Chad Shearer
Chad Shearer is deputy director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health Reform Assistance Network (State Network) housed at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public & International Affairs. In that role he coordinates technical assistance as a state liaison to Alabama, Oregon, and Virginia while assisting the program director in managing the network of experts providing assistance to all 10 states participating in the State Network. He previously served as senior program officer at the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), where he was deputy director of the Medicaid Leadership Institute. Prior to joining CHCS, Mr. Shearer worked on Capitol Hill for the chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health. In that role, he was responsible for Medicare managed care and prescription drug policy. Mr. Shearer also served as a David A. Winston Health Policy Fellow with the Subcommittee on Health, focusing on coverage initiatives. He received his J.D. and master of health administration degrees from the University of Iowa, and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Coe College.
For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
