Assemblymember Wallace Calls on Governor to Sign Bill Creating Advance Care Awareness Campaign
Legislation sponsored by Assemblymember Wallace seeks to improve New York’s consistently low rate of hospice, palliative care utilization
Today, Assemblymember Monica Wallace (D-Lancaster) called on Governor Hochul to sign legislation (A8880) that would direct the New York State Department of Health to create and implement a statewide campaign to raise awareness of the importance of advance care planning and to improve the utilization of hospice and palliative care services. The legislation, which Assemblymember Wallace sponsored, passed the Assembly and Senate unanimously this past May and has garnered support from Hospice and Palliative Care Buffalo and the Center for Elder Law & Justice.
Advance care planning, including utilization of hospice and palliative care, can help prevent unnecessary hospitalizations and help control pain and symptoms, improve quality of life, ensure the patient’s wishes and dignity are respected, and support families during these difficult times. However, New York State consistently ranks near the bottom of the nation in Medicare hospice utilization. According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, 30 percent of Medicare decedents in New York were enrolled in hospice at the time of death in 2018, which was lower than every other state except for Alaska.[i]
“I know from personal experience how critically important it is to have conversations about advance care planning with your loved ones. This legislation is intended to encourage everyone to talk to their loved ones about their medical care wishes so that, God forbid the need arises, your loved one will know how to honor your wishes,” said Assemblymember Wallace. “This legislation will also raise awareness of the importance of hospice and palliative care in New York State.”
“We are so very grateful for Assemblymember Wallace’s advocacy for improving access to hospice and palliative care services, said Cary Cisti MS, RN, ANP-BC, ACHPN, Chief Clinical Operations Officer, Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo.“Public awareness about hospice and palliative care, as well as advance care planning, is so necessary in today’s healthcare space as it helps us to better provide care and support to those in the community, dealing with serious illness.”
Assemblymember Wallace is a longtime advocate for seniors, having passed legislation to extend the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, to make the program more accessible, and to establish safe staffing levels in nursing homes. She also passed legislation (A8881A) with unanimous support this past session to direct the state Department of Health to establish a Director of Hospice and Palliative Care, who would be tasked with removing barriers, improving access, and raising awareness of these services.