Important papers: who can speak for the patient

Important papers is in the group named after the patient, right after the Emergency Plan Card. It lists the papers that let the family talk to Medicare, a supplier, a plan, Medicaid or Social Security, make health care decisions, handle money, and the court process when no one has authority: the Medicare permission to share (CMS-10106), the Medicare appointment of representative (CMS-1696), a HIPAA authorization and the supplier's own HIPAA form, the Medicaid authorized representative, the Social Security representative payee, the health care power of attorney, the living will (with the MOST or POST, which is a doctor's form), the durable financial power of attorney, the will, and guardianship as the fallback.

At the top the page asks: Which state does the patient live in? South Carolina, North Carolina or Other. It is filled in from the address on the Emergency Plan Card when there is one, and the answer shows in plain words, such as South Carolina rules. When no state is known, the page asks first and shows no rules until the family answers. Each paper then shows only that state's rules (witnesses, a notary, recording), with a small Show North Carolina instead link for the other state. For Other, the page says the rules are written for South Carolina and North Carolina, to use the patient's own state's forms and signing rules, and that an attorney can review them if the family wants. A fixed notice says: This is not legal advice. You can prepare these papers yourself from the state's forms; an attorney can review them if you want. The signing rules below (witnesses, notary, recording) are required.

Each paper opens to one plain paragraph, who signs it, the state's rule with the official links, and two small areas. Get it signed and notarized says whether the paper has a notary step and lists the in-person notary resources (a hospital notary for advance directives, the free FindaNotary.com directory); in South Carolina, remote online notarization is not authorized, so the notary must be in person. Prepare it starts with Use the state's form (or the official federal form), because a family can prepare these papers itself; attorney review is an optional line, never a step, and ExpressAgain receives nothing from anyone listed.

The family sets a status for each paper: Not started, In progress, Signed, Witnessed/notarized as required, Recorded/filed (only where a state requires recording, like the South Carolina financial power of attorney, which must be recorded with the county Register of Deeds before the agent acts after incapacity), or Not needed. The days it was signed, notarized and recorded, and an optional end date, are kept with it. The CMS-1696 lasts one year from signing; 30 days before it ends, a reminder shows on the page and on Notifications. Nothing is emailed, texted or pushed.

Upload the signed copy to the paper: a PDF or a photo, kept in private storage that only the family's owner and caregiver-role accounts can open. Who can speak for the patient lists the badges: Health care agent, Financial agent (POA), Medicare contact (CMS-10106), Medicare representative (CMS-1696), Medicaid representative, SSA representative payee and Guardian. A badge can be set only once its paper is marked Signed (Recorded where the state requires it), and it goes on hold if the paper slips back or ends. The badges show on the Care Team page, on the Emergency Plan Card and on an organization's field view, as lines such as Health care agent and the person's name.

Calling a supplier, insurer or Medicare is a short guide on the same page: what to have ready (the patient's Medicare number stays sealed on Insurance & Devices), what to say when a supplier will not talk to the family, the two federal rules that permit cooperation but do not require it, and what to do when a supplier calls first. Signing Mode in Communicate gives the patient nine quiet answers for a signing: Yes, No, I understand, I don't understand, Please read it again, I want this, I don't want this, I want to talk to the attorney alone, and Stop. The answers must be the patient's own; the attorney or notary asks the questions.

The owner and caregiver-role accounts change statuses, dates, copies and badges. Care-team logins read the statuses and the badges, never the stored copies. Family-role accounts and friends do not see the page. Legal help (optional) lists free and official resources only, and ExpressAgain receives nothing from anyone listed.