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To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act and title III of the Public Health Service Act to improve access to information about individuals' health care options and legal rights for care near the end of life, to promote advance care planning and decisionmaking so that individuals' wishes are known should they become unable to speak for themselves, to engage health care providers in disseminating information about and assisting in the preparation of advance directives, which include living wills and durable powers of attorney for health care, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

January 31, 2007

Mr. NELSON of Florida (for himself, Mr. LUGAR, Mr. ROCKEFELLER, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. DURBIN, and Mr. BINGAMAN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on FinanceCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act and title III of the Public Health Service Act to improve access to information about individuals' health care options and legal rights for care near the end of life, to promote advance care planning and decisionmaking so that individuals' wishes are known should they become unable to speak for themselves, to engage health care providers in disseminating information about and assisting in the preparation of advance directives, which include living wills and durable powers of attorney for health care, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Advance Directives Improvement and Education Act of 2007'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. ADVANCE DIRECTIVES.

(a) Findings- Congress makes the following findings:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Every year 2,500,000 people die in the United States. Eighty percent of those people die in institutions such as hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities. Chronic illnesses, such as cancer and heart disease, account for 2 out of every 3 deaths.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) In 1997, the Supreme Court of the United States, in its decisions in Washington v. Glucksberg and Vacco v. Quill, reaffirmed the constitutional right of competent adults to refuse unwanted medical treatment. In those cases, the Court stressed the use of advance directives as a means of safeguarding that right should those adults become incapable of deciding for themselves.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) A survey published in 2005 estimated that the overall prevalence of advance directives is 29 percent of the general population, despite the passage of the Patient Self-Determination Act in 1990, which requires that health care providers tell patients about advance directives.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) Competent adults should complete advance care plans stipulating their health care decisions in the event that they become unable to speak for themselves. Through the execution of advance directives, including living wills and durable powers of attorney for health care according to the laws of the State in which they reside, individuals can protect their right to express their wishes and have them respected.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Purposes- The purposes of this section are to improve access to information about individuals' health care options and legal rights for care near the end of life, to promote advance care planning and decisionmaking so that individuals' wishes are known should they become unable to speak for themselves, to engage health care providers in disseminating information about and assisting in the preparation of advance directives, which include living wills and durable powers of attorney for health care, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Medicare Coverage of End-of-Life Planning and Consultations as Part of Initial Preventive Physical Examination-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Section 1861(ww) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(ww)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in paragraph (1), by striking `paragraph (2),' and inserting `paragraph (2) and an end-of-life planning consultation (as defined in paragraph (3)),'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) For purposes of paragraph (1), the term `end-of-life planning consultation' means a consultation between the physician and an individual regarding--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) the importance of preparing advance directives in case an injury or illness causes the individual to be unable to make health care decisions;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) the situations in which an advance directive is likely to be relied upon;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) the reasons that the development of a comprehensive end-of-life plan is beneficial and the reasons that such a plan should be updated periodically as the health of the individual changes;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) the identification of resources that an individual may use to determine the requirements of the State in which such individual resides so that the treatment wishes of that individual will be carried out if the individual is unable to communicate those wishes, including requirements regarding the designation of a surrogate decision maker (health care proxy); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) whether or not the physician is willing to follow the individual's wishes as expressed in an advance directive.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall apply to initial preventive physical examinations provided on or after January 1, 2008.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Improvement of Policies Related to the Use and Portability of Advance Directives-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) MEDICARE- Section 1866(f) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395cc(f)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in paragraph (1)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) in subparagraph (B), by inserting `and if presented by the individual (or on behalf of the individual), to include the content of such advance directive in a prominent part of such record' before the semicolon at the end;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) in subparagraph (D), by striking `and' after the semicolon at the end;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end and inserting `; and'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iv) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following new subparagraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(F) to provide each individual with the opportunity to discuss issues relating to the information provided to that individual pursuant to subparagraph (A) with an appropriately trained professional.';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in paragraph (3), by striking `a written' and inserting `an'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5)(A) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1), a provider of services, Medicare Advantage organization, or prepaid or eligible organization (as the case may be) shall give effect to an advance directive executed outside the State in which such directive is presented, even one that does not appear to meet the formalities of execution, form, or language required by the State in which it is presented to the same extent as such provider or organization would give effect to an advance directive that meets such requirements, except that a provider or organization may decline to honor such a directive if the provider or organization can reasonably demonstrate that it is not an authentic expression of the individual's wishes concerning his or her health care. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to authorize the administration of medical treatment otherwise prohibited by the laws of the State in which the directive is presented.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) The provisions of this paragraph shall preempt any State law to the extent such law is inconsistent with such provisions. The provisions of this paragraph shall not preempt any State law that provides for greater portability, more deference to a patient's wishes, or more latitude in determining a patient's wishes.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) MEDICAID- Section 1902(w) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(w)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in paragraph (1)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) in subparagraph (B)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(I) by striking `in the individual's medical record' and inserting `in a prominent part of the individual's current medical record'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(II) by inserting `and if presented by the individual (or on behalf of the individual), to include the content of such advance directive in a prominent part of such record' before the semicolon at the end;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) in subparagraph (D), by striking `and' after the semicolon at the end;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end and inserting `; and'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iv) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following new subparagraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(F) to provide each individual with the opportunity to discuss issues relating to the information provided to that individual pursuant to subparagraph (A) with an appropriately trained professional.';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in paragraph (4), by striking `a written' and inserting `an'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by adding at the end the following paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(6)(A) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1), a provider or organization (as the case may be) shall give effect to an advance directive executed outside the State in which such directive is presented, even one that does not appear to meet the formalities of execution, form, or language required by the State in which it is presented to the same extent as such provider or organization would give effect to an advance directive that meets such requirements, except that a provider or organization may decline to honor such a directive if the provider or organization can reasonably demonstrate that it is not an authentic expression of the individual's wishes concerning his or her health care. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to authorize the administration of medical treatment otherwise prohibited by the laws of the State in which the directive is presented.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) The provisions of this paragraph shall preempt any State law to the extent such law is inconsistent with such provisions. The provisions of this paragraph shall not preempt any State law that provides for greater portability, more deference to a patient's wishes, or more latitude in determining a patient's wishes.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) EFFECTIVE DATES-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) IN GENERAL- Subject to subparagraph (B), the amendments made by paragraphs (1) and (2) shall apply to provider agreements and contracts entered into, renewed, or extended under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.), and to State plans under title XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.), on or after such date as the Secretary of Health and Human Services specifies, but in no case may such date be later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) EXTENSION OF EFFECTIVE DATE FOR STATE LAW AMENDMENT- In the case of a State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) which the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines requires State legislation in order for the plan to meet the additional requirements imposed by the amendments made by paragraph (2), the State plan shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of such title solely on the basis of its failure to meet these additional requirements before the first day of the first calendar quarter beginning after the close of the first regular session of the State legislature that begins after the date of enactment of this Act. For purposes of the previous sentence, in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative session, each year of the session is considered to be a separate regular session of the State legislature.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Increasing Awareness of the Importance of End-of-Life Planning- Title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 241 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new part:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`PART R--PROGRAMS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF ADVANCE DIRECTIVE PLANNING ISSUES

`SEC. 399Z-1. ADVANCE DIRECTIVE EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS AND INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSES.

`(a) Advance Directive Education Campaign- The Secretary shall, directly or through grants awarded under subsection (c), conduct a national public education campaign--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) to raise public awareness of the importance of planning for care near the end of life;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) to improve the public's understanding of the various situations in which individuals may find themselves if they become unable to express their health care wishes;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) to explain the need for readily available legal documents that express an individual's wishes, through advance directives (including living wills, comfort care orders, and durable powers of attorney for health care); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) to educate the public about the availability of hospice care and palliative care.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Information Clearinghouse- The Secretary, directly or through grants awarded under subsection (c), shall provide for the establishment of a national, toll-free, information clearinghouse as well as clearinghouses that the public may access to find out about State-specific information regarding advance directive and end-of-life decisions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Grants-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall use at least 60 percent of the funds appropriated under subsection (d) for the purpose of awarding grants to public or nonprofit private entities (including States or political subdivisions of a State), or a consortium of any of such entities, for the purpose of conducting education campaigns under subsection (a) and establishing information clearinghouses under subsection (b).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) PERIOD- Any grant awarded under paragraph (1) shall be for a period of 3 years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(d) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) GAO Study and Report on Establishment of National Advance Directive Registry-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) STUDY- The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the feasibility of a national registry for advance directives, taking into consideration the constraints created by the privacy provisions enacted as a result of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-191).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) REPORT- Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under paragraph (1) together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Comptroller General of the United States determines to be appropriate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Effective Date- Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d), this section and the amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink