Us Congress House Bill HB4425

Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 7/16/25
• Refer: 7/16/25

Caption

Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act

Impact

The bill is expected to address a growing need for trained palliative care providers by facilitating the development of educational programs that provide clinical training, fellowships, and continued education. It authorizes grants and contracts to schools and healthcare facilities to establish and support these educational initiatives. By prioritizing regions facing healthcare workforce shortages, particularly rural or underserved areas, the bill also seeks to improve healthcare accessibility for marginalized populations.

Summary

House Bill 4425, titled the 'Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act', aims to enhance the education and training of healthcare professionals in palliative and hospice care. The bill proposes amendments to the Public Health Service Act to establish and expand educational programs in accredited medical and nursing schools, social work, and other healthcare disciplines. The goal is to improve the quality of care for patients with serious or life-threatening illnesses by increasing the number of trained professionals skilled in palliative care practices.

Contention

While many stakeholders support the necessity of increased training in palliative care, there may be concerns regarding the allocation of federal funds and the potential bureaucratic hurdles created by the grant-funding process. Additionally, ensuring that training aligns with the needs of diverse patient populations could be a discussion point as stakeholders advocate for tailored educational programs. The provision that grants not be used to promote practices leading to patient death could also be a point of contention among various healthcare stakeholders.