Advocacy Priorities

In 2009, the AAHPM Board of Directors approved the following advocacy agenda for the Academy:

• Growing the number of palliative medicine specialists, by promoting policies that will result in a greater number of faculty and residency training opportunities in hospice and palliative medicine. AAHPM supports increasing graduate medical education funding for the field and continues to advocate at the federal level for the establishment of a palliative care academic career award. Building a strong academic sector in palliative care will not only address workforce needs, but generate new knowledge to continue to advance the field and improve patient care.


• Increasing support for research to guide hospice and palliative medicine practice. AAHPM advocates for federal funding of research that would provide an evidence base for methodologies and interventions that can improve care for hospice and palliative care patients. While billions of dollars are spent on disease-specific research, there has been almost no investment in research that might significantly alleviate the physical symptoms and psychological distress of older persons living with a life-limiting illness or address issues related to their personal care, family and social needs.


• Ensuring access to palliative care services for patients with serious illness and their families. AAHPM is collaborating with other organizations to ensure that policies aimed at altering physician payment and reforming the Medicare Hospice Benefit strengthen access and reimbursement for hospice and palliative care services in all clinical settings. Integrating HPM into current reform initiatives will also foster more rapid and fundamental system change that is likely to promote more appropriate care, improve quality and diminish costs in the last two years of life