The Nebraska Hospice Association (NHA) was incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization on June 6, 1983, to promote a clear understanding of the hospice philosophy and standard of care among health professionals and the general public. At that time only eight Nebraska hospices were Medicare-certified. The Nebraska Hospice Association has been a champion for the formation of additional hospice programs.
Since 2001, nearly 100 percent of Nebraska's hospice programs, as well as all of Nebraska's hospice residential facilities, have maintained their membership with NHPCA. Through them, hospice care is available to 98 percent of Nebraska's population.
In 2002, NHA began doing business as NHPCA, the Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Association, in recognition of the growing national movement to make "Palliative Care" (care consistent with the hospice philosophy) available to those suffering chronic health problems but not diagnosed as terminally ill.
In April of 2006, NHPCA became NHPCP, the Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Partnership, welcoming as members 11 other Nebraska organizations who have an interest in improving end-of-life care and conditions across Nebraska. In May of 2010, the name returned to Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Association.
The History of Hospice in Nebraska Publication
In recognition of the Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Association's 25th anniversary, "The History of Hospice in Nebraska" was released at the 2008 "Living a Good Life...at the End of Life" Conference. The 33-page booklet was researched, written and designed by students from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications, Ingrid Kutsch and Amber Wolff.
Order copies of "The History of Hospice in Nebraska" for $5 each (includes sales tax) by emailing Tracy Rathe, NHPCA Communications Coordinator, at
Tracy@nehospice.org.
Support for this project was provided by the Nebraska Office of Rural Health, Alegent Health Hospice, Hospice of Tabitha, and Hospice and Home Healthcare of Saunders County.
