WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Special Committee on Aging, was joined by her fellow co-chairs and co-founders of the Senate Comprehensive Care Caucus, Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Deb Fischer (R-NE), in passing a bipartisan resolution recognizing November 2022 as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month.
National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, observed in November, honors the work and dedication of long-term and palliative care providers and volunteers, and the critical services they provide to families and their loved ones facing serious illnesses. This resolution is endorsed by the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (C-TAC) and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO).
“I am proud to have passed this resolution to designate November as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month,” said Senator Rosen. “As someone who took care of my parents and in-laws when they aged, I know just how critical access to quality long-term care and supportive services is. This resolution will recognize all the ways in which hospice and palliative care providers improve the quality of life of so many patients and their caregivers.”
“I have experienced hospice care as both a doctor and family member,” said Senator Barrasso. “Hospice lets patients enjoy the highest quality of life when they need it most. Our bipartisan resolution recognizes all of the dedicated hospice providers in Wyoming and across the country.”
“Serving as my grandmother’s primary caregiver as she grew older, I know the world of difference it makes in someone’s life to have compassionate palliative care,” said Senator Baldwin. “I’m proud to be introducing this bipartisan resolution to recognize the importance of palliative and hospice care, and look forward to continuing our work to improve the quality of life for the millions of Americans facing serious illnesses.”
“By marking November as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, we can raise awareness about the benefits this type of care can provide,” said Senator Fischer. “Through our bipartisan work in the Comprehensive Care Caucus, we’ll continue to promote access to quality health care.”
“It means a great deal to our providers to have this congressional honor from the Senate,” said NHPCO COO and Interim CEO, Ben Marcantonio. “This year marks the fortieth anniversary of the first Proclamation recognizing November as National Hospice Month. Hospice and palliative care providers work tirelessly to meet patients and their families where they are with compassionate care that places the individual at the heart of their own healthcare decisions. We thank Senators Rosen, Barrasso, Baldwin, and Fischer for continuing this important tradition of honoring and supporting the hospice and palliative care community. ”
“Once again, Senators Rosen, Barrasso, Baldwin, and Fischer should be commended for drawing attention to serious illness and the tremendous value of palliative care and hospice services for millions of individuals and their families across the nation,” said Jon Broyles, CEO of the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care. “Thank you for the introduction and passage of this bill to designate November as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. We believe in access to high-quality, equitable serious illness care that reflects individual care preferences. This should cover needed palliative care and community-based services and supports, and hospice care. For C-TAC, educational efforts to share information on the value and need for palliative care and hospice and the staff and volunteers that provide this essential care is a year-round effort, and we are so pleased to have these issues highlighted each November by our friends in the U.S. Senate.”
Senator Rosen and her fellow Caucus co-chairs introduced similar resolutions recognizing November as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month in 2020 and 2021. Both bipartisan resolutions passed the Senate. Last year, Senator Rosen introduced the bipartisan Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act with Senators Barrasso, Baldwin, and Fischer. The legislation would allow palliative care to be covered concurrently with curative treatment for illness under Medicare, greatly improving quality of life for the patient and their family.
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