Congress Archives - Hospice Action Network

Comments to Ways and Means Committee re: Hearing on Enhancing Access to Care at Home in Rural and Underserved Communities

March 26, 2024By Stephanie MarburgerLetters and Statements

NHPCO submitted comments highlighting hospice and palliative care providers’ expertise and dedication to providing care at home in rural and underserved communities. As innovators in providing individualized care to patients and families at home, NHPCO encouraged the Committee to look to hospice and palliative care when considering how other providers can best deliver care and…

HAN Blog

The Choice to Keep Running: Advocating with Grief (2 of 2)

February 22, 2024By Stephanie MarburgerHAN Blog

Trey Gibson encourages advocates to not shy away from showing emotions when telling their stories. “It’s okay to cry. Bring some tissues,” he says. “It’s hard for me to tell Emilie’s story without my nose twitching. I miss her terribly, and that’s okay.”

Coalition Letter Opposing use of Medicare Hospice Benefit funding to pay for non-hospice policies without addressing hospice issues

January 10, 2024By Stephanie MarburgerLetters and Statements

NHPCO, The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), and LeadingAge partnered on a letter to Congress in opposition to using extension of the 2014 IMPACT Act to allocate resulting funds exclusively for non-hospice purposes.

Letter to Congress on protecting rural and frontier American’s access to hospice and palliative care

January 5, 2024By Stephanie MarburgerLetters and Statements

NHPCO submitted a sign-on letter representing the needs, concerns, and experiences of over 80 organizations across the nation providing hospice and palliative care to rural and frontier communities. Highlighted issues included closure of partner providers and facilities, staffing shortages, staff safety, telehealth and broadband access, lower effective payment rates, and access to Medicare certified facilities.

Update: Response to House Representative Earl Blumenauer (OR-3)’s announcement

October 31, 2023By Stephanie MarburgerPolicy and Advocacy Updates

On Monday, October 30, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3) announced that he will not be seeking re-election in 2024. “Congressman Earl Blumenauer is among our strongest allies and friends in Congress. Throughout his career as a consummate public servant, he has time and time again dedicated himself to supporting those with serious illness and those receiving…

Comments on House Budget Committee RFI on Reducing Federal Health Care Spending

October 15, 2023By Stephanie MarburgerLetters and Statements

NHPCO provided comments in response to a Request for Information (RFI) from the House Budget Committee titled “Solutions to Improve Outcomes and Reduce Federal Health Care Spending in the Budget.” Comments discussed the audit and survey burdens on hospices; the need for interoperability of Electronic Medical Records in hospices; regulatory issues; the need for continued…

Response to Request for Information on Improving Access to Health Care in Rural and Underserved Areas

October 10, 2023By Stephanie MarburgerLetters and Statements

NHPCO provided comments in response to a Request for Information (RFI) from the House Committee on Ways and Means on Improving Access to Health Care in Rural and Underserved Areas. The comments focused on factors impacting hospice care access for patients and families in rural communities.

HAN Blog

HAN Intern Reflects on Advocacy Lessons Learned on the Hill

August 15, 2023By hospiceactionnHAN Blog

I never expected to be talking to congressional staff on my second day of work. I especially didn’t expect to sit in on meetings with congressional staff during one of HAN’s biggest weeks of the year, “Hospice Action Week”.

Hospice Action Week 2023: Advocates Unite on Capitol Hill

June 26, 2023By Stephanie MarburgerHAN Blog, Policy and Advocacy Updates

On Wednesday, June 7 hospice and palliative care advocates from across the nation made a difference and presented a united voice in Washington, DC. As a part of the annual Hospice Action Hill Day, over 70 NHPCO and HAN advocates gathered to make legislative visits on Capitol Hill in support of key policy priorities impacting…

Hospice Priorities for Fall 2021

October 7, 2021By Lucy SchmitzPolicy and Advocacy Updates

As the beltway is entrenched in a busy time of the year, focusing on a big infrastructure and reconciliation package, funding the government and raising the debt-ceiling, the Hospice Action Network is working closely with the hospice and palliative care champions on the Hill, and within the Department of Health and Human Services, to advance…