In a final rule to be published in the November 13, 2015 Federal Register, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), notes that end of life planning discussions will be covered by Medicare starting January 1, 2016. Advance Care Planning, as it relates to the explanation/discussion of advance directives, discussions that happen face to face with a physician or qualified health professional and a patient/representative, will be covered for a 30 minute visit.
View the final rule “Medicare Program: Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems and Quality Reporting Programs; Short Inpatient Hospital Stays; Transition for Certain Medicare-Dependent, Small Rural Hospitals under the Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System; Provider Administrative Appeals and Judicial Review.”
