 As we think about Spring (and who doesn’t?), my mind is on renewal of spirit, re-energizing and refocusing our efforts on what matters most to people with serious illness and how our Coalition can make a difference. Now that we have coalesced around our key Strategic Priorities, I encourage you to take a look and hope they resonate with you. They should – our Coalition represents the interdisciplinary workforce wherever you deliver serious illness care. We are committed to working together to advance health equity, improve quality and advocate for improved serious illness care for all.
We Believe
Our Coalition believes that patients, families, and caregivers, (regardless of race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or ability) are always the intended beneficiaries of our work.
We believe our best role is to convene, advocate and streamline access and information… to learn more
Together we can and will achieve our ultimate shared vision: All patients, families and caregivers will have equitable access to quality hospice and palliative care.
Check out how we plan to do accomplish these goals here:
Our Coalition is proud of our unofficial mantra of “cooperation, communication, and collaboration,” and take seriously the mission to represent the thousands of interdisciplinary team members working each day to make an impact on patients and families lives.
The Coalition’s impact is due to the many volunteers who lead, contribute, and participate in our efforts. Many are featured in our Impact Report.
 
To stay updated on the Coalition’s activities, follow us @Coalitionhpc on Twitter.
Amy Melnick, MPA |
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Palliative Care Measures Pass 1st Step at NQF!
 At the February 18 National Quality Forum (NQF) Geriatrics and Palliative Care Standing Committee measure evaluation meeting, three (3) measures were considered for review and approval. The field (American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, RAND and the Coalition) has been working under a federal CMS grant to create the first two patient reported experience palliative care measures:
The “Ambulatory Palliative Care Patients’ Experience of Feeling Heard and Understood” and the “Ambulatory Palliative Care Patients’ Experience of Receiving Desired Help for Pain” measures were recommended for endorsement by the NQF Standing Committee.The measures still require final NQF approval as outlined in the NQF endorsement process (approval by the Consensus Standards Approval Committee) is still required. However, passing through the Standing Committee is a significant milestone. Comments heard during this public meeting re: these measures included, “It’s about time we have measures from the patient voice – the patient experience” and “thank you to the measure developers for creating these very much needed measures.” The Coalition was a proud collaborative partner on this project.
NQF now has an Open Comment period for NQF Members through April 29th. The Coalition encourages stakeholders (organizations and individuals) to comment regarding the usefulness and utility of these measures.
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Workgroup Welcomes New Members & Begins to Set Priorities
 The Co-Chairs of the Coalition’s Equity and Inclusion Workgroup, Brittany Chambers (CAPC) and Inetta Riddell (APC) have announced two new organizational members have joined the Workgroup. Todd Hultman (HPNA) and Kashelle Lockman (SPPCP), joined the Workgroup at the beginning of the year. With the overarching goal to advance health equity for patients with serious illness and their caregivers, the Workgroup has launched a set of three-year goals focusing on the following:
- Create a multi-year strategy of focus and set the Workgroup Mission, Values and Vision
- Forge ongoing collaborations across the DEI field of hospice and palliative care to build capacity, align resources, avoid duplication, and overcome barriers to care
- Establish field consensus regarding the definition of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Create inclusive common, patient-centered language to share with the field
- Establish and share DEI training recommendations
- Make recommendations for more consistent DEI data collection
If interested in providing feedback, comments or sharing your interest in DEI interdisciplinary activities and efforts please send an email to DEI@nationalcoalitionhpc,org.
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Great News for the National Pediatric Palliative Care Task Force!
It has been a fantastic start to 2022 for the National Pediatric Palliative Care Task Force. We are exceedingly grateful and honored to announce the Cameron and Hayden Lord Foundation’s renewal of support through 2024 to enable the Task Force to “build upon the foundation it’s built and enhance its priorities.” This show of support ensures that the work of the Task Force can continue beyond the initial two-year commitment.
It follows on the heels of a very successful two-day virtual annual meeting attended by Task Force members, alternates, and the family advisory council. Ongoing national advocacy, the need to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion, and our commitment to engaging family voices in all aspects of our work emerged as key priorities. Our 2022-23 working draft priorities, motivations, and strategies reflect these commitments.
If interested in learning more about PPC, please subscribe below to our quarterly PPC newsletter.
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Proposed 2022 Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids
 CDC is accepting comments through April 11 on the new revised voluntary CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. CDC indicates that these guidelines exclude clinicians prescribing for “sickle cell disease-related pain management, cancer pain treatment, palliative care, and end-of-life care”. However, the definition of “palliative care” in terms of the medical record and precise medical coding can be problematic in terms of compliance with these guidelines. These new guidelines remove its previous recommended ceilings on doses for chronic pain patients and instead permits doctors to use their best clinical judgment. The Coalition will be working with our Members and other stakeholders to submit comments.
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CMS Redesigns Accountable Care Organization Model: Notes Need for Serious Illness Care
 The ACO Realizing Equity, Access, and Community Health (REACH) Model, a redesign of the Global and Professional Direct Contracting (GPDC) Model, addresses stakeholder feedback, participant experience, and Administration priorities, including CMS’ commitment to advancing health equity. In this model (page 114) applicants are asked to describe their approach to engaging patients regarding advanced medical directives, hospice care, palliative care, and generally end-of-life care. Coalition leaders continue to discuss improving the quality and access to hospice and palliative care with officials at CMS.
More detailed information: ACO REACH Model
Family Caregiving for People with Cancer and Other Serious Illnesses: A Workshop
On May 16 and 17 a public workshop will be held at the National Academies in Washington DC (and virtually) that will examine opportunities to better support family caregiving for people with cancer or other serious illnesses. Register HERE. Presentations and panel discussions on topics that will include:
- Strategies to better capture, understand, and act on family caregiver input and experience to improve patient care and to support family caregivers.
- Research gaps and opportunities to improve the evidence base to guide caregiving for patients with serious illnesses.
- Potential policy and practice opportunities to support family caregivers and advance family-centered care for serious illness, including new models of care delivery and payment. Including lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., use of telehealth and other remote technologies).
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