, friend caregivers, and private equity ownership, the conversation connects industry developments to decisions facing healthcare executives and hospice teams. Chris and Cordt also consider how AI tools influence an organization’s reputation—and why leaders need to understand how their quality story is being told.
Alongside these challenges are powerful reminders of hospice’s purpose: providing compassionate care that preserves dignity and responds to each person’s needs. Stories of care for people without stable housing, support for patients worried about their pets, and outreach to underserved communities show how that purpose takes shape in practice. Thoughtful, candid, and practical, this episode invites leaders to turn information into action while keeping patients and families at the center.
5 Key Takeaways
- Put SSVI data in context. Engage clinical, billing, and compliance teams to understand what the measures reveal, their limitations, and which factors your organization can influence.
- Let complex care strengthen clinical practice. Pediatric hospice highlights the importance of clinical expertise, cultural awareness, and care shaped around each family.
- Recognize friends as caregivers. Expand caregiver education and communication beyond traditional family relationships.
- Ask better questions about ownership. The private equity discussion underscores concerns about incentives and the need for stronger evidence about outcomes.
- Make your quality story visible. Understand how AI portrays your organization and demonstrate hospice’s purpose through concrete acts of dignity and community care.
Which headline deserves a place on your next leadership agenda? Listen to Part One, share it with your team, and choose one issue to explore together. Follow the podcast so you don’t miss Part Two and the continuing conversation about hospice’s future.
TOP NEWS STORIES —
Teleios Monthly Podcast Articles September 2026 Newsletter
HPC Today Top News Stories September 2026
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Cordt Kassner
PhD, Publisher of Hospice & Palliative Care Today
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Hospice and Palliative Care Today
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Chris Comeaux
MLAS, CPA
President / CEO of Teleios
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