Posted on: July 20, 2015
Written by: Coalition for Compassionate Care of California
Earlier this month the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed update to the physician payment schedule which includes a recommendation to make advance care planning services a separately payable service under Medicare.
This recommendation is a game changer for Coalition for Compassionate Care of California supporters, and brings us one step closer to our goal of promoting high-quality, compassionate care for all Californians who are seriously ill or approaching the end of life.
Help us make this new rule a reality…
Submit a comment in favor of the new CMS rule to support patient- and family-centered care for seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries to discuss advance care planning with their healthcare providers.
The release of this rule triggers a 60-day comment period, during which time CMS welcomes the input of stakeholders and the public. Comments are due by September 8, 2015 at 8:59 PM PT.
Submit your comment now by following these steps:
- View the proposed rule.
- Scroll to the top of the page and click the green button in the upper right, “SUBMIT A FORMAL COMMENT.”
- Fill out the form, then click “SUBMIT COMMENT.”
The final rule will be published this fall.
For a fact sheet on the proposed rule, see here. For further information, see the full rule on display here.
Bonus Reading: 10 FAQs: Medicare’s Role in End-of-Life Care by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Please help seniors with this necessary process.
I am a low income Social Service Coordinator in the East Bay, CA.
Thank you.
I work in the medical field as a Chaplain and see most generally that people do not have advanced care planning. I believe making it possible for medical practitioners to be paid for these services is beneficial to those seeking council about advanced care planning since it is a much needed service.
Great comment, Pastor Bob. Make sure you submit this to CMS by visiting https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/07/15/2015-16875/medicare-program-revisions-to-payment-policies-under-the-physician-fee-schedule-and-other-revisions#h-122. Thank you!