Laying Legislative Groundwork for Sustainable Pediatric Respite, Hospice Care

Law makers in several states have proposed legislation supporting the establishment of pediatric hospice, respite and palliative care facilities in recent years. This could fuel more sustainable growth and access for seriously ill children and youths across the country. Pediatric patients and their families lack options when it comes to person-centered environments that address their […]

Advocacy Program Pushes for Improved Pediatric Hospice, Respite, Palliative Care

Serious and terminally ill children and their families often have limited options when it comes to pediatric hospice, respite and palliative care. A national public awareness program is seeking to change this trend. The National Center for Pediatric Palliative Care Homes (NCPPCH) in 2023 launched the Children’s Respite Homes of America campaign, which strives to […]

The Tangled Web of Pediatric Palliative Care Payment and Policy

A complex web of state regulations and reimbursement systems can challenge pediatric palliative care access for seriously ill children and their families. The nation’s fragmented health care system lacks clear guidance when it comes to navigating chronic, complex conditions in children, adolescents and young adults, according to Jonathan Cottor, CEO and founder of the National […]

Phoenix Children’s Pediatric Palliative Care Training Works to Bridge Access, Staffing Gaps

Arizona-based Phoenix Children’s Hospital has developed a pediatric hospice and palliative care fellowship program that is positively impacting access to these services. An important piece of pediatric palliative clinical education involves developing a deep level of communication skills to help families navigate complicated decision making around serious illness care, according to Dr. Tressia Shaw, palliative […]

Hospices Must Leap Hurdles to Provide Pediatric Inpatient Care

Barriers to expanding pediatric inpatient hospice care include a lack of specialized facilities as well as staff who are sufficiently trained to provide those services. Children are an underserved population in the hospice realm, particularly when it comes to inpatient care. Seriously ill children and their families often do not have access to inpatient services, mainly […]