According to the NYS Department of Health, “Like the PCIA, the PCAA is intended to ensure that patients are fully informed of the options available to them when they are faced with a serious illness or condition, so that they are empowered to make choices consistent with their goals of care, and wishes and beliefs, and to optimize their quality of life.”

Patients may opt to pursue palliative care while also pursuing aggressive treatment. Palliative care may be provided together with life-prolonging or curative care or as the main focus of care.

The Palliative Care Access Act

• Expands on the PCIA, new Public Health Law, Section 2997-d
• Applies to hospitals, nursing homes, home care agencies and enhanced and special needs assisted living residences.
• Applies to patients with “advanced, life limiting conditions and illnesses”.
• Requires providers to establish policies and procedures to identify patients who might benefit from palliative care, (defined as in the PCIA) and pain management services,
• Requires providers to provide access to information and counseling concerning palliative care and pain management appropriate to the patient, and
• Requires providers to facilitate access to appropriate palliative care and pain management consultations and services.

If information and counseling concerning palliative care and pain management has not been provided and/or access to appropriate palliative care and pain management consultation and services has not been facilitated by the health care facility, discuss this with an appropriate health care professional in the facility.