 Welcome to our May Coalition Edition that now has a new look! Spring has really sprung in most places around our nation and we hope the new CDC Guidance Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People will begin to restore some of the things we used to take for granted….backyard BBQs with friends, visits with extended family, and hugs.
Let us know what you think of our updated Coalition Edition in our “Pulse Check” below. Our goal with this bimonthly publication is for you to easily access the Coalition’s latest national news and updates. Please forward this issue to your colleagues and encourage them to subscribe.
I am also pleased to announce the recent publication of our/your Impact Report! (See details below.) Our tremendous impact is because of you and your commitment and support to achieve our vision, mission and strategic priorities. Thank you to all who have helped, contributed, and participated in our Coalition work this past year!
Amy Melnick, MPA
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Read About the Coalition's Impact!
See the collaborative and positive effect of how our 13 member organizations work together to improve serious illness care. Our new Impact Report specifically provides an overview of activities and accomplishments this past year that includes:
 Advocating for community-based palliative care and other health care policies,- Coordinating COVID-19 education and advocacy,
- Addressing disparities and inequities,
- Establishing a National Pediatric Palliative Care Task Force,
- Engaging stakeholders for new palliative care measures, and
- Improving public messaging.
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Do you like our new Coalition Edition format?
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 Results from our previous Pulse Check
(Coalition Edition, March Issue).
What are you reading or binge watching?
Schitt’s Creek was the top winner!
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Coalition Responds to Discussion Draft of the HCBS Access Act
On April 26, the Coalition submitted recommendations to Senators Hassan (D-NH), Casey (D-PA), Brown (D-OH) and Rep. Dingell (D-MI), on their recently released discussion draft of the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Access Act available for stakeholder feedback. The proposal seeks to mandate HCBS in Medicaid to provide critical services and creating national, minimum requirements for home and community-based services. One of the Coalition’s primary recommendations is that Medicaid home and community-based services should include access to community-based palliative care for adults and children.
Read the Coalition’s other recommendations.
Coalition Addresses CMS Primary Care First Model's Seriously Ill Population Delay
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced the Primary Care First (PCF) Model’s Seriously Ill Population (SIP) is “under review and will not begin on the previously announced April 1, 2021 launch date.” The Coalition met with CMS officials in mid-March to discuss the delay and the Coalition’s Strike Team is currently working on next steps to ensure the beneficiaries facing serious illness will have access to high-quality, person-centered care. Updates for the SIP component will also be posted to the CMS Innovation Center’s Primary Care First Model Options resources page.
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“I feel a greater sense of hope with the Coalition's leadership in DC.”
—Town Hall Attendee
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New Information Available Re: Proposed Palliative Care Measures
 The Palliative Care Measures Project recently completed their 30-day public comment period on the importance of implementing two new proposed patient-reported experience measures 1) How much patients feel heard and understood (HU Measure), and 2) How much patients get the help they wanted for pain (Pain Measure). A report of the public comment responses will be published later this year.
The following additional information is now available re: the two proposed measures:
Learn more HERE.
PCQC Registry Open for Data Entry
 The Palliative Care Quality Collaborative (PCQC) is excited to announce the launch of the PCQC Registry, the first unified national registry to measure quality in palliative care. In partnership with CAPC, NPCRC, and AAHPM, PCQC worked tirelessly to combine the clinical data entry surveys of the Palliative Care Quality Network (PCQN) and Global Palliative Care Quality Alliance (GPCQA) with the Annual Program Survey previously hosted by the National Palliative Care Registry.
Currently welcoming new members, PCQC offers palliative care programs both free and paid membership options. Visit the PCQC website for additional information.
Coalition Provides Input for AHRQ Palliative Care Report
The Coalition provided input for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s (AHRQ) Integrating Palliative Care in Ambulatory Care of Noncancer Serious Chronic Illness: A Systematic Review that was recently published. Read the full report.
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Inaugural E-Newsletter, PPC NOW, Debuts this Month
The Coalition’s National Pediatric Palliative Care (PPC) Task Force will premiere their inaugural quarterly e-newsletter, PPC NOW, later this month. The e-newsletter will highlight updates on Task Force activities and PPC advocacy and educational opportunities. It will also feature wisdom and insights from families and PPC providers on the front lines through a unique partnership with the Courageous Parents Network.
 The PPC Task Force is also pleased to showcase their new logo. The pinwheel graphic (embedded in newsletter banner left) signifies interdependency, connectivity, and collaboration - core values to advancing the field of pediatric palliative care. The varying size, shape and color of the graphic elements reflect diversity and inclusion – critical guiding tenets to achieving the National PPC Task Force’s mission and vision.
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NCP Guidelines: A Palliative Care Essential
 The National Consensus Project’s Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care, 4th edition, (NCP Guidelines) creates a blueprint for excellence by establishing a comprehensive foundation for gold-standard palliative care for all people living with serious illness, regardless of their diagnosis, prognosis, age or setting.
Available to download or purchase HERE.
COVID Resources
 Access COVID-19 national news and resources that are relevant for all health care professionals caring for people living with serious illness:
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