Palliative Care Advisory Council

The 2023 Legislative Report (PDF) serves as a comprehensive update to the Council’s four key policy recommendations outlined in its 2022 annual legislative report. These recommendations reflect actionable steps aimed at advancing palliative care across Minnesota, addressing critical needs such as defining palliative care, establishing core service sets, and aligning payment models to support service delivery.

Additionally, the report includes detailed updates from the Council’s Education, Training, and Awareness work group, which focuses on increasing knowledge and understanding of palliative care among health care providers and the public. It also highlights progress from the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work group, which is dedicated to ensuring that palliative care services are equitable and accessible to all populations, particularly those who have historically faced systemic health care disparities. Together, these updates demonstrate the Council's continued commitment to enhancing palliative care through strategic planning, collaboration, and a focus on equity and education.

The 2022 Legislative Report (PDF) highlights the ongoing challenges and progress of the Palliative Care Advisory Council during 2021, a year marked by the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating effects on Minnesota's health care system. It outlines the Council’s reorganization into three work groups—Education, Awareness, and Training; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and Policy, Reimbursement, Sustainability, and Research—and their key efforts to advance palliative care awareness, equitable access, and sustainable policy frameworks. The report emphasizes the importance of defining core palliative care benefits, aligning payment models, and submitting legislative recommendations to address the state’s growing need for palliative care services. It also reflects on lessons from national and local experts while advocating for actionable next steps to build a foundation for the future of palliative care in Minnesota.

The 2021 Legislative Report (PDF) provides updated information about the Palliative Care Advisory Council's efforts during 2020. This includes work toward the Council’s 19 recommendations presented in the previous years’ report, as well as the Council’s efforts around health equity and access to care.

The 2020 Legislative Report (PDF) provides updated information about the Palliative Care Advisory Council's efforts. Nineteen priorities are identified as recommendations to continue to define and focus further understanding and legislative effort. The report details gaps in public awareness, disparities in access—especially in rural areas—and the need for more trained palliative care providers. It also underscores the value of palliative care in improving patient satisfaction, reducing regret, and meeting the principles of the Triple and Quadruple Aims in health care. The Council’s policy recommendations aim to enhance palliative care services across Minnesota, fostering collaboration among stakeholders to advance these critical efforts.

The 2019 Legislative Report (PDF) highlights the Council's focus on assessing palliative care availability, analyzing barriers, and proposing legislative recommendations. The Council’s vision emphasizes equitable access to high-quality, patient- and family-centered care across all demographics and settings. Key accomplishments in 2018 include defining palliative care, developing infrastructure, assessing pediatric care, and identifying seven priority areas: education, research, delivery models, policy, awareness, reimbursement, and access. The Council has initiated work groups for these areas and begun formulating recommendations, with a particular focus on balancing opioid-related policies with palliative care needs. Looking ahead, the Council aims to refine its recommendations through stakeholder engagement and legislative strategy development in 2019.

The 2018 Legislative Report (PDF) provides a concise overview of the Palliative Care Advisory Council’s foundational efforts and strategic focus through 2025. It highlights the Council’s formation, its commitment to developing a long-term vision, and its plan to address current gaps in palliative care delivery. The summary outlines the Council's approach to establishing actionable goals, structured deliverables, and governance frameworks to ensure success. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of flexibility to adapt to evolving circumstances, offering stakeholders a high-level understanding of the Council’s priorities and objectives.