The bipartisan Provider Training in Palliative Care Act, introduced on Sept. 29 by U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), would allow National Health Service Corps members to defer their service for up to a year so that they can receive additional palliative care training, so long as they provide primary care during their service with the Corps.
Currently, participants are prohibited from deferring for training in palliative care, regardless of whether they continue to care for patients as a primary care provider, according to information provided by Sen. Murkowski’s office.
“For patients with severe illness, the goal of palliative care is to minimize pain and discomfort while maximizing quality of life — a reality that will only exist if we have an adequate number of quality, professional caretakers,” Sen. Murkowski said. “This legislation opens the door to primary care providers who want to train in palliative care, increasing the number of people trained in underserved areas all while ensuring the definition of primary care doesn’t change.”
Sen. Murkowski and bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) introduced S. 2890, which has been referred for consideration to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, on which they both serve.
“Palliative care helps provide comfort, manage pain and improve overall quality of life, yet providers are in short supply in Nevada and across the country,” said Sen. Rosen. “This important legislation will help fill healthcare gaps in Nevada caused by our doctor shortage by offering primary care providers a chance to receive training in palliative care so that they can better meet patient needs in underserved communities.”
Sen. Murkowski agreed, saying that “unfortunately, projected shortages in providers trained in palliative care will likely have an outsized impact for Alaskans, as we already face such substantial challenges with access to providers.
“We’re putting Alaskans with serious illnesses first,” she added.
The legislation is endorsed by several stakeholders, including AARP, the American Cancer Society, the Cancer Action Network, the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (C-TAC), the National Association for Home Care and Hospice, the National Partnership for Hospice Innovation, the National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care, the National Rural Health Association, and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.