Planning for future health care decisions

• A health care proxy (also called a durable power of attorney). This document names a specific person to make health care decisions for someone who isn’t able to make decisions for him or herself. 

• A living will. Living wills give directions about the kind of health care a person wants, and which medical treatments a person wants if his or her life were threatened, including things like: – Dialysis and breathing machines – Resuscitation if the person’s breathing or heart stops – Tube feeding 

• After-death wishes. These documents may include decisions like organ and tissue donation. 

If the person you’re caring for has advance directives, make sure you know where these documents are, and give copies to his or her doctors, nursing home, caregivers, and other health care providers, and anyone named in the advance directives. 

Managing health care 

The person you’re caring for may have health information in lots of places—at home or in doctor or hospital records. You may need to know certain information about his or her health care like the last time he or she had a certain medical procedure. It may seem overwhelming to remember all of these details, and trying to find the information when it’s in lots of places can be hard. 

You may be able to help him or her set up a Personal Health Record (PHR). A PHR is usually an electronic file or record of health information and recent services. With a PHR, a person can keep track of his or her health information, like the date of his or her last physical, major illnesses, operations, allergies, or list of medicines. This information can be stored in one place, and then shared with others, as needed. 

OTHER REPORTS

 Credit Balance Reports 

 Due 30 days after the end of each fiscal quarter 

 Report over-payments from Medicare 

 No payments will be made if you do not complete this report 

 CMS billing audit reports 

 CMS may ask for 25 patients specific billing for a date of service and the office notes to support the billing. 

 An adjudicator reviews and decides if the service was a medical necessity. 

 Monies can be taken back by Medicare. There is an appeal process through the adjudicator.

Gathering important information

Start by helping the person you’re caring for gather this information so it’s available when you need it:

• Social Security Number 

• Medicare number (You can find this on his or her red, white, and blue Medicare card.) 

• Medicare plan enrollment (See pages 13–14 for information on how to check his or her current coverage.)

• Other insurance plans and policy numbers, including long-term care insurance 

• Contact information for health care providers, like doctors, nurses, hospitals, pharmacies, and medical suppliers 

• List of current prescription drugs and dosages 

• Current health conditions, symptoms, and treatments 

• History of past health problems 

• Allergies or food restrictions

• Emergency contacts, like close friends, family, neighbors, clergy, or housing manager

• Financial and legal information

Next steps 

For help keeping track of this information: 

• Visit MyMedicare.gov to help the person you’re caring for get personalized information about his or her Medicare benefits and services, like plan enrollment, claims, and more. See pages 42–43 for more information.