Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act

S 1845, the Expanding Access to Palliative Care Act, creates a new 5-year Medicare model providing community-based palliative care to beneficiaries with serious illnesses like cancer, heart disease, or dementia. It directly affects Medicare Part A enrollees with qualifying conditions, replacing the current Medicare Care Choices Model and ensuring no exclusion for prior hospice use. Key provisions require 24/7 access (including telehealth), team-based care with at least one certified palliative provider, coordination across settings (homes, hospitals, or community sites), and coverage of services like pain management, mental health support, and advance care planning. The model aims to reduce unnecessary emergency visits and hospitalizations while improving care experience for high-risk Medicare beneficiaries.