S. 2865 amends Medicare to cover advance care planning services—conversations where doctors and patients discuss health care preferences, future medical decisions, and advance directives—starting January 1, 2027. The bill eliminates patient cost-sharing (copayments and deductibles) for these services, making them free to Medicare beneficiaries when provided by eligible practitioners including physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical social workers, and other practitioners deemed appropriate by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The legislation also expands telehealth access for advance care planning by removing geographic restrictions. To support implementation, the bill requires HHS to conduct a comprehensive outreach campaign to educate Medicare providers about the new coverage, and mandates that the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission study how these services are being provided and billed by June 30, 2027. No specific funding amount is mentioned in the legislation.
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