Newsroom > DHHS News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 28, 2008

CONTACTS

Marla Augustine, Communications and Legislative Services, (402) 471-4047 or marla.augustine@dhhs.ne.gov

Jan Tooker, Ticket to Work Palliative Care Coordinator, Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Partnership, 402/477-0204 or jan@nehospice.org

Linda Todd, Executive Director, Siouxland Palliative Care, 712/233-4105 or toddl@hospicemail.com

Pilot Program Will Address Pain So People With Disabilities in Northeast Nebraska Can Return to Work

Lincoln - A new program will give northeast Nebraskans with disabilities access to experts to help keep pain and other symptoms from getting in the way of daily activities, like holding a job.

"Being able to work provides people not only with a source of income but also gives them a sense of dignity," said Vivianne Chaumont, Director of the Division of Medicaid and Long Term Care of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). "People want to be independent and self-reliant."

The pilot, called Ticket to Work Palliative Care, is accepting a small number of northeast Nebraskans from the counties of Burt, Cuming, Dakota, Dixon and Thurston. The pilot is a joint project of the Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Partnership and DHHS.

A nurse and social worker will work with participants and their physicians on recommendations related to pain management and refer participants to appropriate community resources.

The pilot program has been serving Nebraskans in the Lincoln area for the past year and is now expanding by working with Siouxland Palliative Care to implement the program in the northeast part of the state.

For more information or to be considered for this innovative program, call the Hotline for Disability Services at 1-800-742-7594 or visit www.nepalliativecare.org.

The Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Partnership is a collaborative effort of more than 50 organizations with an interest in good care for terminally and chronically ill Nebraskans. The partnership includes Nebraska’s hospices, community end-of-life coalitions, and other health and elder-care organizations.

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