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Washington State Living Will Registry

Online living will registry falls prey to state budget cuts

In May the Department of Health notified physicians and patients participating in the Washington State online Living Will Registry (LWR) that, as a result of cuts in the 2011-13 state biennial budget, on July 1st the Registry will be effectively ended (no new documents will be accepted after June 20).

The good news is individuals who have registered with the LWR will maintain a lifetime registration with the U.S. Living Will Registry, a private corporation. Registrants do not have to resubmit documents they previously submitted (find out more below).

For physicians

After June 30, 2011, participating physicians will no longer be able to access your Washington State LWR account to retrieve patients’ health care declarations, change passwords, administer user lists, generate reports, or order LWR promotional materials. To access a LWR registrant’s health care declarations, please follow the instructions below or use the directions on the registrant’s wallet card or sticker. You can also call U.S. Living Will at 1 (800) 548-9455 for assistance.

Steps to access a LWR registrant’s health care declarations:

  1. Go to http://www.uslivingwillregistry.com
  2. At the top of the screen in the black bar, click on “Access to Document using Wallet Card ID.”
  3. In the “Source” drop down box, select “Washington” (at the very bottom of the list).
  4. In the “Registrant’s ID Number” box, enter the ID number listed on the wallet card or sticker.
  5. Click on “Look Up.”

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For patients

Individuals who have registered with the LWR (or submitted health declarations postmarked on or before June 20, 2011) will maintain a lifetime registration with the U.S. Living Will Registry. Registrants do not have to resubmit documents they previously submitted.

In July, registrants will be receiving a letter from U.S. Living Will Registry with a new wallet card and stickers. The lifetime membership with the U.S. Living Will Registry will enable registrants to:

  • Download, view, and print their health care declarations documents
  • Replace a document
  • Submit a new document
  • Make changes to their personal information and emergency contact information
  • Confirm that their advance directive is current and still reflects their wishes

To access their documents after June 30, 2011, they will follow the instructions below or use the directions printed on their wallet card or sticker. If they are not in possession of the wallet card, they can contact U.S. Living Will Registry at 1-800-548-9455 for assistance.

Steps for registrants to access their health care declaration documents on the U.S. Living Will Registry:

  1. Go to http://www.uslivingwillregistry.com
  2. At the top of the screen in the black bar, select “Access to Document using Wallet Card ID”
  3. In the “Source” drop down box, select “Washington” (at the very bottom of the list)
  4. In the “Registrant’s ID Number” box, enter the ID number listed on your wallet card
  5. Click on “Look Up”

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