Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA announced this week that in 2016 they will be expanding their end of life benefits to cover hospice for a longer period and to support end of life counseling both with physicians and other health care professionals. An expanded home care program is also in the planning stages.
The changes announced by BCBS come just as Medicare will begin covering end of life discussions.
The BCBS effort to expand benefits were in part driven by the experience of their Chief Executive Officer Andrew Dreyfus in assisting his own parents and brother at the ends of their lives.
The Home Care Alliance of MA applauds these actions as very much in keeping with the important Institute of Medicine Report “Dying in America,” which reinforced – with strong recommendations – that health care professionals must be empowered to ensure that end-of-life care is compassionate, affordable, sustainable, and of the best quality possible.
We look forward to working with BCBS of MA to support these efforts in the interest of all of our patients and families.
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