Palliative Care Advisory Council
In the 2017 legislative session, the legislature created a Palliative Care Advisory Council under Minnesota Statutes, section 144.059.
The Council is made up of a variety of professionals who have palliative care work experience or expertise in palliative care delivery models. They come from a variety of inpatient, outpatient and community settings, like acute care, long-term care or hospice. They work with a variety of patients from pediatric to youth and adults. In addition, there are several positions on the council who provide a patient or caregiver perspective.
The Council currently periodically has open seats. Please apply or get more information here: Board/Commission: Palliative Care Advisory Council or get more information about the Palliative Care Advisory Council Application.
Council responsibilities
By law, the Council must do the following activities; however, they have the flexibility to decide on other projects. By February 15 of each year, the council will submit to the appropriate legislative body:
- An assessment of the availability of palliative care in the State of Minnesota.
- Analysis of barriers to greater access to palliative care.
- Recommendations for legislative action with draft legislation to implement the recommendations.
As results become available, they will be posted on this page.
Legislative Reports
The 2023 Legislative Report (PDF provides updated information about the Palliative Care Advisory Council's efforts during 2022. This includes information about palliative care and details on the Council's recommended actions, which will be the foundation for its work in 2023.
The 2022 Legislative Report (PDF) provides updated information about the Palliative Care Advisory Council's efforts during 2021. This includes information about palliative care and details on the Council's recommended actions, which will be the foundation for its work in 2022.
The 2021 Legislative Report (PDF) provides updated information about the Palliative Care Advisory Council's efforts during 2020. This includes work toward the Council’s 19 recommendations presented in the previous years’ report, as well as the Council’s efforts around health equity and access to care.
The 2020 Legislative Report (PDF) provides updated information about the Palliative Care Advisory Council’s efforts. The report also includes information about palliative care and details the Council’s recommendations, which serve as the foundation for its work in 2020.
The 2019 Legislative Report (PDF) outlines the progress made to date by the Palliative Care Advisory Council. This report includes the Council’s working definition of Palliative Care, a report on the development of essential infrastructural components and preliminary collective action processes for its work. The Council also reports on a completed pediatric palliative care assessment, the status of seven identified core focus areas as well as an analysis of legislative work done by other palliative care councils across the nation. This report concludes with opioid legislative considerations as well as a summary of the Council’s priorities in the year ahead.
The 2018 Legislative Report (PDF) provides a brief overview of Minnesota palliative care data along with a summary of the early development efforts of the Council and its next year’s priorities.