The Palliative Care Coalition of Canada (PCCC) has introduced a new Blueprint for Action for 2025-2030, aiming to enhance the accessibility and quality of palliative care across Canada, building on over 25 years of progress. This initiative responds to a commissioned scoping review on palliative care research gaps and the Progress Report on the Framework on Palliative Care in Canada, pushing stakeholders to further the Framework's goals. The Blueprint serves as the PCCC's strategic plan, encouraging collaboration to ensure all Canadians receive high-quality palliative care.

The Blueprint for Action 2025-2030 prioritizes four equally important areas: an engaged and informed public, skilled and supported care providers, knowledge to improve care quality and life, and equitable access to high-quality palliative care for all. The PCCC will undertake specific initiatives to achieve each priority and outlines the desired outcomes. The launch of this document coincides with National Hospice Palliative Care Week, amidst national unity and economic challenges.

Canada's healthcare systems are highly valued by its residents, with a 2022 Environics Institute poll indicating that 78% consider them a crucial part of their identity. Despite this pride, there is room for improvement, including addressing rising wait times due to capacity and staffing shortages, demographic shifts, increasing costs, and economic pressures. The palliative care community understands the need for difficult conversations, focusing on the individual as a whole person within their family and community. Palliative care involves an interdisciplinary team of professionals working together to meet the patient's needs and wishes. These professionals coordinate care, solve problems, overcome systemic barriers, and support caregivers.

As the federal government addresses national challenges, the importance of caring for one another should be central to the discussion. The palliative care community is well-equipped to manage many healthcare system pain points. This plan aims to guide the conversation toward building person- and family-centered care systems that deliver tangible results for all Canadians.

The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) has announced the appointment of two new leaders to its Advocacy team: Hillary Loeffler as VP of Policy & Regulatory Affairs and Alex Hartzman as VP of Research & Analytics. These roles highlight the Alliance’s dedication to advocating for policies that support care at home providers and expand access to care for the growing aging population in America. Hillary Loeffler joins from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), where she was a Senior Advisor for the Office of Legislation. She has a history of advocating for the care at home community, including roles as Senior Health Policy Advisor for the Committee on Ways and Means for the US House of Representatives, Senior Advisor to the Deputy Administrator for Program Integrity at CMS, Director of the Home Health & Hospice Division of CMS, and Senior Health Care Analyst for the US Government Accountability Office. During her time at CMS, she led the implementation of key initiatives, such as the home health Patient-Driven Groupings Model.

Alex Hartzman, the Alliance’s first VP of Research & Analytics, brings extensive industry knowledge, having led analyses on the home health Patient-Driven Groupings Model and the Value of Hospice study. His work also covers topics in Medicaid HCBS, senior housing, and Alternative Payment Models, and has been published in journals such as JAMA and Health Affairs Scholar. Before joining the Alliance, Alex was Director of Analytics for NORC Health Care Strategy at the University of Chicago and held management roles at Dobson DaVanzo & Associates, LLC. Scott Levy, Alliance Chief Government Affairs Officer, noted that these appointments enhance the Alliance’s ability to advance public policy that promotes quality and expands access to care at home.

Hillary Loeffler expressed enthusiasm for joining the Alliance and fighting for high-quality care that delivers value to patients, families, and the healthcare system. Alex Hartzman stated his commitment to supporting hospice, home health, home care, and palliative care providers and to closing the data gap to advance high-quality, high-value care. Alex joined the Alliance in late April, and Hillary started on May 19. These executives will work with policymakers and industry stakeholders to address reimbursement and regulatory challenges and promote care innovation in the home.

The National Alliance for Care at Home represents providers of home care, home health, hospice, palliative care, and other health care services mainly delivered in the home. The Alliance combines the operations of NAHC and NHPCO to better serve members and lead the future of care offered in the home.