Part Two | AI, Hospice Fraud Crackdown & Medicare’s Future—The Biggest Healthcare Stories of 2026

Artificial intelligence is accelerating. Healthcare policy is shifting.  Medicare is under pressure.  The question is no longer if these forces will reshape hospice—it’s whether leaders will be ready when they do.

In Part Two of this quarterly healthcare leadership update, Chris Comeaux and Cordt Kassner examine the biggest forces reshaping hospice and healthcare in 2026.  From AI’s rapidly expanding role in the workforce to mounting regulatory scrutiny, rising healthcare affordability concerns, Medicare policy changes, and the continued evolution of the hospice marketplace, they connect the most significant headlines of the quarter to the larger trends that will influence healthcare for years to come.

Rather than simply recapping the news, Chris and Cordt explore what these developments mean for leaders making strategic decisions in an increasingly complex healthcare environment.  They discuss how AI is transforming the workforce, why regulatory oversight continues to intensify, and how policy and market changes are shaping the future of hospice.  The result is a practical, forward-looking conversation designed to help leaders anticipate what’s next rather than simply react to it.

The conversation challenges listeners to think beyond today’s news cycle and prepare for the healthcare landscape of tomorrow.  Chris and Cordt discuss why AI should augment—not replace—the human side of care, why quality and transparency remain essential as fraud enforcement intensifies, and how changing market dynamics, industry consolidation, and policy reforms will influence hospice organizations for years to come.  If you’re responsible for leading through change, this episode offers practical perspective on the trends that deserve your attention now.

5 Key Takeaways

• AI will redefine healthcare work—not eliminate the need for people.  The greatest opportunity lies in using AI to augment clinicians and operational teams while preserving compassionate, bedside care.
• Regulatory oversight continues to intensify.  Quality reporting, transparency, fraud prevention, and accountability remain central themes shaping hospice and Medicare policy.
• Healthcare affordability is becoming a national leadership issue.  Rising costs, administrative complexity, and payment reform are moving healthcare policy closer to the center of public debate.
• The hospice industry continues to consolidate.  For-profit growth, provider rankings, ownership transparency, and nonprofit collaboration are reshaping the competitive landscape.
• Adaptability will become a defining leadership skill.  Organizations and individuals willing to embrace continuous learning and technological change will be best positioned for the future.

The future of healthcare won’t be shaped by those who simply react to change—it will be led by those who anticipate it. Subscribe to TCNtalks / Anatomy of Leadership so you never miss the conversations shaping hospice, healthcare, and leadership. If this episode challenged your thinking, share it with your executive team, board members, and colleagues, and join us as we continue exploring the ideas that will define the next generation of healthcare leadership.

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Show Transcript

Co-Host

Cordt Kassner

PhD, Publisher of Hospice & Palliative Care Today
 VP Data Science & Research at 1520ai
CEO/Founder of Hospice Analytics

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Hospice and Palliative Care Today
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Hospice Analytics
1520ai

 

 

Host

 

Chris Comeaux

MLAS, CPA
President / CEO of Teleios

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