Geography shouldn’t determine access to hospice care

I want to congratulate U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Reps. Ron Kind, D-Wisc., and Jackie Walorski, R-Kansas, for working together, across the aisle, to reintroduce the Rural Access to Hospice Act (S. 1190). I encourage our members of Congress to pass this proposal so that all Americans can have timely access to high-quality hospice care.

In many of our rural communities, primary care providers serve in Federally Qualified Health or Rural Health Centers, which means they are unable to accept Medicare payment for hospice services - leaving individuals and families in rural America unable to access important end-of-life care. This is unfair. No one should ever be denied the benefits of hospice care because of where they live.

Please join me in urging Congress to pass the Rural Access to Hospice Act to ensure all people receive the care they need at the end of life.

Robyn Harvey-Smith

Washington