HR0691 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0691 LRB101 16780 MST 66173 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, A Duke Divinity School survey found that only 50% of African Americans have talked with family members about their end-of-life care, and 20% have never discussed end-of-life wishes with anyone; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative to empower our vulnerable communities with information so they can make better decisions when planning for the end of life and have candid conversations with friends, family, faith leaders and medical providers about end-of-life care before a time of crisis; and

WHEREAS, A 2016 study in the Journal of Palliative Medicine reported that only 24% of African Americans were likely to have completed advance directives, compared with 44% of their white peers; and

WHEREAS, Advance healthcare directives are state-specific free legal documents created so an individual can choose medical treatment options in case one is unable to make decisions because of illness or infirmity and can appoint a healthcare proxy to speak on one's behalf; and

WHEREAS, According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Association, only 8% of hospice users are African American; hospice care is a health service that provides comfort care to patients, in-home or at a facility, in their final phase of illness or within six months of death; and

WHEREAS, Hospice care should be accessed as early as possible as there is an emphasis on patient support and the entire spectrum of improved quality of life; hospice staff and caregivers provide holistic care rather than a curative emphasis; and

WHEREAS, Palliative care is a compassionate interdisciplinary approach between doctors, nurses, faith leaders, and other medical professionals that provides specialized medical and nursing care for people with chronic and terminal illnesses; the ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life for the patient and their support network by focusing on providing pain relief and physical and mental stress support at any stage of illness; and

WHEREAS, According to a 2016 study from the University of Iowa and the University of California, African Americans are significantly less likely to be prescribed opioids for back pain and abdominal pain compared to white peers, and African American patients are more likely to have their pain underestimated and undertreated; and

WHEREAS, According to the National Center for Health, just 13% of African Americans have a living will in place compared with 32% of whites, and African Americans are less likely to purchase long-term care insurance, term life insurance, whole life insurance, disability insurance, and homeowners insurance or to complete estate planning; and

WHEREAS, Wills and trusts are vital components of estate planning and should be considered in end-of-life discussions; and

WHEREAS, From the refusal of treatment to aggressive treatment options, having an understanding of the entire spectrum of care options is critical in order to make informed healthcare decisions; and

WHEREAS, Being equipped with treatment-option information and illness-specific questions for medical professionals during appointments can empower our vulnerable communities to advocate for themselves; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we must be proactive in educating, empowering, and advocating for those at the end of life; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage charting one's end-of-life journey, consistent with one's own wishes and values, and having those very important discussions with loved ones; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge Congress to enact legislation that would encourage Medicare and Medicaid to take meaningful steps toward identifying and educating vulnerable populations that are nearing the end of life; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and other federal and state government officials and agencies as appropriate.