Scare Tactics Over "End-of-Life" Bill?

Rumors Swirl about Congressional Plan for End-of-Life Care for Seniors on Medicare

(CBS)  At protests and town hall meetings around the country accusations are flying about so-called "end-of-life care" for seniors on Medicare, reports CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson.

It's spelled out in "Section 1233" of the House Bill.

"What it says is, as a 74-year old man, if you develop cancer, we're pretty much gonna write you off," claimed one woman at a town hall meeting.

"Nobody 74 is going to be written off because they have cancer," said Sen. Arlen Specter. "That's a vicious, malicious untrue rumor."

It's a "rumor" that spread like fire after a July 16 radio interview with former Lt. Governor of New York Betsy McCaughey, a Democrat.

"The Congress would make it mandatory, absolutely required like every five years, people in Medicare have a required counseling session, that will tell them how to end their life sooner," McCaughey said in the interview.

Not true, according to Brooks Jackson of the consumer advocate group FactCheck.org.

"What the House bill does... is make end-of-life counseling - things like living wills, advance directives - makes that a covered expense under Medicare," Jackson said.

Section 1233 primarily offers Medicare patients "Advance Care Planning Consultation" every five years - sooner if they take a turn for the worse. Counselors would be trained by the government "about the goals and use of orders for life sustaining treatment," which are not specified in the bill.

Despite rumors, counseling would be voluntary, not forced. But health care professionals would be paid to provide it.

"There is something legitimately worth talking about here," Jackson said. "If you cover something under Medicare, you pay doctors to do it, they have a financial incentive to do it."

As for what advice patients would get from counselors, they'd hear about services like "hospice." They'd be encouraged to give "preferences" for "life sustaining treatment." That may include limiting "the intensity of medical intervention... if the patient is pulseless... or has serious cardiac or pulmonary problems."

Some worry susceptible seniors would be steered into ending their life to save money. One House committee addressed those fears by adding an amendment: It says the government will not pay organizations that "promote suicide, assisted suicide, or the act of hastening death."

If one study from Harvard is to be believed, the interests of all sides may actually dovetail. It found that cancer patients who had end-of-life counseling spent about $1,000 less in their final week of life, were more comfortable and lived just as long as those who chose more intensive care.

[edmundsingleton]

I for one would welcome recommendations for end of life planning so that my family do not have the burden of trying to comply with my known or unknown wishes...

[vicky_agramonte]

"PG 425: Government mandates Advance Care Planning Consultations for seniors and THE END-of-life prodding. THE END or is it just the beginning? Pg 425: Government will instruct & consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney. Mandatory!"
Dear "thereisnomainstreammedia" above is your quote... search your document, the word mandatory IS NOT USED ONCE IN THIS BILL!!!!!!!!!There needs to be more than 2 solutions to our problem (the perfect health reform bill or nothing at all). I am amazed at the gross misinterpretation of your review... shame on you.

[ladypirate2]

If you want proof that you can't believe a word that Obama tells you about this bill just go to Newsmax.com. Newsmax reported yesterday that the statement that Obama made Tuesday that said AARP had endorsed his health care legislation is not true!

At the town hall in Portsmouth, N.H., Obama said, "We have the AARP onboard because they know this is a good deal for our seniors." He added, "AARP would not be endorsing a bill if it was undermining Medicare."

But Tom Nelson, AARP's chief operating officer, said, "Indications that we have endorsed any of the major healthcare reform bills currently under consideration in Congress are inaccurate."

Newsmax goes on to say that like Obama, AARP wants action this year to cover the uninsured and restrain healthcare costs, but the organization has refrained from endorsing legislation. Nelson said AARP would not endorse a bill that reduces Medicare benefits.

A spokesman said the Medicare cuts that have been proposed so far would not affect benefits.

PEOPLE OBAMA DIDN'T TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS! HE LIED! IT MAKES ME WONDER WHAT ELSE HE'S NOT TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT! HE'S PUSHING THIS BILL THROUGH TOO FAST! HE'S TRYING TO HIDE SOMETHING FROM US! PLEASE DON'T TRUST HIM PEOPLE!

[btygrl2432]

we simply cannot afford all of this. what is the government thinking? where do we live? we should be able to vote on what is going on. this is not a dictatorship.

[ladypirate2]

People please don't believe anything that Obama and the proponents of this bill are telling you! Obama is trying to rush this thing through too fast! He's trying to hide something and pull one over on the taxpayers!

[mary-miami]

Scare tactics by the Republicans and lies. Everyone has a right to Healthcare. If you have medical insurance and you like your doctor, you keep him, but all the other thousands of people that have not had access to a doctor for years will finally have a chance to consult one if necessary. That which benefits one American citizen will benefit the entire American nation. That's what we should be looking out for...the good of our nation. Healthcare is a basic human right.

[canubthatstupid]

His own Words: Where my reporters at?

Question: "Outside the medical criteria for prolonging the life of someone who is elderly, is there any consideration that can be given for a certain spirit, a certain joy of living, or quality of life; or is it just a medical cut off at a certain age?"
President Obama: "Yeah, we're not gonna solve every difficult problem in terms of end of life care. A lot of that is going to have to be we as a culture and a society making better decisions within our own families and for ourselves. But what we can do is make sure that at least some of the waste that exists in the system that is not making anybody's mom better that is loading up on additional tests or additional drugs that the evidence shows is not going to improve care, that at least we can let doctors know and your mom know that, you know what, maybe this isn't gonna help. Maybe you're better off not taking the surgery, but taking the painkiller."

[Beyond-The-Spectrum]

(*huddles in a corner, sucking his thumb, acting like an ideologically-dogmatic conservative*) "Ooooooh....here comes 'Socialism!--the big bad Boogey Man! Ooooo...I'm sooo scared!"

Grow up people...you sound like those types back in history who thought sailors would fall off the face of the flat earth if they sailed out on the ocean too far. We have to try something. Given that health care costs have priced insurance out of the reach of those who aren't blessed with lifestyles which afford them conservative thinking, the raw Free Market by itself surely isn't up to the task (not to mention that the inability to pay these expensive & growing costs is the no.1 cause of bankruptcies). We need to use what works, not what's ideologically secure to end this crisis (and here's a newflash...we're NOT going to end it by trying NOT to spend money)!

http://beyond-the-political-spectrum.blogspot.com/

[rccmaize1]

"Cybertribualism" -my word
an active example is happing now.

A word ?healthcare?
Of course there will be others pop up


I have spoke of "cybertribualism" -my word and this seems to prove that we have come to the level of "Cro-Magnon man" again as reason and the use of gray mater to stop, look, listen and reason to find solutions for direction for problem solving has reverted back to "grunting and clubs".

We now have groups of electronic tribes that float mindless in cyberspace leaching to
The emotional trash and garbage of the public relations and marketing gang of "if you have the price we will create professional lie's for you to prove what ever you desire" you provide the animal passion and meat eating hunger for the blood lust.

It always benefits those that want money , power, and control.

It seems we are still in the caves grunting and procreating like animals.

There is hope as always that the gray matter and calm can see the light of truth will over power the screaming and bloodlettings of those that can only see fear and are afraid to step out into the knowledge of light and the ever changing truth of living,

It is a walkabout we all take in this journey called life and it waits for no one
This is what ?freedom is all about? it is always your choice..

I all have to say watching the actions of what I would call the lost souls it the ugly anger and hate trying to hide fear screaming and if they had a gun killing
Some poor soul there looking for answers about their child dying or a senior there wondering if they should buy a pill or cat food to live.

The animal in man is truly ugly. thus the Christian have killed successful GOD, CREATOR, preacher book or books the believe will give them life ever after or what ever master they lay their self to call leader.

Breckfest food and cockroach's have a better chance at forever.


Of course this is just an observation of the great armadillo,
Barrow A. Dillo

[smiley520]

Those of you who are complaining the deficit is caused by the prior administrations war cost, need a realty check. When Obama took office, the deficit was slightly over one trillion dollars, more than half of which he flew back to Washington from the campaign trail to, according to the media, save the 800 billion dollar TARP bill which is more than half of the deficit he blames on Bush. Since his election he has added 3 or 4 trillion more to current and future deficits. This so called reform of health care will signifcantly increase the deficit. This president is not the solution, he is part of the problem. Just how much money do you think he voted for while a Senator! Wake up before it is too late.

[hungry1968-16]

What a bunch of lies!!

The national debt was $11 TRILLION when Obama took office, the TARP program was Bushes doing, and so far the spending of this administration is $1.8 TRILLION which includes the forgotten wars overseas, TARP, AND the Bush automaker bailouts!!

Get a grip on reality dude.

[five_david]

For those of you that are employ and against Health Care reform, I hope you don't lose your job and lose your company?s health insurance.

Try shop around for a private insurance, for your self or your family, as if you are unemployed.
You will get a huge wake up call and demand Health Care reform. You will be unemployed one time or another because there are no guarantee jobs that last a life time.

Health Care reform CAN be use as a safety net/insurance until a job is found.

Remember this:
The CEO of the Health Care insurance company needs to make money for the share holders and does not care or answer to you!

The government answers to the people, when there are enough people, because you can vote someone else into office.

How much money do you think the Health Care Insurance company will lose and is willing to spend to defeat this health reform bill?

We receive police and fire protection why not health care?

The cost of democracy is cryonic deficit.

[five_david]

I have not heard of any of these attacks in US.

Where are the web site that reported all these attacks?
I like to read it for my self.

Please post the web site or people will think you are making this up and trying start rumors to cause trouble.

[hungry1968-16]

by tbbaot August 12, 2009 9:26 AM EDT
The 1800 page bill was rushed together and won't gain support of the public as written. The solution is to go back and get it right. There is no reason to go this fast unless you are trying to pull something on tax payers. Go slow and get reform right.







1 - the bill is 1,018 pages - NOT 1,800 as you incorrectly guessed.

2 - the public IS behind the reform efforts. The only way that you can't see that is if you watch Fox News.

3 - There's no reason to "go back" - the law is still being written.

4 - Reform CANNOT wait any longer. 18,000 per year die because they don't have coverage. 1,200 file bankruptcy EVERYDAY because of catastrophic / unforeseen medical problems / issues. Thousands of people suffer everyday without medical attention, because they can't afford it.

"Slow down"?

16 years of complete inaction hasn't been slow enough for you?

[ladypirate2]

tbbaot is right! The public is NOT going to support this bill as written and if this thing is forced down our throats as it is we will retaliate with our votes in the next election! If congress wants to keep their jobs they will vote NO on this legislation when it comes before them unless they are allowed to slow down and take their time and study it and make the changes and amendments that it badly needs! The president is trying to rush it through too fast! He's trying to hide something! We've waited 16 years, we can wait a little while longer and get a bill that's right and acceptable and won't be a curse on us!

[ncx]

I just received my Social Security check and notice to report for immediate transport to "The Farm". They say my childhood puppy Sporty will be there. This is real people!! Free Squeaky Fromme! Long Live Jon Gosselin!

[barbaram99]

This sounds like Ster Trek show that I saw on TV. I am 54. I hate the term baby boomer. Baby boomers were born in the years 1946 to 1964. Ye are telling us as we age that yer gonna kill us. It is mortal sin to take one's life. It is. I am legally blind. I am pissed. End the wars as that is where this nation blowing money om useless wars that loses. Every war since Nam. The military takes about haft of the moneys. We use to make every thing in this. Used to. Then Uncle Sam sent it overseas to save money. It was not laziness. It is save money. I pity the young who know no different. I never voted for buses. Most don't member we made everything we use years ago. I bought a used Notebook and had it updated by Americans. It is rear to find much MADE IN USA. Yep the CPUs are I best put that in. Americans have forgotten how to make things. Rather pay tham out of nation to. That is slave labour. Ye whine about the moneys. Try living on a small monthly check. Rent,and the basics sky high. Ye rather put us to sleep as we hit a centain age. Yer barbaric. Ye love the illagals as they do yer dirty work. This was once a great nation. Gangs runs evrywhere. There was a day where elders were treated with honour. We were taught to never be rude to an elder. It is an honour to talk to older folks. I am appalled that ye wish to to kill us at 74. THAT IS AWFUL. I am appalled .

[texanforlogi]

barbaram99-- honey, you're buying into the fear and lies. Nobody is wanting to kill you at 74. That is a blatant lie and you should say something about the lies to the person you heard it from.
What the bill says is that, if you WANT to, you can talk to your doctor about a living will, not being hooked up to machines, etc. and Medicare will pay for the doctor visit. That's all. Right now, Medicare will not pay for that doctor visit and you either have to pay for it yourself or the doctor has to lie thus committing Medicare fraud.

[jab232]

I've read several articles in major news outlets about how Granny Killing is not something even remotely in the bill. But that doesn't matter. The people arguing it aren't putting it forth to tell the truth. They need a righteous cause to try to incite the public whether it is true or not.

[geneonlbk]

ever hear of a "living will"? This bill is just that since most Americans,especially the elderly, are too ignorant to have one. They should also have a DNR if they want one until a more sane medical protocol is adopted such as the proposed national health plan. My my how desperate are the greedy insurance companies and how stupid are those who scream out of ignorance. READ!

[jhenry1208]

Both trucks are car qualify for the Cash For Clunkers but not the motorcycles.


Jhenry
Blogger
www.cashforclunkersfacts.info
http://www.cashforclunkersfacts.info

[michaelm07]

Does the bill say "euthanasia", no. And the people that uttered those words were the Dems. However, it does not take a genius to read between the lines, "end of life" counseling? Even Obama said the words maybe it is better to take the pill and manage the pain. Any idiot knows that means keep them warehoused and in a stupor until they die. With the huge baby boomer population in this country, there are a LOT of people his plans will affect although the clowns ramming this through will not live with it, we will while they have their select care. The only thing missing is the label, Communism but it is materialist collectivism.

Don't let these mental midgets in washington (with a small w, unlike the late great capital of Washington D.C.), hijack or steer this debate. And by the way, a good debate is ALWAYS spirited and contentious, otherwise it is not a debate. It is NOT about the far right making noise. The far right, the right, the center/moderates and many on the near left are VERY unhappy about this. Perhaps these same people that say this plan doesn't describe what it clearly says, will also claim it is only the far right who are unhappy. Stop this swindle in it's tracks and then VOTE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM OUT, next election.

[democracy1]

Stop the fearmongering lies about euthanasia and have the courtesy to remain civil and let others speak as well if you attend a Town Hall meeting. Those who disagree with you have just as much right to be heard as you do.

[ladypirate2]

The president and all of the other proponents of this bill need to get it through their heads that we aren't buying the crap that they're trying to shove down our throats! We don't believe a word that they are saying and we are not going to accept this curse that they're trying to force on us! The president is trying to rush this thing through congress without giving congress a chance to study it and make the needed amendments and changes! He's trying to force something on us that we don't want and won't stand for! He should back off and wait until congress re-convenes and allow them to study it and make the needed changes! If he doesn't and forces this thing through congress as it is, I hope congress has the good sense to vote NO on this legislation! There is a better way to have health care reform than at the cost of our elderly people's lives! The republicans have a health care reform bill that centers more on the patient and is much more acceptable!