[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 213 (Thursday, November 4, 2010)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 67905-67906]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-28082]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 75 , No. 213 / Thursday, November 4, 2010 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 67905]]


                Proclamation 8594 of October 29, 2010

                
National Hospice Month, 2010

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                During National Hospice Month, we recognize the dignity 
                hospice care can provide to patients who need it most, 
                and the professionals, volunteers, and family members 
                who bring peace to individuals in their final days.

                Hospice care gives medical services, emotional support, 
                and spiritual resources to people facing life-limiting 
                illnesses. It can also help families and caregivers 
                manage the details and emotional challenges of caring 
                for a dying loved one. The decision to place someone 
                into a hospice program can be difficult, but Americans 
                can have peace of mind knowing the doctors and 
                professionals involved with these services are trained 
                to administer high-quality and comprehensive care for 
                terminally ill individuals. As many of our Nation's 
                veterans age and cope with illness, hospice and 
                palliative care can also provide tailored support to 
                meet the needs of these heroes.

                The Affordable Care Act signed into law this year 
                protects and expands hospice services covered under 
                Federal health care programs. Prior to its enactment, 
                the prohibition on concurrent care for Federal health 
                care programs meant patients could not receive hospice 
                care before first discontinuing treatments to cure 
                their disease. The Affordable Care Act permanently 
                eliminates this prohibition for children enrolled in 
                Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, 
                and creates demonstration projects to test how the 
                elimination of the concurrent care prohibition would 
                impact Medicare. As a result, fewer children, seniors, 
                and families will have to make the heart-rending choice 
                between coverage that fights an illness and coverage 
                that provides needed comfort.

                All Americans should take comfort in the important work 
                of hospice care, which enables individuals to carry on 
                their lives, in spite of a terminal illness. During 
                this month, let us recognize those who allow the 
                terminally ill to receive comfortable and dignified 
                care.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim November 2010 as 
                National Hospice Month. I encourage citizens, medical 
                institutions, government and social service agencies, 
                businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other 
                interested groups to join in activities that promote 
                awareness of the important role of hospice care.

[[Page 67906]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord 
                two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth. 
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2010-28082
Filed 11-3-10; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-W1-P