Bill Text: IA SF2125 | 2011-2012 | 84th General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: A bill for an act relating to physician orders for scope of treatment. (Formerly SSB 3043.)

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-22 - Withdrawn. S.J. 315. [SF2125 Detail]

Download: Iowa-2011-SF2125-Introduced.html
Senate File 2125 - Introduced SENATE FILE 2125 BY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES (SUCCESSOR TO SSB 3043) A BILL FOR An Act relating to physician orders for scope of treatment. 1 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 2 TLSB 5365SV (2) 84 pf/nh
S.F. 2125 Section 1. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. The general assembly 1 recognizes the importance of encouraging individuals to discuss 2 and make health care decisions before a situation necessitates 3 an actual decision. The general assembly also recognizes 4 that health care planning is a process, rather than a single 5 decision, based upon the individual’s values and personal 6 health status. Advance directives provide the opportunity for 7 an individual to enunciate and document the individual’s wishes 8 and to identify the person authorized to make decisions for the 9 individual if the individual is unable to make decisions. The 10 general assembly recognizes that the physician order for scope 11 of treatment form, modeled after the national physician orders 12 for life-sustaining treatment paradigm initiative, complements 13 advance directives by converting individual wishes contained 14 in advance directives, or as otherwise expressed, into medical 15 orders that may be recognized and acted upon across medical 16 settings, thereby enhancing the ability of medical providers to 17 understand and honor patients’ wishes. An Iowa physician order 18 for scope of treatment form is intended for individuals who 19 are frail and elderly or who have a chronic, critical medical 20 condition or a terminal illness. 21 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION . 144D.1 Physician orders for scope of 22 treatment. 23 As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise 24 requires: 25 1. “Advanced registered nurse practitioner” means an advanced 26 registered nurse practitioner licensed pursuant to chapter 152 27 or 152E. 28 2. “Department” means the department of public health. 29 3. “Emergency medical care provider” means emergency medical 30 care provider as defined in section 147A.1. 31 4. “Health care facility” means health care facility as 32 defined in section 135C.1, a hospice program as defined in 33 section 135J.1, an elder group home as defined in section 34 231B.1, and an assisted living program as defined in section 35 -1- LSB 5365SV (2) 84 pf/nh 1/ 9
S.F. 2125 231C.2. 1 5. “Health care provider” means an individual, including 2 an emergency medical care provider and an individual providing 3 home and community-based services, and including a home 4 health agency, licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized or 5 permitted by the law of this state to administer health care 6 in the ordinary course of business or in the practice of a 7 profession. 8 6. “Home health agency” means home health agency as defined 9 in 42 C.F.R. pt. 484. 10 7. “Hospital” means hospital as defined in section 135B.1. 11 8. “Legal representative” means an individual authorized to 12 execute a POST form on behalf of a patient who is not competent 13 to do so, in the order of priority set out in section 144A.7, 14 subsection 1, and guided by the express or implied intentions 15 of the patient or, if such intentions are unknown, by the 16 patient’s best interests given the patient’s overall medical 17 condition and prognosis. 18 9. “Patient” means an individual who is frail and elderly 19 or who has a chronic, critical medical condition or a terminal 20 illness and for which a physician order for scope of treatment 21 is consistent with the individual’s goals of care. 22 10. “Physician” means a person licensed to practice medicine 23 and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery in this state. 24 11. “Physician assistant” means a person licensed as a 25 physician assistant under chapter 148C. 26 12. “Physician orders for scope of treatment form” or “POST 27 form” means a document containing medical orders which may 28 be relied upon across medical settings that consolidates 29 and summarizes a patient’s preferences for life-sustaining 30 treatments and interventions and acts as a complement to and 31 does not supersede any valid advance directive. 32 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION . 144D.2 Physician orders for scope of 33 treatment (POST) form. 34 1. The POST form shall be a uniform form based upon the 35 -2- LSB 5365SV (2) 84 pf/nh 2/ 9
S.F. 2125 national physician orders for life-sustaining treatment 1 paradigm form. The form shall have all of the following 2 characteristics: 3 a. The form shall include the patient’s name and date of 4 birth. 5 b. The form shall be signed and dated by the patient or the 6 patient’s legal representative. 7 c. The form shall be signed and dated by the patient’s 8 physician, advanced registered nurse practitioner, or physician 9 assistant. 10 d. If preparation of the form was facilitated by an 11 individual other than the patient’s physician, advanced 12 registered nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, the 13 facilitator shall also sign and date the form. 14 e. The form shall include the patient’s wishes regarding the 15 care of the patient, including but not limited to all of the 16 following: 17 (1) The administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. 18 (2) The level of medical interventions in the event of a 19 medical emergency. 20 (3) The use of medically administered nutrition by tube. 21 (4) The rationale for the orders. 22 f. The form shall be easily distinguishable to facilitate 23 recognition by health care providers, hospitals, and health 24 care facilities. 25 g. An incomplete section on the form shall imply the 26 patient’s wishes for full treatment for the type of treatment 27 addressed in that section. 28 2. The department shall prescribe the uniform POST form 29 and shall post the form on the department’s website for public 30 availability. 31 Sec. 4. NEW SECTION . 144D.3 Compliance with POST form. 32 1. A POST form executed in this state or another state 33 or jurisdiction in compliance with the law of that state or 34 jurisdiction shall be deemed valid and enforceable in this 35 -3- LSB 5365SV (2) 84 pf/nh 3/ 9
S.F. 2125 state to the extent the form is consistent with the laws of 1 this state, and may be accepted by a health care provider, 2 hospital, or health care facility. 3 2. A health care provider, hospital, or health care facility 4 may comply with an executed POST form, notwithstanding that the 5 physician, advanced registered nurse practitioner, or physician 6 assistant who signed the POST form does not have admitting 7 privileges at the hospital or health care facility providing 8 health care or treatment. 9 3. A POST form may be revoked at any time and in any manner 10 by which the patient or a patient’s legal representative is 11 able to communicate the patient’s intent to revoke, without 12 regard to the patient’s mental or physical condition. A 13 revocation is only effective as to the health care provider, 14 hospital, or health care facility upon communication to the 15 health care provider, hospital, or health care facility by the 16 patient, the patient’s legal representative, or by another to 17 whom the revocation was communicated. 18 4. In the absence of actual notice of the revocation 19 of a POST form, a health care provider, hospital, health 20 care facility, or any other person who complies with a POST 21 form shall not be subject to civil or criminal liability or 22 professional disciplinary action for actions taken under 23 this chapter which are in accordance with reasonable medical 24 standards. A health care provider, hospital, health care 25 facility, or other person against whom criminal or civil 26 liability is asserted because of conduct in compliance with 27 this chapter may interpose the restriction on liability in this 28 paragraph as an absolute defense. 29 5. A health care provider, hospital, or health care facility 30 that is unwilling to comply with an executed POST form based on 31 policy, religious beliefs, or moral convictions shall take all 32 reasonable steps to transfer the patient to another health care 33 provider, hospital, or health care facility. 34 Sec. 5. NEW SECTION . 144D.4 General provisions. 35 -4- LSB 5365SV (2) 84 pf/nh 4/ 9
S.F. 2125 1. If an individual is a qualified patient as defined in 1 section 144A.2, the individual’s declaration executed under 2 chapter 144A shall control health care decision making for the 3 individual in accordance with chapter 144A. If an individual 4 has not executed a declaration pursuant to chapter 144A, health 5 care decision making relating to life-sustaining procedures for 6 the individual shall be governed by section 144A.7. A POST 7 form shall not supersede a declaration executed pursuant to 8 chapter 144A. 9 2. If an individual has executed a durable power of attorney 10 for health care pursuant to chapter 144B, the individual’s 11 durable power of attorney for health care shall control health 12 care decision making for the individual in accordance with 13 chapter 144B. A POST form shall not supersede a durable power 14 of attorney for health care executed pursuant to chapter 144B. 15 3. If the individual’s physician has issued an 16 out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate order pursuant to section 17 144A.7A, the POST form shall not supersede the out-of-hospital 18 do-not-resuscitate order. 19 4. Death resulting from the withholding or withdrawal of 20 life-sustaining procedures pursuant to an executed POST form 21 and in accordance with this chapter does not, for any purpose, 22 constitute a suicide, homicide, or dependent adult abuse. 23 5. The executing of a POST form does not affect in any 24 manner the sale, procurement, or issuance of any policy of 25 life insurance, nor shall it be deemed to modify the terms 26 of an existing policy of life insurance. A policy of life 27 insurance is not legally impaired or invalidated in any manner 28 by the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures 29 pursuant to this chapter notwithstanding any term of the policy 30 to the contrary. 31 6. A health care provider, hospital, health care facility, 32 health care service plan, insurer issuing disability insurance, 33 self-insured employee welfare benefit plan, or nonprofit 34 hospital plan shall not require any person to execute a POST 35 -5- LSB 5365SV (2) 84 pf/nh 5/ 9
S.F. 2125 form as a condition of being insured for, or receiving, health 1 care services. 2 7. This chapter does not create a presumption concerning 3 the intention of an individual who has not executed a POST 4 form with respect to the use, withholding, or withdrawal 5 of life-sustaining procedures in the event of a terminal 6 condition. 7 8. This chapter shall not be interpreted to affect the 8 right of an individual to make decisions regarding use of 9 life-sustaining procedures as long as the individual is able to 10 do so, nor to impair or supersede any right or responsibility 11 that any person has to effect the withholding or withdrawal 12 of medical care in any lawful manner. In that respect, the 13 provisions of this chapter are cumulative. 14 9. This chapter shall not be construed to condone, 15 authorize, or approve mercy killing or euthanasia, or to permit 16 any affirmative or deliberate act or omission to end life other 17 than to permit the natural process of dying. 18 EXPLANATION 19 This bill provides for the use of physician orders for scope 20 of treatment (POST). 21 The bill provides legislative findings that provide that 22 the general assembly recognizes the importance of encouraging 23 individuals to discuss and make health care decisions before an 24 actual decision is necessary; that health care planning is a 25 process based upon the individual’s values and personal health 26 status; and that advance directives provide the opportunity 27 for an individual to enunciate and document their wishes and 28 to identify the person authorized to make decisions for the 29 individual. The general assembly also recognizes that the 30 POST form, modeled after the national physician orders for 31 life-sustaining treatment paradigm initiative, complements 32 advance directives by converting individual wishes contained 33 in advance directives, or as otherwise expressed, into medical 34 orders that may be recognized and acted upon across medical 35 -6- LSB 5365SV (2) 84 pf/nh 6/ 9
S.F. 2125 settings, thereby enhancing the ability of medical providers 1 to understand and honor patients’ wishes. The POST form is 2 intended for individuals who are frail and elderly or who have 3 a chronic, critical medical condition or a terminal illness. 4 The bill provides definitions used in Code chapter 144D, 5 including the physician orders for scope of treatment (POST) 6 form, which means a document containing medical orders which 7 may be relied upon across medical settings that consolidates 8 and summarizes an individual’s preferences for life-sustaining 9 treatments and interventions and acts as a complement to but 10 does not supersede any valid advance directive. 11 The bill specifies the content of the POST form and that the 12 department of public health is to prescribe the uniform POST 13 form and post the form on the department’s website for public 14 availability. 15 The bill specifies compliance requirements for the POST 16 form. A POST form executed in this state or another state 17 or jurisdiction in compliance with the law of the applicable 18 state or jurisdiction shall be deemed valid and enforceable in 19 this state to the extent the form is consistent with the laws 20 of this state, and may be accepted by a health care provider, 21 hospital, or health care facility. A health care provider, 22 hospital, or health care facility may comply with an executed 23 POST form, even if the physician, advanced registered nurse 24 practitioner, or physician assistant who signed the POST form 25 does not have admitting privileges at the hospital or health 26 care facility providing health care or treatment. The bill 27 provides an absolute defense to civil or criminal liability or 28 professional disciplinary action for a health care provider, 29 hospital, health care facility, or any other person who 30 complies with a POST form if the actions are in accordance with 31 reasonable medical standards. The bill requires a health care 32 provider, hospital, or health care facility that is unwilling 33 to comply with an executed POST form due to policy, religious 34 beliefs, or moral convictions to take all reasonable steps to 35 -7- LSB 5365SV (2) 84 pf/nh 7/ 9
S.F. 2125 transfer the patient to another health care provider, hospital, 1 or health care facility. 2 The bill provides for the relation of an executed POST 3 form to a declaration under the life-sustaining procedures 4 Act, a durable power of attorney for health care, and an 5 out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate order. In all cases, 6 the declaration, the durable power of attorney, and the 7 out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate order control health care 8 decision making and the POST form does not supersede them. 9 The bill provides that death resulting from the withholding 10 or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures pursuant to an 11 executed POST form and in accordance with the bill does not 12 constitute a suicide, homicide, or dependent adult abuse and 13 that executing a POST form does not affect in any manner 14 the sale, procurement, or issuance of any policy of life 15 insurance; modify the terms of an existing policy of life 16 insurance; or legally impair or invalidate the policy. The 17 bill prohibits the execution of a POST form as a condition for 18 being insured or receiving health care services and provides 19 that not executing a POST form does not create a presumption 20 concerning the intention of an individual with respect to the 21 use, withholding, or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures 22 in the event of a terminal condition. 23 The bill is not to be interpreted to affect the right of an 24 individual to make decisions regarding use of life-sustaining 25 procedures as long as the individual is able to do so, nor to 26 impair or supersede any right or responsibility that any person 27 has to effect the withholding or withdrawal of medical care in 28 any lawful manner. The bill is not to be construed to condone, 29 authorize, or approve mercy killing or euthanasia, or to permit 30 any affirmative or deliberate act or omission to end life other 31 than to permit the natural process of dying. 32 The general assembly in 2008 Iowa Acts, chapter 1188, 33 section 36, established a two-year pilot project in Linn county 34 and in 2010 Iowa Acts, chapter 1192, section 58, expanded 35 -8- LSB 5365SV (2) 84 pf/nh 8/ 9
S.F. 2125 the pilot project to Jones county and extended the duration 1 until June 30, 2012, to pilot the use of the POST form. The 2 legislation also directed the department to convene an advisory 3 council for the pilot project and directed the advisory council 4 to report its findings and recommendations to the general 5 assembly by January 1, 2012. The advisory council recommended 6 expanding the adoption of the POST form statewide. 7 -9- LSB 5365SV (2) 84 pf/nh 9/ 9
feedback