WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Regence Foundation announced today that it has awarded $220,400 to five Northwest nonprofits. The grants address health care access needs in Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

National Journal LIVE, in partnership with The Regence Foundation, announced today that it is launching a three-part polling and policy summit series dedicated to exploring the approach Americans take to the complex issues and choices that surround the final phase of life.

"Living Well at the End of Life: A National Conversation" will be a ground-breaking series of surveys and policy events that provide unprecedented insight into the decision-making and priorities of Americans of all stripes as they face end-of-life issues for themselves or their loved ones - and the implications of those decisions for public policy.

"The passage of the health reform bill, an aging population, and a pressing budget deficit require us to look at how we allocate health care spending like never before," said National Journal Group Editorial Director Ronald Brownstein. "Balancing the needs of families at this difficult stage of life while recognizing our national need to make thoughtful decisions about the use of human and financial resources looms as a critical challenge. National Journal is proud to help facilitate this vital national conversation."

As options for Americans facing serious or terminal illness continue to expand, it is increasingly important that we engage in candid conversations about preserving dignity, compassion, and personal autonomy in decisions about care. But those conversations can be remarkably challenging and complicated.

"For the past two years, The Regence Foundation has been working to create conversations around palliative care and improve the end-of-life experience in America," said Kieren Porter, Regence Foundation board chair. "This project will help ensure that we all have access to the care and information we need to live well — whatever that might look like – and to have informed discussions about our end-of-life care."

"Living Well at the End of Life: A National Conversation" is designed to delve into those challenges, understand how Americans approach them, and inform the role policymakers, insurers and physicians can play to assist families facing these critical life choices through health policy and entitlement reform.

Joining the partnership of National Journal LIVE and Regence is leading global insight and research firm FD.

The first survey in the series, tracking Americans' views on palliative care, will be conducted in March and released at a policy summit event on March 8th. Subsequent surveys and briefings will be conducted on a roughly quarterly basis.

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