State Palliative Care Councils May Be Proliferating

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

As reported by Hospice News, Holly Vossel

Wisconsin is among the states that have recently taken steps to improve palliative care access and awareness.

Wisconsin legislators recently introduced a bill that would establish a statewide Palliative Care Council. If passed, the bill would require the state’s Department of Health Services (DHS) to create a group of palliative clinical professionals, patients and family members to help address care delivery issues in the field.

The council could help guide the development of public education aimed at dispelling widespread misconceptions about palliative care, according to Agrace President and CEO Lynne Sexten. Among the ultimate goals of the legislation is to improve not just awareness, but also utilization of palliative care, Sexten said.

“The purpose of the council would be to study ways to increase awareness and usage of this highly valuable type of care,” Sexten told Palliative Care News in an email. “In addition, it would help educate Wisconsinites about what palliative care does. Palliative care is often misunderstood and confused with hospice care. Palliative care is not end-of-life care.”

Sexten also serves as board chair of the Wisconsin Hospice & Palliative Care Association (WiHPCA). If passed, the bill could help improve quality outcomes and elevate awareness around palliative care services, Sexten said in a recent WiHPCA statement.

The bill proposes the council to consult on four main issues:

• Outcome evaluation of established palliative care programs in the state
• Economic and quality efficacy of palliative care provided alongside curative treatments
• Mechanisms for and adequacy of reimbursement for palliative care services
• Any other issues relating to palliative care arising at council meetings or discussions

The State Assembly approved the bill and sent it to the Senate. The legislation is now under review by the Senate Government Operations Committee, according to the Wisconsin Legislature. The bill received bipartisan support.

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