Letter to Secretary Xavier Becerra of the Department of Health and Human Services regarding the ongoing national mental health crisis. Letter noted that an often overlooked aspect of mental health is addressing grief and that hospice providers are often the ones providing on-the-ground bereavement services to their communities on a micro and macro level.
For Immediate Release:April 8, 2022 (Alexandria, Va) – Today, Congress is leaving town for a two-week vacation without addressing the cuts to hospice. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and Hospice Action Network (HAN) are voicing their concerns for the hospice provider community. Due to congressional inaction, a one percent cut to Medicare payments known as sequestration…
Letter to House Committee on Energy and Commerce leadership regarding a hearing titled Communities in Need: Legislation to Support Mental Health and Well-Being. Letter highlighted that addressing grief is a key but often overlooked component of mental health, and that hospice and palliative care professionals bring strong experience in helping individuals, families, and communities process…
NHPCO, the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), LeadingAge, and the National Partnership for Healthcare & Hospice Innovation (NPHI), partnered on a letter to House and Senate leadership urging Congress to suspend the full 2% Medicare sequestration payment cut through the end of the COVID-19 PHE or December 31, 2022 (whichever is later)…
Letter to Senate Finance Committee leadership in response to hearing titled Protecting Youth Mental Health: An Advisory and Call to Action. Letter outlined how hospice providers serve their communities in bereavement services, the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of the nation particularly youth, and the importance of potential legislation to combat grief with…
NHPCO provided comments on the proposed Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination proposed rule (CMS-3415-IFC) (or “the COVID-19 Vaccination Rule”). Comments focused on the potential impact of proposals re: implementation dates, documentation, and exemptions on hospice and palliative care providers and the care they provide for patients and families.
As families gather this holiday season, they often find themselves in some uncomfortable conversations: politics, religion, or when they plan to have kids. For some, end-of-life planning can be uncomfortable, but it doesn’t have to be. It is important to to communicate your wishes to family. We at NHPCO are here to help you and your family make informed decisions and take the steps to make sure your wishes are followed at end of life. This process of discussing and determining your preferences for health care is called Advance…
You should know that grief is often exacerbated around the holidays which can make this time of year especially difficult for you. As we enter the holiday season, consider these strategies, from “What’s your Grief?” to help you cope. Keep in mind, this advice is not one-size-fits-all. Take what works for you and leave the rest. As you navigate this holiday season be gentle with yourself…
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and Hospice Action Network welcome Graciela and Nathan, our new interns. They have joined our team to develop resources to support hospice and palliative care providers and patients experiencing grief as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Graciela Rayome is a second-year Master of Public Health candidate at the University of Delaware with a concentration in Health Policy and Management.…
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…