People were warned about government-run health care. Obama infamously said sometimes you should take the pill instead of the surgery. Sarah Palin was lambasted by the left for speaking out about these death panels and now the New York Times is writing about these “end of life” panels. These are death panels but it sounds much more pleasant when you call them “end of life” panels.
WASHINGTON — When a proposal to encourage end-of-life planning touched off a political storm over “death panels,” Democrats dropped it from legislation to overhaul the health care system. But the Obama administration will achieve the same goal by regulation, starting Jan. 1.
End of life=death. End of life panels=Death Panels.
Under the new policy, outlined in a Medicare regulation, the government will pay doctors who advise patients on options for end-of-life care, which may include advance directives to forgo aggressive life-sustaining treatment.
This is health care rationing brought to us by the government, except it is the taxpayers who foot the bill. Doctors will be paid to push patients to give up on life saving procedures to save money. Remember, Obama is cutting $500 billion from Medicare. The savings will come by doctors pushing patients to avoid costly medical procedures and medicines.
Congressional supporters of the new policy, though pleased, have kept quiet. They fear provoking another furor like the one in 2009 when Republicans seized on the idea of end-of-life counseling to argue that the Democrats’ bill would allow the government to cut off care for the critically ill.
Notice that this is the goal as mentioned in the above paragraph.
The final version of the health care legislation, signed into law by President Obama in March, authorized Medicare coverage of yearly physical examinations, or wellness visits. The new rule says Medicare will cover “voluntary advance care planning,” to discuss end-of-life treatment, as part of the annual visit.
Under the rule, doctors can provide information to patients on how to prepare an “advance directive,” stating how aggressively they wish to be treated if they are so sick that they cannot make health care decisions for themselves.
And as stated by the NY Times above, the government is going to pay doctors to tell patients to forego expensive procedures.
While the new law does not mention advance care planning, the Obama administration has been able to achieve its policy goal through the regulation-writing process, a strategy that could become more prevalent in the next two years as the president deals with a strengthened Republican opposition in Congress.
In this case, the administration said research had shown the value of end-of-life planning.
“Advance care planning improves end-of-life care and patient and family satisfaction and reduces stress, anxiety and depression in surviving relatives,” the administration said in the preamble to the Medicare regulation, quoting research published this year in the British Medical Journal.
As we all know, the UK health care system is all about rationing. This is why Obama appointed Dr. Donald Berwick, a self-admitted lover of the UK health care system, as head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. It’s just a coincidence that Berwick is a pro-health care rationing goon.
The administration also cited research by Dr. Stacy M. Fischer, an assistant professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, who found that “end-of-life discussions between doctor and patient help ensure that one gets the care one wants.” In this sense, Dr. Fischer said, such consultations “protect patient autonomy.”
Opponents said the Obama administration was bringing back a procedure that could be used to justify the premature withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment from people with severe illnesses and disabilities.
Remember when Obama said take the pill instead of the surgery? This is what he was talking about.
Section 1233 of the bill passed by the House in November 2009 — but not included in the final legislation — allowed Medicare to pay for consultations about advance care planning every five years. In contrast, the new rule allows annual discussions as part of the wellness visit.
As we all know, compensating medical professionals for end of life consultations was originally a republican idea. It was once championed by John McCain. If you knew anyone who had a family member who was, say, an accident victim, suddenly on life support, you’d understand the anguish they go through trying to decide the ultimate fate of a loved one in the midst of a crisis situation. Sure, one person may decide they want the plug pulled in such a situation. On the other hand, many would opt for the do everything you can to keep me alive route. Advance directives are a good thing, and if you took off your partisan glasses, you’d see that.
Thanks for the comment, however I am pointing out what some denied. These are death panels, plain and simple. The government is going to use our tax dollars to pay doctors to ‘consult’ patients about their “END OF LIFE CARE.” Sarah Palin, the woman you seem to hate, judging by the name of your blog, was slandered by those on the left for speaking the truth. Now the New York Times, another liberal rag, tells everyone that the Democrats took this out of the ObamaCare legislation and now it is back. As Nancy Pelosi infamously said “We have to pass this bill to see what’s in it.” Now we know and we also know the President and his party sold us this unconstitutional bill under false pretences…aka LIES. But I’m totally sure you support this bill because it’s obvious that you’re a “non-partisan” huh sarahpalinsworst?
Corpse man = Obama…the real word is corpsman
Thanks, Scotty. Yep, I’m about as partisan as it gets, but on this issue, I think conservatives are pretty much out on a limb. Now, as to the mechanics of getting what’s in it, well, in it – I see your point. But that’s how things get done in Washington. Remember Bush’s unconstitutional signing statements?
So since Bush did it, its fine that Obama does it? That is the typical defense from the left. The Bush defense doesn’t work with me because I was against some of the things he did. Thats the difference between conservatives and liberals. Conservatives abandoned Bush when he started his spending spree and questionable legislation. Liberals/Progressives/Socialist defend Obama using the “Bush did it” defense. It is still wrong. Obama equals nothing more than the 3rd term of Bush, since he has carried on most of Bush’s policies and extended the governments role even more. Now we have a government that has taken over the auto, college loan, financial and health care systems as they currently eye taking over the internet.
But since Bush was a bad guy I guess this is all awesome for the socialist who worship Obama. This shows the hypocrisy of Democrats. They ranted about how unconstitutional Bush was but now love the unconstitutional things Obama is doing.
Also, the majority of Americans (around 60%) want ObamaCare repealed. Now who do you think is out on the limb again? That would be liberal/progressive/socialist Democrats according to the polls.