Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act S.693

Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act

The Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act, PCHETA S.693/H.R.1676 passed the House in July. Now it's waiting action in the Senate.
The goals of of PCHETA is to increase the availability and quality of care for both forms of care. It will accomplish this by establishing a palliative and hospice workforce training programs for doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals. It also establish an educational program for patients and their families creating awareness of benefits provided by palliative care. Finally it provides for research to enhance the quality of delivering palliative and hospice care.
In 2014, 18.4 percent of Hospice patients receiving end of life care had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and other dementias. This is higher than any other disease. As the prevalence of Alzheimer's continues to grow the demand for these services will increase. The Senate must act, we currently have 34 Cosponsors in the Senate, with others committing, but not officially signed on as co-sponsor, we need to ask Sen.Isakson and Sen. Perdue to support Bill S.693. I thank Congressman David Scott of Georgia District 13, for his Co Sponsorship and leadership in the passing of PCHETA in the House.