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All posts tagged with “Public Policy News | Legislation.”



Post-acute care faces labor shortage amid immigration scrutiny

07/24/25 at 03:00 AM

Post-acute care faces labor shortage amid immigration scrutiny Modern Healthcare, Post-Acute Care; by Diane Eastabrook; 7/23/25 Nursing homes and home care operators are scrambling to find replacements for foreign-born workers no longer eligible to work in the U.S. due to changes in immigration policy. Providers in Boston, Atlanta and other cities with large populations of immigrants, and Haitians in particular, say the loss of foreign-born workers in an already tight job market is making it increasingly difficult to meet the growing demand for care — and will likely drive up care costs. Last month the Homeland Security Department began notifying more than 500,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans that it terminated a Biden-era program that allowed them to live and work in the U.S. It said those who have not attained legal status to remain in the U.S. outside of the program must leave immediately. Despite court challenges, the federal government also aims to end another program in early September that grants temporary protected status to Haitians and Venezuelans who have lived in the U.S. for more than a decade. [Full access might require subscription.]

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Hochul weighs political risk of aid-in-dying bill

07/23/25 at 03:00 AM

Hochul weighs political risk of aid-in-dying bill Fingerlakes1.com, Seneca Falls, NY; by Staff Report; 7/18/25 Gov. Kathy Hochul is under pressure as she considers signing New York’s Medical Aid in Dying Act, a controversial bill allowing terminally ill patients access to life-ending medication, according to Politico. The bill has strong support from advocates and many voters, but faces fierce opposition from religious groups and conservatives. Hochul, a practicing Catholic eyeing reelection, must balance public opinion, personal beliefs, and political risk.

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Carter, Bera introduce bill to strengthen palliative and hospice care workforce

07/21/25 at 03:00 AM

Carter, Bera introduce bill to strengthen palliative and hospice care workforce United States Representative Buddy Carter, Washington, DC; Press Release; 7/17/25Reps. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) and Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA) today introduced the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA), bipartisan legislation to invest in training, education, and research for the palliative care and hospice workforce, allowing more practitioners to enter these in-demand fields. ... "As a pharmacist, I understand the toll burnout takes on the health care industry, and I am committed to bolstering the workforce so nurses, doctors, and all health care workers can continue to pursue their passion for helping others,” said Rep. Carter. "As a doctor, I know how important it is to provide patients with comfort, clarity, and support when they’re facing serious illness,” said Rep. Bera. “The Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act is a smart, bipartisan step to ensure more health care professionals are trained to deliver this kind of care."Editor's Note: Bravo to this pharmacist and physician bipartisan team for introducing this bill. Go to the article and scroll down to this press release's long list of "Supporting Organizations."

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Major health groups push Congress to keep protecting state medical marijuana laws from federal interference

07/18/25 at 03:00 AM

Major health groups push Congress to keep protecting state medical marijuana laws from federal interference Marijuana Moment; by Kyle Jaeger; 7/16/25 A coalition of 45 marijuana advocacy and medical groups—including Americans for Safe Access (ASA), U.S. Pain Foundation, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Epilepsy Foundation of America and more—are calling on congressional lawmakers to ensure that state medical cannabis programs remain protected under spending legislation that’s advancing. ... The rider that protects state medical cannabis laws from federal interference, meanwhile, has been part of federal law since 2014 but requires renewal on an annual basis as part of appropriations legislation. 

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Tracking the Medicare Provisions in the 2025 Reconciliation Bill | KFF

07/15/25 at 03:20 AM

Tracking the Medicare Provisions in the 2025 Reconciliation Bill | KFF KFF; updated 7/8/25 Similar to the chart for Medicaid provisions in the 2025 Reconciliation Bill, KFF also provides details on the changes for Medicare. Topics include eligibility policies, physician payment, prescription drugs, rules for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), nursing homes – including the prohibition of implementation, administration, or enforcement of the minimum staffing levels requirement until October 1, 2034, and funding for HHS to “contract with AI contractors and data scientists to identify and reduce Medicare improper payments and recoup overpayments.Guest Editor’s Note, Judi Lund Person: The chart of Medicare provisions confirms that implementation of the Medicare eligibility and enrollment final rule will be delayed until October 1, 2034, except for those provisions that have already taken effect. The Senate version enacted into law also has a temporary one-year increase of 2.5% in the Physician Fee Schedule conversion factor for all services furnished between January 1, 2026 and January 1, 2027 and a delay of the nursing home staffing final rule until October 1, 2034. It is helpful to have the chart in a usable form for reference on the final bill enacted into law.

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Tracking the Medicaid Provisions in the 2025 Reconciliation Bill | KFF

07/15/25 at 03:10 AM

Tracking the Medicaid Provisions in the 2025 Reconciliation Bill | KFF KFF; updated 7/8/25The chart tracking the Medicaid provisions in the House and Senate-passed version of the bill includes the following topics:  Medicaid Expansion, Eligibility Policies, Financing, Long-term Care, Access, and Prescription Drugs. The chart outlines details of the current law, House-passed bill, Senate-passed bill (enacted into law) and KFF Resources. Of particular note are the final work requirements in the statute, prohibiting the implementation, administration, or enforcement of certain provisions in both the CMS “Eligibility and Enrollment” final rules until October 1, 2034, and limits retroactive coverage to one month prior to application for expansion enrollees and two months prior to application for coverage for traditional enrollees, effective January 1, 2027. On July 1, 2025, KFF posted a CBO estimate of federal Medicaid spending reductions across the states including charts for components of the federal Medicaid cuts in the Senate reconciliation bill and a map of federal Medicaid cuts by state. Guest Editor’s Note, Judi Lund Person: While the details of the Medicaid provisions are daunting to understand and then apply to Medicaid enrollees in your area, I found this chart to at least organize the issues and track what happened between the House and Senate-passed versions, including what was enacted into law. More will likely unfold as we hear more from HHS and CMS about implementation.

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KFF publishes summaries of Health Provisions in the 2025 Federal Budget Reconciliation Bill

07/15/25 at 03:00 AM

KFF publishes summaries of Health Provisions in the 2025 Federal Budget Reconciliation BillKFF; updated 7/8/25 On July 3, the House passed the same version of the budget reconciliation bill passed by the Senate on July 1. On July 4, President Trump signed the legislation into law . KFF published this summary to describe the health care provisions in the law (described as the Senate-passed bill) in four categories: Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). It also compares the provisions to a earlier draft of the bill passed by the House on May 22. Guest Editor’s Note, Judi Lund Person:  KFF was formerly known as the Kaiser Family Foundation but since KFF is not a foundation and has no connection to Kaiser Permanente, they are now called simply KFF. They state “As a one-of-a-kind information organization, we bring together substantial capabilities in policy research, polling, and journalism in one organization to meet the need for a trusted, independent source of information on national health issues—one with the scope and reach to be a counterweight to health care’s vested interests and a voice for people.”

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New bill would extend Hospital-At-Home Waiver through 2030

07/14/25 at 03:00 AM

New bill would extend Hospital-At-Home Waiver through 2030 Home Health Care News; by Morgan Gonzales; 7/10/25 On Thursday, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation to extend the hospital-at-home waiver, which has been a source of significant uncertainty for the home health industry. The Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act, if passed, would allow hospitals to extend successful hospital-at-home programs for an additional five years. It would also orchestrate a study focusing on the efficacy, quality and patient satisfaction associated with home-based care. 

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VA announces expanded burial benefits for those under VA-provided hospice care

07/14/25 at 03:00 AM

VA announces expanded burial benefits for those under VA-provided hospice care Tri-State Alert; by Staff Report; 7/11/25 The Department of Veterans Affairs announced today it has temporarily expanded burial benefits for certain Veterans, per the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. The new law specifies eligible Veterans are those who are discharged from VA-provided medical or nursing care to receive VA-provided hospice care at their home and who pass away between July 1, 2025, and Oct. 1, 2026. Previously, Veterans who died at home under VA hospice care after discharge from VA-provided medical or nursing care were not always eligible for a full VA burial allowance. The Dole Act addresses that gap.

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'One Big Beautiful Bill Act': Key final Medicaid changes explained

07/14/25 at 03:00 AM

'One Big Beautiful Bill Act': Key final Medicaid changes explained Morgan Lewis; by Jeanna Palmer Gunville and Tesch Leigh West; 7/9/25 The One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law on July 4 and includes significant changes to the Medicaid program, particularly with regard to state and federal financing for the program. This LawFlash provides a high-level summary of certain key provisions that will impact various Medicaid stakeholders, including states, providers, and enrollees. ...

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Health economic analysis of an all-virtual, at-home acute care model

07/12/25 at 03:30 AM

Health economic analysis of an all-virtual, at-home acute care modelJAMA Network Open; Brad Spellberg, MD; Christopher Lynch, MD; Hal F. Yee, MD, PhD; Josh Banerjee, MD; 6/25Hospital-at-home care models send staff, durable medical equipment (DME), and therapeutics (eg, intravenous infusions) to patients’ homes to provide care. In the US, Medicare requires in-person evaluations at least twice daily to receive payment for hospital-at-home services. In the UK National Health Service, virtual wards at home are increasingly being used in lieu of inpatient care. This economic evaluation of ... patients receiving all-virtual, at-home acute care ... found that the virtual program was cost-saving (due to avoided variable hospital costs) only for unfunded patients or patients with Medicaid, but was cost-losing for Medicare and commercially insured patients due to substantial lost inpatient revenue. These findings suggest that current payer rates for inpatient care financially disincentivize development and implementation of novel acute, at-home care models, but a simple reimbursement schema could enable net savings to both hospitals and payers.

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Twenty-fourth proclamation relating to wildfires

07/10/25 at 03:00 AM

Twenty-fourth proclamation relating to wildfiresOffice of the Governor - State of Hawai'i, Hawaii.gov; by Reece Kilbey; 7/7/25By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Hawai’i, to provide relief for disaster damages, losses, and suffering, and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people, I, Josh Green, M.D, Governor of the State of Hawai’i, hereby proclaim as follows: ... [This lengthy document has 8 references to "hospice."]

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20 states sue after the Trump administration releases private Medicaid data to deportation official

07/08/25 at 03:00 AM

20 states sue after the Trump administration releases private Medicaid data to deportation officials Associated Press (AP), Washington, DC; by Amanda Seitz and Kimberly Kindy; 7/1/25The Trump administration violated federal privacy laws when it turned over Medicaid data on millions of enrollees to deportation officials last month, California Attorney General Rob Bonta alleged on Tuesday, saying he and 19 other states’ attorneys general have sued over the move. Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s advisers ordered the release of a dataset that includes the private health information of people living in California, Illinois, Washington state, and Washington, D.C., to the Department of Homeland Security, The Associated Press first reported last month. All of those states allow non-U.S. citizens to enroll in Medicaid programs that pay for their expenses using only state taxpayer dollars.

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Medicaid provisions threaten home and community-based services for millions of vulnerable Americans

07/07/25 at 03:00 AM

Medicaid provisions threaten home and community-based services for millions of vulnerable Americans National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 7/3/25The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) issued the following statement today in response to the House’s passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” also known as the Reconciliation bill, which now heads to President Trump’s desk for his signature. “The Alliance is deeply troubled by the Medicaid provisions within the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which has passed both chambers of Congress and now awaits President Trump’s signature,” said Alliance CEO Dr. Steve Landers. “These provisions—including work requirements, reduced provider taxes, and new cost-sharing mandates—prioritize short-sighted budget savings over the health and wellbeing of our most vulnerable citizens who rely on home and community-based services (HCBS).” The home care community advocated throughout the legislative process for Congress to mitigate these harmful Medicaid provisions.

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Center for Acute Hospice Care to close in August

07/07/25 at 03:00 AM

Center for Acute Hospice Care to close in August 29 News, Charlottesville, VA; by Jacob Phillips; 7/1/25 After nearly a decade of offering around-the-clock end-of-life care, Hospice of the Piedmont is closing their Center for Acute Hospice Care (CAHC) on Ivy Road in Charlottesville in August. “It gives us an opportunity to concentrate more on where patients want to be, which is home, and those services will still be provided,” Hospice of the Piedmont President and CEO Nancy Littlefield said. “[CAHC] is a 10-bed unit that we lease...and it’s for patients who might be having needs of a higher level of hospice care.” Littlefield says the main reason for closing the center is the lease is coming to an end and with uncertainty surrounding federal budget cuts of hospice care, continuing in this location is not sustainable. “Our hospice, as well as all hospices across the state, are having to be very cautious about what Medicaid and other reimbursement changes may occur under the current administration,” Littlefield said, “and I think the worst thing we can do for families and patients is to not be prepared.”

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Alliance Statement on House passage of Reconciliation Bill: Medicaid provisions threaten home and community-based services for millions of vulnerable Americans

07/07/25 at 02:00 AM

Alliance Statement on House passage of Reconciliation Bill: Medicaid provisions threaten home and community-based services for millions of vulnerable Americans National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandira, VA and Washington DC; Press Release; 7/3/25 The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) issued the following statement today in response to the House’s passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” also known as the Reconciliation bill, which now heads to President Trump’s desk for his signature. “The Alliance is deeply troubled by the Medicaid provisions within the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which has passed both chambers of Congress and now awaits President Trump’s signature,” said Alliance CEO Dr. Steve Landers. “These provisions—including work requirements, reduced provider taxes, and new cost-sharing mandates—prioritize short-sighted budget savings over the health and wellbeing of our most vulnerable citizens who rely on home and community-based services (HCBS).”

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The Alliance responds to Senate passage of Reconciliation Bill

07/03/25 at 03:00 AM

The Alliance responds to Senate passage of Reconciliation Bill National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandira, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 7/1/25 The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) issued the following statement today in response to the Senate’s passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” also known as the Reconciliation bill. “The Alliance is alarmed by the Senate’s passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which prioritizes misplaced budget cuts over the health and wellbeing of our most vulnerable. The legislation will reduce access to care and support for the millions of Americans who rely on home and community-based services (HCBS),” said Alliance CEO Dr. Steve Landers. ... “The Alliance continues to maintain that the complexity of the Medicaid program makes it nearly impossible to reduce expenditures by the amounts contemplated by this legislation – potentially exceeding $1 trillion over ten years – without impacting services to older adults and people with disabilities. The Alliance will advocate on behalf of Medicaid enrollees, families, and providers nationwide ...

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OSHA moves to end COVID-19 recordkeeping rules for healthcare employers

07/03/25 at 03:00 AM

OSHA moves to end COVID-19 recordkeeping rules for healthcare employers McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Donna Shryer; 7/1/25 The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) this week proposed removing COVID-19 recordkeeping requirements for healthcare employers, including the last remaining provisions of its pandemic-era emergency safety rules. OSHA on Monday [6/30] released a proposed rule to eliminate the remaining recordkeeping and reporting provisions from its 2021 Emergency Temporary Standard for healthcare settings. The proposal would remove requirements for healthcare employers to maintain COVID logs tracking all employee cases and to report COVID-related hospitalizations and deaths to OSHA regardless of time elapsed since workplace exposure. These provisions currently apply to more than 562,000 healthcare entities employing more than 10.3 million workers. These entities include nursing homes, assisted living communities, continuing care retirement communities and home health agencies. These entities include nursing homes, assisted living communities, continuing care retirement communities and home health agencies. 

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Workplace violence bill passes the Oregon House and Senate, heads to Governor's desk

07/02/25 at 03:00 AM

Workplace violence bill passes the Oregon House and Senate, heads to Governor's desk The Source, Bend, OR; 6/30/25 The Oregon Legislative Assembly passed groundbreaking workplace violence legislation aimed at keeping frontline healthcare workers safe in hospitals, and home health and hospice settings across Oregon. Senate Bill 537 B (SB 537) was passed by the House just three days after it was passed by the Senate and heads to Governor Kotek for her signature. ... What SB 537 Accomplishes: SB 537 focuses on pragmatic, prevention-oriented solutions that protect frontline nurses and caregivers in hospitals and in home health and hospice settings. ... Why This Matters: ... Nationally, between 2007 and 2022, hospital staff experienced a 181% increase in workplace violence injuries. In Oregon, a staggering 92% of ONA members reported incidents of violence last year—far above national averages.

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Trump administration to end 988 suicide prevention specialized service for LGBTQ+ youth in July

07/02/25 at 02:00 AM

Trump administration to end 988 suicide prevention specialized service for LGBTQ+ youth in JulyCNN; by Jacqueline Howard; 6/18/25The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth will no longer be in operation starting July 17, according to a statement from the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). ... According to the latest data from SAMHSA, more than 14.5 million people have called, texted or sent chats to the 988 Lifeline and have been transferred to a crisis contact center since July 2022. Nearly 1.3 million of those were routed to the LGBTQ+ specialized service.Editor's Note: This 988 LGBTQ+ specialized option was piloted in September 2020, expanded on March 6, 2025, and rolled out fully nationwide in July 2023. This data translates to approximately 1,250 LGBTQ calls per day; 52 calls per hour; 1 call per minute. Who--in your world of family and friends--might this ultimately affect? Research, data, and personal stories (sure to be in each of our circles of family and friends) tell us why this matters. A resource for you to use is The Handbook of LGBTQIA-inclusive Hospice and Palliative Care, 2nd edition by Kimberly D. Acquaviva. This handbook is the first place winner, 2024 American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Award in Palliative Care and Hospice.

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Solomon Center white paper outlines options to expand health care for children living with serious illness

07/01/25 at 03:15 AM

Solomon Center white paper outlines options to expand health care for children living with serious illnessYale Law School; 6/25/25 As state lawmakers consider establishing a statewide pediatric palliative care program, a new white paper from researchers at the Solomon Center for Health Law and Policy at Yale Law School recommends ways that access to palliative care can be improved for Connecticut’s estimated 7,000+ children living with serious illnesses.

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National Alliance for Care at Home champions bipartisan legislation to transform access to quality in-home skilled nursing

06/23/25 at 03:00 AM

National Alliance for Care at Home champions bipartisan legislation to transform access to quality in-home skilled nursingNational Alliance for Care at Home press release; by Elyssa Katz; 6/20/25The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) is pleased to support the introduction of the Continuous Skilled Nursing Quality Improvement Act of 2025. This bipartisan legislation, Senate Bill 1920, introduced by Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) aims to improve the quality and accessibility of skilled nursing care by modernizing Medicaid’s approach to private duty nursing.

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[New York] State Senate passes Medical Aid in Dying Act, bill heads to governor’s desk

06/11/25 at 03:00 AM

[New York] State Senate passes Medical Aid in Dying Act, bill heads to governor’s desk  Finger Lakes Daily News; by Lucas Day; 6/10/25 The New York State Senate passed the Medical Aid in Dying Act late Monday night, paving the way for New York to become the 11th state in the nation to legalize medical aid in dying. The vote followed hours of contentious debate and passed largely along party lines, 35-27. Six Democrats broke ranks to oppose the measure. The State Assembly had already approved the legislation in April by a vote of 81-67, meaning the bill now heads to Governor Kathy Hochul, who has the final say on whether it becomes law. 

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Colorado exemplifies how to build upon paid leave progress to meet families’ evolving needs

06/11/25 at 03:00 AM

Colorado exemplifies how to build opon paid leave progress to meet families’ evolving needs A Better Balance; 6/3/25 Colorado continues to pave the way for strong work-family protections by modeling how these policies can be expanded to meet families' needs. This spring, Colorado expanded the state’s paid family and medical leave program (the FAMLI Act, which our Colorado Office helped write and pass) to include an additional 12 weeks of paid leave for parents with a baby in the neonatal intensive care unit. Governor Polis signed the bill into law on Friday, May 30th, and Colorado workers with a child in the NICU will be able to take additional leave under the expansion beginning on or after January 1, 2026. ... For parents with children in the NICU, additional time off work to remain present can be a lifeline during a stressful time.Editor's note: As we know, the fragile and uncertain health of an infant in a neonatal intensive care unit can, heartbreakingly, lead to death. This—one of the most devastating forms of loss—often leaves parents to grieve in silence, their sorrow compounded by the experience of disenfranchised grief. While family and friends care deeply, they frequently falter in their efforts to provide meaningful support. Though it has been more than two decades since I served on the Pediatric Team at Hospice & Palliative Care of Louisville—only four years in total—my memories remain vivid. The emotions expressed by mothers and fathers, grandparents and siblings still rise easily to the surface, reminding me how enduring and raw such losses can be. Bravo ti Colorado's FAMLI Act. May more states follow their lead.

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Rosen introduces bipartisan bills to expand access to palliative care, hospice care

06/06/25 at 03:00 AM

Rosen introduces bipartisan bills to expand access to palliative care, hospice careJacky Rosen, U.S. Senator for Nevada, Washington, DC; 6/5/25 U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen, co-founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Comprehensive Care Caucus, announced the introduction of a pair of bipartisan bills to expand access to palliative and hospice care. The Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act with Senators Barrasso (R-WY), Baldwin (D-WI), and Fischer (R-NE) would establish a demonstration project through Medicare to expand access to palliative care at the time of diagnosis of serious illness or injury. The Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act with Senators Barrasso (R-WY) and Baldwin (D-WI) would carve out payment for transfusion services within the Medicare hospice benefit, allowing for separate billing to Medicare for transfusions. This would improve access to hospice care for patients who rely on transfusion care to maintain quality of life.

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