BILL NUMBER: S8205A

SPONSOR: HINCHEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to establishing a
statewide advance care planning campaign to promote public awareness of
hospice and palliative care services; and to repeal certain provisions
of such law related thereto

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this legislation is to create a public education campaign
to inform the public about the importance of advance care planning and
to raise awareness of hospice and palliative care services.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends paragraph (e) of subdivisien 1 of section 207 of the
public health law and requires that thecis: loner establish a state-
wide advanced care planning campaign. The campaign will promote public
awareness of hospice and palliative car services, inform the public of
              

the importance ofinced care planning,educate individuals on the tools
available ' ensure their health pate Secisions are honored.

Section 2 repeals paragraph (h) subdivision 1 of section 207 the
putfaith law.

Section 3 of this bill is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York State is consistently ranked at the bottom of hospice and
palliative care utilization metrics. One of the most glaring issues
leading to this chronic underutilization of vital services is a lack of:
public awareness and education on hospice and palliative care.

This gap in knowledge leaves many individuals unprepared should they
become seriously ill or a develop life-limiting illness, leaving fami-
li-s struggling to ascertain their loved one's values and desires for
end-of-life care. It also leads to unnecessary medical interventions and
re-hospitalizations which could have been avoided if individuals had the
foresight to communicate their desires in advance. A statewide advanced
care planning campaign would promote public awareness and education
about advanced care planning tools and the benefits and availability of
hospice and palliative care services. This campaign would also ensure
more equitable distribution of hospice and palliative care services, as
there are currently alarming racial disparities in the utilization of
hospice and palliative care. Of the 30% of New Yorkers who utilized
hospice for end-of-life care, only 9% were Black, 3% Hispanic, and 2%
Asian. Public perception of hospice and palliative an in communities of
color remains a roadblock to access, along with language barriers and
culturally-based apprehension regarding the cessation of curative treat-
ment. An inclusive and culturally competent public awareness campaign
would help close disparity gaps in care and ensure all New Yorkers have
access to critical end-of-life services.

This bill would require the Department of Health develop and implement a
statewide campaign to inform the public of the importance of advance
care planning and improve awareness and utilization of hospice and
palliative care services. Mediums for interventions may include media,
social media, material distribution, state-wide education of NYS employ-
ees, long-term care fa 'lities, and Other providers.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law.