S. 5219

119 S5219 IS: Compassionate Care Act
 U.S. Senate
 2026-08-03
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 II  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 5219  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   August 3, 2026   Mr. Blumenthal  introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions    A BILL
To improve end-of-life care.
1.
Short title
(a)
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Compassionate Care Act  .
(b)
Table of contents
The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2.
  Definitions.
TITLE
  I—Advance care planning
Subtitle
  A—Consumer education
Sec. 101.
  Advance care planning guidelines.
Sec. 102.
  National public education campaign.
Subtitle
  B—Provider education
Sec. 111.
  Public provider advance care planning website.
Sec. 112.
  Advance care curricula pilot program.
Sec. 113.
  Development of core end-of-life care quality measures across each relevant
  provider setting.
Sec. 114.
  Continuing education for qualified health care providers.
Subtitle
  C—Medicare amendments
Sec. 121.
  Permanent extension of authorization for use of telehealth to conduct
  face-to-face encounter prior to recertification of eligibility for hospice
  care.
Sec. 122.
  Improvements to advance care planning through telehealth.
TITLE
  II—Reports, research, and evaluations
Sec. 201.
  Study and report by the Secretary regarding the establishment and
  implementation of a national uniform policy on advance
  directives.
Sec. 202.
  GAO study and report on establishment of national advance directive
  registry; other studies.
2.
Definitions
In this Act:
(1)
Advance care planning
The term  advance care planning  means the process of discussion of care in the event that an individual is unable to make treatment decisions on their own behalf, clarification of related values and goals, and embodiment of preferences and decision-making through written documents and medical orders.
(2)
Advance directive
The term  advance directive  means a written or otherwise recorded instruction, such as a living will or durable power of attorney for health care, recognized under the law of the State in which it was executed (whether statutory or as recognized by the courts of the State) and relating to the provision of such care when the individual is incapacitated.
(3)
Certified chaplain
The term  certified chaplain  means a member of clergy who has met the requirements under the Common Qualifications and Competencies for Professional Chaplains and is board certified by a national chaplaincy organization.
(4)
CHIP
The term  CHIP  means the State Children's Health Insurance Program under title XXI of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq. ).
(5)
End-of-life-care
The term  end-of-life care  means all aspects of care of a patient with a potentially fatal condition, and includes care that is focused on preparations for an impending death.
(6)
Health care agent
The term  health care agent  means the person, designated in a health care power of attorney, who is selected to make medical decisions on behalf of the person who executed such power of attorney, in the case of incapacity of such person who executed the power of attorney.
(7)
Health care power of attorney
The term  health care power of attorney  means a legal document that identifies the health care agent of the person executing such document.
(8)
Living will
The term  living will  means a written document or a video statement about the kinds of medical care or other care a person does or does not want under certain specific conditions, in the event that such person no longer is able to express those wishes.
(9)
Medicaid
The term  Medicaid  means the program established under title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq. ).
(10)
Medicare
The term  Medicare  means the program established under title XVIII of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq. ).
(11)
Orders for life-sustaining treatment
The term  orders for life-sustaining treatment  means a set of portable medical orders (such as physician orders for life-sustaining treatment or similar portable medical orders) that address key medical decisions consistent with the patient’s goals of care and results from a clinical process designed to facilitate shared, informed medical decisionmaking and communication between qualified health care professionals and patients with serious, progressive illness or frailty.
(12)
Qualified health care provider
The term  qualified health care provider  means a medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, nurse, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, social worker, home health aide, palliative care professional, community health worker, community health educator, or individual in a similar position, as designated by the Secretary.
(13)
Secretary
The term  Secretary  means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
I
Advance care planning
A
Consumer education
101.
Advance care planning guidelines
It is the sense of the Senate that, to the extent practicable, advance care planning should—
(1)
occur with an individual and such individual’s health care agent, primary clinician, other authorized decisionmaker, or members of the entire interdisciplinary health care team;
(2)
be recorded and updated as needed; and
(3)
allow for flexible decisionmaking in the context of the patient’s medical situation, in accordance with best practice guidelines provided by the Secretary.
102.
National public education campaign
(a)
National public education campaign
(1)
In general
Not later than January 1, 2026, the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in consultation with public and private entities, shall, directly or through grants, contracts, or interagency agreements, develop and implement a national campaign to inform the public of the importance of advance care planning and of an individual’s right to direct and participate in health care decisions affecting such individual.
(2)
Content of educational campaign
The national public education campaign established under paragraph (1) shall—
(A)
employ the use of various media, including social media platforms and televised public service announcements;
(B)
provide culturally and linguistically appropriate information;
(C)
be conducted continuously over a period of not less than 5 years;
(D)
identify and promote the advance care planning information available on the internet websites of the Department of Health and Human Service’s National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information, the Administration for Children and Families, the Administration for Community Living, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services;
(E)
address the importance of individuals speaking to family members, health care proxies, and qualified health care providers as part of an ongoing dialogue regarding health care choices;
(F)
address the need for individuals to use portable, interoperable, and accessible methods to communicate their health care decisions through a variety of means, using legally effectuated documents that express their health care decisions in the form of advance directives (including living wills, orders for life-sustaining treatment, and durable powers of attorney for health care);
(G)
raise public awareness regarding the availability of hospice and palliative care and the quality of life benefits of early use of such services;
(H)
encourage individuals to speak with qualified health care professionals about their options and intentions for end-of-life care; and
(I)
adhere to evidence-based research on the most effective ways to communicate the necessity and benefits of advance care planning.
(3)
Evaluation
Not later than July 1, 2028, the Secretary shall report to the appropriate committees of Congress on the effectiveness of the public education campaign under this section, and include in such report any recommendations that the Secretary determines appropriate regarding the need for continuation of legislative or administrative changes to facilitate changing public awareness, attitudes, and behaviors regarding advance care planning.
(4)
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
(b)
Repeal
Section 4751(d) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 1396a  note;  Public Law 101–508 ) is repealed.
B
Provider education
111.
Public provider advance care planning website
(a)
Development
Not later than January 1, 2027, the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, shall establish an, or expand upon an existing, internet website for providers under Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, the Indian Health Service (including contract providers), and other qualified health care providers, including qualified health care providers receiving assistance under the Older Americans Act of 1965 ( 42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq. ) to serve older individuals, on each individual’s right to make decisions concerning medical care, including the right to accept or refuse medical or surgical treatment, and engage in advance care planning.
(b)
Maintenance
The internet website described in subsection (a) shall be maintained and publicized by the Secretary on an ongoing basis.
(c)
Content
The internet website shall include content, tools, and resources necessary to do the following:
(1)
Inform qualified health care providers and certified chaplains about the advance directive requirements under the health care programs described in subsection (a) and State and Federal laws and regulations related to advance care planning.
(2)
Educate qualified health care providers and certified chaplains about advance care planning quality improvement activities.
(3)
Provide assistance to qualified health care providers to—
(A)
integrate advance care planning documents into electronic health records; and
(B)
develop and disseminate advance care planning informational materials for patients.
(4)
Inform qualified health care providers about advance care planning continuing education requirements and opportunities.
(5)
Encourage qualified health care providers to discuss advance care planning with patients of all ages, as appropriate.
(6)
Assist qualified health care providers and certified chaplains in understanding the continuum of end-of-life care services and supports available to patients, including palliative care and hospice.
(7)
Inform qualified health care providers of best practices for discussing end-of-life care with patients who have a serious or terminal diagnosis or prognosis and their loved ones.
112.
Advance care curricula pilot program
(a)
In general
The Secretary, in consultation with appropriate professional associations, shall establish a pilot program by which the Secretary awards grants to eligible entities for purposes of supporting such entities in establishing end-of-life training requirements in the entities' applicable degree programs.
(b)
Eligibility
To be eligible to participate in the pilot program under this section, an entity shall—
(1)
be a school of medicine, school of osteopathic medicine, a physician assistant education program (as defined in section 799B(3) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 295p(3) )), a school of allied health (as defined in section 799B(4) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 295p(4) )), a school of nursing, a school of social work, a graduate medical education program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or the American Osteopathic Association, or other school, as the Secretary determines appropriate;
(2)
be staffed by teaching health professionals who have experience or training in palliative medicine;
(3)
provide training in palliative medicine through a variety of service rotations, such as consultation services, acute care services, extended care facilities, ambulatory care and comprehensive evaluation units, hospice, home health, and community care programs;
(4)
develop specific performance-based measures to evaluate the competency of trainees; and
(5)
ensure that by not later than the end of the 2-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, professionals who are applicable faculty at the entity, or others as determined appropriate by the Secretary, shall be offered retraining in hospice and palliative medicine.
(c)
Training
Eligible entities participating in the pilot program under this section shall require minimum training for trainees that includes—
(1)
training in how to discuss and help patients and their loved ones with advance care planning;
(2)
with respect to trainees who will work with children, specialized pediatric training;
(3)
training in the continuum of end-of-life services and supports, including palliative care and hospice;
(4)
training in how to discuss end-of-life care with dying patients and their loved ones;
(5)
medical and legal issues training associated with end of life care;
(6)
training in linguistic and cultural competency; and
(7)
in the case of a graduate medical education program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or the American Osteopathic Association, a longitudinal component of at least 6 months.
(d)
Reports
Each recipient of a grant under this section shall report to the Secretary on the outcomes of the program within 18 months of receipt of the final allotment of grant funds. Not later than 1 year after receipt of all such reports, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report compiling such results from all grant recipients.
(e)
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
113.
Development of core end-of-life care quality measures across each relevant provider setting
(a)
In general
The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (in this section referred to as the  Director ) and in consultation with the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, shall require the development of specific end-of-life quality measures for each relevant qualified health care provider setting, as identified by the Director, in accordance with the requirements of subsection (b).
(b)
Requirements
For purposes of subsection (a), the requirements specified in this subsection are the following:
(1)
Selection of the specific measure or measures for an identified provider setting shall be based on an assessment of what is likely to have the greatest positive impact on quality of end-of-life care in that setting, and made in consultation with affected providers, patients, and private organizations, that have developed such measures.
(2)
The measures may be structure-oriented, process-oriented, or outcome-oriented, as determined appropriate by the Director, and shall be patient-oriented.
(3)
The Director shall ensure that reporting requirements related to such measures—
(A)
are imposed consistently with other applicable laws and regulations, and in a manner that takes into account existing measures, the needs of patient populations, the specific services provided, and the potential administrative burden to providers; and
(B)
include demographic information to account for race, ethnicity, age, and gender, and other appropriate categories.
(4)
Not later than—
(A)
January 1, 2026, the Secretary shall disseminate the reporting requirements to all affected providers and provide for a 60-day period for public comment; and
(B)
January 1, 2028, initial reporting by health care providers relating to the measures shall begin.
114.
Continuing education for qualified health care providers
(a)
In general
Not later than January 1, 2026, the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall develop or enhance new and existing curricula on advance care planning and end-of-life care for continuing education that States may adopt for qualified health care providers.
(b)
Consultation
In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, may consult with qualified health care providers, applicable professional clinician associations, institutions of higher education, State boards of medicine and nursing, and other professionals, as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(c)
Content
The continuing education curriculum developed or enhanced under subsection (a) shall, at a minimum, include—
(1)
a description of the meaning and importance of advance care planning;
(2)
a description of advance care planning documents, including living wills and durable powers of attorney, and the use of such directives;
(3)
the appropriate use of orders for scope of treatment;
(4)
counseling skills for when and how to introduce and engage in advance care planning with patients and their loved ones;
(5)
palliative care principles and approaches to care;
(6)
the continuum of end-of-life services and supports, including palliative care and hospice; and
(7)
the importance of introducing palliative care and hospice early in illness in order to improve quality of life.
C
Medicare amendments
121.
Permanent extension of authorization for use of telehealth to conduct face-to-face encounter prior to recertification of eligibility for hospice care
Section 1814(a)(7)(D)(i)(II) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395f(a)(7)(D)(i)(II) ) is amended by striking  during the emergency period  and all that follows through  ending on March 31, 2025  and inserting the following:  during and after the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) .
122.
Improvements to advance care planning through telehealth
Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(m) ) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (4)(C)—
(A)
in clause (i), in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking  and (7)  and inserting  (7), and (10) ; and
(B)
in clause (ii)(X), by inserting  or paragraph (10)  before the period; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(10)
Treatment of advance care planning services
The geographic requirements described in paragraph (4)(C)(i) shall not apply with respect to telehealth services furnished on or after January 1, 2026, for purposes of furnishing advance care planning services, as determined by the Secretary.
 .
II
Reports, research, and evaluations
201.
Study and report by the Secretary regarding the establishment and implementation of a national uniform policy on advance directives
(a)
Study
(1)
In general
The Secretary, acting through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, shall conduct a study to evaluate the barriers to establishing and implementing a national uniform policy on advance directives and what needs to be done to overcome those barriers.
(2)
Matters studied
The matters studied by the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall include issues concerning—
(A)
family satisfaction that a patient’s wishes, as stated in the patient’s advance directive, were carried out;
(B)
the usability, accessibility, interoperability, and portability of advance directives, including cases involving the transfer of an individual from one health care setting to another;
(C)
the feasibility of establishing an optional, national advance directive form deemed valid by any health care entity or qualified health care provider participating in Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP, regardless of State law; and
(D)
State variations in advance directive laws that are relevant to the establishment and implementation of a national uniform policy of advance directives.
(b)
Report to congress
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under subsection (a), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative actions as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(c)
Consultation
In conducting the study and developing the report under this section, the Secretary shall consult with relevant stakeholders and other interested parties.
202.
Gao study and report on establishment of national advance directive registry; other studies
(a)
Study and report on establishment of national advance directive registry
(1)
Study
The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the feasibility of a national registry for advance directives, taking into consideration the constraints created by the privacy provisions enacted as a result of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 ( Public Law 104–191 ).
(2)
Report
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under subsection (a) together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Comptroller General of the United States determines to be appropriate.
(b)
ONC Study
The National Coordinator of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology shall conduct a study on the feasibility and impact on advance care planning of requiring that electronic health record vendors seeking certification have a prominent and easily visible field for storing and sharing advance care planning documents and related clinical notes.
(c)
ONC demonstration programs
The National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, in collaboration with the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, shall initiate 2 demonstration programs to establish best practices and recommended standards to support—
(1)
usability, portability and interoperability of advance directives that are accessible to individuals, clinicians, and other authorized individuals; and
(2)
the use of electronic signatures (as defined in section 106 of the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act ( 15 U.S.C. 7006 )), electronic authentication of witnesses, and electronic notarization to effectuate advance directives.
(d)
Additional study
The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study and submit a report to Congress on the incidence of health care, tests, surgeries, drugs, and other services paid provided by qualified health care providers and paid for by the Federal Government or the patient and that were not the preference of the patient or the authorized health care agent of the patient.