Obama Returns to End-of-Life Plan That Caused Stir (Medicare Death panels start Jan. 1)

NY Times ^ | 12/25/10 | ROBERT PEAR

[jimbo123]

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.

[SatinDoll]

If what you say is true, then the Supreme court will rule out death panels.

[RikaStrom]

Here you go, end-of-life counseling. Soylent Green.... it’ll be nice, peaceful even....

[RobbyS]

One can hope. The problem is that the panels are not dealing with the issue of abortion.

[potlatch]

Good post devolve.

[devolve]

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Thanks potlatch

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[potlatch]

You’re welcome. ‘Thank you’ are magic words, lol.