Author Description

Advance directives, such as living wills or health care powers of attorney, specify -- consistent with applicable state law -- how individuals want medical decisions to be made for them should they become unable to communicate their wishes. Many individuals receive medical care from Medicare and Medicaid funded providers during the last 6 months of life, and may benefit from having advance directives that specify treatment. This report examines: (1) how the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) oversees providers' implementation of the Patient Self Determination Act (PSDA) requirement; (2) what is known about the approaches providers use and challenges they face to inform individuals about advance directives; and (3) what is known about the prevalence of advance directives and how it varies across provider types and individuals' demographic characteristics. Figures. This is a print on demand report.