Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Passes Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act

This week the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee held a mark =-up hearing that included The Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA).  H.R. 1676, introduced by Reps. Eliot Engel (D-NY), Tom Reed (R-NY), and Buddy Carter (R-GA), directs the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to improve the training of health professionals in palliative care. The bill also increases education and awareness about the benefits and services of palliative care and enhances research on palliative care through leveraging existing authorities and funds at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The bill passed mark up as amended and will be sent to the full committee for vote. No date for a vote as been set.

The Society supports efforts to strengthen the PALTC workforce and has worked with the Eldercare Workforce Alliance (EWA) supporting legislation to enhance the amount and training for the geriatric workforce.