<p>There is an immediate need to expand the availability of blood transfusions within the Medicare hospice program to ensure all patients can benefit from the end-of-life care provided through the Medicare hospice benefit. </p>

Ask Congress to Support Patient Access to Palliative Blood Transfusions

One of the most pressing issues facing the blood supply is the urgent need to reform the Medicare program to ensure patient access to palliative blood transfusions.

There is an immediate need to expand the availability of blood transfusions within the Medicare hospice program to ensure all patients can benefit from the end-of-life care provided through the Medicare hospice benefit. 

One of the most pressing issues facing the blood supply is the urgent need to reform the Medicare program to ensure patient access to palliative blood transfusions. To this end, I am writing to urge you to cosponsor S. 2186, “Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act of 2023,” and to introduce a companion bill in the House. S. 2186 by reaching out to Megan Thompson in Senator Rosen’s office at Megan_Thompson@rosen.senate.gov. This bill would require the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to establish and implement a model under which blood transfusions furnished to an individual receiving hospice care are paid separately from the Medicare hospice benefit.  

Blood transfusions can often be a critical therapy as part of quality end-of-life care. Unfortunately, since so few hospice providers provide transfusions, patients often delay enrolling in the Medicare hospice program or forgo utilizing it altogether to continue to receive blood transfusions that are necessary for their quality of life. This prevents patients, their families, and caregivers from receiving holistic care, including pain management, education, and emotional and spiritual support.

This reality is primarily a result of few hospice providers providing blood transfusions due to the cost, complexity, and lack of associated reimbursement. Yet, delayed enrollment in hospice has been shown to lead to a greater number of emergency room visits and hospital admissions in the last 30 days of life, with patients much more likely to die in the hospital or intensive care unit. As a result, the cost of these transfusion dependent patients not meaningfully utilizing hospice dramatically lowers end-of-life quality measures at an increased cost to Medicare ($17,783 vs $7662).

Expanding the availability of blood transfusions within the Medicare hospice program will ensure that all patients can benefit from the program while maintaining the quality of life provided by blood transfusions. 

Thank you for your focus on this matter and for making strengthening America’s blood supply a national priority. 

Sincerely,

Ask Congress to Support Patient Access to Palliative Blood Transfusions

One of the most pressing issues facing the blood supply is the urgent need to reform the Medicare program to ensure patient access to palliative blood transfusions.

Message

Dear Office Holder (names will be automatically added on each email),