Sonoma Valley Patch - California Congressman Mike Thompson Receives National Hospice Care Advocacy Award July 22
July 24, 2012
By Clara Franco
Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA, 1st District), the lead Democratic sponsor of H.R. 3506, the HELP Hospice Act, received the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization's (NHPCO) Public Policy Leadership Award on Sun., July 22, at Hospice By The Bay's Sonoma County office. As the population of Americans 65 and older grows and an increasing number of terminally ill patients request the comfort of hospice care, legislation supporting hospice funding and access helps ensure that comprehensive end-of-life care will be available for generations to come.
The NHPCO Public Policy Leadership Award salutes a business, organization or individual whose expertise and influence has affected changes in policy to ensure that every person receives the care they need - and deserve - at the end of life. Through years of public service, honorees have been tireless health care advocates- with a focus on hospice, palliative and end-of-life care. Previous recipients include Sen. Bob Dole, Sen. Tom Harkin, Rep. Jim Ramstad, Sen. Arlen Specter, and Rep. Chris Van Hollen.
“It is a high, high honor to receive the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization's Public Policy Leadership Award,” said Thompson. “Anyone who has had a personal experience with hospice knows the importance of hospice providers and just how hard they work. Day-in and day-out, they serve patients, comfort families, and ease loss. I will always stand by their side.”
NHPCO, the largest, non-profit membership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the U.S., is committed to improving end-of-life care and expanding hospice care access to more terminally ill patients and families.
“Hospice By The Bay is honored to be part of this award ceremony for Rep. Thompson, who has been a constant and vocal legislative advocate for hospice care at the national level,” said Sandra Lew, CEO of the non-profit, regional health care provider. Founded in 1975, HBTB is the second oldest hospice in the United States and the first in California.
Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA, 1st District) was first elected to represent California's 1st Congressional District in 1998. The district includes all of Napa, Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties and portions of Yolo and Sonoma counties.
Thompson has a record of supporting legislation to improve access and maintain funding for hospice care in America. His support for the current legislation, the HELP Hospice Act, comes a time when the hospice community is facing severe reimbursement cuts and regulatory challenges. Congressional passage of the Act would grant hospice providers some relief from the financial pressures as more and more Americans choose hospice care during the end of life. The bill would also address practical ways to ensure that hospices can continue to deliver high-quality end-of-life care to those in need.
Hospice By The Bay, which serves Marin, San Francisco, N. San Mateo and Sonoma counties, is dedicated to providing quality end-of-life hospice and palliative care to patients and their families. Hospice By The Bay's community Grief Counseling Program also serves all those coping with the loss of a loved one.
A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Hospice By The Bay programs are funded through health care reimbursement and charitable donations from community members and corporate sponsors. For more information about Hospice By The Bay's care or to make a donation to support our work, visit www.hbtb.org or call (415) 927-2273.
The NHPCO Public Policy Leadership Award salutes a business, organization or individual whose expertise and influence has affected changes in policy to ensure that every person receives the care they need - and deserve - at the end of life. Through years of public service, honorees have been tireless health care advocates- with a focus on hospice, palliative and end-of-life care. Previous recipients include Sen. Bob Dole, Sen. Tom Harkin, Rep. Jim Ramstad, Sen. Arlen Specter, and Rep. Chris Van Hollen.
“It is a high, high honor to receive the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization's Public Policy Leadership Award,” said Thompson. “Anyone who has had a personal experience with hospice knows the importance of hospice providers and just how hard they work. Day-in and day-out, they serve patients, comfort families, and ease loss. I will always stand by their side.”
NHPCO, the largest, non-profit membership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the U.S., is committed to improving end-of-life care and expanding hospice care access to more terminally ill patients and families.
“Hospice By The Bay is honored to be part of this award ceremony for Rep. Thompson, who has been a constant and vocal legislative advocate for hospice care at the national level,” said Sandra Lew, CEO of the non-profit, regional health care provider. Founded in 1975, HBTB is the second oldest hospice in the United States and the first in California.
Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA, 1st District) was first elected to represent California's 1st Congressional District in 1998. The district includes all of Napa, Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties and portions of Yolo and Sonoma counties.
Thompson has a record of supporting legislation to improve access and maintain funding for hospice care in America. His support for the current legislation, the HELP Hospice Act, comes a time when the hospice community is facing severe reimbursement cuts and regulatory challenges. Congressional passage of the Act would grant hospice providers some relief from the financial pressures as more and more Americans choose hospice care during the end of life. The bill would also address practical ways to ensure that hospices can continue to deliver high-quality end-of-life care to those in need.
Hospice By The Bay, which serves Marin, San Francisco, N. San Mateo and Sonoma counties, is dedicated to providing quality end-of-life hospice and palliative care to patients and their families. Hospice By The Bay's community Grief Counseling Program also serves all those coping with the loss of a loved one.
A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Hospice By The Bay programs are funded through health care reimbursement and charitable donations from community members and corporate sponsors. For more information about Hospice By The Bay's care or to make a donation to support our work, visit www.hbtb.org or call (415) 927-2273.