HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 709        FILED ON: 1/12/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 538

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act relative to nursing homes..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.  Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 72C the following section:—

Section 72C1/2. Nursing homes licensed and operated in the commonwealth shall be required to discuss, and document said discussion, regarding advance directives for end of life issues within 2 weeks of admitting new residents. This discussion should cover treatment instructions and proxy instructions for the level of care a patient would want in a life-threatening situation and the option to designate an individual as a durable power of attorney. Any advance directive forms indicated by this discussion should also be completed within this time frame.