Medicare to cover end-of-life counseling

Associated Press ^ | Jul 8, 2015 5:36 PM EDT | Matt Sedensky and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar

[Olog-hai]

Medicare said Wednesday it plans to pay doctors to counsel patients about end-of-life care, the same idea that sparked accusations of “death panels” and fanned a political furor around President Barack Obama’s health care law six years ago.

The policy change, to take effect Jan. 1, was tucked into a massive regulation on payments for doctors. It suggests that what many doctors regard as a common-sense option is no longer seen by the Obama administration as politically toxic. Counseling would be entirely voluntary for patients.

Some doctors already have such conversations with their patients without billing extra. Certain private insurers have begun offering reimbursement. But an opening to roughly 55 million Medicare beneficiaries could make such talks far more common. About three-quarters of the people who die each year in the U.S. are 65 and older, making Medicare the largest insurer at the end of life, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. …

[Resolute Conservative]

Well, as a therapist you can brag that none of you clients had a relapse... your methods work!

[silverleaf]

I prefer to get my end of life counseling from a priest or minister!

[kaehurowing]

Here come the Death Panels!

[Twinkie]

I’ve already told my doctor I don’t want all the bells & whistles. I’m fairly bull-headed. He’s thorough, wants me to take a bunch of stuff I don’t want. (I’d be swallowing every pill known to man all day long if I’d let them prescribe them.) - He’s stuck behind a laptop every time I see him; & I think he’s getting really tired. I told him if I croaked from not taking the statins & allergy stuff; well no one would blame him. I’ve already got my burial site & tombstone set if the Lord tarries. If not, I’m ready to fly!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Beat the crowds! Sign up now! Especially you, ‘Useless Feeders’ over the age of 65 drawing your SS or public sector pension each month.

Mother Government is BROKE! *SMIRK*

[Don Corleone]

Obama is politically toxic!

[napscoordinator]

I understand what you are saying and agree to a point. However, not taking the statins is a little different.....first of all you may not die, but you may have a stroke or heart attach which could be worse then dying actually. I’d at least take the statins. The allergy medication is probably ok not to take.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Typical advice:

“Do it. Do it now!”

It’s cost saving to promote early termination. Maybe the advisors will get production bonuses.

[NYFriend]

I recently watch a relative with untreatable brain cancer waste away in a hospital (mostly the ICU) for months while they cut organs out, treated infections, saved him from a heart attack, and kept him breathing so everyone could visit to see whether he remembered them or knew where he was each day. The days he knew he what was going on were the worst. I can't guess what his care cost, but it was probably hundreds of thousands of dollars.

There's something to be said for dying from a massive heart attack while riding your bike.

If my doctor said, I keep in alive and bed ridden for the next few weeks, but it will mean feeding tube, and ventilator, and probably a couple of surgeries, plus it will cost the taxpayers a $100k, I'd probably ask what my other options are.

[Pearls Before Swine]

I agree completely. But, the question always revolves around who makes the call, and informed consent. If the government becomes involved with a pecuniary motive (early death cuts costs, that has to be noted and factored in.