152 House Bill 152 will provide for licensing of hospice care programs in Alaska, ensuring that terminally ill persons receive comfort, support, and care consistent with hospice philosophy and concepts through a uniform level of services. There is no federal regulation or licensing requirements for hospice programs. The licensing of hospice programs in Alaska will assure consumers of consistent standards in the delivery of hospice services. Hospice is a unique component of the health care delivery system, one that has evolved over the past 20 years in the United States.
Hospice provides care and support for people with terminal illness.
The goal of hospice care is to enable patients to live an alert, pain-free life and to manage symptoms so the last weeks and months of life may be spent in dignity and peace. One out of every three people who die of cancer or AIDS in this country are served by a hospice program. Rapid growth of hospice programs is due to increased demand for home care services, the desire of terminally ill persons to keep control over the remainder of their lives, and a trend towards reimbursement for home-care services. Consumers need to be aware of specific characteristics that differentiate hospice from other health care providers. Hospice offers comfort and care, not curative treatment.