Posted on Monday, August 12, 2019 1:04 PM
A bipartisan group of Senators have created a caucus to advance palliative care. Senators Rosen (D-NV), Barrasso (R-WY), Fischer (R-NE) and Baldwin (D-WI) plan to raise awareness and improvements in palliative care. These Senators have recently introduced legislation that would designate palliative care as an eligible primary care service in the National Health Service Corps program, allowing for scholarships and loan repayments for providers working in rural and underserved areas.
“As someone who stepped back from my career to take care of my parents and in-laws as they got older and started having serious health problems, I understand just how important it is for working families to have access to the medically advantageous and cost-saving benefits of palliative care,” said co-chair Senator Rosen. “About one in eight people are living with a serious illness, and many of those patients lack access to comprehensive treatment that includes palliative care. We know that millions of Americans could benefit from access to palliative care, and by launching today’s bipartisan caucus, we will be able to give this very real issue the attention that it deserves.”
“For more than two decades, I had the privilege of practicing medicine in Wyoming.” said co-chair Senator Barrasso. “Helping patients and their families face difficult health care situations made me appreciate the importance of palliative care. This why I’m proud to help lead the Comprehensive Care Caucus to improve the quality of life for patients and their dedicated caregivers.”
“I was raised by my maternal grandparents and later served as my grandmother’s primary caregiver as she grew older, so this issue is personal to me, and I want to make a difference for families experiencing serious health concerns,” said Senator Baldwin. “I’m proud to join the bipartisan Comprehensive Care Caucus so we can do more to improve the quality of care for the growing number of patients with serious or life-threatening illnesses, enhance care coordination and support our nation’s caregivers.”
“Witnessing our loved ones face serious illnesses is heartbreaking and stressful,” said Senator Fischer. “Through the Senate’s bipartisan Comprehensive Care Caucus, I’m optimistic we can draw attention to the importance of palliative care for patients, families, friends, and caregivers. Doing so will improve the lives of people in Nebraska and across America by making sure they can choose the best care plan possible.”
Source: NAHC Report
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