Description
As of 2026, Medical aid in dying (MAID) is legal in 14 U.S. jurisdictions and more than a dozen more are considering legalization. This creates a confusing environment for hospice, palliative care, and home health leaders, especially those operating in multiple states. This presentation will provide background on the laws governing MAID, including federal restrictions on the use of funds for MAID; examine ethical tensions and practical challenges; and provide actionable guidance for creating, implementing, communicating, and, when needed, evolving agency policy and practice regarding participation in MAID.
Learning Outcomes
1. Explain common features and requirements of medical aid in dying laws.
2. Navigate compliance with state and federal laws with respect to MAID.
3. Develop or evaluate existing agency policy governing participation, procedures, and public-facing messaging regarding MAID
Faculty
Jennifer Moore Ballentine, MA
Jennifer Moore Ballentine has more than 25 years’ experience in hospice and palliative care education and policy, change design, program design and evaluation, and nonprofit leadership. As CEO of the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California (CCCC), she oversees the efforts of a statewide nonprofit focused on improving the experience of serious illness for patients and those who care for them. Previously, she served as executive director of the CSU Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care; vice president, Hospice Analytics; executive director, Life Quality Institute; director of Professional Programs, Colorado Center for Hospice and Palliative Care. She is a member of the Board of Directors for National POLST Collaborative; the National Alliance for Care at Home Palliative Care & Caregiver Supports Council, Assembly of States, and the Emerging Models and Care Innovations Work Group; and numerous other councils and workgroups at the national level. She was selected to serve from a national “call” as one of 30 members of the expert panel tasked with updating the Clinical Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care. She is a sought-after speaker and published author of peer-reviewed and trade journal articles, book chapters, and blogs on topics related to palliative care, healthcare ethics, advance care planning, medical aid in dying, and artificial intelligence in serious illness care. She earned a BA from Oberlin College, a Master’s degree in End-of-Life Studies from Regis University, Denver, and a Professional Advancement Certificate in Gerontology from University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.
Price
- Alliance Members: FREE
- Non-Members: $70