Reps. Thompson, Jenkins Introduce The Medicare Patient Access To Hospice Act

WASHINGTON, DC – This week, Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) introduced the Medicare Patient Access to Hospice Act. This legislation fixes outdated Medicare regulations so that Physician Assistants can provide primary care to hospice patients, which is currently not covered under the current rules.

"Access to hospice care should not depend on where you live, or your proximity to certain medical providers," said Congressman Thompson. "In many communities, physician assistants are the only primary health care providers. This bill will make sure that people in those areas are able to access hospice care by allowing physician assistants to look after hospice patients."

"Increasing patient access is essential to ensuring hospice patients receive the necessary care," said Congresswoman Jenkins. "Yet, the antiquated regulations of Medicare prevent Physician Assistants, who are often the only primary health care providers in more rural areas, from helping terminally ill patients, even when there are no alternative options. The Medicare Patient Access to Hospice Act enables physician assistants to be recognized as physicians in certain cases so they can provide care to those people in their time of greatest need. This is a proposition that is just plain commonsense. For years, the number of primary care physicians has been declining in more remote areas and this bill would help combat the problem so that some of the most vulnerable Kansans and Americans get the healthcare they deserve."

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