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End of Life Care

Medical aid in dying documents

MAID frequently asked questions

Written request form

Financial waiver


The End of Life Options Clinic at BCH welcomes any interested patients to inquire about their end of life options. This clinic was started for patients to inquire, discuss, and obtain Medical Aid in Dying (MAID), which was legalized in Colorado with Proposition 106 in 2016. In addition, some patients with chronic debilitating conditions may need a safe place to discuss their own end of life options if they don't qualify for MAID.

Patients may self refer to our End of Life Options Clinic at BCH by calling 303-415-4244. No formal referral is required for a consult.

What is medical aid in dying?

Medical aid in dying, sometimes referred to as ‘MAID’ or ‘death with dignity’ is a legal process in which a competent, terminally ill adult with a prognosis of less than 6 months to live can request a medication they can choose to take to bring about a peaceful death.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to receive MAID?

Must meet all of the following:

  • Over 18 years of age
  • Terminally ill with six months or less to live
  • Mentally capable of making your own healthcare decisions
  • A resident of Colorado
  • Acting voluntarily
  • Able to take the medication on your own

Steps to receiving MAID in Colorado

  1. Speak with your provider about your wishes; if your provider does not want to participate (that is their right by law), they will refer you to someone who will. A physician or nurse practitioner can be a prescriber for medical aid in dying.
  2. At least two appointments with the prescribing provider are needed, at least 7 days apart. These are considered the required “verbal requests.” They can be in person or by telemedicine.
  3. Speak with a consulting provider who will confirm that you are eligible to receive the medication. This can be a physician or a nurse practitioner.
  4. Make one written request to the prescribing provider using the required state form that has been signed by 2 witnesses; once completed, this form can be given to the medical team at any time during the process, including submitted electronically.
  5. Once you have completed all the required steps, your attending provider needs to order the medication for you and send notification to the state.

Do I have to take the medication if I get it prescribed?

In short, no. Once a patient has completed the process to obtain the prescription, it is sent to a pharmacy. Some patients never fill the prescription from the pharmacy, but have peace once they know they have a choice.

You can obtain the medication and still choose not to use it. That choice is always yours.

Do you have to be a current Boulder Community Health Patient?
No, you do not have to be an established BCH patient to request an appointment or consult. We will make you a chart when your first visit is scheduled.

Can the requests be made by someone else?
No, only you can make the verbal and written requests, and you must be able to physically take the medication yourself. It can be ingested by drinking 3 ounces or it can be administered rectally through a catheter. The catheter is placed by a trained clinician such as a nurse or physician, and the patient ingests medication by pushing on an attached plunger.

Is there a cost to obtain MAID?
Currently, MAID is not a universally covered medical expense. Federally funded health insurance does not support MAID expenses. If your insurance does not cover this service, the BCH cash price for each provider visit is $175 and most patients need two visits. The medication is typically sent to a private compounding pharmacy and that cost to the patient is around $410. All patients are screened for financial hardship, so it is possible for patients to get financial assistance to access this choice

Does the option of MAID affect life or health insurance?
Your health care options are private and protected. Colorado End-of-Life Options Act requires that the cause of death assigned on a patient’s death certificate be the underlying terminal illness.

  • Cause of Death: Colorado's End-of-Life Options Act explicitly states that deaths resulting from MAID are not suicide. The underlying terminal illness is listed as the official cause of death on the death certificate.

  • Policy Protections: Insurance companies in Colorado are prohibited from denying or altering benefits, canceling policies, or charging higher premiums because a policyholder chose to use MAID

Full list of FAQs

Help us expand access to our community

Boulder Community Health is actively developing our End of Life Options program to expand access to our community. If you are financially fortunate and able to assist your community, consider making a contribution to this program by clicking https://www.bch.org/foundation/donate-now/geriatric-program/ . Donors can put in the comments “End of Life Options." You can learn more about the Boulder Community Health Foundation by clicking the button below.

BCH Foundation

To be eligible for medical aid in dying you must be:

  • An adult
  • Terminally ill with six months or less to live
  • Mentally capable of making your own healthcare decisions
  • A resident of Colorado
  • Acting voluntarily
  • Able to take the medication on your own
  • Speak with your primary provider about your wishes. Their input is helpful as you pursue end of life planning. If your provider does not want to participate (that is their right by law), they will refer you to someone who will. A physician or nurse practitioner can be a prescriber for medical aid in dying. Unfortunately a physician assistant or “PA” cannot.

    Patients may self refer to our End of Life Options Clinic at BCH by calling 303-415-4244. No formal referral is required for a consult.
     
  • At least two appointments with the prescribing provider are needed, at least 7 days apart. These are considered the required “verbal requests.” They can be in person or by telemedicine.
  • Speak with a consulting provider who will confirm that you are eligible to receive the medication. This can be a physician or a nurse practitioner. This is often a current member of your clinical team, such a primary care provider or specialist. Our team can help you coordinate a consultant if you do not already have a supportive clinical team.
  • Make one written request to the prescribing provider using the required state form that has been signed by 2 witnesses; once completed, this form can be given to the medical team at any time during the process, including submitted electronically.
  • Once you have completed all the required steps, your attending provider needs to order the medication for you and send notification to the state.