New Legal Guide for the Seriously Ill

Legal Guide for the Seriously Ill Written by the American Bar Association

Guide Commissioned by NHPCO and Created by American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging

(Alexandria, Va) -- The onset of a serious illness or injury can affect much more than a person’s health. Knowing what steps to take to get one’s financial and legal affairs in order is often vitally important not only to the affected individual, but to his or her loved ones as well.

The "Legal Guide for the Seriously Ill" -- a project by the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging commissioned by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization -- was designed for both the seriously ill individual and those caring for someone who is seriously ill. The guide explains “Seven Key Steps” in a brief, clear way while offering additional tips and resources for readers looking for more detailed information and guidance.

The recently released guide addresses societal issues that have gained prominent media attention in recent years, such as paying for health care, managing health and personal decisions, and patient rights. In addition, the Legal Guide for the Seriously Ill sheds light on recent legislative and regulatory changes, such as the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which provides a 35 percent subsidy of the COBRA premium for up to nine months.

“The Legal Guide for the Seriously Ill is a great resource for anyone facing a serious illness. The book provides critical tools that help readers understand their options, make informed decisions, and minimize some of the anxiety they may be feeling about their financial and legal affairs at this stage of life,” said ABA President Carolyn Lamm.

J. Donald Schumacher, president and CEO of NHPCO added, “Hospice and palliative care organizations are frequently asked for information regarding end-of-life planning and decision-making. This guide will be a tremendous resource to them as well as faith communities, caregiver organizations, aging service providers, hospitals and others who work to support people living with a serious illness.

Ellen M. Klem, staff attorney of the ABA Commission on Law and the Aging, reminded readers that the book does not give legal advice, but will “arm readers with knowledge about the options they have during this difficult time.”

The views expressed in the book have not been approved by the House of Delegates or the Board of Governors of the American Bar Association and, accordingly, should not be construed as representing the policy of the ABA.

"Legal Guide for the Seriously Ill" is available online at the Caring Connections Web site.

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With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

NHPCO is the oldest and largest nonprofit membership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the United States. NHPCO’s mission is to lead and mobilize social change for improved care at the end of life. NHPCO's Caring Connections provides free resources and information to help people make decisions about end-of-life care and services before a crisis. Learn more at caringinfo.org or by calling the HelpLine at 1-800-658-8898.

Media Contact:
Tina Lanier, ABA
Phone:202-662-1792
tlanier@staff.abanet.org

Or:

Jon Radulovic, NHPCO
Phone: 703-837-3139
jradulovic@nhpco.org

For more information visit, http://www.nhpco.org

NHPCO Calls for Hospice Community to Make its Voice Heard

More Cuts to Hospice Announced: Hospice Community Responds
with Virtual Lobby Day on July 15

(Alexandria, Va) – The nation’s hospice providers are facing proposed cuts of $2.3 billion over a five-year period and $9.8 billion over a ten-year period in the preliminary estimates of the House of Representatives health reform proposal, released last week by the Congressional Budget Office.

These cuts are in addition to the cuts scheduled to go into effect on October 1 as a result of the elimination of the Budget Neutrality Adjustment Factor (BNAF), an issue the hospice community has been fighting to overturn for some time.

This new development makes the need to stop the BNAF cuts even more urgent for hospice providers. On Wednesday, July 15, NHPCO and The Alliance for Care at the End of Life are sponsoring a nationwide Virtual Lobby Day. All Hospice Advocates are called to join together to protect patient access to compassionate and high-quality end-of-life care.

If the BNAF cuts move forward on October 1, just 80 days from now, the hospice community is potentially facing a 6.4 percent reimbursement cut in federal fiscal year 2010 (October 1, 2009 - September 30, 2010).

“The situation facing the hospice community is clear: we are now facing cuts on top of cuts. When you take these proposed cuts, and place them on top of the BNAF scheduled cuts, it is simply unacceptable,” said J. Donald Schumacher, NHPCO president and CEO.

Here's how Virtual Lobby Day will work:

• On Wednesday, July 15, all Hospice Advocates registered on NHPCO’s Legislative Action Center will receive the Virtual Lobby Day information via email.

• The email with include instructions about who to contact, how to contact them, and specific talking points.

• Participants will call and write throughout the day on July 15.

People who have not previously registered on NHPCO’s Legislative Action Center can sign up now—it’s free and open to any interested individual. Go to nhpco.org/advocacy and click the “Legislative Action Center” box.

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Contact:
Angie Truesdale
Ph: 703-647-5163
atruesdale@nhpco.org
or
Jon Radulovic
Ph: 703-837-3139
jradulovic@nhpco.org

For more information visit, http://www.nhpco.org

The Latest News on Hospice & Health Care Reform

As Congress prepares to depart Washington for the July 4th District Work Period, health care reform activities refuse to wind down. Higher than expected cost estimates by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) sent Washington into a flurry of activity over the past few weeks, as stakeholders try to rein in the price tag associated with the reform effort. Here’s what’s been going on:

The President
President Obama continues to reiterate his two goals for the overhaul – reducing overall health care costs and covering the uninsured. At the same time, the President has demanded that larger members of the health sector come up with their own savings to pay for the plan, and the pharmaceutical industry responded this week with $80 billion over 10 years.

Senate Activity
The mark-up of the proposal drafted by the Senate Finance Committee, the committee which was previously out in front on health care reform, has stalled due to the lack of a bipartisan consensus. Chairman Max Baucus and the committee staff continue to work around the clock to refine their bill to gain support on both sides of the aisle.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee was been holding a week-long marathon of a mark-up on its proposal. NHPCO has been asked by Committee staff to comment on proposed amendments that would expand efforts to increase utilization of Advance Directives. This mark-up is expected to continue through the week, and may need to reconvene after next week’s District Work Period.

House Activity
Late last week, the committees of jurisdiction in the House of Representatives released a nearly 900-page draft of the House health care reform proposal. Buried in that draft document is a reduction in the productivity factor, which amounts to an across-the-board rate reduction for all Medicare providers. This is an early draft of one Chamber’s proposal, and we don’t know whether it will come out in the final package. We are still combing through the hefty document to determine if there are other provisions that might impact hospice.
The Ways & Means Committee continues its hearings on health care reform this week, and is expected to begin mark-up of the proposal after the District Work Period. The Energy & Commerce Committee heard testimony from Department of Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius this week and also continues hearings on health care reform.

NHPCO
ABC News hosted a Healthcare Reform Town Hall Meeting on June 24, at the White House. The program was moderated by Diane Sawyer and Charlie Gibson and featured a cross section of Americans asking President Obama questions about healthcare issues as they relate to their personal needs. NHPCO provided information on end-of-life care to ABC News producers, and helped the news team covering this town hall meeting to find additional professional contacts in the field.
NHPCO and the Alliance for Care at the End of Life continue to be in contact with the key Committees of jurisdiction, and try to advance end-of-life care proposals that would pave the pave the way for modernizing the Medicare Hospice Benefit in the future. Check out of the proposals endorsed by NHPCO in recent weeks.
Please stay tuned for future health care reform updates. The President continues to push for passage of bill by the end of the summer and the coming weeks will be full of activity as the various Committees of jurisdiction try to meld their proposals together and pass their bills.

New Health Care Reform Resource Center
Please visit the new Hospice & Health Care Reform Resource Center. There, you can find our current and past updates on health care reform activities. You’ll also find what we are sending to the Hill on hospice and health care reform, and many other valuable resources.
Providers with questions may contact NHPCO's Public Policy Team at advocacy@nhpco.org.

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For more information visit, http://www.nhpco.org

ABC News to Host White House Town Hall - NHPCO provides information

NHPCO Provides Information to ABC News in Preparation for White House Forum

To: NHPCO Membership
From: NHPCO Executive Office
Date: June 24, 2009

ABC News will be hosting a Healthcare Reform Town Hall Meeting this evening, June 24, at the White House. The program will be moderated by Diane Sawyer and Charlie Gibson and will feature a cross section of Americans asking President Obama questions about healthcare issues as they relate to their personal needs. NHPCO provided information on end-of-life care to ABC News producers and helped the news team working on this town hall meeting to find additional professional contacts in the field. A special thanks to our members who assisted with this effort.

While we don’t expect to hear from a hospice patient or family member in this town hall meeting, a good deal of content has been provided and the value of hospice has been expressed by the news team. We hope there will be further attention that focuses on the important work that we are all committed to. As providers of hospice and palliative care, we understand the importance of end-of-life care in healthcare provision and NHPCO is committed to making sure this critical topic is included in discussions of healthcare reform.

For those interested in this general town hall meeting, we encourage you to watch the program on your ABC affiliate station; the program is scheduled to be broadcast live at 10:00pm ET.

Thank you.

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For more information visit, http://www.nhpco.org