WiHPCA’s Legislative Committee recently approved the association’s policy agenda for the 2025-2026 state legislative session.  The priorities are as follows:

• Promote public awareness and increase policy influence of palliative care, including the creation of a state palliative care advisory council.  This will greatly help with educating the general public as to the strong value of palliative care and, ultimately, allow more Wisconsinites who need this type of specialized care to receive treatment.

• Require all Wisconsin health plans who cover hospice services to pay hospices no less than published CMS hospice rates.  This will help with employee recruitment and retention by ensuring that the hospice workforce receives a competitive wage.