April 14, 2022
April 16th is National Healthcare Decisions Day
Did you know?
- According to The Conversation Project National Survey 2018, 92% of Americans think it is important to discuss end-of-life decisions; however, only 32% have done this (The Conversation Project, n.d.).
- Only half of Americans 60 years old or older have an advance directive detailing their end-of-life decisions (Benson & Aldrich, 2012).
- In the United States, 70% of Americans do not have an advanced care plan (Advance Care Planning and Chronic Disease Management | Alzheimer's Disease and Healthy Aging | CDC, 2018).
April 16th is National Healthcare Decision Day. It reminds healthcare providers and patients about the importance of discussing advance care planning and advance directives during annual wellness visits and as needed.
- Advance directives refer to a set of documents that provide direction about a patient's end-of-life wishes.
- Examples of advance directives include a living will, a durable power of attorney for health care, an instruction directive, POLST form, and health care proxy.
- Advance Care Planning (ACP) services provides an opportunity to discuss these advance directives so all involved parties can be on the same page when it comes to the patient's medical preferences and end-of-life wishes if the patient is incapable to make decisions.
- ACP services can be provided as an optional preventive service during the initial and subsequent Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) if the patient chooses to do so. With proper documentation, it can also be provided outside of the AWV (as a separate Medicare Part B medically necessary service) when the patient's health status changes.
- End-of-life planning is part of the Initial Preventive Physical Examination (IPPE). This includes talking with the patient or providing written materials to the patient about advance directives.
To learn more about Medicare-covered services, visit CMS Preventive Services
For More Information
- ACP as an Optional Element of an Annual Wellness Visit (PDF) MLN Fact Sheet ICN MLN909289 October 2020 Advance Care Planning (cms.gov)
- MLN Educational Tool February 2021 Updates Medicare Wellness Visits
- Frequently Asked Questions about Billing the Physician Fee Schedule for Advance Care Planning Services (cms.gov)
- Advance care planning coverage (medicare.gov)
- Advance Care Planning: Health Care Directives | National Institute on Aging (nih.gov)
- Annual Wellness Visits (AWV) Annual Wellness Visit Coverage (medicare.gov)
- § 410.15 (a) Annual wellness visits providing Personalized Prevention Plan Services: Conditions for and limitations on coverage
- First annual wellness visit providing personalized prevention plan services, Section (x)
- Subsequent annual wellness visit providing personalized prevention plan services, Section (vii)
- § 410.16 Initial preventive physical examination: Conditions for and limitations on coverage
- Initial preventive physical examination, Section (5)
- Advance Care Planning: Health Care Directives | National Institute on Aging (nih.gov)
- The Conversation Project – Have You Had The Conversation?
- National Healthcare Decisions Day | NHPCO
- National POLST Maps – POLST
- State-by-State POLST Forms | Everplans
- Ohio – MOLST – Medical Orders For Life Sustaining Treatment
- LAO | MOLST (leadingageohio.org)
- Kentucky – MOST – Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment
- Home | most (kymost.org)
- Preventive & Screening Services (medicare.gov)
References
- Advance Care Planning (2020, October). www.cms.gov.
- Advance Care Planning: Health Care Directives. (2018, January 15). National Institute on Aging.
- Benson WF and Aldrich N. Advance Care Planning: Ensuring Your Wishes Are Known and Honored If You Are Unable to Speak for Yourself, Critical Issue Brief, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2012.
- Medicare Wellness Visits- ICN MLN6775421 (2021, February). www.cms.gov.
- Preventive Services Chart | Medicare Learning Network® – CMS. (n.d.) www.cms.gov.
- The Conversation Project. (n.d.). About Us- By the Numbers