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Advocacy

IL-HPCO works hard in Springfield. Our Director of Public Policy is dedicated to improving the policy environment for hospice and palliative care on behalf of IL-HPCO members. She works with Illinois General Assembly House and Senate members and state agency officials supporting IL-HPCO’s policy priorities.

Since 2018, IL-HPCO’s advocacy efforts have achieved:

  • Passage of legislation creating a Pediatric Palliative Care benefit in the Illinois Medicaid program
  • Passage of legislation mandating coverage for Pediatric Palliative Care by health insurance plans regulated by the Illinois Department of Insurance
  • Passage of legislation updating the Illinois Health Care Surrogate Act to improve access to the POLST model of advance care planning and documentation of treatment preferences
  • Redesign of the Illinois Department of Public Health Uniform POLST form
  • Education of Illinois healthcare professionals and other stakeholders around the POLST model
  • Passage of legislation ensuring payment parity for delivering telehealth medical services
  • State funding to support family caregivers
  • Passage of legislation expanding the scope of practice of advance practice registered nurses in their roles as hospice and palliative care providers
  • Passage of legislation increasing the capacity of in-patient hospice care in Illinois
  • Passage of legislation creating a statewide electronic registry for POLST forms
  • Legislation and rules increasing flexibility to use LPNs and other hospice staff for tasks that do not require a registered nurse, APRN or physician.
  • Advancing state policy to improve access to community-based palliative care for adults

Advocacy is a TEAM activity.

IL-HPCO is proud to participate in several stakeholder coalitions representing the voice of our community and families facing a serious illness. These include:

  • The Illinois Family Caregivers Coalition and Legislative Caucus – a coalition of organizations that seeks to support those caring for a close friend or family member
  • The Illinois Telehealth Coalition – a group for healthcare provider organizations promoting access and reimbursement for medical services delivered through telehealth when appropriate
  • The Illinois State Hospice & Palliative Care Advisory Committee – a legislatively mandated panel of individuals providing expertise to state agency leaders regarding hospice and palliative care issues, rules, and regulations
  • POLST Illinois
  • Room and Board Pass-Through Workgroup

Resources that outline IL-HPCO’s advocacy efforts:

  • Payer Relations – Partnering with HFS Medicaid and MCOs to Communicate Regulations, Billing Practices and Reimbursement
  • State and Federal Policy Updates at Regional Meetings and Virtual Townhall Meetings
  • Member Updates Highlighting News, Events, Regulations, Billing Changes and Government Affairs