Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 117

Introduced by Senator Pan

March 7, 2016

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 117—Relative to palliative care.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SCR 117, as introduced, Pan. Palliative care.

This measure would encourage the State of California to study the status and importance of coordinated palliative care and to develop solutions, tools, and best practices for providing better patient-centered care and information to individuals with chronic diseases in California.

Fiscal committee: yes.

WHEREAS, Palliative care means patient- and family-centered
medical care that optimizes quality of life by anticipating,
preventing, and treating suffering caused by serious illness; and

WHEREAS, Palliative care administered throughout the
continuum of illness involves addressing physical, emotional,
social, and spiritual needs that facilitate patient autonomy, access
to information, and choice; and

WHEREAS, Palliative care includes, but is not limited to,
discussions of the patient’s goals for treatment, treatment options
appropriate to the patient, including hospice care, and
comprehensive pain and symptom management; and

WHEREAS, All patients who are experiencing complex, chronic
health issues that affect their quality of life should be offered
palliative care as an option, as it is appropriate at any age and at
any stage, and can be provided along with curative treatment; and

WHEREAS, When palliative care programs are provided, a
larger percentage of hospice patients are identified earlier in their
eligibility window, which enables them to take advantage of these
valuable services for a longer period of time; and

WHEREAS, The United States healthcare system faces an
increased burden with spikes in the senior citizen population
coupled with increases in persons with complex chronic conditions
and more people gaining access to healthcare through insurance
coverage for the first time; and

WHEREAS, Recent studies indicate that by closely matching
treatment with a patient’s goals and improving his or her quality
of life, palliative care can provide substantial cost reduction; and

WHEREAS, A population trained about the benefits of palliative
care boosts our medical and social care workforce; and

WHEREAS, The California Health and Human Services
Agency’s Let’s Get Healthy California Task Force identified
palliative care as one of its top priorities and indicators for all
Californians to enjoy optimal health in its 2012 report; and

WHEREAS, The formation of a state palliative care and quality
of life interdisciplinary advisory council and a palliative care
information and education program within the Department of
Public Health would maximize the effectiveness of palliative care
initiatives in the state by ensuring that comprehensive and accurate
information and education about palliative care is available to the
public, healthcare providers, and healthcare facilities; now,
therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature encourages the state to
study the status and importance of coordinated palliative care as
a patient quality of life issue, as a way to improve the quality and
delivery of healthcare services, and as a way to more effectively
spend limited healthcare dollars; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages the state to develop
solutions, tools, and best practices for providing better
patient-centered care and information to individuals with chronic
diseases in California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.