NY A10316

Requires hospitals, nursing homes, home care agencies, and assisted living facilities to establish written policies ensuring patients with advanced life-limiting conditions are identified and provided timely access to palliative care information, counseling, and services

Mandates facilities inform eligible patients about hospice and community-based palliative care services and offer timely referrals consistent with patient needs and preferences

Directs the Department of Health to monitor and report hospice utilization rates for patients who died within 30, 60, and 90 days after hospital discharge to assess end-of-life care access

Establishes a hospice-palliative care integration demonstration program funded at $5 million annually, with competitive grants to hospitals partnering with hospice providers to improve care transitions and referral processes

Requires participating hospitals to document whether patients met clinical triggers (advanced cancer, organ failure, dementia, prolonged ICU stays), whether palliative/hospice services were offered, and whether referrals were accepted or declined