News

Helping Members Plan Ahead

Date: 03/06/18

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only a third of adults have an advance directive. California Health & Wellness wants to make sure members are getting the information they need to execute these important documents for helping communicate the type of end-of-life care they want.

What providers can do:

• Talk to members about their end-of-life wishes and explain the role of advance directives in determining the care they receive.
• Inform members they should share a copy of an advance directive with the person or people designated to be involved in their care decisions. They should also add a copy to their medical records.
• Provide members with resources for beginning advance care planning, such as the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s CaringInfo website, which includes downloadable, state-specific advance directives. Learn more at caringinfo.org.

Providers are required to document advance care planning discussions and note whether an advance care plan is in the member’s medical record.