AAHPM’s Public Policy Priorities direct the Academy’s efforts to promote a just, effective, and efficient healthcare system. At the heart of these efforts is the goal of ensuring that all patients and families facing serious illness have access to high-quality palliative care throughout the care continuum.
In order to achieve this aim, AAHPM’s advocacy is currently focused on these key issues in the field.
Payment
AAHPM continues its advocacy for payment mechanisms that will ensure the practice of hospice and palliative medicine is sustainable and appropriately recognized for the value it adds to care for people living with serious illness. AAHPM also participates in the valuation of physician service codes and works with stakeholder partners to advance Medicare payment for high-value services for people living with serious illness.
Expanding the Hospice and Palliative Care Workforce
As the population ages, the number of people living with serious, complex and chronic illness is increasing, bringing a similar rise in need — and demand — for hospice and palliative care. Unfortunately, the field of Hospice and Palliative Medicine has been unable to expand to meet patient and health system demand because of a significant workforce shortage of trained providers.
Maintaining Access to Prescription Medications
High-quality palliative care must include timely, effective management of the distressing symptoms of serious illness. Medications, including opioid analgesics, are a critical tool in this effort. For many patients, even short delays in accessing needed medications can be devastating.