Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act

S. 2287 would amend federal health law to increase the number of trained professionals in palliative and hospice care. The bill would authorize grants to medical schools, nursing schools, and other health education programs to establish training programs and support faculty careers in palliative care. It would also provide fellowships and awards to physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and other clinicians who commit to teaching or practicing in palliative care.

The bill would direct the National Institutes of Health to expand research on palliative care and quality of life for patients with serious illnesses. It would also establish a national awareness campaign to educate patients, families, and health professionals about palliative care options. The legislation explicitly prohibits using any funded programs to assist in ending a patient's life, and it prioritizes training programs serving rural, tribal, pediatric, and underserved populations.

If enacted, the bill could improve access to palliative care—which focuses on relieving pain and symptoms for people with serious illnesses—by ensuring more trained professionals are available across the country. The bill is currently under consideration by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and has bipartisan support.