Top News Stories of the Month, January 2026
At the end of life, quality matters—but too often, the metrics used in hospice and palliative care fail to reflect the care patients and families actually experience.

In Episode One of Measures That Matter: How Better Metrics Can Transform End-of-Life Care, TCNtalks / Anatomy of Leadership explores why fewer, clearer quality measures are essential for reducing variability, improving patient outcomes, and supporting value-based care at the end of life.

This episode introduces the Measures That Matter initiative through the lens of experience, data, and leadership responsibility. Bob Tavares explains how decades of healthcare analytics revealed a fundamental problem in hospice quality measurement: an abundance of metrics that fail to differentiate performance. Many current measures cluster nearly all providers at the top, making it difficult for patients, payers, and value-based organizations to identify true centers of excellence or address variability that puts patients at risk.

From the provider and network perspective, Robin Heffernan and Mindy Stewart-Coffee highlight the real-world consequences of that variability. Across thousands of hospice and palliative care providers nationwide, quality is inconsistent—even within the same organization across different markets. Staffing changes, lack of collaboration with risk-bearing entities, and late referrals all contribute to uneven patient and family experiences, reinforcing the need for fewer, clearer, and more actionable measures.

Episode One ultimately reframes measurement as a leadership issue—not a compliance exercise. Great hospice and palliative care, the panel argues, doesn’t happen by accident. It is intentionally designed, supported by the right systems and processes, and continuously measured to reduce variability and honor patient goals. This opening episode sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the specific metrics that matter most—and how leaders can use them responsibly to improve care where it matters most.

Host:
Chris Comeaux, President / CEO of TELEIOS

Co-Host:
Cordt Kassner, PhD, Publisher of Hospice & Palliative Care Today
& CEO and Founder of Hospice Analytics

Guest:

Bob Tavares, VP & General Manager, HealthPivots

Robin Heffernan, PhD, Co-Founder and CEO, Empassion

Mindy Stewart-Coffee, National Vice President, Palliative Care

Teleios Collaborative Network / https://www.teleioscn.org/tcntalkspodcast

In Part Two of Protecting Patients at the End of Life: Why CON Still Matters, host Chris Comeaux continues the conversation with two of the nation’s most respected hospice policy leaders—Paul A. Ledford, President & CEO of the Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association, and Tim Rogers, President & CEO of the Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina.

This episode moves beyond regulatory theory and into the real-world patient and family experience—especially in states without hospice Certificate of Need (CON) laws. Drawing on decades of leadership, personal stories of loved ones in hospice, and data-informed insights, Paul and Tim explore what families actually face when hospice markets are oversaturated, fragmented, or poorly regulated.

The conversation examines how too many choices can overwhelm families, how small, unsustainable hospice programs can dilute quality, and how fraud and inappropriate enrollments disproportionately affect vulnerable populations—often stripping patients of access to Medicare benefits when they need them most.

Listeners also gain a deeper understanding of how Florida and North Carolina use CON to balance:

• Access to hospice care
• Program sustainability and scale
• Rural and underserved community coverage
• Inpatient hospice availability
• Protection against bad actors

The episode concludes with a forward-looking discussion on what principles—not politics—should guide states that are reconsidering or redesigning hospice CON laws today.

This is an essential conversation for healthcare leaders, policymakers, hospice executives, board members, and anyone committed to protecting quality end-of-life care.

Guest:

Paul A. Ledford, President & CEO of the Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association

Tim Rogers, President & CEO of the Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina

Host:

Chris Comeaux, President / CEO of TELEIOS

Teleios Collaborative Network / https://www.teleioscn.org/tcntalkspodcast

Protecting Patients at the End of Life: Why CON Still Matters / Part ONE

Certificate of Need (CON) laws are among the most debated—and misunderstood—regulatory frameworks in healthcare. In this timely Part One conversation, host Chris Comeaux is joined by two of the most respected voices in hospice policy and advocacy: Paul A. Ledford, President & CEO of the Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association, and Tim Rogers, President & CEO of the Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina.

Together, they unpack why CON laws were originally created, what problems they were designed to solve, and why hospice continues to raise unique concerns that set it apart from other healthcare services. Drawing on decades of leadership and real-world experience, Paul and Tim explain why hospice does not function like a traditional free market—highlighting fixed reimbursement rates, demographic-driven demand, and the responsibility to serve entire communities, including rural and complex patient populations.

This episode explores what actually happens in states without hospice CON: oversaturation in urban markets, reduced access in rural areas, fragmented care, and increased vulnerability to fraud and abuse. The discussion challenges common assumptions about competition and access, using data, policy insight, and firsthand examples to illustrate the unintended consequences of deregulation.

Part One lays the foundation for a deeper conversation about quality, equity, and patient protection at the end of life—and why thoughtful oversight still matters in preserving the integrity of the hospice benefit.

👉 Don’t miss Part Two, where the conversation continues with a closer look at quality outcomes, bad actors, and what states can learn from one another moving forward.

Guest:

Paul A. Ledford, President & CEO of the Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association

Tim Rogers, President & CEO of the Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina

Host:

Chris Comeaux, President / CEO of TELEIOS

Teleios Collaborative Network / https://www.teleioscn.org/tcntalkspodcast

In Part One, organizational behavior scholar Colin M. Fisher dismantles the myth of the lone genius, showing that performance is shaped less by individual talent and more by the groups people belong to. He reframes leadership around social norms, group dynamics, and collective context—arguing that leaders often misdiagnose performance problems by focusing on people instead of the group system they operate within.

Part Two builds on that foundation with practical guidance for leaders. Fisher explains why teams frequently underperform—not because of effort or ability, but because organizations are designed to reward and manage individuals, not collective work. He introduces the concept of relaunching teams, offering a roadmap for resetting goals, norms, and roles so groups can move from friction to true collaboration. The episode closes with a powerful shift in perspective: sustainable performance improves when leaders stop fixing individuals and start strengthening the group.

Episode Highlights

• Why teams often perform worse than individuals—and how leaders can change that.
• The 60–30–10 rule that explains what really drives team performance
• How to relaunch a struggling or inherited team
• The role of shared goals, norms, and “superpowers” in building trust
• Moving from me vs. you to us vs. the problem


Guest: Colin M. Fisher, Ph.D. author of the book,
The Collective Edge: Unlocking the Secret Power of Groups

Host, Chris Comeaux, President / CEO of TELEIOS and author of The Anatomy of Leadership.

Teleios Collaborative Network / https://www.teleioscn.org/tcntalkspodcast

In this episode of Anatomy of Leadership, host Chris Comeaux is joined by Colin Fisher, professor, researcher, author, and jazz trumpeter, to explore what decades of research reveal about how groups really work—and why so many teams struggle to reach their potential.

Drawing from his book The Collective Edge, Colin challenges the myth of the “lone genius” and reframes leadership as a discipline of design. Instead of motivating harder or managing individuals more closely, leaders are invited to think like architects—intentionally shaping team size, structure, norms, and psychological safety so collaboration and learning can emerge naturally.

This conversation dives into why most teams are too large to function effectively, how hidden norms silently shape behavior, and why harmony is often mistaken for real collaboration. With practical examples from healthcare, hospice, and other mission-driven environments, the episode offers research-backed insight into building teams that learn, adapt, and perform under pressure.

Episode Insights

•Why teams are often less than the sum of their parts
•How team size and structure impact decision-making
•What psychological safety really looks like in practice
•Why disagreement is essential for strong teams
•How leaders can unlock collective intelligence—not suppress it


If you lead teams, sit in meetings, or want collaboration to actually work, this episode will fundamentally change how you think about leadership and group performance.

Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, systems, and human behavior.

👍 Like & share if this episode helped reframe how you think about teams

Guest: Colin M. Fisher, Ph.D. author of the book, The Collective Edge: Unlocking the Secret Power of Groups

Host: Chris Comeaux, President / CEO of Teleios

Teleios Collaborative Network / https://www.teleioscn.org/tcntalkspodcast

In this episode, Part 2 of Top News Stories from 2025, and Predictions for 2026, Chris Comeaux and Cordt Kassner break down the most important healthcare and hospice stories from 2025—and share clear, grounded predictions for what’s coming in 2026. Rather than headline-driven chaos, 2025 revealed a year of incremental change, with persistent challenges around staffing, Medicare Advantage, hospice quality, reimbursement pressure, and cautious AI adoption shaping the landscape.

Looking ahead, 2026 is framed as a hinge year for healthcare leadership. Policy decisions made today—including the long-term impact of healthcare legislation, reimbursement shifts, and political volatility leading into the midterms—are expected to create pressure without immediate resolution. This episode explores why 2026 may feel turbulent, yet ultimately serves as the setup year for deeper structural change across healthcare and hospice in 2027 and beyond.

Chris and Cordt also examine emerging trends in healthcare technology and innovation, including artificial intelligence, virtual reality training, workforce models, and quality transparency. Rather than rapid disruption, they argue that healthcare—especially hospice and palliative care—will adopt these tools deliberately, balancing efficiency with trust, ethics, and human connection.

At its core, this conversation is about leadership in uncertain times. As systems grow more complex, leaders must navigate policy, technology, and workforce challenges while staying anchored to mission and care quality. This episode offers insight for healthcare executives, hospice leaders, clinicians, and anyone shaping the future of care.

🔍

Topics Covered

• Top healthcare & hospice stories of 2025

• Predictions for healthcare and hospice in 2026

• Medicare Advantage trends & reimbursement pressure

• Workforce challenges and staffing models

• AI, technology, and innovation in healthcare

• Leadership in complex systems

Host: Chris Comeaux

Co-Host: Cordt Kassner

Teleios Collaborative Network / https://www.teleioscn.org/tcntalkspodcast

Part 1 | Top Stories from 2025, and Predictions for 2026 by Chris Comeaux and Cordt Kassner

This episode of TCNtalks / Anatomy of Leadership brings together a year-in-review and a forward-looking conversation, as Chris Comeaux and Cordt Kassner reflect on the most important healthcare and hospice stories from 2025 and share their predictions for what lies ahead in 2026.

In Part One, Chris and Cordt review key headlines from late 2025, connecting policy shifts, technology trends, workforce realities, and financial pressures to the everyday leadership decisions facing hospice and healthcare organizations. Rather than reacting to news in isolation, the discussion focuses on how these forces intersect at the front lines of care.

A central theme throughout the episode is the role of technology and artificial intelligence. While AI continues to gain momentum, the conversation reinforces a critical insight: technology is an accelerator, not a solution. Leadership, governance, and values ultimately determine whether innovation strengthens care or amplifies existing challenges.

The episode also examines hospice-specific issues, including Medicare Advantage pressures, care pathways in skilled nursing facilities, financial strain on nonprofit providers, and the often underutilized role of volunteers in extending care and culture.

The discussion concludes by framing 2026 as a hinge year—one where deeper forces are shaping the future beneath the surface. While change may come incrementally, the choices leaders make now will influence care delivery, trust, and sustainability in the years ahead.

Episode Continues in Part II - Dropping Friday, January 16th, 2026

Host:
Chris Comeaux, President/CEO of TELEIOS

Co-Host:
Cordt Kassner, PhD, Publisher of Hospice & Palliative Care Today
& CEO and Founder of Hospice Analytics

Teleios Collaborative Network / https://www.teleioscn.org/tcntalkspodcast

A new year often feels like a clean slate, yet most resolutions fade because they add complexity instead of clarity. In this episode, Chris Comeaux makes the case for a simpler, more enduring tool: choosing One Word as your theme for the year. A single word sharpens focus, clarifies priorities, and guides daily decisions without a bloated checklist. Leadership is about changing trajectories—not reacting to noise—and a clear theme helps leaders stop drifting and lead with intention.

The process begins with reflection, not prediction. Look back before you look forward. Review the past year for lessons and patterns, revisit your mission, and clarify your role—not as a job description, but as the part you are meant to play in the story. Deeper questions like Why am I alive? and What am I willing to die for? cut through distraction and reveal what truly matters. From that clarity, a word emerges that helps you say yes faster and no sooner.

Once chosen, the word becomes a companion for the year. Document it, return to it, and allow its meaning to deepen as circumstances change. Pair it with rhythms of rest and intentional time, because sustainable leadership requires margin. When your word and your time align, leadership shifts from reaction to design. Choose the word. Live the word. Let it change your trajectory.

https://www.teleioscn.org/tcntalkspodcast/choose-a-word-change-your-trajectory-lead-with-intention

Teleios Collaborative Network / https://www.teleioscn.org/tcntalkspodcast