# Plain Language Summary: Improving Access to Advance Care Planning Act

This bill makes it easier for people to create advance care plans—documents that spell out what medical care they want if they become unable to make decisions for themselves. Right now, many people don't have these plans in place, partly because the process is confusing and not well-coordinated with their regular healthcare. This bill aims to change that by requiring Medicare and Medicaid to cover conversations between patients and their doctors about end-of-life care and advance planning, and by making sure healthcare providers actively help people create these documents.

The bill affects anyone on Medicare or Medicaid, which includes seniors, people with disabilities, and lower-income individuals. It also impacts healthcare providers like hospitals, nursing homes, and doctor's offices. Essentially, the law says that insurance companies must pay for doctors to spend time talking with patients about what kind of care they'd want in serious situations—things like whether they want life support, resuscitation, or pain management focused care. This removes a financial barrier that currently discourages these important conversations from happening.

The practical effect is that more people will have documented wishes about their medical care before a crisis happens. This can reduce confusion and conflict among family members, prevent unwanted medical procedures, and help ensure that people's values guide their care when they can't speak for themselves. Healthcare providers will need to build these conversations into their regular patient interactions, which means more time and resources dedicated to advance care planning, but it also means the process becomes more routine and accessible rather than something people have to seek out on their own.

Improving Access to Advance Care Planning Act

Warner, Mark R.

Improving Access to Advance Care Planning Act This bill provides statutory authority for Medicare coverage of advance care planning services. It also (1) allows such services to be provided by clinical social workers, and (2) waives the coinsurance and deductible for such services (regardless of whether the services are provided as part of an annual wellness visit). The Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services must conduct outreach about Medicare coverage of advance care planning services; the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission must study and report on the provision and utilization of such services.