HB1686 Summary

• Expands definitions of healthcare providers to include advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants as "physician extenders" who can complete physician order for life-sustaining treatment forms alongside physicians.

• Adds "supervising healthcare provider" definition as a physician or other authorized independent healthcare provider with primary responsibility for an individual's health care, allowing forms to be signed by supervising healthcare providers or physician extenders instead of only physicians.

• Specifies that supervising healthcare providers or physician extenders must explain the treatment form, medical interventions, and differences between advance directives and physician orders during the completion process.

• Establishes that in conflicts between physician order for life-sustaining treatment forms and advance directives, the most recently executed document by the patient takes precedence, or if executed by a legal representative, the advance directive takes precedence.

• Protects supervising healthcare providers and physician extenders acting in good faith and according to accepted healthcare standards from civil, criminal, or disciplinary liability for creating physician orders for life-sustaining treatment.