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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2025 - 2026
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 17, 2024 09:28 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Tarik Khan and Rep. Arvind Venkat, Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski, Rep. Brian Munroe |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Pennsylvania Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) |
| A Pennsylvania Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) is a patient-directed healthcare order that is part of advanced care planning for patients with serious illnesses. These orders specify a patient’s request at the end of life and are based on a patient's health condition and treatment choices as established through conversations between the patient or a healthcare decision-maker and a healthcare professional. POLST forms ensure that a patient’s care aligns with their wishes regarding life-sustaining treatments in emergencies. These forms will create a standard of care across all care settings. POLST forms will also provide much-needed peace of mind to patients and give healthcare professionals clear guidelines for care. That is why soon, we will be introducing legislation, a companion bill to SB 631 prime sponsored by Senator Gene Yaw, updating and revising Pennsylvania law (Title 20) to include the codification of "Pennsylvania Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)" to be used by healthcare professionals across all settings for patients who voluntarily wish to execute a POLST order. POLST orders convert an individual's wishes regarding health care into a medical order that is immediately actionable and applicable across all health care settings. This legislation will formally update Chapter 54 of Title 20 to recognize POLST orders. In 2006, Title 20 was amended by Act 169 to update the procedures for living wills, health care powers of attorney, and out-of-hospital do not resuscitate (OOH-DNR) orders. However, Act 169 did not include using a POLST form as a healthcare order. The legislation will also create a new Subchapter F known as the Pennsylvania Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment Act that will set regulations and standards surrounding POLST forms for insurers, providers, and patients and create a POLST Advisory Committee headed by the Secretary of Health to advise DOH on POLST-related matters, including but not limited to the format and content of the POLST form and education about POLST orders. Individuals should have the right to make end-of-life decisions. POLST forms allow patients to make their end-of-life decisions clear to healthcare professionals. Both professional medical and nurse practitioner organizations support this legislation. Please join us in co-sponsoring this important legislation. |