Overview
Massachusetts will be transitioning away from the use of the current MOLST (Medical Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment) form to the National POLST model.
The MOLST form is still valid and should be used to document patients’ wishes until further notice.
Previous POLST test sites should continue to use the POLST in paper format, and should be considered valid by EMS and other healthcare professionals.
What is POLST?
POLST is a PROCESS in which:
- Patients are identified by their medical providers as having a serious illness or advancing frailty.
- Conversations take place between a patient and their provider about their medical condition, treatment options and what matters most to them.
- A medical order is completed that reflects the patient’s treatment wishes. The form travels with the patient (Portable Order), and is valid regardless of where the patient is receiving treatment.
Why is Massachusetts transitioning from MOLST to POLST?
After over a decade of using the MOLST form, the Commonwealth is aligning with national standards and best practices, joining dozens of other states using the POLST (portable medical order) form.
Massachusetts will implement an electronic registry (ePOLST) and provide training and program implementation materials as part of the POLST Program. See enabling legislation here.
When will Massachusetts transition to POLST?
Massachusetts will begin the transition with a group of healthcare providers and facilities who have agreed to be Development Partners in a test phase (or pilot). This test phase is tentatively scheduled to begin in late 2024.
Statewide rollout is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2026.
How is Massachusetts managing the transition to POLST?
Spearheaded by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, Massachusetts has engaged experts from most healthcare settings, information technology professionals, and consumers from across the Commonwealth to educate and inform us as we develop our program.
Through a rigorous process, Elder Affairs has selected a vendor who will design, develop and implement an electronic registry that is integrated with most of the Electronic Health Records used in the Commonwealth.
Elder Affairs is working with Development Partners from outpatient, acute, emergency department, EMS, skilled nursing, homecare and hospice to develop best practices and a toolkit for implementation.
There will be testing and training prior to implementation of the electronic registry, supported throughout by technical, quality improvement, change management and clinical experts.
Elder Affairs is also developing regulations and guidance as we test and develop the electronic Registry. The Agency is working with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that there is transparency, communication and collaboration throughout the process.