FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY- UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO- HPA 432- SPRING 2016

Adding life to days even when days cannot be added to life

Amending the Hospice Program Licensing Act

Why are hospice conditions a public health concern?
As of last year, hospice agencies served 1.6 million patients. 1 The number of hospice agencies is also
increasing, up from 5,150 in 2010 to 6,100 in 2014. 1 Despite the increasing number of patients served
and agencies opened, oversight of hospices remains infrequently and unevenly policed. Sixty percent of
all hospices in the U.S. are not accredited. 1 The average U.S. hospice has not undergone a full
certification inspection in more than 3.5 years. 2 In 2014, there were 759 hospices that hadnt been
inspected in more than 6 years. 2 Hospices that fail an inspection are required to submit a plan of
correction, but oftentimes there is no follow-up inspection and many hospices are cited for the same
violations months or years later.2 Violations can include a wide range of problems, from failing to manage
patient pain and symptoms, to failing to ensure hospice aides regularly check on patients. 3
Proposed Amendment: From the Hospice Program Licensing Act (210 ILCS 60/6) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par.
6106) Sec. 6. Inspections. To read:
(a) Prior to the issuance of a license, or renewal thereof, the Department must inspect the hospice
program for compliance with the standards established pursuant to this Act. The hospice agency must pay
for the inspection fee.
Rationale: The population of seniors in the U.S. is projected to double over the next 30 years. 4 1 in 5
Americans will be older than 65, and approximately 70% of the U.S. population will die in an institution. 4
By supporting this amendment, you will ensure that these institutions are providing the best quality of
care. This is the first step towards creating a healthy environment for hospice patients. It is important that
hospices are safe and regulated. Please amend the Hospice Program Licensing Act immediately. Thank
you for your support.
For more information: Danielle Gajewski
improvehospice.weebly.com

dgajew2@uic.edu(773) 899-5568

1 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2013). Medicare hospice data. From https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-ServicePayment/Hospice/Medicare_Hospice_Data.html2 Hallman, B. (2015). Hospice, inc. From http://projects.huffingtonpost.com/hospice-inc
3 National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. (2015). History of hospice care. From http://www.nhpco.org/history-hospice-care
4 Ortman, J., Velkoff, V., & Hogan, H. (2014). An aging nation: The older population in the United States.