As was reported in past issues of the WiHPCA Advocacy Newsletter, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) have reintroduced the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA), a bipartisan bill to grow, improve and sustain the palliative and hospice care workforce to keep pace with patients’ needs and to help improve the well-being of Americans with life-threatening illnesses and their families (a one pager on the bill is available here).

More importantly, you can help advance this important federal legislation through the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s Hospice Action Network.

As palliative care needs increased, the number of professionals and providers needed to fulfill patient needs has not kept pace. Senators Baldwin and Capito’s PCHETA will help build a health care workforce more closely aligned with the nation’s evolving health care needs and improve care and quality of life for millions of Americans facing serious illness by focusing on three key areas:

·        Workforce Training: Ensure we have education centers, curricula, and teachers to expand interdisciplinary training in palliative and hospice care and establish programs to attract and retain providers.

·        Education and Awareness: Share resources and information to ensure that patients, families and health professionals are informed about the benefits of palliative care and the services that are available to support patients with serious or life-threatening illness.

·        Enhanced Research: Direct NIH to use existing authorities and funds to expand palliative care research to advance clinical practice and improve care delivery for patients with serious or life-threatening illness.

If you haven’t already, please take action on PCHETA today! Simple CLICK HERE to contact your Members of Congress and urge them to support this important legislation through the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s Hospice Action Network.