Policy Resources

As federal and state stakeholders respond to increasing pressure to improve the health care system for seriously ill people, there are several policy opportunities to expand access to palliative care. 

Key Federal Policy Areas

Despite the evidence for the value of palliative care, significant gaps in workforce, research, quality, payment, and health information technology remain. Legislative and regulatory actions are needed.
 

The following resources provide more information on federal policy gaps and highlight notable activity:

• CAPC and National Palliative Care Resource Center Policy Recommendations: America’s Care of Serious Illness: 2015 State-by-State Report Card on Access to Palliative Care in Our Nation’s Hospitals
• Palliative in Practice articles
  • “Flex Your Advocacy Muscles with the Palliative Care and Hospice Education Training Act”
  • “National Academy of Medicine Vital Directions”
  • “Introducing a New Administration to Serious Illness” and a collaborative letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tom Price, and Secretary of Veterans Affairs, David Shulkin
  • “Eye on the Prize Part II: Palliative Care Post-Election”
  • “Palliative Care Legislation in the 114th Congress”
  • “The 2016 Health Policy Trifecta: Payment Reform, Quality Measures, and EHRs”

Palliative Care Initiatives at the State Level

State policymakers are increasingly recognizing the value of palliative care—not only to the local health care delivery system, but also to employers and families—and are spearheading legislation and other policy initiatives to increase access within their states.

More information on current state activities and recommendations:

• "How States Can Expand Access to Palliative Care"
• Advisory Council Guidelines
• Advisory Council Legislation Tracking
• State Reports
• "Reflections from a Palliative Care Champion – California’s Kate O’Malley"
• "California is Developing a New Palliative Care Benefit: What You Need to Know"