[MD] The Death Panels

[Ham Priday]

Greetings, Horse --


> Arlo (or anyone else reading)
>
> Help me out here. I've spent some time searching for
> some mention of these so called "Death Panels" and
> all that I seem to find is, effectively, propaganda by
> generally right-wing fear-mongers equating a possible
> decision making process with this emotive terminology.
> All I can assume from this is that it is just that -
> fear-mongering and emotive hyperbole. I doubt that
> Platt will actually give me anything like what I asked him
> for so I'm asking you - is the term "Death Panel" used
> in any official capacity in the proposed healthcare legislation.

I have been following the House Healthcare bill since the initial draft was 
unveiled in June of this year.  Known as H.R. 3200, the bill proposes to 
"reform the current system" to reduce costs, improve choices, and expand 
access to "quality, affordable health care for all Americans" at an 
estimated cost of $1.5 trillion over ten years.  Obama has been pushing it 
as a "public option", which is somewhat misleading for a mandatory program 
that will force private (profit-making) insurance companies out of business 
because they can't compete with a tax-supported government.  Facing 
increasing resistance to his "reform" proposal (85% of U.S. citizens are 
satisfied with their existing healthcare benefits), he's now promoting it as 
a "moral obligation."

The issue in question is a widely quoted Facebook posting in which former 
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin charged that federal bureaucrats would play God, 
ruling on whether ailing seniors or children with Down syndrome - such as 
Palin's son Trig - are worthy of healthcare.  Palin called the proposal 
"downright evil," arguing that a health-care overhaul would create "death 
panels" forcing the elderly into accepting minimal care at the end of their 
lives.

The "end-of-life" provision that stirred up the "Death Panel" controversy 
requires that people on Medicare receive an "Advance Care Planning 
Consultation" every five years or when their health status changes. 
Although the Senate Finance Committee is reportedly dropping this provision, 
Palin has stuck to her guns.  "With all due respect, it's misleading for the 
President to describe this section as an entirely voluntary provision that 
simply increases the information offered to Medicare recipients," she said, 
noting that the provision authorizes consultations whenever a Medicare 
recipient's health changes significantly or when they enter a nursing home.

Here's the relevant wording of this section, [note especially item (E)]:

"Such consultation shall include the following: '(A) An explanation by the 
practitioner of advance care planning, including key questions and 
considerations, important steps, and suggested people to talk to. (B) An 
explanation by the practitioner of advance directives, including living 
wills and durable powers of attorney, and their uses. (C) An explanation by 
the practitioner of the role and responsibilities of a health care proxy. 
(D) The provision by the practitioner of a list of national and 
State-specific resources to assist consumers and their families with advance 
care planning, including the national toll-free hotline, advance care 
planning clearinghouses, and State legal service organizations (including 
those funded through the Older Americans Act of 1965). (E) An explanation by 
the practitioner of the continuum of end-of-life services and supports 
available, including palliative care and hospice, and benefits for such 
services and supports that are available under this title'."

Another page (relating to treatment limitations for the elderly and 
terminally ill) states:

"(B) The level of treatment indicated under subparagraph (A)(ii) may range 
from an indication for full treatment to an indication to limit some or all 
or specified interventions."

Inasmuch as none of this has been finalized (Congress will not vote on the 
bill until the summer recess ends in September), and references to existing 
law have yet to be specified, I'll let you and the MD participants decide 
the extent to which the "Death Panels" charge is valid or just "right-wing 
hype".

Hope this helps fill you in on this latest American struggle with creeping 
collectivism.

Best regards,
Ham