C-TAC Applauds Introduction of Bipartisan, Bicameral "Patient Choice and Quality Care Act of 2017"
WASHINGTON, June 12, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (C-TAC) applauded the introduction of the Patient Choice and Quality Care of Act of 2017 (PCQCA) by Senators Mark Warner (D-VA), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Susan Collins (R-ME) and Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Phil Roe (R-TN). This bipartisan, bicameral legislation will help to ensure that individuals with advanced illness and their families receive high-quality, comprehensive advanced illness care that is consistent with their goals, values, and wishes.
"This bipartisan - and bicameral - bill is a critical step to ensure that all Americans with advanced illness receive high-quality, person-centered care. C-TAC strongly supports the legislation authored by these members to improve advanced illness care," said Bill Novelli, Co-Chair of C-TAC's Board of Directors.
Currently, individuals with advanced illness and their families face a daunting challenge navigating our healthcare system to receive the comprehensive care they deserve. The PCQCA takes an important step forward to address these issues. The legislation includes provisions to test advanced illness care coordination services, remove cost barriers hampering consumer access to voluntary advanced care planning services through Medicare, develop important quality metrics to assess advanced illness care services, increase public awareness of advance care planning, and support studies to help develop enhanced standards of care.
The new bipartisan, bicameral legislation integrates the C-TAC supported Care Planning Act of 2015, authored by Senators Warner and Isakson, and the Personalize Your Care Act 2.0, authored by Representatives Blumenauer and Roe in the 114th Congress. Both bills took a similar approach to addressing the challenges those with advanced illness and their families face in accessing care that is consistent with their goals and objectives. The PCQCA includes input from a host of key healthcare stakeholders and C-TAC members, including consumer groups, healthcare providers, health plans, and hospice programs.
"At the heart of this legislation is the promise that delivery of care will be consistent with one's goals, values, and wishes when a person faces advanced illness. This bill provides a critical opportunity to improve the lives of millions of Americans," said Novelli.
A summary of the bill can he found here.
In May, C-TAC co-hosted a Capitol Hill event with key stakeholders and supporters of the legislation and advanced illness care reform in general. C-TAC and participant organizations at the event were joined by Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Representatives Blumenauer and Roe in showcasing the importance of this legislation and the movement to improve advanced illness care.
About C-TAC
C-TAC is a non-profit, non-partisan coalition comprised of over 140 national organizations including patient and consumer advocacy groups, health care professionals and providers, private sector stakeholders, faith-based organizations, and health care payers that share a common vision of improving advanced illness care for all Americans. The Coalition works to ensure that all those with advanced illness, especially the sickest and most vulnerable, receive comprehensive, high-quality, person- and family-centered care that is consistent with their goals and values and honors their dignity.
SOURCE Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (C-TAC)
Share this article