Advance Directives
An advance directive is a decision you make ahead of time about the medical care you do or do not want if you are unable to make a decision about medical care at the time it is needed.
Advance directives are used only if you are unable to speak or make decisions for yourself. Your advance directive would be used if you were determined by a provider to be in a terminal or vegetative state. AmeriHealth Caritas Ohio will honor your advance directive to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Ohio has four ways for you to make a formal advance directive. These include:
- Living Will
- Durable Power of Attorney for medical care
- Declaration of Mental Health Treatment
- Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order
You will need to fill out an advance directive (PDF) while you are still able to make choices and act for yourself.
Living Will
This is a written record of how you wish your medical care to be handled if you are no longer able to decide and speak for yourself. This document should say what type of medical treatments or life support you would or would not want to have.
Durable Power of Attorney for Medical care
This is a legal document that gives the name of the person you want to make medical treatment decisions for you in case you cannot make them for yourself. This person does not have to be a lawyer.
Declaration for Mental Health Treatment
A Declaration for Mental Health Treatment gives more specific attention to mental health care. It allows you, while able, to appoint a representative to make decisions on your behalf when you lack the capacity to make a decision. In addition, the declaration can set forth certain wishes regarding treatment. For example, you can indicate medication and treatment preferences, and preferences concerning admission or retention in a facility.
Do Not Resuscitate Order
A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order is an order written by a doctor or, under certain circumstances, a certified nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist, which instructs health care providers not to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
There are two types of DNR orders in Ohio: DNR Comfort Care and DNR Comfort Care — Arrest. You should talk to your doctor about DNR options.
To make sure your wishes are met if you cannot speak or make a decision about your care, you should write an advance directive and give a copy to your PCP, as well as to family members.
If you want to fill out and sign an advance directive or have any questions, call Member Services at 1-833-764-7700 (TTY 1-833-889-6446).