Helping Patients Document Their Care Wishes: Advanced Care Directives
Many patients want to talk about their future care preferences long before they face a medical crisis, but those conversations often don’t happen. Only about one in three U.S. adults has completed any form of advance directive, according to research published in Health Affairs, which leaves many patients’ wishes unrecorded when decisions matter most.
Supporting these discussions during routine visits helps ensure that each patient’s care aligns with their goals—and we rely on providers to help initiate these conversations and share completed directives so that preferences are accessible across the care team.
How Providers Can Support ACP Discussions
Opportunities to discuss future care preferences often arise during routine or followup visits. These conversations can help patients understand the types of decisions they may want to document and give families and caregivers clarity if difficult choices need to be made.
When a patient completes an advance directive, providers may upload a copy through the Provider Portal Communications Center. To help our teams route the document correctly, please use the subject line “Medical Record for Quality/Risk.”
Why Advanced Care Planning Matters to Patients
Advanced Care Planning allows individuals to articulate the type of medical care they want if they can no longer speak for themselves. These conversations can:
- Align treatment with the patient’s values and goals
- Reduce uncertainty and stress for families and caregivers
- Support more coordinated care across different settings
- Improve the likelihood that the patient’s care wishes are honored
Most patients appreciate it when their trusted providers help initiate or revisit these conversations as part of ongoing care.
Claims and Coding Considerations
Advanced Care Planning conversations may be billed when they occur. Commonly used codes include:
- 1123F
- 1157F
Please note: For complete and current coding guidance, providers should reference NCQA coding resources or their organization’s compliance policy.
Resources
Tools and guidance you can share with patients or incorporate into your workflow:
HEDIS/QARR Reference Guide – Provider Toolkit
NY State Advanced Directives Information
Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST)