Our Mission
The Patient Quality of Life Coalition (PQLC) was formed in 2013 to advance the interests of patients and families facing serious illness, including survivors. Our mission is to promote public policies that improve and expand access to high-quality palliative care.
Who We Are
PQLC brings together more than 35 organizations representing patients, survivors, caregivers, hospitals, health systems, hospices, physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and researchers. Collectively, we are dedicated to ensuring every person facing serious illness has access to the relief, support, and dignity they deserve.
Our Goals
The Patient Quality of Life Coalition urges legislative and regulatory change that will:
Advance understanding of how palliative care improves quality of care and quality of life.
Develop a well-trained workforce of healthcare professionals equipped to provide and teach palliative care.
Invest in research to build a strong evidence base for high-quality care delivery.
Expand availability of palliative care across hospitals, nursing homes, and community settings through better data, measurement, and payment systems.
Ensure timely access to medicines needed for effective pain and symptom management.
What Is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is specialized medical care focused on relief of pain, symptoms, and stress for individuals living with serious illness. It is:
A team-based approach that works alongside a patient’s regular doctors.
Available at any age and any stage of a serious illness.
Often delivered together with curative treatment.
Focused on supporting both patients and their families to ensure the best possible quality of life.
Palliative care has been shown to improve quality of life and patient satisfaction, reduce unnecessary hospitalizations, and even prolong survival in some populations—all while lowering overall costs of care
Frequently Asked Questions
Question
Answer
What is palliative care?
Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of the illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.
Palliative care is provided by a specially-trained team of doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and other specialists who work together with a patient’s other care team members to provide an extra layer of support. Palliative care is based on the needs of the patient, not on the patient’s prognosis. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness, and it can be provided along with curative treatment.
Who benefits from palliative care?
Palliative care is appropriate for anyone living with a serious illness (e.g., cancer, heart disease, dementia and other neurological conditions, kidney disease, and more), at any age or disease stage. It focuses on treating the symptoms and stress of the illness. The goal is to improve quality of life. (Source: Serious Illness Scorecard)
How is palliative care paid for?
Palliative care is treated in the same way as other medical services (e.g., cardiology), where the physician or advanced practice provider bills insurance for the services they provide. Most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover all or part of palliative care. In addition, some palliative care programs contract with health plans for alternative payment arrangements, and this provides flexibility to deploy the interprofessional team members as needed to match needs. (Source: Serious Illness Scorecard)
Where can I learn more about palliative care?
Visit Get Palliative Care for information on how palliative care can help people living with serious illness and their caregivers; see patient stories; and locate providers.