Advance Directive is made up of three parts: a living will, designation of healthcare agent and wishes regarding anatomical gift or organ donation.
Advance Directives are recognized under state law and federal law and outline your wishes if you are unable to make medical care decisions for yourself.
Federal law requires Optima Health to provide enrolled members 18 years of age or older the opportunity to make decisions concerning your right to accept or refuse medical or surgical treatment and your right to formulate written instructions called an Advance Directive.
The law requires that the care you receive from any Optima Health provider will not be affected by your making (or not making) an Advance Directive, unless your Advance Directive states that medical care should not be given to you.
In compliance with federal law, Optima Health is providing you with information about the patient Self-Determination Act. It means you have a chance to make important life choices. You may never need to exercise these choices, but making them ahead of any event can ease your mind, and lift the burden from you family of having to guess what your wishes may have been.
You may want to discuss and document your wishes with your family, attorney and/or close friend. It is also important to talk with your physician about your choices, so he or she is informed and understands your wishes.
Federal law requires that we ask you if you have made an Advance Directive. However we do not require that you make an Advance Directive. If you have certain wishes, inform your physician and he or she will follow them to the extent permitted by law.
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