House Joint Resolution No. 603 of the 1999 General Assembly Session (Appendix A) directs the Joint Commission on Health Care (JCHC) to study the use of advance directives in the Commonwealth. As part of this review, JCHC is required to examine (1) the percentage and categories of persons who utilize advance directives and methods to increase that number; (2) legal or ethical obstacles which inhibit the provisions of an advance directive; (3) methods which would better inform health care practitioners about the existence of advance directives; and (4) methods to insure portability and reciprocity for advance directives among health care providers and institutions as well as other states.