Compassionate Care Act
Sponsored By: Senator Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced
Summary
Advance care planning is the focus of this bill, which would create a federal framework to boost public education, train clinicians, and make advance directives more portable and telehealth-ready. It aims to align tools, training, and quality measures so patients' end-of-life wishes are easier to record and follow.
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
National advance care planning campaign
If enacted, HHS would run a national public education campaign on advance care planning for at least five years, starting no later than January 1, 2026. The campaign would use TV, social media, and culturally appropriate materials, promote portable advance directives and hospice awareness, and must report effectiveness to Congress by July 1, 2028. Funding is authorized as needed but no dollar amounts are specified.
End-of-life quality measures and reporting
If enacted, AHRQ would develop patient-focused end-of-life quality measures by January 1, 2026. If enacted, the Secretary would publish reporting requirements and allow a 60-day public comment period, and providers would begin reporting the measures, including demographic data, on January 1, 2028. The measures could improve care but would also create new reporting work for providers.
Medicare telehealth for hospice and ACP
If enacted, Medicare would drop geographic limits for telehealth visits used for advance care planning starting January 1, 2026. If enacted, Medicare providers could use telehealth for the required face-to-face hospice recertification encounter during and after the emergency period. The bill does not change payment rates or out-of-pocket benefit amounts.
Electronic advance directive demos and EHRs
If enacted, the National Coordinator for Health IT and NIST would run demonstrations to improve electronic advance directives, including portability, usability, and use of electronic signatures, witness authentication, and e-notarization. If enacted, ONC would also study whether certified EHRs should include a prominent field for advance care planning documents and notes.
Studies on directives and misaligned care
If enacted, GAO would study the feasibility of a national advance directive registry and report to Congress within 18 months. If enacted, GAO would also study how often federally paid or patient-paid care did not match patient wishes. If enacted, HHS/ASPE would study barriers to an optional national advance directive form for Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP and report within two years.
Training and education for clinicians
If enacted, the government would fund pilot grants to schools and training programs to expand palliative and end-of-life training. If enacted, the Secretary would also create or enhance continuing education and set up a provider website with EHR integration tools and patient materials by January 1, 2027. Grant recipients must report outcomes and offer faculty retraining within two years.
Repeal of a 1990 Medicaid provision
If enacted, the bill would repeal a statutory subsection from the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990. The text gives no operational details, so household impacts are indirect and uncertain.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov