NPHI Supports Introduction of Bipartisan, Bicameral "Patient Choice and Quality Act of 2017"

WASHINGTON, June 12, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the National Partnership for Hospice Innovation (NPHI) supported the introduction of the Patient Choice and Quality Care of Act of 2017 (PCQCA) by Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Phil Roe (R-TN). This bipartisan, bicameral legislation will ensure that individuals with advanced illness have access to comprehensive, coordinated care services based on the hospice care model. The bill enhances the ability of community-based hospice programs to continue to expand their existing advanced illness services to more patients and families.

"The Patient Care and Quality Choice Act is a tremendous step forward in providing access to advanced illness care for Medicare beneficiaries around the country. NPHI is thrilled to support this transformative bill and its promotion of high quality, advanced illness care by community-based hospices and other providers. We are indebted to the work of Senators Warner, Isakson, and Representatives Roe and Blumenauer to improve advanced illness care and what it means for patients and families," said Tom Koutsoumpas, President and CEO of NPHI.

Prior to eligibility for the Medicare Hospice Benefit, individuals with advanced illness and their families face a daunting challenge navigating our healthcare system to receive deserved and desired comprehensive and coordinated care. The PCQCAtakes an important step forward to address these issues. The legislation includes provisions to test advanced illness care coordination services modelled on the hospice benefit and includes important measures to enhance access to advanced care planning services through Medicare and develop important quality metrics to measure advanced illness care services.

A summary of the bill can be found here.

In May, NPHI co-hosted a Capitol Hill event with key stakeholders and supporters of the legislation and advanced illness care reform in general. NPHI and participant organizations at the event were joined by Senator Shelley Moore Capito and Representatives Blumenauer and Roe in showcasing the importance of this legislation and the movement to improve advanced illness and access to hospice care.

All questions about the PCQCA and NPHI's legislative initiatives in general should be directed to NPHI's senior policy advisor, Andrew MacPherson, at andrew@healthsperien.com or Chief Strategy Officer, Mollie Gurian, mgurian@hospiceinnovations.org

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SOURCE National Partnership for Hospice Innovation