Medicare
Advance directive documentation is important
Advance directives are an important part of a Medicare patient's end-of-life plan. The Federal Patient Self-Determination Act (the "Act") pertains to care provided in facility or institutional settings, namely hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health services, and Medicare Advantage organizations, including those that contract with Asuris TruAdvantage.
Even though providers in an outpatient setting are not specifically addressed in the Act, we believe addressing end-of-life care with patients and acknowledging an existing advance directive is consistent with the intent of the Act. Therefore, Asuris requests that the physician or other health care professional document in a prominent location within the Medicare patient's medical record whether or not the patient has executed an advance directive.
When a patient presents the physician or other health care professional with an advance directive, a copy of the document should be added to the patient's medical record and placed in a prominent location.
