Fight Back: NHPCO's Virtual Hill Day is Today!

Join the Hospice Virtual Lobby Day! Take Action!
Details on How to Contact Congress Right Now

Today is the Day: The Hospice Community is hitting the halls of Congress...by phone and by email.
For more than a year, Hospice Advocates from all over the nation have been fighting the previous Administration's regulatory rate cuts, which threaten the compassionate and high-quality care to America's most vulnerable population. Last week, we learned that the hospice community was being asked to undergo additional Medicare cuts as part of the effort to pay for overhauling the health care system. Without intervention, the combined impact of the two cuts will be an average 6.4% loss to hospices beginning on October 1st of this year - and an average impact of more than 7% in FY 2011. Hospice is already a good steward of Medicare dollars - with average margins of 3.4%.

Cuts on top of cuts?

We're willing to do our part to expand health care coverage, but the combined cuts are paving the way for a crisis in hospice care.

But, we can fight back.

Call and write your Representatives and Senators today to ask them to stand with the hospice community. Let them know that hospice is already part of the solution, for patients and families and as a high-quality and cost-efficient model of health care reform. Let them know that their immediate action is necessary to protect hospice for future generations.

First, write them a letter. By taking action on this message, you will be able to customize pre-written text that makes it quick and easy to contact your representatives in writing. In less than 5 minutes, you can tell your story and hit send...and most importantly, fight to protect hospice for the 1.4 million patients, and their families, who depend on us each year.

Then, contact your Congressional offices by phone. This will reinforce your letter and get their attention immediately. By using our Click2Call tool, calling Congress is free, fast and we give you all the information and talking points that you will need. Most Congressional offices are open from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm EST. Visit Call to Stop Cuts-on-Top-of-Cuts to contact your representatives today!

Finally, spread the word! Make sure that your friends, families, neighbors, your kids' teachers and the guy that grooms your dog all join you in the fight to protect hospice. Just forward them this information or use our Tell-a-Friend feature.

Thanks so much for your Hospice Advocacy!

Hospice of Palm Beach County Volunteer Donates Portion of Show’s Proceeds to Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation!

On Friday and Saturday, May 15 and 16th, local playwright and Hospice of Palm Beach County volunteer, David Nathie Barnes, will bring his show A Love Lost Life – The Unauthorized Story of Marlon Brando to the Cuillo Centre for the Arts. The show, whose ensemble cast has received rave reviews, tells the story of Brando’s efforts and challenges in learning to understand fatherhood.

A Love Life Lost plays at the Cuillo Centre for the Arts, 201 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach. Performances begin at 8:00 p.m.. Tickets are $25. Be sure to mention you are with Hospice of Palm Beach County and a portion of the ticket sale will be donated to Hospice of Palm Beach County.

For more information, call (561) 835-9226.

Celebrating Our Nurses!
There's a place, somewhere over the rainbow, where people provide others with compassion, with care and with understanding.

That place is Hospice of Palm Beach County and the people are the nurses who work tirelessly to make certain every patient and their family receives the attention they deserve.

As we celebrate nurses, we say thanks to our staff, for your spirit, effort and commitment.

With admiration and gratitude,
Hospice of Palm Beach County

Special congratulations to our staff members nominated for 2009 awards.

Jacqueline Lopez-Devine, MSN, RN - Leadership Award
Cheri Larese, RN - Leadership Award
Eslin Lynch, CNA - Hands and Heart Award