Florida Hospice Professionals Stress Importance
and Value of the Medicare Hospice Benefit
The Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association and The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) today welcomed United States Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL) to a My Hospice Roundtable event hosted by Tidewell Hospice. Hospice leaders and professionals gathered to discuss the Medicare hospice care model as well as policy issues affecting access, availability and quality of hospice care throughout Florida. Congressman Buchanan was also presented with the Hospice Champion Award for his leadership on hospice and palliative care issues.
“I’m honored to receive the Hospice Champion Award, but today’s meeting truly underscores for me the value of the Medicare Hospice Benefit across our state,” said Congressman Buchanan. “I’m proud to support policies that increase access to care for patients and their families at such a vulnerable and demanding time.”
“Congressman Buchanan has earned the Hospice Champion Award thanks to his long-standing dedication to public service and assuring access to quality hospice care for Floridians and their loved ones,” said Paul Ledford, President & CEO of the Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association and NHPCO My Hospice Ambassador. “We are fortunate to have him advocating on our behalf in Washington.”
The My Hospice policy roundtable included an in-depth discussion with staff from area hospice programs about the opportunities and challenges they face providing person-centered care for the broader Gulf Coast community.
“Creating a quality, dignified, end-of-life experience is the goal of Tidewell Hospice,” said Jonathan Fleece, President & CEO of Tidewell Hospice and Stratum Health System. “We’re able to do that, in part, thanks to the support of Congressman Buchanan and other policymakers who recognize the value of the important, person-centered care we provide.”
“On behalf of the entire hospice and palliative care community, I want to thank Congressman Buchanan and we look forward to working with him on enhancing access to quality hospice and palliative care.” said Edo Banach, President and CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
About NHPCO
NHPCO is the oldest and largest nonprofit membership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the United States. NHPCO’s mission is to lead and mobilize social change for improved care at the end of life. Learn more at nhpco.org.
To learn more about the My Hospice campaign, please visit the Hospice Action Network (HAN) website.
