The Massachusetts Pediatric Palliative care program supports critically ill children, young adults and their families. This includes children with disabilities and life-threatening and life-limiting diagnoses such as cancer. The community-based Pediatric Palliative Care Program provides services that address the unmet physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of eligible children in Massachusetts and their families while on and off active treatment. Services are highly successful and cost-effective, reaching over 500 children (and their families) annually. These services can include, but are not limited to, pain management, nursing, spiritual care, respite care and bereavement care if needed.

WHAT THIS BILL DOES 

• SB1359 would ensure that all eligible children would have access to the Pediatric Palliative care program.
• This bill raises the age of eligibility for the Pediatric Palliative Care Program from 19 years old to 22 years old, in order to create continuity of care and alignment with other state programs.

 

WHY THIS MATTERS 

• The Pediatric Palliative Care Program often runs a waitlist of qualified and eligible children and young adults.
• It is not uncommon for a child on the waitlist to pass away before they or their family receive the services that they qualify for.
• This bill would ensure the timely delivery of care and services for qualified children and their families.
• The bill ensures continuity of care and services for critically ill or severely disabled young adults as they age out of the Pediatric Palliative Care Program.