Introduction of the Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act
On June 5, 2025, Senators Jacky Rosen, John Barrasso, Deb Fischer, and Tammy Baldwin reintroduced the Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act. If passed, this would establish a demonstration project through Medicare to expand access to palliative care at the time of diagnosis of serious illness or injury. The bipartisan Senate Comprehensive Care Caucus has continued to explore solutions to improve care for people living with serious illness since its formation in 2019. This legislation builds on the Caucus's prior efforts including introduction of S. 2565 in the 117th Congress, as well as a follow-up request to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement this model through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI).