Palliative Care and Hospice Care are often confused with or thought to be the same type of treatment; however, the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) is working to change that. The advocacy team is working to create a palliative care definition and have it placed in state statue through the legislative process.
SDAHO’s Michele Snyders, MSW, CSW-PIP, APHSW-C, SDAHO’s Hospice & Palliative Care Program Manager, testified in support of Senate Bill 147, during the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. The bill provides for the distribution of information materials regarding palliative care. Several other states across the nation are currently working to legally define palliative care, which in the future may assist with reimbursement efforts for this type of healthcare management. Senator Jean Hunhoff (R) of Yankton, Chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations introduced the bill.
Click here to listen to Sen. Hunhoff and Michele Snyders full testimony, audio provided by sd.net.
Senate Bill 147 passed out of the Senate Health and Human Services committee unanimously 6-0. It also passed out of the full senate unanimously 31-0. It’s next stop is the House Health and Human Services Committee. Visit the SDAHO Bill tracker to follow this bill and other healthcare related legislation.
