The bipartisan work group will include legislators and health care professionals, who will address issues such as public and provider education, advance directives, pain management, and access to hospice and palliative care. Wyden and Hooley state that the group's goal "would be to develop a comprehensive package of reforms for end-of-life care and work toward introduction of a legislative package early next year." With the speedy path the Lethal Drug Abuse Prevention Act is taking through the House - which marked up the bill on August 4 - congressional attention to improving end-of-life comes none too soon.
In a press conference held July 30, ABCD President Joanne Lynn, M.D., said, "The next several months offer the opportunity for legislators and experts to consider a federal agenda for change - change that can only come with thoughtful discussion, data-gathering and exchange of ideas, innovations and results."
Other work group members include the National Hospice Organization, the American Geriatrics Society, the American Pharmaceutical Association, and the American College of Physicians - American Society of Internal Medicine.
For more information, contact Stephanie A. Kennan of Senator Wyden's office at 202.224.5244 or Joan Mooney in Rep. Hooley's office at 202.225.5711.
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