Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act
- Bill Number
- S. 2287
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-19: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-06T20:34:30Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (S. 2287) aims to expand education, training, and research in palliative care and hospice services. Palliative care focuses on relieving suffering and improving quality of life for people with serious or life-threatening illnesses, such as cancer, heart disease, or neurodegenerative conditions like dementia. The legislation seeks to increase the number of trained faculty and professionals in this field across medical, nursing, and other health programs, while promoting integration of these services into everyday healthcare.
Key Provisions
- Education and Training Grants (Section 2): Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants or contracts to medical schools (allopathic and osteopathic), nursing schools, and programs in social work, physician assistants, chaplaincy, and related fields. These funds support:
- Programs for training health professionals in palliative and hospice care, including fellowships, interprofessional (team-based across disciplines) training, and community-based initiatives.
- Physician training in palliative medicine through accredited fellowships, emphasizing team-based care in settings like hospitals, hospices, and home care.
- Academic career awards for junior faculty to develop expertise in teaching palliative care, with awards up to 5 years and a service requirement to train others.
- Workforce development fellowships: Short-term intensive courses for faculty and practitioners lacking formal palliative care training, limited to 24 programs at up to $150,000 each.
- Career incentive awards for advanced students (e.g., nurses, social workers, pharmacists) pursuing degrees focused on palliative care, requiring 5 years of post-award service in relevant settings.
- Authorization: $15 million annually for fiscal years 2026–2030.
- Nursing-Specific Programs (Section 3): Expands nurse education grants to include hospice and palliative nursing. Adds grants for schools of nursing, healthcare facilities, and partnerships to train nurses in palliative care, develop curricula, and provide continuing education. Authorization: $5 million annually for fiscal years 2026–2030.
- Information Dissemination (Section 4): Directs the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to share information on palliative care benefits, services (e.g., pain management, emotional support, care coordination), and research evidence. Materials must target specific groups like Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries, underserved populations (e.g., rural, minority, pediatric), and be posted on federal websites. Requires consultation with professional societies and patient advocates.
- Research Enhancement (Section 6): Mandates the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to create a strategy for expanding palliative care research across its institutes, focusing on quality of care and life for patients with serious illnesses. Requires NIH reporting on palliative care research starting January 1, 2026.
- Clarifications (Section 5): Prohibits use of funds for any services related to assisted suicide (referencing federal restrictions). Explicitly states that palliative care and hospice must not be used to cause or assist in a patient's death.
The changes take effect 90 days after enactment, with priorities for programs benefiting rural/underserved areas, pediatric/minority populations, and integration into primary/specialty care.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends the Public Health Service Act (Titles IV, VII, VIII, IX) by adding new sections (e.g., 759A for general education, 832 for nursing, 904 for dissemination, 409K for NIH research) and inserting references to palliative/hospice care in existing grant programs (e.g., nurse education under Section 831).
- Expands geriatric education programs (Sections 753, 865) to include non-geriatric palliative care without limiting community funding.
- Introduces new funding streams and reporting requirements for palliative care, building on but not duplicating existing health workforce programs.
- Adds safeguards against funding euthanasia-related activities, aligning with prior federal law (Public Law 105-12).
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload and funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (including NIH, AHRQ, and Health Resources and Services Administration) to administer grants, disseminate information, and coordinate research. Could enhance federal oversight of palliative care integration in programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Veterans Affairs.
- Citizens: Improves access to better-trained professionals, potentially leading to earlier palliative care integration alongside curative treatments, reducing suffering, and supporting families. Benefits patients with serious illnesses, caregivers, and underserved groups (e.g., rural, minority, pediatric) through targeted education and outreach.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though expanded U.S. research and training could influence global standards in palliative care via shared knowledge and professional exchanges.
- Overall, aims to address workforce shortages, potentially improving healthcare quality and reducing costs from unmanaged chronic illnesses.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Health Education Institutions: Medical, nursing, social work, physician assistant, chaplaincy, pharmacy, and psychology schools/programs, which can apply for grants to build faculty and curricula.
- Health Professionals: Physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, pharmacists, psychologists, and others receiving training, fellowships, or career awards; must commit to service in palliative care.
- Patients and Families: Individuals with serious/life-threatening illnesses (e.g., cancer, dementia) and their caregivers, gaining from better-educated providers and public information.
- Healthcare Providers and Facilities: Hospitals, hospices, home care, long-term care settings, and community programs, which will integrate trained staff and collaborate on initiatives.
- Underserved Groups: Rural residents, ethnic minorities, Indian Tribes, pediatric patients, and Medicare/Medicaid/Veterans beneficiaries, prioritized for training and outreach.
- Professional Organizations and Advocates: Groups consulted on information development, influencing program design.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces federal restrictions on funding assisted suicide, ensuring compliance with existing conscience protections (e.g., no coercion for providers). Introduces performance measures and service obligations for award recipients, enforceable through applications and audits, but allows flexibility in program expansion.
- Constitutional: Supports free speech and association by requiring consultation with stakeholders; no apparent conflicts with First Amendment or equal protection, as priorities aid underserved groups without discrimination.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (from 20 senators across parties) signals broad support for non-controversial end-of-life care improvements. Authorizes new spending ($20 million/year total), subject to congressional appropriations, potentially sparking debates on healthcare funding priorities amid workforce shortages. Promotes interprofessional care without mandating services, avoiding regulatory overreach.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (23)
Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR], Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS], Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA], Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS], Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI], Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD], Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV], Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK], Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME], Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME], Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI], Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR], Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN], Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-19: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
- 2025-07-15: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-07-15: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act — issued 2025-07-15 — PDF (24 pages)