Which law requires hospitals, nursing facilities, hospices, home health, and HMOs to inform patients about advance directives and ensure certain conditions are met to protect patient self-determination?

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

Answer: (A)

This question taps into patient autonomy and how care settings support patients’ right to control their medical decisions. The law that requires hospitals, nursing facilities, hospices, home health, and HMOs to inform patients about advance directives and to ensure actions align with those directives is the Patient Self-Determination Act. It was created to strengthen self-determination by making sure patients know about advance directives, that facilities document whether one exists, and that staff are trained to discuss and honor these directives. It also protects patients from being treated differently because they do or do not have an advance directive and requires policies to safeguard their right to accept or refuse treatment. This purpose and scope distinguish it from other laws like EMTALA (emergency care and stabilization), HIPAA (privacy), and the PPACA (broad health reform).