The PPCC-CT seeks to advance change through participation in legislative action and collaboration with state agencies.
PPCC-CT Legislative News 2025
For a PDF version of this update, please click here.
Pediatric Palliative Care and Hospice Bill Passes in the CT Legislature Senate Bill 1540, An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Pediatric Hospice Working Group, passed in the Senate in May 2025, and went on to the House, where it was known as Substitute House Bill 7157. This bill was then rolled into Public Act 25-97 (Section 45) and signed by the Governor on June 24, 2025.
This legislation endorses the ongoing work of the Pediatric Hospice Working Group to develop recommendations for the creation of a Children's Health, Advocacy, Management, and Palliative Care program and, within that program, a Pediatric Palliative and Hospice Care Center of Excellence pilot program. This important work will continue until July 2026.
Those providing testimony included several coalition members:
Eileen R. O'Shea, DNP, APRN, PCNS-BC, CHPPN PPCC-CT President
Professor & Director, Kanarek Center for Palliative Care Nursing Education, Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT
Karen Garlie, RN, BSN, MBA
Senior Manager and Hospice Program Director Yale New Haven Health - Health at Home
Kerry Moss, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut School of MedicineMedical Director for the Sunflower Kids Palliative Care ProgramConnecticut Children’s, Hartford, CTCo-chair, Working Group to Study Pediatric Hospice
ToniAnn Marchione, LRT (M) BS
President & CEORegional Hospice, Danbury, CTCo-chair, Working Group to Study Pediatric Hospice
Nurses Day at the Capitol
Sponsored by the Connecticut Nurses Association, Nurses Day at the Capitol provides an opportunity for nurses to hear directly from legislators about the issues that are important to nurses and patients and to be acknowledged for the important work they do every day.
Federal Legislation to Support Palliative Care Education, Awareness, and Research
The Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA), S. 2287, was reintroduced in the 119th Congress on July 15, 2025, by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV). The next day, on July 16, 2025, Congressmen Buddy Carter (R-GA-01) and Ami Bera (D-CA-06) introduced the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA), H.R. 24425 in the 119th Congress.
A Lobby Day in Washington DC to advocate for support for the Palliative Care & Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA) was sponsored the Patient Quality of Life Coalition (PQLC) on July 22, 2025. Participating in this lobby day was Lisa McCabe, MSN, APRN, CHPPN, Vice President of PPCC-CT. Lisa represented the pediatric voice in testimony in support of this bill as she and other delegates from Connecticut met with staffers from the offices of Rosa DeLauro, Richard Blumenthal, and Chris Murphy.
PCHETA will:
Ensure an adequate and appropriately trained interdisciplinary workforce is available to provide pain/ symptom management; psychosocial/ emotional/ spiritual support; decision-making support; and care coordination for people with serious illness.
Ensure dissemination of information for improved awareness of the availability and benefits of palliative care.
Support research to advance the field of palliative care and improve patient outcomes.
Click on the links for a one-page summary or full text version of the PCHETA bill.
The Legislative Process
From its beginnings as an idea or proposal to final signing into law, the process of how a bill gets passed is quite complicated. For insight to that process, click here. A simplified flowchart of the process can be found here.
PPCC-CT is not a health care provider and does not give medical advice or treatment. PPCC-CT does not endorse or recommend any listed facilities, service providers, or support groups herein. PPCC-CT offers the list and information as a resource only. PPCC-CT does not pre-evaluate, or consider the Medicare/Medicaid status of the providers.
The Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition is a fiscal sponsor of the PPCC-CT. The Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition is a registered 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization. Donations are tax-deductible according to the IRS’s rules and regulations. The official registration and financial information for PPCC may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free within Pennsylvania 1-800-732-0999.
The Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition is a registered charitable organization in the State of Connecticut.