The state of Oregon has passed a bill designed to secure hospice and palliative care patients’ ability to use medical cannabis, including in facilities. The legislation, dubbed Ryan’s Law, mandates that certain hospice, residential and palliative care providers permit qualified patients to use medical cannabis, and requires these providers to implement policies and staff training […]
Health care facilities in Louisiana could soon face steeper fines for violations under two bills advancing through the state legislature, aimed at strengthening oversight and accountability. Louisiana Senate Bill 273, targets hospice care in licensed facilities. The bill would require clearer care plans, improved communication between providers and families, and more thorough documentation of patient […]
Rep. Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) and Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) have re-introduced the Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement (Hospice CARE) Act, designed to modernize the Medicare Hospice Benefit, fight fraud and expand access to care. The bill contains a blend of program integrity provisions and payment reforms intended to “strengthen” the benefit, according to […]
Oregon lawmakers have passed legislation aimed at curbing hospice fraud in the state. Oregon Senate Bill 1575 is designed to bar hospice operators with a history of fraud or substandard care in other states from opening locations in Oregon. It includes a moratorium on new hospice licenses while rules governing that process are updated. “The […]
U.S. Sens. John Boozman (R-Ariz.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) have introduced a bill that would extend veterans eligibility to receive burial benefits if they die in a health care setting that is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), including hospice. When eligible veterans die, many of their families are entitled to […]
State lawmakers in Oregon are mulling a bill designed to combat hospice fraud. Senate Bill 1575 would prevent hospices that have committed fraud or provided substandard care in other states from setting up shop in Oregon. If enacted, the Oregon Health Authority, a state agency, would examine the history of companies seeking to open hospices […]
A brief federal government shutdown has lifted with the passage of spending bills that include provisions to extend COVID-era telehealth flexibilities through 2027. The flexibilities briefly expired last week. The extension was tied up in a funding bill for several federal agencies. The bill’s progress had been slowed by debate over funding for U.S. Immigration […]
Reps. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) and Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.) formally reintroduced Gerald’s Law as a standalone bill to permanently protect burial benefits for veterans who receive Veterans Affairs (VA) furnished hospice care outside of a VA facility. Congress passed a previous version of the bill in 2024 as part of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century […]
Lawmakers in Illinois passed legislation requiring prisons to submit annual hospice and palliative care data reports. The new law is designed to improve end-of-life support among incarcerated populations. The recently passed Eddie Thomas Act amended the state’s Unified Code of Corrections with the new reporting requirement. The new law was named after an incarcerated individual […]
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has vetoed legislation that would have effectively banned new for-profit hospices in the state. The New York State Assembly passed the bill earlier this month and submitted it to the governor’s office. It would have prohibited the establishment of for-profit hospices in New York state and forbid current for-profit […]
