At least 13 million Americans are living with a serious illness, many of whom suffer from attendant pain, symptoms, stresses, complex decisions, avoidable crises, and caregiver distress. Palliative care is an evidence-based solution that improves quality of life for these patients and their caregivers, and yet significant disparities exist.
Palliative care is specialized health care for people living with a serious illness. It is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of the illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family or caregiver. Palliative care is based on the needs of the patient, not on the patient’s prognosis. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness.
America’s Serious Illness Scorecard reviews each state’s capacity to deliver high-quality care to people facing serious illness. The Scorecard evaluates five domains:
- Availability of specialty-trained palliative care professionals
- Payment for specialty palliative care services
- Structures to advance palliative care awareness and access
- Basic palliative care professional education for all clinicians
- Structures to meet functional and caregiver support needs
The Scorecard uses publicly available information across these domains to develop a composite rating, from 0 to 5 stars. In the 2024 Serious Illness Scorecard, no state has yet achieved five stars, with two states earning 4.5 stars, six states earning 4.0 stars, and 13 states earning 2.0 or fewer stars. These scores reveal that, while every state has some palliative care capacity, all states have room for improvement.
Champions interested in advancing palliative care in their state can learn more on CAPC’s blog.
