Massachusetts Lobby Day a huge success

Nearly 100 cancer advocates attended ACS CAN Massachusetts' annual Lobby Day at the State House on Monday March 31, 2014. This year's issue focus was quality of life and palliative care, with volunteers advocating for support for a bill that would expand access to and awareness of palliative care services. Filed by State Representative Chris Walsh of Framingham, HB 3977 "An Act to Improve Quality of Life by Expanding Access to Palliative Care" would, among other things, create a state palliative care and quality of life advisory council to consult the Department of Public Health on the establishment, maintenance, operation and evaluation of palliative care initiatives, as well as create a palliative care consumer and professional information and education program to ensure that comprehensive and accurate information and education about palliative care is available to the public, health care providers and health care facilities.We will continue to track the progress of this bill and will provide updates and opportunities to contact your lawmakers and get them to support these critical services.