NEW CMS REGULATIONS HAVE ARRIVED!
CMS Makes Advance Care Planning Discussions Reimbursable
On October 30, 2015, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a change in the regulations allowing reimbursements to physicians and other qualified professionals for engaging in advance care planning discussions with patients and families, Health Care Agents and Guardians.
This long hoped-for change is now official. Together with all of our Community Partners, who routinely offer health care planning information and tools to adults across the Commonwealth, we applaud The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for this innovative and timely decision which we believe will operate to increase the frequency, as well as the quality, of these proactive discussions, thereby enhancing delivery of person-centered care, honoring each adult’s values and choices.
Beginning on January 1, 2016 if a patient chooses, a patient and physician can schedule an appointment to focus their discussion on care planning. In this consultation, the physician can provide patients with information about their current health and treatment options, including what’s likely ahead given their medical outlook, in order for patients to make informed decisions about their care. Patients can talk with their physicians about their care goals and priorities, and explore the kind of care they want and do not want. Together, physicians and patients can make a plan which includes communicating patient choices in Massachusetts planning documents. Copies of the planning documents can be placed in a patient medical records to be revisited and updated in follow-up appointments. Family members, Health Care Agents and Guardians can also be part of the discussion to make a plan and ensure everyone knows and can honor an adult’s choices.
Honoring Choices Massachusetts and the Alliance Partners Advisory Group have developed new tools for care providers to enhance health care planning discussions with their patients and clients at every phase of health. The new ”Health Care Planning Discussion Guide for Care Providers” will be introduced at our first Alliance Partner Workshop on November 16, 2015. The workshop will feature a guest speaker who will address the Medicare reimbursement codes and best practices for engaging adults in discussions. The Guide will be available for all care providers on our website shortly.