Improving Access to Advance Care Planning Act
Sponsored By: Senator Mark Warner
Introduced
Summary
No-cost advance care planning under Medicare. This bill would make conversations about care preferences and advance directives a covered Part B benefit, expand who can provide them, enable telehealth delivery, and remove patient cost-sharing.
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- Families and seniors: Medicare beneficiaries would be able to receive advance care planning services with no Part B cost-sharing for services furnished on or after January 1, 2027. The deductible would not apply to these services.
- Providers: Physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and clinical social workers with relevant certification would be eligible to furnish and bill advance care planning. Payment rules would allow only one provider to be paid per period and would prevent duplicate payments and require no annual wellness visit as a condition of payment.
- Telehealth and oversight: Telehealth advance care planning would be exempt from Medicare geographic limits, making remote ACP visits easier. The Department of Health and Human Services would run outreach to clinicians identifying HCPCS codes 99497 and 99498 and report within one year. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission would study ACP billing and delivery and submit recommendations by June 30, 2027.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
No-cost advance care planning for Medicare
If enacted, Medicare Part B would cover advance care planning (ACP) visits with no patient cost-sharing. From enactment, Medicare would pay for ACP under the physician fee schedule when eligible practitioners provide the service. Eligible practitioners would include doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and certain clinical social workers. Telehealth ACP visits would be allowed without the usual geographic limits. Starting January 1, 2027, payment would equal 100% of the lesser of the provider charge or the Medicare fee amount, and the Part B deductible would not apply to ACP.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Mark Warner
VA • D
Cosponsors
Susan Collins
ME • R
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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