MAP for Care Act
Sponsored By: Senator Bill Cassidy
Introduced
Summary
Creates a Medicare Advance Directive Certification Program to encourage beneficiaries to adopt certified advance directives. The bill would set national standards for electronic storage, accreditation, privacy, and access so beneficiaries, proxies, and providers can view authenticated directives.
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- Beneficiaries and families: Participation would be voluntary. CMS must include links to advance directive resources on Part A, Part B, and Part C enrollment materials and publish a State-indexed directory and statutory forms online.
- Vendors and technology providers: Vendors would need Secretary accreditation and annual quality reviews. They must follow HIPAA rules, pass rigorous independent security testing, and keep participants as the owners with controlled access to their directives.
- Providers, proxies, and legal representatives: Authorized viewers would get near real-time online access and can request hard copies. A special access process would let interested individuals seek a directive during disputes, including relatives within the third degree if state law does not name a decision maker.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
New Medicare advance directive program
If enacted, the Secretary would create a Medicare Advance Directive Certification Program for people on Part A or Part B. The Secretary would have up to five years to set it up. After implementation, Medicare enrollment forms would include a link to help you make an advance directive and CMS would notify eligible beneficiaries during the yearly election period. Participation would be voluntary and you could unenroll and terminate your registered directive at any time.
Stronger rules for directive vendors
If enacted, the Secretary would accredit advance directive vendors or hire an accreditor. Accredited vendors would have to offer near real-time online access to a participant's certified directive, give hard copies to providers on request, follow HIPAA and strict security testing, and undergo annual quality reviews. Vendors would also must run annual surveys and support a special access process when a directive is activated and there is a treatment dispute. The bill does not set fees, so costs for creating, storing, or getting copies could still exist.
Federal website for advance directive forms
If enacted, CMS would publish state statutory advance directive forms and a State-by-State index on its website. CMS would also list vetted alternative forms if the submitter includes a lawyer's opinion and the Secretary posts or explains a decision within 60 days. A State attorney general could require removal of forms that break State law, and posting decisions would be subject to judicial review.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Bill Cassidy
LA • R
Cosponsors
Christopher Coons
DE • D
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Chris Van Hollen
MD • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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