110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 323 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Whereas National Health Care Decisions Day is designed to 
raise public awareness of the need to plan ahead for 
health care decisions related to end-of-life care and med-
ical decision-making whenever patients are unable to 
speak for themselves and to encourage the specific use of 
advance directives to communicate these important deci-
sions;
•HCON 323 EH 
Whereas the Patient Self-Determination Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395cc(f) et seq.), guarantees patients the right to infor-
mation about their rights under State law regarding ac-
cepting or refusing medical treatment; 
Whereas it is estimated that only a minority of Americans 
have executed advance directives, including those who are 
terminally ill or living with life-threatening or life-limiting 
illnesses; 
Whereas advance directives offer individuals the opportunity 
to discuss with loved ones in advance of a health care cri-
sis and decide what measures would be appropriate for 
them when it comes to end-of-life care; 
Whereas the preparation of an advance directive would advise 
family members, health care providers, and other persons 
as to how an individual would want to be treated with re-
spect to health care; 
Whereas to avoid any legal or medical confusion due to the 
emotions involved in end-of-life decisions, it is in the best 
interest of all Americans that each person over the age 
of 18 communicate his or her wishes by creating an ad-
vance directive; 
Whereas the Conditions of Participation in Medicare and 
Medicaid, section 489.102 of title 42, Code of Federal 
Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this 
resolution), require all participating facilities to provide 
information to patients and the public on the topic of ad-
vance directives; 
Whereas the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has 
recognized that the use of advance directives is tied to 
quality health care and has included discussions of ad-
•HCON 323 EH 
vance directives in the criteria of the Physician Quality 
Reporting Initiative; 
Whereas establishing National Health Care Decisions Day 
will encourage health care facilities and professionals as 
well as chaplains, attorneys, and others to participate in 
a collective, nationwide effort to provide clear, concise, 
and consistent information to the public about health 
care decision-making, particularly advance directives; and 
Whereas as a result of National Health Care Decisions Day, 
recognized on April 16, 2008, more Americans will have 
conversations about their health care decision, more 
Americans will execute advance directives to make their 
wishes known, and fewer families and health care pro-
viders will have to struggle with making difficult health 
care decisions in the absence of guidance from the pa-
tient: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That the Congress— 
(1) supports the goals and ideals of National 
Health Care Decisions Day; 
(2) supports the goals and ideals of advance 
care planning for all adult Americans; 
(3) encourages each person in the United 
States who is over the age of 18 to prepare an ad-
vance directive to assist his or her loved ones, health 
care providers, and others as they honor his or her 
wishes;
•HCON 323 EH 
(4) calls upon all members of this body to exe-
cute such documents and discussions for themselves; 
and 
(5) encourages health care, civic, educational, 
religious, and for- and non-profit organizations to 
encourage individuals to prepare advance directives 
to ensure that their wishes and rights with respect 
to health care are protected. 
Passed the House of Representatives April 22, 2008. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 323 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing Congressional support for the goals and 
ideals of National Health Care Decisions Day.