U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today cosponsored bipartisan legislation designed to give people with serious illness the freedom to make more informed choices about their care and the power to have those choices honored. The Care Planning Act of 2015 creates a Medicare benefit for patient-centered care planning for people with serious illness. It will reimburse healthcare professionals for providing a voluntary, structured discussion about the patient's goals, illness, and treatment options. Under this legislation, a written plan would reflect the informed choices made by patients in consultation with their health care team, faith leaders, family members, and friends. The Care Planning Act also provides resources for public and professional education materials about care planning.
"Patients facing serious and advanced illnesses should have the information and support they need to plan for their care and make their own treatment choices," Klobuchar said. "Our commonsense bill will help ensure that patients and their families are able to consult with their doctors to understand the full range of treatment options available and shape care plans that reflect their wishes."