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Key Issues

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.

Opioids and 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. Read more about this issue.

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 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. Read more about this issue.

Payment

Recognizing the opportunities and challenges for Hospice and Palliative Medicine clinicians as fundamental changes in care delivery and payment evolve, AAHPM has ramped up 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. In addition to other advocacy and public policy initiatives, AAHPM participates in the development and valuation of physician service codes and works with stakeholder partners to advance Medicare payment for high-value services for people living with serious illness

 

Widera"I believe AAHPM plays a vital role in advocating for improving the care of the seriously ill. I belong to the Academy so I can stay connected to a network of palliative care colleagues and stay current on palliative care advances through publications like PC FACS and JPSM"

—Eric Widera, MD FAAHPM, Member since 2007