Medicare regulations have revived discussion of the "death panels" that were loudly opposed during the healthcare reform debate earlier this year.
Matt StaverMat Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel and dean of the Liberty University School of Law, points out that during the congressional debate on ObamaCare, former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin labeled the "end-of-life" counseling sessions as death panels.
"And rightly so," says Staver, "because what would ultimately happen [under the reform bill] is elderly patients would be pressured to...forgo end-of-life treatment as a result of the rationing that's built into the ObamaCare system."
The provision was stripped from "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" during debate because of public outrage, but will go into effect as a Medicare regulation January 1. It will pay physicians for annual end-of-life counseling sessions with their patients.
Elderly man"What this ultimately means is that elderly people will be pressured by their physicians, who are getting financial incentives to give these end-of-life counseling services to these individuals," the attorney explains.
With government-run healthcare, Staver contends there will be increased bureaucracy and higher costs -- resulting in rationing of healthcare for the elderly and seriously ill. He is encouraging Congress to take action next month to kill the regulation.
Liberty Counsel has filed one of several lawsuits designed to defeat ObamaCare. Staver is confident that will be accomplished.
Contact: Charlie Butts
Source: OneNewsNow
Publish Date: December 29, 2010
