Physicians may get paid for end-of-life planning

The federal government may reimburse physicians for talking to Medicare patients and their families about “advance care planning,” including living wills and end-of-life treatment options, the Pew/Stateline news service reported earlier this week. The AMA is expected to issue recommendations to CMS on what physicians should be paid for advance care planning, or conferring with patients about the care they would want if they were incapacitated.

Some private insurers already reimburse physicians who help patients with advance care planning. At least two states, Oregon and Colorado, provide reimbursement for advance care planning as well.

Source: USA Today