National News

Misinformation, Health Care Reform, and the Media (by NHPCO)

A Message from J. Donald Schumacher
August 14, 2009

As many people know, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) has been working actively to clarify misinformation among national and regional media regarding health care reform legislation. An important part of our outreach has been to correctly explain the advance care planning provision and stress the value of this benefit for all Americans.

Kokua Mau: Hawaii Hospice and Palliative Care Organizaton

Today marks the start of Hawaii healthcare decisions week, part of a massive country-wide effort to highlight the importance of advance care planning. Wednesday is National Healthcare Decisions Day. Dr. Thomas' guest this morning is Rachael Wong, of Kokua Mau, the Hawaii Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.

DR THOMAS: This morning I’m sitting down with Rachael Wong from Kokua Mau, and we’re going to talk about the very interesting fact that everybody realizes but no one really talks about that, and that is people don’t live forever...

Health crisis plans ignored but necessary, expert says

People plan for their kids' college, for a vacation, for retirement and other events, but they do not plan for their treatment in a medical crisis, says Rachael Wong, Kokua Mau executive director.

"This type of planning is probably more important, yet we don't talk about what we would like when we can't care for ourselves."

Facility aids patient in handling end on life

Agnes Quintos, who has cancer throughout her body, says she is "not afraid when my end comes."

Married with two adult children, the 55-year-old Makiki woman has received palliative care from the Queen's Medical Center since she was diagnosed with a rare cancer in November 2002.

Mixed bag in isle palliative care

Despite a C grade for access to palliative care in hospitals, Hawaii leads the nation in several areas of care for seriously ill or dying patients, those in the field say.

America as a whole also drew a C grade for palliative care to hospital patients in a recent national study by the Center to Advance Palliative Care.

Stimulus Bill Containing Hospice Rate Protection Signed into Law - February 17, 2009

From: The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) Public Policy Team

Today, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which contains a provision to halt the hospice Medicare rate cuts for one year, retroactive to October 1, 2008.