Advanced Care Planning Can Change Lives and Your Career
Most healthcare providers want to deliver care that truly changes lives. But many are stuck in roles that barely scratch the surface of patient needs and don’t reflect their expertise. If you’re feeling burnt out, boxed in, or undervalued as a nurse practitioner or advanced practice provider (NP or APP), it’s time to explore a career path where you can create meaningful impact AND achieve financial independence.
Advanced care planning (ACP) offers NPs and APPs the chance to do just that.
ACP isn’t just about saving patients from confusion during medical crises. It’s an untapped goldmine for nurse practitioners looking to supplement their income, create flexible work opportunities, and forge deeper connections with their patients.
This guide will show you how to turn advanced care planning into your next opportunity, step-by-step.
What Is Advanced Care Planning?
Advanced care planning is a structured process where patients plan and document their future healthcare preferences. The goal? To ensure that patients receive care aligned with their values, goals, and preferences, even if they cannot voice these decisions later on.
Advanced care planning typically involves creating documents like advance directives, do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders, and other forms such as the Provider Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) or state equivalents.
Instead of these conversations being limited to hectic, high-pressure hospital settings, NPs can bring them to outpatient clinics, telehealth settings, and even patients’ homes.
Why Advanced Care Planning Matters
ACP is not some “nice-to-have” part of care. It’s critical for patients with chronic illnesses like cancer, heart failure, or dementia. And the need for these services is exploding as the population ages and value-based care becomes central to healthcare systems.
Here’s why advanced care planning should matter to you as a nurse practitioner or APP:
- Optimize Patient Outcomes: Patients with advanced directives experience fewer hospitalizations and avoid unnecessary interventions.
- Enhance Patient Satisfaction: Conversations about care preferences empower individuals and their families to make informed decisions.
- Align with Value-Based Care Models: Facilities are increasingly prioritizing providers who can engage in meaningful care planning that reduces costs and aligns with quality metrics.
- Create Revenue Streams for Providers: This misunderstood and often overlooked service is reimbursable under Medicare and private insurance plans.
For the right provider, ACP offers a combination of personal fulfillment, professional growth, and financial opportunity.
Advanced Care Planning as a Profitable Side Hustle
Despite its importance, ACP remains underserved and underutilized, making it an untapped niche for practitioners. Here’s why it’s ideal for a side hustle or part-time venture for NPs and APPs:
Demand is Rising
The demand for ACP continues to rise, driven by an aging population and the prevalence of chronic illnesses.
Flexible Work Models
You can offer ACP consultations through telehealth, in-person sessions, or mobile visits, giving you flexibility in how and where you work.
High Impact, Less Burnout
Unlike many traditional NP roles, ACP focuses on communication rather than constant reactive care, reducing emotional exhaustion.
Direct Reimbursement Opportunities
Medicare reimburses ACP services using codes CPT 99497 and 99498. This means you can earn while providing critical, patient-centered care.
Partnership Potential
Partner with hospices, palliative care organizations, or primary clinics to generate additional referrals and revenue streams.
How to Start Your Advanced Care Planning Side Hustle
Step 1. Educate Yourself on State-Specific Laws
Each state has its own requirements for completing POLST or DNR forms. For example, in Michigan, only attending physicians can sign DNR orders, while nurse practitioners can sign Michigan Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (MI-POST) forms.
Step 2. Develop an ACP Framework
Create a structured process you can follow for each consultation. This can include:
- Gathering a patient’s medical history.
- Discussing their goals and values for care.
- Completing and filing their advance directives and other legal forms.
Step 3. Offer Telehealth Options
ACP is one of the easiest services to adapt to telehealth, making it convenient for both you and your patients. Platforms like Doxy.me and Google Meet integrate easily into workflows.
Step 4. Leverage Your Network
Build partnerships with referral sources such as hospice agencies, oncology practices, or primary care clinics. These connections can provide consistent case referrals.
Step 5. Market Your Services Strategically
Focus your marketing on both care providers and patients. This could include:
- Creating a Google Business Profile to target local searches.
- Developing a simple website explaining your services.
- Running targeted Facebook Ads to connect with caregivers and families.
Step 6. Use Reimbursement Wisely
To maximize income, familiarize yourself with Medicare billing codes (CPT 99497 and 99498). You can also add extended time codes to general evaluation and management visits to capture revenue accurately.
Examples That Prove It Works
- Jacqueline Griffin, an NP with over 20 years of oncology experience, successfully runs a palliative care consulting service while working part-time in a hematology clinic. Her primary focus? ACP for patients battling cancer and chronic illnesses.
- NPs and APPs can also thrive by creating partnerships, such as collaborating with hospices to offer ACP services. These partnerships not only provide a steady income stream but also allow them to impact patients and families deeply.
Resources to Simplify Your Start
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. There are plenty of resources designed to help you hit the ground running:
- The Conversation Project (detailed guides for starting ACP conversations).
- CAPC Advanced Care Planning Toolkit (resourceful forms and billing guidance).
- Respecting Choices (certification opportunities for ACP facilitators).
- Elite NP Inner Circle Membership (exclusive webinars to expand your knowledge base and hone your entrepreneurial skills).
Empower Others and Build Success
Every advanced care planning consultation helps patients gain control over their healthcare decisions. But it also empowers YOU to take control of your career, income, and work-life balance.
If you’re ready to turn ACP into a part-time or full-time venture that grows your income AND your impact, we’re here to help.
Join our Inner Circle Membership and gain access to exclusive webinars, including a comprehensive session on ACP, marketing tips, and more.
