Bills Creating Physicians Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) Will Not Move This Session

FCCB-monitored proposals that would create a new approach to end-of-life planning will not move this year. SB 474 (Brandes) emphasizes advanced care planning conversations between patients, health care professionals and loved ones by facilitating shared decision-making between a patient and his or her health care professional that generate actionable medical orders based on the patient's current condition and preferences. While the FCCB opposed POLST bills in the past, this year's bill remedied key concerns such as application to a poorly-defined patient population and insufficient patient protections.

On Wednesday, February 14 the bill was heard during a meeting of the Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee. FCCB Associate Director for Health Marco Paredes provided testimony on the FCCB's position and thanked Senator Brandes for collaborating with the FCCB to address concerns. The bill was ultimately temporarily postponed by the sponsor and will no longer be considered. The House companion, HB 1339 (Pigman), has not been heard in its first committee of reference.

Photo: Marco Paredes, FCCB associate director for health