Lawmakers Seek To Expand Hospice Coverage

A group of state lawmakers is pushing to make hospice care available to more people on MassHealth.

A proposed bill would expand hospice coverage to about 120,000 people on more limited state health insurance plans.

State Sen. Richard Moore says people who receive hospice care often live longer than their doctors expect.

"Not only do they live longer, but those additional three months are much better quality, they're able to communicate with their loved ones, with their family," Moore said.

Another bill co-sponsor, Sen. Patricia Jehlen, hopes the bill would add comfort to end-of-life care in Massachusetts.

"I think everybody deserves compassionate, respectful care, especially at the end of life, where sometimes they don't get that kind of care," Jehlen said.

A hearing on the legislation is scheduled for sometime this fall.