Supporters Lobby for Approval of Bill Setting Hospice Licensing Rules
A group in Ventura County is lobbying for a bill (SB 462) that would allow hospice facilities to be licensed in residential settings, the Ventura County Star reports.
Teresa Wolf and Ruth Klein, who both have worked as nurses and hospice family service coordinators, say the legislation would allow them to create a free, eight-bed hospice aimed at those who cannot afford or do not want nursing home care but might be unable to remain in their own homes.
Margaret Clausen, executive director of the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association, said that without the licensing law, hospices are required to seek a license for other types of facilities, such as nursing homes. The process can add cost and time and create other problems for people trying to start a hospice, she added.
The bill has been approved by the Senate and now is being considered by the Assembly (Klampe, Ventura County Star, 2/27).