The South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) continues to push advocacy on behalf of our members, ensuring both state and national policy makers are aware of concerns and needs in the healthcare community. Tammy Hatting, COO traveled to Washington DC on June 13 -14, 2022, to participate in the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) Council of States annual meeting. One of the goals of NHPCO is to engage providers through advancement of the interdisciplinary, holistic framework of serious illness and end of life care.
At this meeting, Hatting was involved in discussions on the regulatory landscape, state-specific issues and quality initiatives. The trip also included a stop at the Capitol to visit with our lawmakers on the importance of the Medicare Hospice Benefit, payment policy, workforce and the We Honor Veterans program. SDAHO is now leading the effort for LifeCircle South Dakota and is investing in more resources to support hospice and palliative care across our great state. The meeting this week demonstrates our commitment to advocacy for our members in programs that offer a team-oriented approach of combining expert medical care with pain management, and emotional and spiritual support, expressly tailored to a patient’s wishes and the needs of their loved ones as they approach end of life.
