Regulatory & Legislative Update

 
 

Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act 
S. 1773, introduced by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and
H.R. 1844, introduced by Reps. Lois Capps (D-CA, 23rd district) and Charles Boustany (R-LA, 7th district). 

If enacted, the Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act (CCCIA) would accomplish the goals of cancer care planning and coordination of care  by creating a Medicare benefit for cancer care planning by healthcare professionals. This essential service is not currently offered to the majority of America’s 12 million cancer survivors or the additional 1.5 million people who will be diagnosed this year.  

If you think cancer care planning will help improve the way cancer care is delivered to you, your loved ones, and people just like you, then join the 23 national cancer    organizations supporting this legislation through the Cancer Leadership Council by asking your Senators and Representative to support S. 1773/H.R. 1844, the CCCIA. 

Take action through National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) Take-Action.

 
The Advance Planning and Compassionate Care Act of 2009
US Senate S 1150 would: 

  • Improve consumer information about advance care planning and end-of-life care.  

  • Improve provider education and training about advance care planning and end-of-life care.  

  • Require portability of advance directives. 

  • Authorize funding for new and innovative approaches to advance care planning.   

  • Provide Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP coverage for advance care planning consultations.   

  • Improve consumer access to hospice and palliative care.  

  • Provide concurrent care for children.   

  • Require the development of quality measures to assess
     end-of-life care.  

  • Establish the National Center on Palliative and End-of-Life Care at the NIH.  

More information.

  

Hospice Providers: Licensed Hospice Facilities
California AB 950:
This bill would allow hospices to operate in-patient facilities under their hospice licensure. Currently, in-patient hospice facilities must be dually licensed as hospice and another licensure, such as skilled nursing, congregate   living health facility, or residential care facility. It is sponsored by the  CA Hospice and Palliative Care Association.

Status: Passed out of Assembly on June 2, 2009, referred to Senate Committee on Health.  

California POLST
POLST stands for Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment and is a physician’s order that outlines a plan of care reflecting a patient’s wishes concerning care at life’s end. The POLST form is voluntary, but it is intended to help patients discuss and develop plans to reflect wishes for care at the end-of-life with their healthcare providers.  The POLST form helps physicians, nurses, health care facilities, and emergency personnel in honoring a  person's wishes for care and treatment at the end-of-life.

Since POLST was approved in California, healthcare    professionals from all across the state have participated in the POLST train-the-trainer education programs. POLST trainers work in hospitals, hospices, long-term care facilities, home health agencies, religious institutions, medical societies, and universities. These healthcare professionals are resources in their communities for training and information on use of the California POLST. The POLST form, information on education, and POLST brochures for professionals and consumers are available online.