HR 76 — A Resolution urging the Congress of the United States to establish policies that would provide greater access to blood transfusions for hospice patients with blood cancer.

PRINTER'S NO.   588

                  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 76
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY HANBIDGE, KHAN, FREEMAN, SANCHEZ, HILL-EVANS,
        OTTEN AND GREEN, FEBRUARY 12, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AND
        OPERATIONS, FEBRUARY 12, 2025


                                 A RESOLUTION
 1   Urging the Congress of the United States to establish policies
 2      that would provide greater access to blood transfusions for
 3      hospice patients with blood cancer.
 4      WHEREAS, Blood cancer affects the normal production and
 5   function of blood cells; and
 6      WHEREAS, There are three types of blood cancer: leukemia,
 7   lymphoma and myeloma; and
 8      WHEREAS, Treatments for blood cancer include chemotherapy,
 9   radiation, surgery, stem cell transplantation, immunotherapy and
10   targeted therapy; and
11      WHEREAS, Blood transfusions are used as an important therapy
12   for end-of-life care to provide symptom relief for patients with
13   blood cancer; and
14      WHEREAS, There is a misconception that blood transfusions for
15   end-of-life care are treatment for blood cancer designed to
16   prolong the lifespan of a patient; and
17      WHEREAS, However, blood transfusions serve as a palliative
18   care measure, providing a better quality of life and comfort to
 1   a patient with blood cancer; and
 2      WHEREAS, Medicare reimburses hospice care at a flat rate that
 3   does not adequately cover the cost of blood transfusions; and
 4      WHEREAS, Medicare reimburses a hospice care provider based on
 5   a daily rate each day and makes the daily payment regardless of
 6   the number of services provided to a patient; and
 7      WHEREAS, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is
 8   responsible for annual updates to hospice payment rates; and
 9      WHEREAS, The fiscal year 2025 hospice cap amount is
10   $34,465.34; and
11      WHEREAS, The average cost of one red blood cell unit
12   transfusion is $2,388; and
13      WHEREAS, Most patients with blood cancer need two blood
14   transfusions per week; and
15      WHEREAS, At the current Medicare hospice reimbursement rate,
16   blood transfusions are too expensive to be covered; and
17      WHEREAS, Due to the misconception that blood transfusions are
18   treatment and not symptom relief and the inadequate Medicare
19   reimbursement for blood transfusions, many patients with blood
20   cancer do not seek out hospice care and instead receive poor
21   quality end-of-life care; and
22      WHEREAS, Providing blood transfusions to hospice patients
23   with blood cancer would decrease the number of patients dying in
24   hospitals and the number of costly treatments sought out by
25   these patients at end-of-life; and
26      WHEREAS, There is an agreement among medical professionals
27   and stakeholders about the need to inform elected officials and
28   policymakers about the importance of providing blood
29   transfusions for hospice patients with blood cancer; and
30      WHEREAS, Legislation was introduced in the 118th Congress of

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 1   the United States to improve access to blood transfusions for
 2   hospice care patients; and
 3      WHEREAS, Federal legislation would have directed the Center
 4   for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to create a model for
 5   allowing blood transfusions to be paid for separately from the
 6   Medicare hospice per diem payments and allow more patients with
 7   blood cancer receiving hospice care to receive blood
 8   transfusions; and
 9      WHEREAS, Action is needed on the Federal level to change the
10   way blood transfusions are considered in terms of care and the
11   way hospice providers are reimbursed for blood transfusions;
12   therefore be it
13      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
14   Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United
15   States to establish policies that would provide greater access
16   to blood transfusions for hospice patients with blood cancer;
17   and be it further
18      RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
19   the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
20   member of Congress from Pennsylvania.




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