CMS's New Push for Advance Care Planning: A Game-Changer for Medicare Advantage Plans

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Why This Matters Now

3. Understanding the New Incentives

- Quality Metrics Integration

- Financial Incentives

4. Impact on Medicare Advantage Plans

- Opportunities

- Implementation Challenges

5. Best Practices for Implementation

- Member Engagement

- Provider Collaboration

- Technology Integration

6. Looking Ahead

7. Call to Action

8. Final Thoughts

Introduction

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has taken a significant step forward in promoting person-centered care with new regulations that incentivize Medicare Advantage plans to engage members in advance care planning. This move represents a pivotal shift in how we approach end-of-life care discussions in the healthcare system.

Why This Matters Now

The timing of this regulatory change couldn't be more critical. As our Medicare population continues to grow and age, the need for clear, documented healthcare preferences becomes increasingly important. Consider these statistics:

• Only 1 in 3 American adults has an advance directive

• 80% of people say they want to die at home, yet 60% die in acute care settings

• Nearly 40% of family members experience significant depression after making decisions for relatives without advance directives

Understanding the New Incentives

Quality Metrics Integration