After Controversies, Medicare Reimbursement For End-Of-Life Planning Again Getting Consideration
Stateline: Feds To Consider Paying Doctors For End-Of-Life PlanningThe federal government may reimburse doctors for talking to Medicare patients and their families about “advance care planning,” including living wills and end-of-life treatment options — potentially rekindling one of the fiercest storms in the Affordable Care Act debate. A similar provision was in an early draft of the federal health care law, but in 2009, former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin took to Facebook to accuse President Barack Obama of proposing “death panels” to determine who deserved life-sustaining medical care. Amid an outcry on the right, the provision was stripped from the legislation. Now, quietly, the proposal is headed toward reconsideration — this time through a regulatory procedure rather than legislation (Ollove, 6/2). This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
