Thread: Obama enacts end-of-life plan

WASHINGTON — When a proposal to encourage end-of-life planning touched off a political storm over “death panels,” Democrats dropped it from legislation to overhaul the health care system. But the Obama administration will achieve the same goal by regulation, starting Jan. 1.
Under the new policy, outlined in a Medicare regulation, the government will pay doctors who advise patients on options for end-of-life care, which may include advance directives to forgo aggressive life-sustaining treatment.

Congressional supporters of the new policy, though pleased, have kept quiet. They fear provoking another furor like the one in 2009 when Republicans seized on the idea of end-of-life counseling to argue that the Democrats’ bill would allow the government to cut off care for the critically ill.
The final version of the health care legislation, signed into law by President Obama in March, authorized Medicare coverage of yearly physical examinations, or wellness visits. The new rule says Medicare will cover “voluntary advance care planning,” to discuss end-of-life treatment, as part of the annual visit.
Under the rule, doctors can provide information to patients on how to prepare an “advance directive,” stating how aggressively they wish to be treated if they are so sick that they cannot make health care decisions for themselves.
While the new law does not mention advance care planning, the Obama administration has been able to achieve its policy goal through the regulation-writing process, a strategy that could become more prevalent in the next two years as the president deals with a strengthened Republican opposition in Congress.
In this case, the administration said research had shown the value of end-of-life planning.

NYT: Obama enacts end-of-life plan that drew fire - Health - The New York Times - msnbc.com

Oh lookie!! The so called death panel clause is being enacted.. Let's not forget this idea was originally added into the health bill by a republican.. Now why are you republicans adding death panels to the health reform bill?? Shame on you!!

Assisted suicide should be both legal and covered by insurance.

Originally Posted by MajikMyst

Oh lookie!! The so called death panel clause is being enacted.. Let's not forget this idea was originally added into the health bill by a republican.. Now why are you republicans adding death panels to the health reform bill?? Shame on you!!

C'mon Majik, This is a travesty! Everyone knows that the best time to figure out your end-of-life care is when you're confused, frightened, and in pain. Planning for your future when you're of sound mind and body is not something a Real American™ would ever consider. I think sometimes that conservatives believe death is one of those things that will just go away if you ignore it long enough.

Then again, according to conservatives, determining with your doctor if you'd rather spend the rest of your life hooked up to a machine or not is being subjected to not only a death panel, but socialism, or communism (or one of those "isms"). However, getting turned down for a life saving procedure by your insurance company because of cost is just "free-market" Capitalism in action.

And they wonder why there's so much scorn heaped upon them on this issue.

Originally Posted by NiteGuy

C'mon Majik, This is a travesty! Everyone knows that the best time to figure out your end-of-life care is when you're confused, frightened, and in pain. Planning for your future when you're of sound mind and body is not something a Real American™ would ever consider. I think sometimes that conservatives believe death is one of those things that will just go away if you ignore it long enough.

Then again, according to conservatives, determining with your doctor if you'd rather spend the rest of your life hooked up to a machine or not is being subjected to not only a death panel, but socialism, or communism (or one of those "isms"). However, getting turned down for a life saving procedure by your insurance company because of cost is just "free-market" Capitalism in action.

And they wonder why there's so much scorn heaped upon them on this issue.

To some extent.. I see your points.. But on the same tolken.. Unless you are in a hospital sick.. When do you talk to your doctor?? Most people don't have anything in the way of directives or anything.. Just look at the Teri Schiavo case.. Most people don't have the money to see an attorney for a living will.. This is far from a travesty..

I had open heart surgery a couple of years ago.. I had my aortic valve replaced.. Before the surgery however, we discussed the difference in mechanical valves and pigs valves, and of course my final wishes.. I was in no pain and perfectly aware of the conversation.. They wanted to know who was in charge if I was unable to make my wishes known.. Should a catastrophic event occur, should they do all they could to save me or let me pass..

The issue Nite, is that until people are in these situations.. Like me many do nothing.. It wasn't until I was facing a life threatening surgery did I finally do mine.. So while I see your point and in a perfect world people would do this before they are facing possible death.. In reality, most people don't and will face these questions while in the hospital..

Also, you are not considering that the law that is being enacted also allows people to simply go to their PCP and talk about it.. I know of no insurance that will pay for an office visit to discuss end of life issues.. These types of visits would not be deemed medically required and therefore not paid for.. So this law does both.. It allows the conversation to be had both before they are sick and after.. In either case it is paid for now.. So it isn't a travesty.. Far from it.. This is a good thing.. Something that should have been done a long time ago..

People wonder why there is so much scorn heaped on this issue because there is nothing to scorn about.. There is nothing wrong with this law and there is nothing negative about it.. It is simply paying for a conversation with your doctor.. When it occurs is irrelevent.. Hopefully now people will do it before they are sick.. If not, at least it occurs at all.. Being sick and in pain and on pain meds does not impair someone from decision making.. It might make it slower, and they may need more help.. But these are basic questions.. Who speaks for you if you can't speak for yourself?? They are all simple questions and issues.. I speak with extreme experience.. A survivor of over 18 heart related surgeries.. Even now I live on in constand pain and on pain meds as my sternum didn't fuse properly.. There is a gap at the bottom and is very painful.. Wouldn't know that by reading my posts would you??

As a side note.. With the exception of my Aoritic valve replacement, all other operations and surgeries were done before the age of 18.. So I never faced these questions until my last most recent surgery.. Just adding that incase someone wondered why I waited..