The Medicare Advance Planning for Care Act establishes a voluntary federal program to help Medicare beneficiaries create and store advance directives—documents that specify what medical care they want if they become unable to communicate their wishes. The Secretary of Health and Human Services must implement the program within 5 years, including accrediting private vendors to maintain secure, electronic advance directives that can be shared with healthcare providers and family members in real time, all while complying with federal privacy laws. The bill also requires the Secretary to maintain a federal website where beneficiaries can access state-mandated advance directive forms, alternative forms vetted by attorneys, and educational materials about advance planning, with links to these resources included in Medicare enrollment applications. Participation is entirely voluntary and beneficiaries may withdraw at any time. The program aims to ensure Medicare beneficiaries can document their healthcare preferences and have those preferences accessible to medical providers when needed.
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