The scaremongers have apparently succeeded in forcing Senate Democrats to remove end of life planning from their health reform plans. This despite the original provision was introduced by a Republican (Johnny Isakson of Georgia) support of the measure by none other than conservative icon Newt Gingrich (at least he supported it until a few weeks ago…), a new study that demonstrates the importance of end of life planning, and the bill itself, which does NOT include mandatory ‘advance care planning’.
(Section 1233 of America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 amends the Social Security Act to ensure that advance care planning will be covered if a patient requests it from a qualified care provider [America’s Affordable Health Choices Act, Sec. 1233]. Media Matters notes “According to an analysis of the bill produced by the three relevant House committees, the section “[p]rovides coverage for consultation between enrollees and practitioners to discuss orders for life-sustaining treatment. Instructs CMS to modify ‘Medicare & You’ handbook to incorporate information on end-of-life planning resources and to incorporate measures on advance care planning into the physician’s quality reporting initiative.” [waysandmeans.house.gov, accessed 7/29/09])
The reality is a relatively innocuous provision that had broad bipartisan support and was widely recognized as appropriate and helpful by the medical community has been used by opponents of health reform to scare the bejesus out of enough Americans to force its removal from the (future) Senate Bill.
And if you think the battle is over, you’re sadly mistaken.
I don’t know what seemingly mundane the next battle will be over, but if reform opponents can use advance life care planning as a cudgel to beat the heck out of the Democrats, than no provision is safe.
The Dems have all but lost the reform battle; polls are not favorable, opponents have created fear and concern among independents and moderates, and the President has been unable (to date) to use his formidable communicative powers and infrastructure to regain the momentum.
Unless President Obama and the Democrats get their act together, reform’s chances are fading like an iceberg in a heat wave.
Aug
20
