S. 2287: Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act

This bill, known as the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act, aims to improve education, training, and workforce development in palliative care and hospice services in the United States. Here’s a breakdown of its key components:

Grants for Palliative Care Education Programs

The bill authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide grants for establishing and operating Palliative Care and Hospice Education Programs. These programs will:

• Train health professionals in palliative and hospice care.
• Emphasize collaboration with primary and specialty care.
• Focus on patient and family engagement.
• Address healthcare gaps for individuals with serious or life-threatening illnesses.

Training for Physicians

Grants can also be used to support the training of physicians who plan to teach or practice in palliative medicine. The training must involve:

• Experienced teaching physicians.
• Courses accredited by recognized medical education bodies.
• Interprofessional training across various care settings.

Palliative Care Career Awards

The bill establishes a program to provide awards to eligible individuals involved in palliative care education at accredited medical and nursing schools. Eligible individuals include:

• Board-certified or board-eligible professionals in hospice and palliative medicine.
• Those holding junior faculty appointments at relevant institutions.

These awards are intended to promote the academic careers of palliative care specialists.

Workforce Development Programs

In an effort to enhance the palliative care workforce, the bill provides for the following:

• Grants to entities operating Palliative Care and Hospice Education Programs.
• Support for fellowship programs that offer short-term intensive courses in team-based palliative care.
• Requirements to meet targets for the number of practitioners trained.

Incentive Awards for Health Professionals

The bill includes a provision for incentive awards to encourage a range of health professionals to pursue advanced degrees focused on palliative care. Recipients must commit to practicing in health-related settings for at least five years after completing their studies.

Funding Authorization

The proposed legislation authorizes $15 million annually from 2026 to 2030 for the implementation of these programs.

Information Dissemination

It mandates the dissemination of information about palliative care to increase public awareness. This information must address:

• Benefits of palliative care.
• Services available through trained professionals.
• Specific population needs, including underserved groups.

NIH Research Enhancement

The bill also calls for enhanced research efforts within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to focus on improving care quality and quality of life for patients with serious illnesses, and it requires research funding to include palliative care studies starting in 2026.

Restrictions on Federal Funds

It clarifies that federal funds cannot be used for services not eligible for federal assistance, nor can the training involve causing a patient's death.

Relevant Companies

• THC - Tenet Healthcare Corporation: As a healthcare provider, they might be impacted by the increased demand for integrated palliative care services within their facilities.
• HCA - HCA Healthcare, Inc.: This company operates numerous healthcare facilities and may face changes in training and resources available for palliative care.
• AMGN - Amgen Inc.: As a biopharmaceutical company, Amgen could experience influences on their product development relevant to serious illnesses treated with palliative care.