Close up view of a medicare card.Medicare patients will be urged to discuss advance care planning with their doctors next year more frequently due to changes in billing codes.

Starting in 2016, Medicare will allow payments to doctors for counseling their patients about end of life planning at different times. In the past, it would allow payments only on the first visit as a Medicare patient.

This is part of the Obama administration’s plan to help patients make more informed decisions, says a story on centredaily.com.

Now, Medicare will pay doctors to have this discussion on an annual basis.

Studies have shown four out of ten seniors have not written down their wishes for end of life treatment.

If you have questions about elder law, feel free to contact us for a consultation at (626) 696-3145.

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