The first legislation of its kind creates a stance on advance directives and requires clients to be informed of their health-related rights under state laws. What is it?

• A. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
• B. Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act
• C. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
• D. Patient Self-Determination Act

Answer: (D)

This item tests knowledge of patient rights related to advance directives and the obligation of providers to inform patients about those rights. The appropriate law is the Patient Self-Determination Act. This federal statute was designed to ensure that health care facilities inform patients about the option to execute advance directives and about the patient’s health care rights under state law. It also requires facilities to document whether a patient has an advance directive and to educate staff and patients about advance directives, so patients can make informed decisions about their care.

The other options address different areas: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act focuses on broad health care reform and access, Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act requires emergency treatment regardless of ability to pay, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act protects the privacy and security of health information. None of these centrally revolve around informing patients about advance directives and state-law health care rights in the way the Patient Self-Determination Act does.