Kentucky medical order for scope of treatment (MOST) form -- Eligible persons -- Scope -- Effect
KRS 311.6225
in effect311.6225. Kentucky medical order for scope of treatment (MOST) form -- Eligible persons -- Scope -- Effect
(1) An adult with decisional capacity, an adult's legal surrogate, or a responsible party may complete a medical order for scope of treatme nt directing medical interventions. The form shall have the title "Kentucky MOST, Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment" and an introductory section containing the patient's name and date of birth and the statements:
(a) "The MOST form is voluntary.";
(b) "A patient is not required to complete a MOST form.";
(c) "A patient with capacity or their legal representative may void a MOST form any time by communicating that intent to the health care provider.";
(d) "The original form is the personal property of th e patient.";
(e) "A facsimile, paper, or electronic copy is a legally valid form.";
(f) "HIPAA permits disclosure of MOST to health care professionals as necessary for treatment."; and
(g) "Any section not completed does not invalidate the form and indicat es a preference for full treatment for that section.".
(2) The remainder of the form shall be in substantially the following order and format and shall have the following contents:
(a) Section A of the form shall direct cardiopulmonary resuscitation when a person has no pulse and is not breathing by selection of one (1) of the following: 1. "Attempt Resuscitation (CPR)"; or 2. "Do Not Attempt Resuscitation"; and include the statement "When not in cardiopulmonary arrest, follow orders in B, C, and D.";
(b) Section B of the form shall direct the medical interventions when a person has a pulse or is breathing by selection of one (1) of the following: 1. Full treatment, required if CPR is chosen in Section A, including providing appropriate medical and surgical treatments as indicated to attempt to prolong life, including intensive care. This option shall include the statement "Goal: Attempt to sustain life by all medi cally effective means."; 2. Limited additional intervention, which may include use of non -invasive positive airway pressure, antibiotics, and IV fluids as indicated, and requires avoidance of intensive care and transfer to a hospital if treatment needs cannot be met in the current location. This option shall include the statement "Goal: Attempt to restore function while avoiding intensive care and resuscitation efforts (ventilator, defibrillation, and cardioversion)."; or 3. Comfort measures, including use of oxygen, suction, and manual treatment of airway obstruction as needed for comfort, avoidance of treatments listed in full or limited additional interventions and transfer to a hospital only if comfort cannot be achieved in the current setting. This option shall include the statement "Goal: Maximize comfort through symptom management; allow natural death.";
(c) Section C of the form shall direct the use of artificially administered fluids and nutrition, including always offering food and fluids by mouth as tolerated, and shall include a statement that medically assisted nutrition and hydration when it cannot reasonably be expected to prolong life, would be more burdensome than beneficial, or would cause significant physical discomfort. The following options shall be provided: 1. No artificial nutrition by tube; 2. Trial period of artificial nutrition by tube. This option shall be followed by: "Goal................."; or 3. Long-term artificial nutrition and hydration by tube;
(d) Section D of the form shall direct the use of antibiotics. The following options shall be provided: 1. Use of antibiotics as medically indicated; or 2. No antibiotics;
(e) A section of the form shall provide space to include any additional treatment preferences;
(f) A section of the form shall be titled "Attestation by a Licensed Health Care Professional" and shall include: 1. Space for the printed name and the signature of the licensed health care professional and the date of completion; and 2. A statement that in completing the for m the licensed health care professional is attesting that: a. He or she has reviewed the patient's pre -existing advance directive and found it in accordance with the selections on the MOST form; or b. The patient does not have a pre -existing advance directive;
(g) A section of the form shall be titled "Signature: Patient or Patient Representative (E-Signed Documents Are Valid)" and shall include: 1. The printed name, signature, and contact telephone number of the patient, surrogate, or responsible party; 2. An indication that the signing party is the: a. Adult patient with decisional capacity; b. Surrogate decision maker per advance directive; or c. Responsible party in accordance with KRS 311.631; and 3. The following statements: a. "I agree that adequate information has been provided and significant thought has been given to decisions outlined in this form. Treatment preferences have been expressed to the physician. This document reflects those treatment preferences and indicates informed consent. If signed by a surrogate or responsible party, the preferences expressed reflect the patient's wishes as best understood by that surrogate or responsible party."; and b. "Your signature is not required on this form to receive treatment.";
(h) A section of the form shall be titled "Physician Signature (E -Signed Documents Are Valid)" and shall include: 1. Space for the physician's printed name, signature, contact telephone number, and the effective date; and 2. The following statement: "My sign ature below indicates that I or my designee have discussed with the patient, the patient's surrogate, or the responsible party, the patient's goals and available treatment options based on the patient's medical conditions. My signature below indicates to the best of my knowledge, that these orders indicated on this form are consistent with the patient's current medical condition and preferences.";
(i) A section of the form shall be titled "Information for Patient, Surrogate, or Responsible Party Named on This Form" with the following language: 1. "The MOST form is always voluntary and is usually for persons with advanced illness. MOST records your wishes for medical treatment in your current state of health. The provision of nutrition and fluids, even if medically administered, is a basic human right and authorization to deny or withdraw shall be limited to the patient, the surrogate in accordance with KRS 311.629, or the responsible party in accordance with KRS 311.631."; 2. "KRS 311.631: Responsible parties authorized to make health care decisions: (1) The judicially appointed guardian of the patient; (2) The health care power of attorney; (3) The spouse of the patient; (4) An adult child of the patient, or if the patient has more than one child, the majority of the adult children who are reasonably available for consultation; (5) The parents of the patient; (6) The nearest living relative of the patient, or if more than one relative of the same relation is reasonably available for consultation, a majority of the nearest living relatives."; and 3. "Once initial medical treatment is begun and the risks and benefits of further therapy are clear, your treatment wishes may change. Your medical care and this form can be changed to reflect your new wishes at any time. However, no form can address all the medical treatment decisions that may need to be made. An advance directive, such as the Kentucky Health Care Power of Attorney, is recommended for all capable adults, regardless of their health status. An advance dir ective allows you to document in detail your future health care instructions or name a surrogate to speak for you if you are unable to speak for yourself, or both. If there are conflicting directions between an enforceable living will and a MOST form, the provisions of the living will shall prevail.";
(j) A section of the form shall be titled "Directions for Completing and Implementing Form" with these four (4) subdivisions: 1. The first subdivision shall be titled "Completing MOST" and shall have the following language: "MOST must be reviewed and signed by the patient's physician. MOST must be reviewed and contain the original signature of the patient's physician to be valid. Be sure to document the basis in the progress notes of the medical record. Mode of communication (e.g., in person, by telephone, etc.) should also be documented. The signature of the patient, surrogate, or a responsible party is required; however, if the patient's surrogate or a responsible party is not reasonably available to sign the original form, a copy of the completed form with the signature or electronic signature of the patient's surrogate or a responsible party must be signed by the patient's physician and placed in the medical record. Copies of the original form are equally as valid as the original form. There is no requirement that a patient have a MOST."; 2. The second subdivision shall be titled "Implementing MOST" and shall have the following language: "If a health care provider or facility cannot comply with the orders due to policy or personal ethics, the provider or facility must arrange for transfer of the patient to another provider or facility."; 3. The third subdivision shall be titled "Reviewing MOST" and shall have the following language: "This MOST must be reviewed at least annually, at any time the patient or patient's representative requests, and when: The patient is admitted and/or discharged from a health care facility; There is a substantial change in the patient's health status; or The patient's treatment preferences change. If MOST is revised or becomes invalid, draw a line through Sections A- D and write "VOID" in large letters."; and 4. The fourth subdivision shall be titled "Revocation of MOST" and shall have the following language: "This MOST may be revoked by the patient or the responsible party."; and
(k) A section of the form shall be titled "Review of MOST" and shall have the following columns and a number of rows as determined by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure: 1. "Review Date"; 2. "Reviewer (print)"; 3. "Physician Signature"; 4. "Signature of Patient, Surrogate, or Responsible Party"; and 5. "Outcome of Review, describing the outcome in each row by selecting one (1) of the following: a. No Change; or b. FORM VOIDED".
(3) The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure shall promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A to de velop:
(a) The format for a standardized medical order for scope of treatment form to be approved by the board, including spacing, size, borders, fill and location of boxes, type of fonts used and their size, and placement of boxes on the front or back of the form so as to fit on a single sheet. The board shall create an electronically fillable version of the MOST form that can be accessed on the board's website. The board may not alter the wording or order of wording provided in subsection (1) or (2) of th is section, except to provide translated versions of the MOST form or add identifying data such as form number and date of promulgation or revision and instructions for completing, reviewing, and revoking the election of the form; and
(b) A guide to advance care planning that describes the following three (3) options for advance care planning: 1. An advance directive as defined in KRS 311.621; 2. A power of attorney including advance health care instructions; and 3. A medical order for scope of treatment.
(4) The board shall:
(a) Provide a translation of the MOST form in print and in an electronically fillable version into Spanish, and other languages as needed;
(b) Provide a translation of the guide to advance care planning into Spanish, and other languages as needed; and
(c) Make the MOST form and the guide to advance care planning accessible on its website.
(5) The board shall consult with appropriate professional organizations to develop the format for the medical order for scope of treatment form and the guide to advance care planning, including:
(a) The Kentucky Association of Hospice and Palliative Care;
(b) The Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services;
(c) The Kentucky Hospital Association;
(d) The Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities;
(e) LeadingAge Kentucky;
(f) The Kentucky Right to Life Association; and
(g) Other groups interested in end-of-life care.
(6) The MOST form may be electronic or printed on any color of paper and the form shall be honored on any color of paper.
(7) Health care professionals are encouraged to provide a copy of the guide to advance care planning to the patient, surrogate, or responsible party at the time a MOST form is being completed.
Effective: July 15, 2024
History: Amended 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 164, sec. 2, effective July 15, 2024. -- Amended 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 117, sec. 1, effective July 14, 2022. -- Created 2015 Ky. Acts ch. 3, sec. 2, effective June 24, 2015. Legislative Research Commission Note (6/24/2015). During codification, the Reviser of Statutes has changed the numbering of subparagraphs within paragraphs (d) and (e) of subsection (1) of this statute from the way it appeared in 2015 Ky. Acts ch. 3, sec. 2.
Source: Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (legislature.ky.gov)URL: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=55380Fetched: 10/20/2026