Joins Roundtable Discussion on End-of-Life Care. Receives “Hospice Champion Award”

SARASOTA - Congressman Vern Buchanan was awarded with the Hospice Champion Award on Tuesday for his leadership on hospice and palliative care issues.

Buchanan's roundtable discussion with hospice leaders and stakeholders focused on policy issues affecting patient access and quality measures, as well as the future of hospice care. Hospice provides supportive care to people in the final phase of a terminal illness, focusing on a patient's comfort and pain management.

"I'm honored to receive the Hospice Champion Award, but this meeting truly underscores for me the value of the Medicare Hospice Benefit across our state," Buchanan said. "I'm proud to support policies that increase access to care for patients and their families at such a vulnerable and demanding time."

Buchanan was presented with the award by the Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO).

Paul Ledford, President & CEO of the Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association and NHPCO My Hospice Ambassador, stated, "Congressman Buchanan has earned the Hospice Champion Award thanks to his long-standing dedication to public service and assuring access to quality hospice care for Floridians and their loved ones. "We are fortunate to have him advocating on our behalf in Washington."

The My Hospice policy roundtable included an in-depth discussion with staff from area hospice programs about the opportunities and challenges they face providing person-centered care for the broader Gulf Coast community.

Jonathan Fleece, President & CEO of Tidewell Hospice and Stratum Health System, stated, "Creating a quality, dignified, end-of-life experience is the goal of Tidewell Hospice. We're able to do that, in part, thanks to the support of Congressman Buchanan and other policymakers who recognize the value of the important, person-centered care we provide."

Edo Banach, President and CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, stated, "On behalf of the entire hospice and palliative care community, I want to thank Congressman Buchanan and we look forward to working with him on enhancing access to quality hospice and palliative care."

Buchanan is a senior member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicare and national health policies.

In June, the committee passed Buchanan's legislation to provide free assistance to seniors and their families who have questions or issues with their health insurance. Buchanan also co-sponsored bipartisan legislation to expand access to mental health resources for seniors by allowing marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors to provide services under Medicare. In April, the Committee passed his bipartisan bill to provide greater transparency in drug pricing.

Buchanan represents over 220,000 Social Security recipients in the nation's eighth-oldest congressional district.

Read this original document at: https://buchanan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/buchanan-recognized-tidewell-hospice-sarasota-leadership-congress