MAP for Care Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6721
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-15: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-21T17:50:00Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Medicare Advance Planning for Care Act (H.R. 6721), also called the MAP for Care Act, aims to encourage Medicare beneficiaries to voluntarily create and maintain advance directives—legal documents like living wills or powers of attorney that outline a person's medical treatment wishes if they become unable to decide for themselves.
Key Provisions
- Program Establishment: Creates a Medicare Advance Directive Certification Program under Medicare Part B, to be implemented by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (via the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS) within 5 years. Participation is fully voluntary; beneficiaries can join, update, or leave anytime.
- Certified Advance Directives: Electronically stored documents recognized under state law, offered by accredited vendors. They specify desired/undesired treatments and may name a health care proxy (a designated decision-maker).
- Accreditation of Vendors: CMS accredits entities (vendors) meeting strict criteria, including:
- Secure online enrollment, updates, and access.
- Compliance with HIPAA privacy rules (federal protections for health information).
- Near real-time access for beneficiaries, authorized family/proxies, and providers.
- Annual quality reviews, beneficiary surveys, and security testing.
- Support for state-specific forms and special access in treatment disputes.
- Enrollment and Access: Beneficiaries register directives with location/access info. CMS notifies eligible Medicare enrollees annually and adds links to enrollment forms.
- Education and Outreach:
- CMS website hosts state-specific statutory forms, alternative forms (with attorney certification), and a searchable index.
- Includes notices in Medicare materials explaining benefits and resources.
- No Preemption: Does not override state or local laws on advance directives.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds a new Section 1849 to Medicare Part B (42 U.S.C. 1395j et seq.), introducing the first national certification and registry program for advance directives.
- Builds on existing Medicare requirements for discussing advance directives by creating accredited vendors, standardized tech (e.g., secure sharing), and CMS-hosted resources—previously left to states and providers.
Potential Impacts
- Medicare Beneficiaries: Easier creation, storage, and sharing of directives via secure online tools, potentially ensuring wishes are followed in emergencies and reducing family disputes.
- Healthcare Providers/Suppliers: Quicker access to directives during care, improving decision-making and compliance.
- Government Agencies (CMS/HHS): New administrative duties for accreditation, website management, notifications, and oversight; requires funding (not specified in bill).
- Citizens/Families: Promotes awareness and planning for end-of-life care; surveys track usability and costs.
- No direct impact on international relations.
Main Stakeholders
- Medicare Beneficiaries (enrolled in Parts A, B, or C): Primary users.
- Advance Directive Vendors/Entities: Must seek accreditation to participate.
- CMS and HHS: Oversees program, accreditation, and education.
- Healthcare Providers/Suppliers: Gain access to directives.
- Family Members, Proxies, and Legal Representatives: Authorized viewers/sharers.
- States: Forms must comply with local laws.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces HIPAA privacy; judicial review for form postings; special dispute access protects due process without overriding state surrogate decision laws.
- Constitutional: Voluntary nature avoids coercion concerns; no federal preemption preserves states' rights on family/health matters.
- Political: Bipartisan (introduced by Reps. Murphy and Thompson); focuses on patient autonomy and tech modernization without mandates or costs to beneficiaries, potentially reducing unwanted treatments and Medicare spending long-term.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Murphy, Gregory F. [R-NC-3]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-15: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-12-15: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-12-15: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-15: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Medicare Advance Planning for Care Act — issued 2025-12-15 — PDF (21 pages)