MARY BALDASANO / Special to the PVT Gathered at Nathan Adelson Hospice are, from front left, Sherry Yarbouro. clinical manager; Carole Fisher, president and CEO of the hospice; and Michelle Spence, senior legislative assistant to Sen. John Ensign. At rear, from left, are Tonya Brum, community relations manager at the hospice, and Mary Mason, special assistance to Ensign. Advertisement

Recently U. S. Sen. John Ensign's Senior Legislative Assistant Michelle Spence, Special Assistant Mary Mason, and President and CEO of Nathan Adelson Hospice (NAH) for Clark and Nye counties, Carole A. Fisher, paid a visit to Pahrump's hospice.

Their visit was in conjunction with action by the current administration that would reduce the amount of funds provided by Medicare and Medicaid to Nevada by $4 million. This amount is in addition to millions of dollars funded around the country.

An imminent result of this action is the closure of many hospice facilities, or the significant reduction of care provided, and putting Pahrump's NAH in great jeopardy. The legislation will be effective Oct. 1.

J. Donald Schumacher, president and CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization said "Let's be clear, the administration's cuts will seriously hurt the most vulnerable -- the terminally ill. By issuing this rule, CMS (Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services) is taking an end run around Congress and its longstanding role protecting hospice."

Jonathan Keyserling, executive director of the Alliance for Care at the End of Life said, "The government's reason for its decision that would effectively cut rates -- the need to save money -- simply isn't true."

He added, "It is in our nation's fiscal and moral interest that high-quality hospice care remains an option for all who need these unique services and support."

Research by Duke University reflects that hospice care saves Medicare and Medicaid billions of dollars each year.

Spence and Mason received a briefing from Sherry Yarbouro, Clinical Manager of Pahrump's hospice, and Tonya Brum, community relations manager. Ten staff members attended the briefing, and were introduced by Fisher.

Brum gave a history of the facility, including the fact that Pahrump is the only nonprofit in Pahrump with 50 patients and volunteers.

An emotional account was offered of the fundraising efforts held each year by the Golden Monarch's Council (fundraising group), which includes the annual Blue Butterfly Coffeehouse normally held in June, and the Festival of Trees auction and gala held in December.

Service efforts include the annual Senior Resource Carnival for Pahrump's senior citizens.

Each carnival has a theme which is emphasized by vendor decorations. Raffles of donated items and the availability of some food items help raise funds as well.

One other annual event that focuses on those who have passed do to terminal illness is held for friends and family members -- the butterfly release. People have the opportunity to purchase a butterfly from the NAH and gather together on the second Sunday in May to release them all at one time in honor of those who have gone before.

Brum also said other organizations receive their volunteer and technical training at NAH, including those such as Visiting Angels, a for-profit organization that also provides in home care.

Other activities include the advertisement of the hospice in the Veteran's Directory, chamber of commerce magazine, and its own television show on local TV Channel 30.

Julie Platson, spiritual advisor at the hospice, said she provides spiritual support to all patients and their families during both daytime and evenings. She also coordinates a children's camp for those 18 years old and younger. This year's event hosted 70 children.

Spence said, "Each of you is special. You amaze me. Thank you for letting us be here today. Each of you is much appreciated."

She added that "I would be happy to talk to any of you even if it's not a hospice issue. I have been waiting to see Pahrump, and I'm happy I came."

Said Mason, "I'm sure that Sen. Ensign and Sen. Reid would love to come to your events as well as veterans in your community."

Both senators are sponsoring a bill that would reverse the actions taken in regard to Medicare and Medicaid.

Spence closed by saying, "Everyone at Nathan Adelson Hospice is truly amazing and I'm very impressed. You do the things that I couldn't do. You are angels."

If you have questions about NAH or its programs, call Tonya Brum at 775-751-6700 or 775-209-3896.

Web sites 'www.hnpco.org' and 'www.afceol.org' provide more in-depth coverage of the legislation in question as well as the Federal Register. The information quoted here is from the FY09 Final Wage Index Released.