Medicare Has Revived Idea Of Paying Doctors For End Of Life Care Plans
By Pat Loeb
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Medicare has proposed paying doctors to provide end-of-life counseling, the same kind of service that opponents of the Affordable Care Act called "death panels."
A tea party uproar forced the payments out of the Affordable Care Act, but Medicare is proposing them again at the request of the American Medical Association.
Dr. Karl Ahlswede, Director of Palliative Care at Main Line Health, said doctors often have such conversations, but the payments would allow them to schedule appointments that focus exclusively on Advance Care planning.
"That is going to help patients with very important decisions."
Independence Blue Cross senior medical director Don Liss said the insurer supports the proposal.
"These kinds of discussions should be happening and to the extent Medicare is going to send a very powerful signal that makes this an appropriate topic for conversation is certainly a good thing." said Liss.
The payments are expected to go into effect next year.