The Hospice Action Network Presents 2023 Angel Awards Honorees
For Immediate Release
December 19, 2023
President Carter Honored as the First-Ever Recipient of the Courageous Conversations Award
(Alexandria, VA) – The Hospice Action Network (HAN), the advocacy affiliate group of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), is pleased to announce its 2023 Hospice Action Network Angel Award Honorees. The HAN Angel Awards were created to recognize select members of Congress on both sides of the aisle for their ongoing efforts to amplify the voices of patients, families, providers, and those advocating for the vital mission of hospice and palliative care in supporting patients and their families facing serious or life-limiting illness.
New this year is the addition of the first-ever “Courageous Conversations Award” to be presented, when merited, to a standout individual who has inspired and educated the public on the value of hospice. At 99, former President Jimmy Carter is the longest living U.S. President and the first known President to utilize the Medicare Hospice Benefit. While in office, the Carter administration tested hospice care as a model, which later led to the Medicare Hospice Benefit we know today. President Carter sparked a national dialogue this year when the Carter Center publicly shared the news of him electing hospice for his end-of-life journey and later, his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter also elected hospice days before her death. Now over 10 months later, President Carter continues to enjoy care at home surrounded by friends and family made possible through his use of the Medicare Hospice Benefit. His story has also been invaluable in dispelling common myths and misconceptions surrounding hospice including average length of stay.
This year’s HAN award recipients are as follows:
The Courageous Conversations Award, 2023 Honoree
39th U.S. President Jimmy Carter
2023 HAN Angel Award Honorees”
Senator Tammy Baldwin (WI)
Senator John Barrasso (WY)
Senator Deb Fischer (NE)
Senator Shelley Capito (WV)
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (NV)
Senator Jacky Rosen (NV)
Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3)
Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-19)
Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne (TX -24)
Congressman Brad Wenstrup (OH-2)
“Today we give thanks to the Members of Congress who champion the needs of hospices patients and providers. Their support has been critical, and we recognize them with the HAN Angel Award.,” said HAN Executive Director, Logan Hoover. “In addition to our champions in Congress, no one has better demonstrated the value of hospice this year than former President Jimmy Carter who continues to show us what is made possible by electing person- and family-centered, interdisciplinary care at the end of life.”
NHPCO and HAN are proud to recognize these exemplary leaders for their ongoing efforts.
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About HAN:
Created in 2007, the Hospice Action Network (HAN) brings together the hospice and palliative care community to speak with a unified voice. HAN is the 501(c)(4) advocacy affiliate of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization(NHPCO). NHPCO and HAN work closely together to make an impact; NHPCO sets the public policy priorities through its Legislative Affairs Committee to provide a more aggressive and comprehensive advocacy voice that will serve the entire field and one of America’s most vulnerable populations, those at the end of life.
About NHPCO:
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is the nation’s largest and oldest membership association for providers who care for people affected by serious and life-limiting illness. Our members deliver and expand access to high-quality, person-centered interdisciplinary care to millions of Americans. NHPCO provides education and resources to support that mission. Together with our advocacy partner, the Hospice Action Network (HAN), we serve as the leading voice advancing public policy to improve serious-illness and end-of-life care, while our CaringInfo program provides free resources to educate and empower patients and caregivers. nhpco.org
Press Contact:
Madison Summers
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571-412-3973