We Honor Veterans briefing held on Capitol Hill

The Hospice Action Network hosted a Congressional briefing on the We Honor Veterans program on Thursday, October 22, 2015 in the Senate Visitors Center at the U.S. Capitol.

One in four dying Americans is a Veteran. Recognizing the unique end-of-life needs Veterans face, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization partnered with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to create the We Honor Veterans campaign, a public-private partnership that supports hospice organizations and workers in caring for Veterans in their final days.

More than 2,700 hospices across the country participate in the initiative, which promotes Veteran-centric educational activities, increases hospices’ ability to serve Veterans, supports the development of strategic partnerships and increases Veterans’ access to hospice and palliative care.

“We are proud of the tremendous growth and success of We Honor Veterans because it reflects the commitment our hospice and other partners have to providing quality end-of-life care to our nation’s Veterans,” said J. Donald Schumacher, NHPCO’s President & CEO. “It is an honor to work closely with the VA and our partners to ensure that the men and women who have given so selflessly receive the support and compassionate care they deserve.”

The briefing featured Thomas Edes from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, David Benhoff, an Operation Iraqi/Enduring Freedom Veteran who serves Veterans through the We Honor Veterans initiative, and Jonathan Keyserling, senior vice president for health policy at NHPCO.

More information about the We Honor Veterans program is available online; additional information about the Congressional briefing is available on the Hospice Action Network website.