Connecticut task force weighs using hospice funding, rebranding to expand pediatric palliative care

Members of Connecticut’s pediatric palliative care action committee discussed funding, workforce and messaging strategies on a call where participants said families’ needs have outpaced existing services and outlined options including using hospice with concurrent care, pursuing Medicaid changes and rebranding services to reduce stigma.

Eileen (researcher), who is analyzing interviews with affected families, said the qualitative findings are “heart‑wrenching.” “I interviewed 8 parents. They were all moms via Zoom, and I’m analyzing the data now, but it’s heart wrenching,” she said, adding that families are running into gaps in workforce and coverage.

The discussion centered on three immediate barriers committee members repeatedly raised: a limited workforce to deliver pediatric palliative services, inadequate private‑payer coverage compared with Medicaid, and the need for clearer public messaging so families and clinicians know what services are available. “We just have outpaced the resources in the community,” Eileen said. Several participants urged a mix of short‑term steps (education, pilots) and longer…