Congressman Reed is joined by several regional hospice and palliative care officials during a stop at Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care on Monday, Oct. 16 (Image from Tom Reed Facebook page)

JAMESTOWN – Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning, NY 23) was in Chautauqua County Monday to address the issue of adequate training for individuals who provide hospice and palliative care.

Congressman Reed was a Chautauqua Hospice & Palliative Care in Lakewood and met with Hospice officials from across his district and held a press conference regarding the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA).

Reed said that if enacted, the legislation would enhance hospice care in our region.

“What we wanted to do today is highlight two pieces of the legislation, in particular, that deal primarily with reimbursement policies at the federal level to make sure that our primary care physicians and our hospice and palliative care organizations get the appropriate reimbursements in order to keep their doors open and continue their mission and to do it better and stronger across our communities, as well as highlight what hospice care is all about,” Reed explained.

Specifically, Reed said the legislation will provide workforce training and ensure there are education centers, curricula, and teachers to expand training in palliative and hospice care, and also establish programs to attract and retain providers.  It would also provide funding to raise educational awareness, as well as enhance research.

Reed said he’d like to have the bill as part of the GOP’s effort to reform healthcare in America, but he also said that if necessary, it could be approved and enacted on its own.