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Public Policy and End-0f-Life Care

California Legislation

Pending Legislation

AB 2283 (Miller) – Cremation

If passed, this bill would allow for disposition of human remains via alkaline hydrolysis, a bio-cremation alternative to cremation by incineration.

Sponsor: Author
Status: Hearing before Senate Environmental Quality Committee on June 7, 2010. More information »

AB 950 (Hernandez) – Hospice Facilities

If passed, this bill would allow hospices to operate in-patient facilities under their hospice licensure. Currently, in-patient hospice facilities must be dually licensed as hospice and another licensure, such as skilled nursing, congregate living health facility, or residential care facility.

Sponsor: CA Hospice and Palliative Care Association
Status: Passed out of Assembly on June 2, 2009, referred to Senate Committee on Health. More information »

2008 Legislation

Governor Schwarzenegger signed four bills into law in 2008 that affect the end of life. The laws became effective January 1, 2009.

AB 3000 (Wolk) – Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) [PDF]
This bill provides consumers with a new mechanism – Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) – to ensure that their wishes are honored regarding medical treatment towards the end of life.
AB 2747 (Berg) – End-of-Life Care [PDF]
When a health care provider makes a diagnosis of a terminal illness, the provider shall, upon the patient’s request, provide comprehensive information and counseling regarding legal end-of-life options.
AB 2565 (Eng) – Brain Death [PDF]
Requires hospitals to adopt a policy for providing family or next of kin with a reasonable period of time in the event a patient is declared brain dead. During this period the hospital is required to continue cardiopulmonary support.
SB 1196 (Runner) – Coroner Inquiries [PDF]
If a decadent was been attended to by a hospice nurse within 20 days prior to death, the coroner does not have to review the death. Select bills related to end-of-life care from previous years.

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Health Care Decisions Week 2009
October 25 – 31, 2009

The California State Senate has passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 55 [PDF] to establish October 25-31, 2009, as Health Care Decisions Week to encourage Californians to make decisions about their medical care before a serious illness or injury occurs.

Health Care Decisions Week is intended to help Californians think about the kind of care they would want if they become seriously ill or incapacitated, talk with their loved ones and doctors and write down their wishes in an advance directive document.

2010 National Health Care Decisions Day
April 16, 2010
Join Americans across the country to talk to others about your future healthcare decisions and to complete your advance directive! Learn more at National Healthcare Decisions Day.
What you can do – Suggestions for special events
Below are activities your organization or community could sponsor to highlight Health Care Decisions Day or Week.
Town Hall Meeting
Invite residents, neighbors, family members, staff and other interested groups to listen to speakers present information on advance care planning. Provide written materials and identify resources available in the community.
Health Fair
Make "Health Care Decisions" part of a larger event. Invite your local hospital, clinic, physicians, nurses, social workers, pharmacy, other suppliers, etc. to host a table during a community health fair. Blood pressure checks, information about flu shots, consumer resources, and information about advance directives could be part of a community-wide health fair.
Small Group Meetings
Host "Talking It Over" discussions facilitated by trained experts to help attendees talk with their parents/children about end-of-life wishes. Help people walk through the forms if necessary. Provide documents and resources, such as advance directives.
Press Conference
Particularly for communities of legislators who sponsored the resolution, consider hosting a press conference where the legislator could present the resolution. This could also be part of another event.
For all events:

Be sure to invite your State Senator and/or Assembly Member to be a part of the event! Give them a speaking role (We can help with talking points and background on the issue for them) and invite your local media.

Your legislator might want to pick-up an advance health care directive form as part of the public event to encourage others to do the same. Talk with the legislative staff person; maybe your legislator has a personal story on this topic they would be willing to share.

Reach out to others in the community who have an interest and/or expertise in this issue and collaborate on the event – assisted living communities, local hospital or clinic, physician groups, medical society, hospice providers, home health agencies, etc.

We’ll provide you with a sample press release. Take pictures of the event and publish them in your newsletters and on your website. Don’t forget to provide materials for attendees to take away from the event.

For more information, contact the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California.