Dissemination of palliative care information

Part A of title IX of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 299 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 904. Dissemination of palliative care information (a) In general Under the authority under section 902(a) to disseminate information on health care and on systems for the delivery of such care, the Director may disseminate information to inform patients, families, and health professionals about the benefits of palliative care throughout the continuum of care for patients with serious or life-threatening illness. (b) Information disseminated (1) Mandatory information If the Director elects to disseminate information under subsection (a), such dissemination shall include the following: (A) Palliative care Information, resources, and communication materials about palliative care as an essential part of the continuum of quality care for patients and families facing serious or life-threatening illness (including cancer, heart, kidney, liver, lung, and infectious diseases; as well as neurodegenerative disease such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). (B) Palliative care services Specific information regarding the services provided to patients by professionals trained in hospice and palliative care, including pain and symptom management, support for shared decision making, care coordination, psychosocial care, and spiritual care, explaining that such services may be provided starting at the point of diagnosis and alongside curative treatment and are intended to— (i) provide patient-centered and family-centered support throughout the continuum of care for serious and life-threatening illness; (ii) anticipate, prevent, and treat physical, emotional, social, and spiritual suffering; (iii) optimize quality of life; and (iv) facilitate and support the goals and values of patients and families. (C) Palliative care professionals Specific materials that explain the role of professionals trained in hospice and palliative care in providing team-based care (including pain and symptom management, support for shared decision making, care coordination, psychosocial care, and spiritual care) for patients and families throughout the continuum of care for serious or life-threatening illness. (D) Research Evidence-based research demonstrating the benefits of patient access to palliative care throughout the continuum of care for serious or life-threatening illness. (E) Population-specific materials Materials targeting specific populations, including beneficiaries of Medicare, Medicaid, and the Veterans Health Administration, and patients with serious or life-threatening illness who are among medically underserved populations (as defined in section 330(b)(3)) and families of such patients or health professionals serving medically underserved populations, including pediatric patients, young adult and adolescent patients, racial and ethnic minority populations, and other priority populations specified by the Director. (2) Required publication Information and materials disseminated under paragraph (1) shall be posted on the internet websites of relevant Federal departments and agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the Administration on Aging. (c) Consultation The Director shall consult with appropriate professional societies, hospice and palliative care stakeholders, and relevant patient advocate organizations with respect to palliative care, psychosocial care, and complex chronic illness with respect to the following: (1) The planning and implementation of the dissemination of palliative care information under this section. (2) The development of information to be disseminated under this section. (3) A definition of the term serious or life-threatening illness for purposes of this section..