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Following the Pediatric Palliative Care Conference of
November 1, 2014, attendees were invited to participate in an
advocacy group to advance the interests of pediatric
palliative within the state. Some 37 have joined the group
which meets periodically to discuss issues of concern.
The objective is to secure the removal of financial and bureaucratic
hurdles to pediatric palliative care by working to educate and lobby
Michigan legislators and the insurance industry regarding the
special needs of children.
Key concerns are the restrictions on reimbursement of concurrent
curative treatment for hospice patients, for home care or for
hospice care longer than the standard definition of life expectancy
of six months or less.
Following the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid is now required to
reimburse for concurrent care. So one path to follow is the
extension of eligibility for Medicare coverage through state
Medicaid waivers.
For legislative models we need to follow the examples of other
states until we can achieve similar legislation.
In the meantime, we can help caregivers to make
use of Medicaid Multidisciplinary Clinics in order to broaden range
of eligible reimbursement. Members are also investigating the
potential and feasibility of pediatric care respite homes.
We welcome new members. For more information,
click
to email.
RESOURCES:
(PDF downloads)
Pennsylvania advocacy group model:
Executive summary of the PA Pediatric Palliative and Hospice
care task force
Concurrent Care Brochure
(Virginia)
Concurrent Care Act (Pennsylvania)
(Not enacted but a good example of legislative wording)
Federal
Advancing
Care for Exceptional Kids Act 2015
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