Sens. Drop End-of-Life Provision from Bill
Key senators are excluding a provision on end-of-life care from health overhaul legislation after language in a House bill caused a furor.
Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, said in a statement Thursday that the provision had been dropped from consideration because it could be misinterpreted or implemented incorrectly.
CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella reports that proponents of health care reform believe that if more terminally ill patients were given end-of-life counseling, they would be less likely to chose futile, expensive treatments. It is estimated that 27 percent of Medicare's $327 billion budget is used by patients in the last year of life. That makes end-of-life spending an attractive target for cost cutting, Cobiella reports.
A health care bill passed by three House committees allows Medicare to reimburse doctors for voluntary counseling sessions about end-of-life decisions. But critics have claimed the provision could lead to death panels and euthanasia for seniors.
The Senate Finance Committee is still working to complete a bill.
CBS/ AP Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, said in a statement Thursday that the provision had been dropped from consideration because it could be misinterpreted or implemented incorrectly.
CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella reports that proponents of health care reform believe that if more terminally ill patients were given end-of-life counseling, they would be less likely to chose futile, expensive treatments. It is estimated that 27 percent of Medicare's $327 billion budget is used by patients in the last year of life. That makes end-of-life spending an attractive target for cost cutting, Cobiella reports.
A health care bill passed by three House committees allows Medicare to reimburse doctors for voluntary counseling sessions about end-of-life decisions. But critics have claimed the provision could lead to death panels and euthanasia for seniors.
The Senate Finance Committee is still working to complete a bill.
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But, now that Palin, Gingrich and the GOP have decided that living wills are actually DEATH PANELS, they got it removed because DEATH PANELS scare the sh*t out of the GOP sheep.
The real reason it needed to be removed was the expected $3 billion cost to the health system in the next 10 years: too high. Now, you can spend your OWN money preparing a living will, or risk getting tossed around like Terry Schaivo should your be unable to express your 'end-of-life' wishes when your time is up.
You're only talking about 5% of the population or less. They're so small in number, they barely even register.
It's like one of these crackpots that go in and shoot up a mall or a school, so everyone demonizes "guns". It's not the "guns" that are the problem - it's the extreme fringe element, that are very, very small in number, but manage to get all of the attention by "acting out".
The extremists that keep disrupting the town halls are no different - very small in number, but getting all of the attention.
Just so you know: going to a universal single payer plan would save America about $1 trillion A YEAR on healthcare expenses (based on the cost of healthcare in the many countries who already use this solution relative to the American system).
You 'conservatives' not only voted repeatedly to bankrupt the Federal Government, by cutting your taxes but NOT your gov't services (ala Reagan/Bush's $11 trillion debt), but NOW you are saying you'd rather spend an EXTRA ONE TRILLION DOLLARS A YEAR for healthcare services that aren't rated better than anywhere else, and that FAIL to insure properly ONE-THIRD OF YOU!!!
You rightwing conservatives have fallen completely off the deep end.
Pg 59: SEC. 163. ADMINISTRATIVE SIMPLIFICATIONHC Bill lines 21-24 Government will have DIRECT access to your BANK ACCOUNTS for electronic funds transfer. This means the government can go in and take your money right out of your bank account.
Pg 16: SEC. 102. PROTECTING THE CHOICE TO KEEP CURRENT COVERAGE. lines 3-26 of the HC Bill ? OUTLAWS PRIVATE INSURANCE by forbidding enrollment after HR 3022 is passed into law.
Just alittle of the con game that is going to be pulled on you..We actually read the bill..Has Obama..
Pg 145: SEC. 312. EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS EMPLOYEE AND DEPENDENT COVERAGE Line 15-17 An Employer MUST auto enroll employees into public option plan. NO CHOICE!!
HERE IS JUST FEW EXAMPLES OF WHAT OBAMA HAS IN STORE FOR YOU..
Pg 59: SEC. 163. ADMINISTRATIVE SIMPLIFICATION HC Bill lines 21-24 Government will have DIRECT access to your BANK ACCOUNTS for electronic funds transfer. This means the government can go in and take your money right out of your bank account.
PG 102: SEC. 205. OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT OF EXCHANGE-ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS AND EMPLOYERS IN EXCHANGE-PARTICIPATING HEALTH BENEFITS PLAN Lines 12-18 HC Bill ? Medicaid Eligible Individuals will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. No choice!
pg 127: SEC. 225. PROVIDER PARTICIPATION Lines 1-16 HC Bill ? Doctors/ AMA ? The Government will tell YOU what you can make.
Pg 145: SEC. 312. EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS EMPLOYEE AND DEPENDENT COVERAGE Line 15-17 An Employer MUST auto enroll employees into public option plan. NO CHOICE!!
Pg 239: SEC. 1121. SUSTAINABLE GROWTH RATE REFORM Line 14-24 HC Bill Government will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income, poor affected.
PG 489: SEC. 1308. COVERAGE OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST SERVICES AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR SERVICES The Government will cover Marriage and Family therapy. Which means they will insert Government into your marriage
Pg 354: SEC. 1177. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY OF SPECIAL NEEDS PLANS TO RESTRICT ENROLLMENT ? Government will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs people! OMG! My sister has Downs Syndrome!!!
Pg 298: SEC. 1151. REDUCING POTENTIALLY PREVENTABLE HOSPITAL READMISSIONS Lines 9-11 Doctors! Treat a patient during initial admission that results in a readmission? Government will penalize you
SCHEDULE Line 10-18 Government sets value of Doctor?s time, professional judgment, etc. Literally value of humans.
People don't understand the provision. It was lame attempt by the GOP to torpedo all healthcare refom by singling out one idea they could use to fan the flames of ignorance. It was Johnny Isakson, a Republican, who wrote the end-of-life provision initially. Newt Gingrich supported it less than two months ago. I guess they are excluding Republican input into the bill. That's fine. If they want to fine tune next year, so be it.