U.S. House Passes Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act
On October 28th, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA). The bill (H.R. 647), introduced by Rep. Eliot Engels (D-NY) in January, had 294 bipartisan cosponsors and supports people living with serious illness and their families through expanded access to palliative care. If passed in the Senate, PCHETA will promote education and research in palliative care and hospice, increase the number of palliative care professionals, and implement a public awareness campaign to educate the public on its benefits.
CAPC thanks congressional leadership and the Patient Quality of Life Coalition, who worked so diligently to advance PCHETA. This bill is an important step to addressing critical gaps in palliative care to ensure that all Americans living with serious illness can get the care they deserve.