This bill, known as the "Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act," seeks to amend the Public Health Service Act to bolster the palliative and hospice care workforce and improve access to these services. It establishes several grant and award programs designed to increase the number of permanent faculty in palliative care at medical, nursing, and other health education schools, including social work, physician assistant, and chaplaincy programs. The overarching goal is to promote education, training, and research in palliative and hospice care.

Key provisions include the creation of Palliative Care and Hospice Education Programs, which will support the training of health professionals, emphasize patient and family engagement, and integrate care with primary and specialty services. These programs prioritize applicants serving rural or medically underserved areas, pediatric populations, and racial and ethnic minority groups. The bill also authorizes grants for Palliative Medicine Physician Training, supporting accredited fellowship programs to train physicians who will teach or practice palliative medicine.

To foster academic careers, the legislation establishes Palliative Care and Hospice Academic Career Awards for junior faculty in relevant health professions, promoting their development as specialists. Additionally, a Palliative Care Workforce Development program will offer short-term intensive courses for current faculty and practitioners to upgrade their knowledge and skills. The bill also introduces Palliative Care and Hospice Career Incentive Awards to encourage advanced practice nurses, social workers, physician assistants, and other health professionals to enter the field.

Beyond training, the bill mandates the dissemination of comprehensive information about palliative care to patients, families, and health professionals, detailing its benefits, services, and the role of specialists. This information must be posted on relevant federal websites and target specific populations, including Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries and medically underserved groups. The Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is tasked with consulting stakeholders for planning and content development.

Finally, the bill directs the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop a strategy to expand and intensify national research programs in palliative care, focusing on improving the quality of life for individuals with serious or life-threatening illnesses. It clarifies that funds cannot be used for services prohibited by existing law and that palliative care is not intended to cause or assist in a patient's death. The bill authorizes appropriations of $15 million annually for the main programs and $5 million annually for hospice and palliative nursing programs for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.