Week in Review: December 9-13

The Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA) was to be considered for Senate HELP Committee markup this week but HHS questions related to accrediation have delayed consideration. AAHPM continues to work with bill sponsors and coalition partners to urge swift Senate action. Use AAHPM’s Legislative Action Center to e-mail and tweet your senators to request their support.

Abstract selection notices for the third call for case oral and poster presentations as well as scholar e-posters were sent to submitters this week. Please check with the submitter of the abstract if you are interested to know if the abstract has been selected for presentation at the 2020 Annual Assembly.

Chad Kollas represented AAHPM at a meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA) Opioid Task Force, which met in Washington, DC, to consider issues relevant to stemming the incidence of opioid misuse and overdose death, as well as preserving timely access to opioids for patients who can benefit safely from them. Review Task Force recommendations released to date.

The call for nominations for the Hastings Center Cunniff-Dixon Physician Awards is open for physicians who have demonstrated a commitment to patients near the end of life through their doctoring, research and service to their community. The awards will be given to one senior physician, one mid-career physician, and three early-career physicians. Nominations will be accepted through December 31.

The Palliative Care Quality Collaborative (PCQC) Board of Directors met in Chicago on December 10. Important issues were discussed, which will make 2020 another productive year. The PCQC is on track to open the new unified palliative care registry during Q2 of 2020. Check the AAHPM website for emerging information and look for the PCQC booth at the Annual Assembly.

Hospice and Palliative Medicine (HPM) Match Day was December 4 and, on that day, 292 of 381 positions were filled with 104 of 159 programs filling. HPM participates in the Medical Specialties Matching Program that includes internal medicine specialties, allergy and immunology, and geriatrics.

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