Compassus Chief Medical Officer Kurt Merkelz recently spoke to Part B News about the slow provider adoption rate for Medicare’s advance care planning services. Legislators and experts are pushing hard to make these vital services easier and more available, but coding errors and provider reticence are among the barriers to widespread utilization.
“Advance care planning requires having difficult conversations with patients and families about what they would like in the event they are unable to speak or make medical decisions for themselves,” Dr. Merkelz said. “Many people find talking about these things uncomfortable, even many providers.” Learn about the importance of advance care planning.
