In Congress
Many issues come before Congress that affect choice at the end of life. We are also at work in Washington, D.C. to defend your right to a peaceful death. Federal issues affecting end-of-life choice include:
1. Legislation permitting federal intervention in private health care decisions
2. Legislation to allow Drug Enforcement Administration interference in aid-in-dying laws
3. Medicaid coverage for end-of-life care
4. Rules and legislation affecting judicial nominations
Financial Support
Financial support for direct lobbying efforts comes from non-deductible donations to Compassion & Choices Action Network (a 501(c)(4) organization).
> Make a donation to Compassion & Choices Action Network
Currently in Congress
The very public debate on Terri Schiavo’s situation focused unprecedented attention on the need for all Americans to fill out living wills and durable powers of attorney for health care. However, much more needs to be done. Congress has introduced legislation to continue to educate Americans about the need for advance directives, to facilitate conversations with health care providers, and to ensure that advance directives are honored in health care facilities, and specifically across state lines.
Highlight on Legislation:
The Advance Directives Improvement and Education Act of 2005 (S. 347/H.R. 2058) was introduced by Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) in the Senate and Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI) in the House of Representatives. The Senate bill has 12 cosponsors (out of 100 Senators) and the House bill has 32 cosponsors (out of 435 Representatives). Both bills have been referred to committee.
The legislation:
· Authorizes Medicare coverage for patients to consult with their physicians, annually or when the individual’s health condition changes, about the importance of preparing an advance directive and the need to update them periodically.
· Instructs physicians to assist patients in identifying state specific information for preparing advance directives and to tell the patient whether the physician is willing to follow the terms of their specific advance directive.
· Waives certain deductibility and coinsurance payments for end-of-life planning consultation.
· Requires Medicare providers to include advance directives presented to them in a “prominent” part of the patient’s medical record.
· Requires Medicare providers to honor advance directives executed in another state unless the provider can “reasonably demonstrate” that it is not a true expression of the patient’s wishes or the advance directive calls for medical treatment prohibited by the laws of the state.
· Calls on the Public Health Service to undertake an education campaign, including establishing an information clearinghouse with a national toll-free number, to increase awareness of the importance of end-of-life planning and to provide state-specific information on advance directives.
· Directs the General Accounting Office (GAO) (the investigative arm of Congress) to conduct studies on the effectiveness of advance directives, i.e. are they honored; on the implementation of Medicare coverage for end-of-life planning; and on the feasibility of a national registry for advance directives.
> To find out how you can support this legislation, please visit the Compassion & Choices Action Network
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