How New York State Can Support Hospice

By Cara Pace | March 22, 2026

With the state budget due at the end of the month, federal funding cuts to health insurance and SNAP benefits, among other federally subsidized programs, have taken center stage, deservedly so. But there are many industries that are not as greatly impacted by federal cuts, and therefore are not getting as much attention, that will still need support from the state. One such industry is hospice.

New York State’s population is rapidly aging, and has been for years. New York’s senior population has grown by over 30 percent in the past decade and there are now 4.8 million New Yorkers over the age of 60. In order to prepare for the impact this will have on our medical system, and our society at-large, New York State developed a Master Plan for Aging. That plan includes increasing support for and raising awareness about hospice and palliative care, which are extremely underutilized in our state, but will become more and more important as more New Yorkers become eligible to benefit from them. Unfortunately, much of what was initially proposed in the plan has not been enacted. In order to ensure hospice is prepared for the coming influx of patients in need, New York should follow the advice of the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of New York State (HPCANYS) and pass the HOSPICE CARE package in the state budget.

The HOSPICE CARE package combines financial support and new legislation to help hospice providers create a better experience for the patients and families. The package includes the Hospice Workforce Stabilization and Innovation Act, a new law that would establish hospice-specific workplace development and educational initiatives designed to promote workforce growth and retention. Recently many hospice providers have struggled to hire and retain medical staff. A recent study by Hospice News cited staffing issues as the leading concern among hospice providers, nationwide. Like all medical fields, hospice has been impacted by the nationwide nursing shortage. Additionally, nurses who do wish work in hospice often have a difficult time completing the necessary palliative care training due to the limited training options available. The emotional intensity of hospice can also lead to feelings of fatigue or burnout, which , in turn, cause high staff turnover. Better training and staff support programs would help us hire and retain well trained employees, and lead to better overall care for our patients.

The HOSPICE CARE package also calls for passing the Serious Illness Care Equity Act, legislation that would fund a long overdue statewide public awareness campaign to educate New Yorkers on the benefits of hospice care. This public awareness campaign was authorized in 2022 but has never been properly funded. As more New Yorkers age and experience terminal medical conditions it would be wise to educate them on all of the medical options available to them, including hospice. This public awareness campaign would have an immediate impact on improving hospice utilization in the state because most New Yorkers have an outdated view on hospice and do not understand the many benefits this type of care provides.

The third component of the package, and the final piece that requires funding, is the The Palliative and Hospice Care Access Act, a bill that would further integrate hospice care into the healthcare system by enforcing care coordination between hospice and hospitals. Together, these three initiatives are estimated to cost $31 million, a significant amount of money for our industry but a tiny drop in the bucket of New York State’s budget, which last year totaled $237 billion.

The HOSPICE CARE initiative also includes several other proposals that are not expected to cost the state anything but would still increase access to hospice for New Yorkers.  The HEART Act would reduce barriers for patients who wish to receive hospice care in nursing home settings and the Seamless Care Enrollment Act would remove statutory barriers that can currently prevent hospice patients from enrolling in Managed Long-Term Care programs.

The final proposal hospice providers are asking for is a prohibition on new, for-profit hospices in New York, which have been found to prioritize cost-cutting measures, including reduced services, less individualized attention, and staff layoffs, over high- quality care. This legislation has consistently passed both houses of the state legislature with bipartisan support, but has been vetoed by the Governor each time. It should be included in the budget.

New York’s Master Plan for the Aging, is “designed to ensure that older adults and individuals of all ages can live healthy, fulfilling lives while aging with dignity.” In order to do that, the state must put their money where their mouth is and provide hospice with the support it needs. Doing so will allow us to better help New Yorkers live their final days in comfort and with dignity.