PRINTER'S NO. 588
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.76
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HANBIDGE, KHAN, FREEMAN, SANCHEZ, HILL-EVANS,
OTTEN AND GREEN, FEBRUARY 12, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AND
OPERATIONS, FEBRUARY 12, 2025
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Congress of the United States to establish policies
that would provide greater access to blood transfusions for
hospice patients with blood cancer.
WHEREAS, Blood cancer affects the normal production and
function of blood cells; and
WHEREAS, There are three types of blood cancer: leukemia,
lymphoma and myeloma; and
WHEREAS, Treatments for blood cancer include chemotherapy,
radiation, surgery, stem cell transplantation, immunotherapy and
targeted therapy; and
WHEREAS, Blood transfusions are used as an important therapy
for end-of-life care to provide symptom relief for patients with
blood cancer; and
WHEREAS, There is a misconception that blood transfusions for
end-of-life care are treatment for blood cancer designed to
prolong the lifespan of a patient; and
WHEREAS, However, blood transfusions serve as a palliative
care measure, providing a better quality of life and comfort to
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18 a patient with blood cancer; and
WHEREAS, Medicare reimburses hospice care at a flat rate that
does not adequately cover the cost of blood transfusions; and
WHEREAS, Medicare reimburses a hospice care provider based on
a daily rate each day and makes the daily payment regardless of
the number of services provided to a patient; and
WHEREAS, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is
responsible for annual updates to hospice payment rates; and
WHEREAS, The fiscal year 2025 hospice cap amount is
$34,465.34; and
WHEREAS, The average cost of one red blood cell unit
transfusion is $2,388; and
WHEREAS, Most patients with blood cancer need two blood
transfusions per week; and
WHEREAS, At the current Medicare hospice reimbursement rate,
blood transfusions are too expensive to be covered; and
WHEREAS, Due to the misconception that blood transfusions are
treatment and not symptom relief and the inadequate Medicare
reimbursement for blood transfusions, many patients with blood
cancer do not seek out hospice care and instead receive poor
quality end-of-life care; and
WHEREAS, Providing blood transfusions to hospice patients
with blood cancer would decrease the number of patients dying in
hospitals and the number of costly treatments sought out by
these patients at end-of-life; and
WHEREAS, There is an agreement among medical professionals
and stakeholders about the need to inform elected officials and
policymakers about the importance of providing blood
transfusions for hospice patients with blood cancer; and
WHEREAS, Legislation was introduced in the 118th Congress of
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30 the United States to improve access to blood transfusions for
hospice care patients; and
WHEREAS, Federal legislation would have directed the Center
for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to create a model for
allowing blood transfusions to be paid for separately from the
Medicare hospice per diem payments and allow more patients with
blood cancer receiving hospice care to receive blood
transfusions; and
WHEREAS, Action is needed on the Federal level to change the
way blood transfusions are considered in terms of care and the
way hospice providers are reimbursed for blood transfusions;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United
States to establish policies that would provide greater access
to blood transfusions for hospice patients with blood cancer;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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