PRINTER FRIENDLY
 

…in this world nothing can be said to be certain,

except death and taxes.- Benjamin Franklin

As a nation, we pay our taxes by April 15th of each year.  The goal of National health care Decisions Day is that, by April 16th, we will talk with our loved ones about our deaths.  The Center for Medicare Advocacy is the Connecticut State Liaison for National health care Decisions Day (NHDD).  NHDD, now in its second year, is a collaborative effort of national, state, and community organizations committed to ensuring that all adults with decision-making capacity have the opportunity to communicate their preferences for end-of-life care.

After NHDD 2008, survey results indicated nearly 200,000 facility and organization staff members received NHDD Advanced Directive information or training.  Nearly 30,000 members of the general public participated in NHDD events and/or were known to have received Advance Directive information, and over 5,300 Advance Directives were completed that day alone.  However, despite such recent gains in public awareness of the need for advance care planning, studies indicate that most Americans have not exercised their right to make decisions about their health care in the event that they cannot speak for themselves.

The Federal Patient Self-Determination Act requires that all Medicare-participating health care facilities inquire about and provide information to patients regarding Advance Directives.  It also requires these facilities to provide community education about advance directives.  Unfortunately, despite these requirements and state laws giving patients a choice about their health care, it is estimated that only a small minority of people have executed an advance directive.  Moreover, fewer than 50% of severely or terminally ill patients have an advance directive in their medical records.  Perhaps more disturbing is the fact that, for patients who HAD an advance directive, between 65% and 76% of their physicians were unaware it existed.

National health care Decisions Day seeks to address the public's misconceptions about health care planning and advance directives, by clarifying and explaining facts such as: 

• A severe illness or a catastrophic injury may well happen to you – 42% of Americans have had a friend or relative suffer a terminal illness or coma in the last 5 years.

• Having a living will is associated with lower probability of dying in a hospital for nursing home and community-based residents.

• Financial and regulatory concerns may be an incentive for using life-extending procedures though they are not consistent with medical evidence and/or patient or family preference.

• A "living will" and a "health care power of attorney" are NOT the same.

• Advance directives are NOT only for limiting care.

• A lawyer is NOT needed to draft an advance directive, nor is it hard to do.

In Connecticut we have formed the CT NHDD Coalition.  To kick off NHDD activities in Connecticut, this coalition will host a forum on March 25, 2009 to discuss the legal, medical and faith concerns surrounding advance directives and methods to promote NHDD within Connecticut's organizations and communities.  Featured speakers include Connecticut's Attorney General and members of Connecticut's medical, legal, and spiritual communities.  This forum could serve as a model for furthering the dialogue regarding advance directives in your own state.

For more information about NHDD visit http://www.nationalhealth caredecisionsday.org/.  Those interested in more information on attending Connecticut's  Kick Off can contact Laura Crews, Senior Resources, at 1-800-690-6998 x. 132.  For copies of Connecticut's Advance Directive form and a summary of Connecticut law regarding health care decisions go to: www.ct.gov/ag/cwp.