A new approach to Advance Directives.

Area of Science:

• Health Policy
• Medical Ethics
• Patient Advocacy

Background:

• A significant gap exists in advance care planning, with 90% of patients lacking advance directives.
• Discussions regarding end-of-life care between patients and physicians are notably infrequent.
• Current systems involving Medicare, insurance, and hospitals inadequately address the need for advance directives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for the inclusion of simplified Advance Directives on Medicare cards.
• To highlight the critical need for accessible end-of-life planning tools.
• To propose a systemic solution for improving patient autonomy in healthcare decisions.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature review was conducted.
• Analysis of existing healthcare policies and patient engagement strategies.
• Development of arguments supporting a policy change.

Main Results:

• The literature confirms a widespread absence of advance directives among patients.
• Patient and physician engagement in end-of-life discussions remains suboptimal.
• Existing healthcare infrastructures offer limited support for advance care planning.

Conclusions:

• Integrating simplified Advance Directives onto Medicare cards presents a viable solution.
• This policy change could significantly enhance the completion and accessibility of advance directives.
• Improving advance care planning through Medicare can empower patients and guide medical decision-making.