The Massachusetts Coalition for Serious Illness Care was formed in 2016 to ensure that everyone in Massachusetts receives care that is in accordance with their goals, values and preferences at all stages of life and all steps of care. As of January 2018, the Coalition includes 90 Massachusetts-based organizations representing physicians, nurses, hospices, counselors, clergy, hospital and health plan administrators, social workers, attorneys, policymakers, researchers, advocates, and community-based organizations. In the years since its founding, the Coalition has demonstrated early success in convening groups interested in serious illness care reform, facilitating buy-in from c-suite level leaders, setting targeted and manageable goals, attracting media attention, and changing the discussion about how we care for vulnerable people. This model can serve as an example for other states interested in forming similar coalitions devoted to delivering high-quality, person-centered care for people with serious and advanced illness.
