Quality Insights, Mountains of Hope Cancer Coalition, WV Health Information Network, WV Center for End of Life Care and the Hospice Council of WV are the founding partners of the WV Serious Illness Collaborative. This collaborative began meeting in 2021 and included the chair and some members of the State Read more
April 16th is National Healthcare Decisions Day and you may see more information about advance care planning It is important that you share with your family what your wishes would be if you could not speak for yourself in a medical crisis. The Conversation Project has developed a toolkit to Read more
As part of a campaign to raise awareness about the availability of hospice care in all 55 counties of West Virginia, a flier has been designed with a map and listing of the 18 hospices in the Hospice Council. West Virginia hospices score very high in quality measures and are Read more
“We are here to assist all individuals who need hospice services:” Hughes, MC & Vernon, E: We are here to assist all individuals who need hospice services: hospices’ perspectives on improving access and inclusion for racial/ethnic minorities. Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine: 6:1-7 Minority populations in West Virginia are less likely Read more
This April, Senator Shelley Moore Capito reintroduced the Rural Access to Hospice Act S.1190, which will allow Rural Health Clinics (RHC) and Federally-Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) to receive payments for serving hospice patients. This bill is vitally important to West Virginia as many patients with serious illness receive their primary Read more
On March 8th, the WV Legislature passed SB 537 and this bill now awaits Governor Justice’s signature. The Hospice Council thanks all legislators who worked hard to get the bill passed. There was bipartisan support for this bill and the final amended bill was passed unanimously. This is a very Read more
The National Hospice Organization has a new Advocacy Toolkit that can be widely shared. This includes tips on how to be an effective advocate and do’s and don’t’s when using social media to advocate. This toolkit comes at just the right time when West Virginia hospices are advocating for the Read more
Governor Justice has asked the WV Health Care Authority to change the certificate of need formula as a way to promote more competition between hospices and to increase access for West Virginia residents. Some think it should be higher as hospices are serving more patients, but raising the percentage Read more
West Virginia is implementing new policies to limit opioid prescriptions. Opioids include drugs like hydrocodone and oxycodone. The new law exempts cancer patients and patients receiving hospice or palliative care, who may need these strong pain medications. Even though these patients are exempt, providers are taking great care to ensure Read more