"A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators has launched a new caucus to focus on legislation and policy that impacts palliative care. The legislators said they expect the Comprehensive Care Caucus to raise awareness of palliative care, promote utilization, improve care coordination, support caregivers and expand access to palliative care services.

Founding members of the Comprehensive Care Caucus include Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and John Barrasso (R-Wy.).....

Lack of awareness is a major barrier to palliative care expansion. A Journal of Palliative Medicine study, published in April, found that as many as 71% of people in the United States have little to no understanding of what palliative care is, including many clinicians in a position to refer patients to palliative care or hospice. 

Close to 60% of patients who would benefit from palliative care do not receive those services, despite the availability of community-based palliative care as well as hospital-based palliative care, according to a recent report from the New England Journal of Medicine Catalyst Insights Council. 

Expansion of palliative care could also help bring patients under the wings of hospice earlier in the progression of their illnesses." 

Read the full article here:  https://hospicenews.com/2019/07/31/new-senate-caucus-to-focus-on-palliative-care/