[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 148 (Wednesday, November 9, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H10113]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE MONTH

  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to speak out of 
turn.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage all Americans to 
take the time to prepare an advance directive. November is National 
Hospice and Palliative Care Month, and this month should serve as a 
reminder for individuals to take the time to discuss with their loved 
ones important end-of-life and medical decisions.
  As people discuss their end-of-life health care wishes, there are two 
legal documents that can help. The first is a living will. Living wills 
are probably the most recognizable and familiar document to aid 
individuals in communicating their wishes.
  However, Mr. Speaker, today I would like to draw the attention of the 
American public to a different type of advance directive, a medical 
power of attorney. A medical power of attorney, or health care proxy, 
allows you to appoint a person whom you trust to serve as your health 
care agent.
  Each State government has a medical power of attorney form that a 
citizen can fill out and have witnessed. This then authorizes the 
appointed agent to make health care decisions on an individual's 
behalf. Mr. Speaker, people should not be scared away by these forms; 
they are written in plain English, and they are very easy to fill out.
  I have brought with me an example from my home State of Georgia in 
order to illustrate how easy this process can be for the American 
public. The form is simple and straightforward, and is only 6 pages 
long. I have highlighted two sections for us to look at today.
  First is the portion where you identify yourself and then name your 
power of attorney, and I call my colleagues' attention to the first 
poster. It may be a little bit difficult to read from the back of the 
Chamber but basically, Georgia's statuary short form durable power of 
attorney for health care. And the instructions, again, pretty simple. 
Print the date, print your name and address, print the name and address 
of your agent. It is that simple. This authorizes the individual to act 
for you and, as my colleagues can see, in Georgia, you have the 
opportunity to initial the statement also. This is the second poster, 
Mr. Speaker, to check the box really that best reflects your wishes, 
and there are three. It is just a simple, initial process.
  The first one is, I do not want my life to be prolonged, nor do I 
want life-sustaining or death-delaying treatment, et cetera.
  The second check box: I want my life to be prolonged, and I want 
life-sustaining or death-delaying treatment to be provided, under 
certain circumstances.
  And then the last box, and again, a simple check: I want my life to 
be prolonged to the greatest extent possible without regard to my 
condition, the chances I have for recovery, or the cost of the 
procedure. It is as simple as that.
  In addition to State government and public health departments, many 
organizations and hospitals around the country have advance directives 
available for patients and loved ones who may find themselves facing 
these tough decisions.
  Mr. Speaker, executing living wills and powers of attorney are so 
important, I plan to introduce legislation next week that encourages 
all Americans at all stages of life to prepare these advance 
directives. My legislation will offer a one-time, refundable tax credit 
to those individuals who prepare an advance directive.
  The refundability of this tax credit is essential in incentivizing 
lower-income Americans, who often are unaware or unable to adequately 
prepare for end-of-life medical decisions, to prepare advance 
directives to ensure that their wishes are honored and valuable health 
care resources are used where they are needed and wanted.
  Mr. Speaker, it has been shown that medical care at the end of life 
consumes almost 15 percent of our country's health care budget and 
nearly 30 percent of the Medicare budget. In addition, according to an 
article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, it has been 
estimated that hospice care and advance directives can save between 25 
and 40 percent of health care costs just during the last month of life.
  Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government needs to provide an incentive to 
the American people to have these conversations and to take these 
important actions. It is not only in the best interests of patients and 
families, but also our country's health care system and the American 
taxpayer.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to encourage my colleagues on both sides of 
the aisle to join me in cosponsoring this important piece of 
legislation.

                          ____________________