“Doctors should have this talk with patients WHETHER OR NOT there is a REIMBURSEMENT CODE from a federal program.”
Look you loon I have agreed with this all along. READ what I have written. My only comment is that doctors should be paid for their time. IF you are on medicare there is a code. IF you have your own insurance there is a code. IF you are on Ocare there is a code. Unless you are paying out of pocket someone somewhere has made a code for EVERYTHING so the reimbursements can be made.
I am not making a distinction about any government care.... and never have since I consider it all socialized medicine. At 65 you are FORCED to take medicare whether you had something better or not. IF you have a job that provides benefits then you are not on any of those specific government plans. Unfortunately, if you have any form of insurance there area already codes. What don’t you get about that?
I know we agree on some points, Nifster, but it is my belief that if you are over 65, you should have the option to opt out of Medicare and pay out of pocket if you can and wish. But I do NOT agree with you that doctors should have access to a government code that gives them government money for the discussion they have with you concerning the end of one’s life. That is government-sponsored killing. The GOOD doctors have these discussions with patients regardless of “whether there is a code for that.” If practicing medicine is IMPOSSIBLE without some silly government code, we are in a world of hurt.