Politicians Fight Back Against ForProfit NY Hospices

Hudson Valley Leaders Call on Governor Hochul to Sign Bipartisan Legislation to Ban New For-Profit Hospices

 On October 8th, a bipartisan group of elected officials, including State Senator James Skoufis, State Senator Rob Rolison, and Assemblymember Brian Maher, joined Cara Pace, CEO of United Hospice, a premier nonprofit hospice provider for Rockland and Orange Counties, to call on Governor Hochul to sign S.3437/A.565 into law. The event took place on October 8th, just days ahead of World Hospice Day, on October 11th.

The bill, which passed both legislative houses with bipartisan support, would prohibit New York State from approving new applications for the establishment, construction or increased capacity of for-profit hospice entities.

For-profit hospices have been found to provide narrower ranges of services, use less skilled clinical staff, have higher rates of complaint allegations and deficiencies, and provide fewer community benefits, such as training, research, and charity care. For-profit hospices have also been shown to admit fewer critically ill patients and provide 10% fewer nursing visits, 35% fewer social worker visits, and 50% fewer therapy visits than nonprofit hospices. 

Cara Pace, CEO of United Hospice, said: “In honor of World Hospice Day, we are calling on Governor Hochul to listen to New Yorkers and sign the bipartisan legislation banning new for-profit hospices in our state. As the leader of a nonprofit hospice, I have seen the incredible impact our work can have, when we make caring for our patients our top priority. Unfortunately, studies continually show that when profits are instead prioritized in hospice care, patients receive lower quality care and ultimately may suffer. It’s time for New York State to step up and stop the proliferation of for-profit providers that seek to take advantage of New Yorkers nearing the end of their lives and instead support the nonprofit hospice providers who are solely dedicated to caring for their patients. I am extremely grateful to Senators Skoufis and Rolison and Assemblymember Maher for standing with us today as well as to Senator Krueger and Assemblymember Paulin for working to get this important legislation on the Governor’s desk.”