April is CMSA Foundation Month 2026: Advancing Excellence in Palliative and Hospice Care

BY PRESIDENT-ELECT JENNY QUIGLEY-STICKNEY, MSN, RN, MHA, MA, CCM, ACM-RN, CMAC, CPHM, FCM

April marks CMSA Foundation Month 2026, a time to recognize the vital role of the Case Management Society of America (CMSA) Foundation in advancing research, education, and innovation in the case management practice. It is also an opportunity to reflect on how our profession continues to shape the future of healthcare—particularly in the areas of palliative care and hospice, where compassionate, patient-centered care is essential.

Palliative care and hospice services represent a critical intersection of clinical expertise and human connection. According to the World Health Organization, palliative care improves the quality of life of patients and families facing life-threatening illness through early identification, assessment, and treatment of pain and other physical, psychosocial, and spiritual challenges. Importantly, palliative care can be introduced at any stage of illness and provided alongside curative treatment.

Hospice care, by contrast, is intended for individuals with a life expectancy of six months or less when curative treatments are no longer the focus. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services emphasizes that hospice prioritizes comfort, dignity, and quality of life at the end of life, supporting both patients and their families through an interdisciplinary approach.

For case managers, the distinction between palliative care and hospice is more than clinical—it is foundational to ensuring patients receive the right care at the right time. Evidence suggests that early integration of palliative care leads to improved symptom management, higher patient satisfaction, and in some cases, even prolonged survival (Temel et al., 2010). Yet, despite these benefits, referrals are often delayed, underscoring the need for stronger advocacy and education.

This is where the CMSA Foundation plays a transformative role.

Through its commitment to funding research and supporting professional development, the CMSA Foundation empowers case managers to lead in complex care environments. During April 2026, we highlight new and ongoing initiatives that strengthen our practice, including:

• Supporting research in care coordination and serious illness management
• Expanding educational resources on goals-of-care conversations
• Promoting evidence-based tools for palliative and hospice decision-making
• Investing in the next generation of case management professionals

This year, we celebrated and supported CMSA Foundation Month by offering two free webinars:

March 24, 2026: Improving Hypertension Control in the Black and African America Population. Presented by Trinity Health IHA Medical Group.

April 21, 2026: Improving Substance Use Disorder Outcomes through a Scalable Health Plan Provider. Collaboration presented by Healthfirst.

If you are looking to jump into spring, join our Move-a-thon. You can participate individually or by chapter for walking, biking, running, or swimming laps. Go to the CMSA Foundation website and access the Move-a-thon page, it will provide you with everything you need to sign on. Commit pledges and buy your move-a-thon gear to get active.

As we celebrate CMSA Foundation Month 2026, I encourage each of you to reflect on your impact and consider how you can further support the CMSA Foundation’s 2026 mission, whether through research participation, mentorship, or philanthropic giving. Together, we can continue to advance the science and practice of case management while honoring the dignity and humanity of every patient and family as we strive to improve outcomes and evidence-based care for our professional development.

References

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2024). Medicare hospice benefits. https://www.cms.gov

Case Management Society of America Foundation. (2026). https/www.CMSA Foundation.org

Temel, J. S., Greer, J. A., Muzikansky, A., Gallagher, E. R., Admane, S., Jackson, V. A., Dahlin, C. M., Blinderman, C. D., Jacobsen, J., Pirl, W. F., Billings, J. A., & Lynch, T. J. (2010). Early palliative care for patients with metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer. New England Journal of Medicine, 363(8), 733–742. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1000678

World Health Organization. (2020). Palliativecare

Jenny Quigley-Stickney, RN, MSN, MHA, MA, CCM ACM-RN, CPHM FCM, Professional case manager, Cape Cod Healthcare, has been active with CMSA/CMSNE for over 25 years serving currently as CMSA President-Elect 2025-2026 and prior to this role, served as CMSA Treasure, Board of Director for CMSA from 2021-2023. Prior to working for CMSA National she served as the President of CMSNE & Chair for both CMSA and CMSNE Public Policy Committees.

Jenny is active in the CMSNE New England states serving as co-chair for Public Policy promoting the advancement of the Nurse Licensure Compact, and Telehealth legislation for health care professionals. She has a passion for public policy and believes that legislation helps advance the field of professional case management.  Jenny expanded her role, working on the National Board to becoming a member of CMSA Editorial Board 2021-current, CMSA Strategic planning committee for organizational development, Chair CMSA Finance Committee 2023-2026 and CMSA Sponsorship Committee 2022-current.

Jenny has been employed at all levels of the transitions of care, working with traumatic brain Injury, stroke and spinal cord for over 25 years in acute rehabilitation hospitals, hospital at home program and Outpatient Program Director for traumatic brain injury. She recently has shifted her work in professional case management back to her first love, acute care, focusing on vascular and trauma care in ICU and step-down unit for Cape Cod Healthcare.