Advisory council discusses interstate portability for MOLST/POLST; statutory authority likely needed
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Council members discussed efforts to make MOLST/POLST documents portable across New England. Barbara Cass said the goal is desirable but likely would require statutory authority; Dartmouth Health and Ellen DePaolo were cited as conveners of regional conversations.
Members of the MOST Advisory Council discussed whether MOLST or POLST documents could be recognized across state lines in New England to reduce burdens on patients who travel or receive care in neighboring states.
A council member asked whether an interstate compact or other agreement could enable portability. Barbara Cass said such portability is an "end goal" but added that achieving it would likely require statute-level authority. "I think, Jim, to respond to your question, I think it would require statutory authority," Cass said.
Participants referenced conversations convened by Ellen DePaolo and noted Dartmouth Health's interest because of its multi-state footprint; council members said those regional discussions may be a path forward but acknowledged reconciling differing state statutes and forms will take time.
No formal action was taken; Cass said she would share meeting invites and that interested council members could participate in the interstate conversations. The advisory council did not adopt statutory language at this meeting and identified the interstate work as exploratory and longer-term.