Hospitals work to provide advance directives information.
With a deadline of Dec. 1 looming ahead of them, hospitals are beginning to prepare for compliance with a new federal law on advance directives. The Patient Self-Determination Act, passed as part of the federal budget last year, requires those institutions participating in Medicare and Medicaid to give information on advance directives for care. Beginning on that date, hospitals will have to ask whether every patient they admit has an advance directive--a living will or a durable power of attorney for health care.
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D016223:Advance Directives / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004282:Documentation; D007882:Legislation, Hospital; D008499:Medical Records / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014481:United States