National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
Name	National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
Founded	1978
Type	Nonprofit
Headquarters	Alexandria, Virginia
Region served	United States
Leader title	CEO

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization provides leadership, resources, and advocacy for hospice and palliative care providers across the United States, working alongside healthcare institutions, professional associations, and federal agencies to shape standards, policy, and practice. Founded during a period of expanding Medicare (United States) coverage and shifting attitudes exemplified by figures such as Cicely Saunders and organizations like St. Christopher's Hospice, the organization operates within a network that includes major stakeholders such as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, American Medical Association, American Nurses Association, Institute of Medicine, and numerous academic centers.

History

The organization's origins trace to the late 1970s when hospice movements inspired by Dame Cicely Saunders and models such as St. Joseph's Hospice catalyzed national coordination among providers, paralleling policy developments like the inclusion of hospice services in Medicare (United States) through actions involving legislators from committees influenced by hearings in the United States Congress. Early alliances connected to institutions such as The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital (New York City), and advocacy by leaders who interacted with American Cancer Society, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Kaiser Family Foundation. Over subsequent decades NHPCO engaged with regulatory processes at Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and legal debates involving cases referenced by courts including the United States Supreme Court. Partnerships expanded to include organizations like National Institutes of Health, Veterans Health Administration, Catholic Health Association of the United States, and networks such as Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association.

Mission and Programs

The organization's mission emphasizes quality care for people facing serious illness, integrating clinical models from institutions including Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Mayo Clinic, and Cleveland Clinic and aligning with guidelines from bodies like the World Health Organization and the National Academy of Medicine. Programs span clinical guidance influenced by American Society of Clinical Oncology protocols, bereavement services reflecting research by Columbia University, and quality measurement efforts compatible with standards from The Joint Commission and National Quality Forum. Educational initiatives reference curricula used at Harvard Medical School, University of Pennsylvania Health System, and University of California, San Francisco, while quality improvement projects interact with payers such as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and foundations like Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Membership and Governance

Membership comprises hospice and palliative care providers, administrators, clinicians, and organizational partners drawn from networks including American Hospital Association, Association of American Medical Colleges, and state associations like those in California, New York (state), and Texas. Governance structures reflect nonprofit practices similar to boards at Red Cross and United Way, with oversight akin to policies seen at Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grantees. Leadership engagement includes collaboration with academic leaders from Yale School of Medicine, Stanford Medicine, and policy experts from Brookings Institution and Kaiser Family Foundation.

Advocacy and Policy Initiatives

Advocacy efforts interact with legislative and regulatory processes in venues such as United States Congress, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, joining coalitions with organizations like AARP, Alzheimer's Association, and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. Policy priorities have addressed reimbursement issues linked to Medicare (United States), workforce concerns echoed by American Association of Colleges of Nursing, and access disparities studied by Urban Institute and Kaiser Family Foundation. NHPCO's policy work aligns with reports from the National Academy of Medicine and legal frameworks influenced by precedent from cases adjudicated in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Education, Training, and Research

Educational activities include professional development and certification programs that parallel curricula at Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association, continuing education used by American Board of Internal Medicine, and training collaborations with universities such as Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, University of Washington School of Medicine, and Duke University School of Medicine. Research partnerships engage investigators affiliated with National Institutes of Health, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and foundations like The Commonwealth Fund, focusing on outcomes studies similar to those published in journals like The Lancet and Journal of Clinical Oncology. Fellowship and internship placements have connections to clinical sites including Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital.

Partnerships and Collaborations

NHPCO's network includes alliances with patient advocacy groups such as Cancer Research UK (in comparative contexts), national organizations like AARP, faith-based systems including Catholic Health Association of the United States, and international collaborators associated with World Health Organization initiatives. Collaborative projects have linked with philanthropic entities such as Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to advance quality metrics and community-based programs, and with technology and data partners that interface with platforms used by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and research infrastructures at the National Institutes of Health.

Category:Hospice care in the United States