§ 4012-b. Hospice palliative care. 1. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of this article to the contrary, a hospice may also offer a program of palliative care for patients with advanced life-limiting conditions and illnesses and their families. Such a program may be provided by a hospice issued a certificate of approval pursuant to section four thousand four of this article, acting alone or under contract with a certified home health agency, long term home health care program, licensed home care services agency or AIDS home care program, as such terms are defined in section thirty-six hundred two of this chapter. Nothing in this section shall preclude the provision of palliative care by any other health care provider otherwise authorized to provide such services.

2. For the purposes of this section "Palliative care" means the active, interdisciplinary care of patients with advanced, life-limiting illness, focusing on relief of distressing physical and psychosocial symptoms and meeting spiritual needs. Its goal is achievement of the best quality of life for patients and families.