September 30, 2013

The Honorable Mark Warner United States Senate 475 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senators Warner and Isakson:

The Honorable Johnny Isakson United States Senate 131 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510

AARP is pleased to endorse the bipartisan Care Planning Act (S. 1439). Your bill includes provisions that would provide Medicare and Medicaid coverage of advanced illness care planning, test advanced illness care coordination services, authorize grants to conduct public education on advance care planning, address the use and portability of advance directives, and require care plans to be appropriately documented prior to discharge to help ensure they can be carried out. This bill would help respect individuals goals, values, and preferences for care and treatment. Planning, communication, and conversations are simply essential to ensure that an individuals wishes for care are understood and respected across settings. Advance care planning is important and includes conversations with individuals, their families, and providers and documenting individuals wishes so they can be followed. This bill will help provide individuals with information about their options to help them make the decisions that are best for them. Importantly, this legislation recognizes and supports the critical role that family caregivers often play in providing and coordinating care for their loved ones. For example, the bill provides for training for family caregivers to support them in carrying out care plans. Too often, family caregivers do not have the training or other support they need, such as training to perform medical and nursing tasks. Such support is vital, especially when a care plan or discharge plan depends on a family caregiver. We thank you for your bipartisan leadership to further this important conversation and provide more person-and family-centered care. We look forward to working with you on this and other issues important to older Americans. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me, or have your staff contact Rhonda Richards on our Government Affairs staff at (202) 434-3770. Sincerely,

Joyce A. Rogers Senior Vice President Government Affairs