H.R. 5861: Legacy Act of 2025

This bill, titled the Legacy Act of 2025, proposes to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to collaborate with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study focused on creating a system for storing and retrieving "last wish documents." These documents are important legal and personal documents that may guide medical decisions or express individual wishes in specific situations, particularly at the end of life.

Key Provisions

• Study Agreement: The Secretary of Health and Human Services is tasked with seeking an agreement with the National Academies to conduct this study.
• System Characteristics: The proposed system aims to be national, confidential, and secure, allowing for authorized individuals to access these documents at no cost to the person who created them.
• Types of Documents: The term "last wish document" includes a variety of important documents such as:
  • Advance directives
  • Organ donor registrations
  • Healthcare or medical proxies
  • Powers of attorney
  • Living wills
• Reporting Requirements: The National Academies will be required to submit two reports:
  • The first report, detailing the status of the study, is expected within two years of the bill's enactment.
  • The second report, presenting the findings of the completed study, is due within four years of the bill's enactment.

Definitions

In the context of this bill:

• Last Wish Document: This term encompasses advance directives, organ donor registrations, healthcare proxies, powers of attorney, and living wills.
• National Academies: Refers specifically to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
• Secretary: Refers to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Goals of the Legislation

The overarching objective of the Legacy Act is to enhance the management and accessibility of important personal documents that reflect an individual's healthcare preferences and directives, which can be crucial in times of medical emergencies or legal decisions regarding one's care.

Implementation Timeline

Should the bill be enacted, there is a structured timeline for the study, indicating an organized approach toward establishing the proposed system.

Relevant Companies

• None found