[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 100 (Wednesday, June 22, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E974-E975]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PERSONALIZE YOUR CARE ACT 2.0

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 22, 2016

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, one of the most difficult and 
challenging situations any family faces is dealing with circumstances 
surrounding end of life. From sweeping changes to how care is 
delivered, to the rise of personalized medicine, patients today have 
more treatment options than ever before. With these medical advances, 
the line between life and death can sometimes be blurred, which has 
changed the way we must talk about how we want to live and die.
  There is substantial evidence that suggests the care individuals want 
to receive at the end of life is not necessarily the type of care they 
do receive. Oftentimes patients receive aggressive treatment that not 
only substantially shortens the length of life, but the quality. Other 
times, patients find the health care system undervalues the quality of 
their life, withholding treatments they would otherwise want to 
receive.
  To this end, individuals should have the opportunity to participate 
actively in making decisions about their health care throughout their 
lives and receive care consistent with their values, goals, and 
informed preferences. Patients should feel empowered to make informed 
choice about the health care they want and to have their care decisions 
honored by their providers and family.
  During the Affordable Care Act debate, I saw an opportunity to apply 
lessons learned in Oregon with its landmark comprehensive palliative 
care programs that give patients more of a say about the medical 
treatment they want at the end of life. I worked to ensure that 
Congress included a payment for doctors to talk to patients and 
families about advance care planning in the Affordable Care Act. 
Unfortunately, this provision wasn't included in the final legislation 
due to a breakdown of the legislative process.
  Last year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 
finalized a new benefit, allowing doctors to receive reimbursement to 
have voluntary advance care planning conversations with their patients. 
For the first time, the federal government has placed a value on these 
critical doctor-patient discussions.
  Yet my work to improve end-of-life care is far from over, and it is 
for these reasons that

[[Page E975]]

I am introducing the bipartisan Personalize Your Care Act 2.0, 
legislation that will strengthen end-of-life care by establishing new 
models of care delivery that will better manage advanced illness, 
improve quality of care, and enhance training, resources, and tools for 
providers, patients, and their families.
  Ideally, health care should work in sync with social, psychological, 
and spiritual support as the end of life approaches. Care near the end 
of life must be patient-centered and family-oriented. This legislation 
is supported by patient advocates, physicians, nurses, and the faith 
community, who understand how advance care planning fundamentally 
improves quality of care and quality of life. To that end, I ask my 
colleagues to join me and support this important piece of legislation.

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