Reimbursement for end-of-life planning offers dividends to emergency providers.

With the announcement by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that it plans to begin paying providers to engage patients in end-of-life planning discussions, experts suggest emergency providers will need to up their game in terms of both discussing end-of-life care options with patients and families, as well interpreting choices that patients have spelled out in advance planning documents. A final decision on the proposal is not expected until November, but CMS has signaled that it is ready to implement the policy in January 2016. Experts suggest the move will ultimately give emergency providers clearer direction on patient preferences when they present for care with end-stage conditions. They also agree that more specialty training is needed to educate providers on how to effectively engage patients and families in advance planning discussions. Experts also advise hospitals to consider quality control procedures to ensure patient choices regarding end-of-life care are being followed.