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Wednesday, August 12
Braley Statement Reacting to Grassley Claim on End-of-Life Care in Healthcare Reform Bill
by
Trish Nelson
on Wed 12 Aug 2009 11:07 PM CDT
Braley Statement Reacting to Grassley Claim on End-of-Life Care in Healthcare Reform Bill
 Washington, DC – Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) released the following statement in reaction to comments made by Iowa Senator Charles Grassley at a town hall in Winterset, Iowa, today regarding provisions on end-of-life care in healthcare reform proposals being considered by Congress:
"I'm shocked that Senator Grassley would reinforce the ridiculous claim that paying doctors to discuss end-of-life care with their patients is somehow 'pulling the plug on grandma.' This comment is demeaning to seniors who want the choice of consulting with their doctor about important end-of-life healthcare decisions. Now is the time for a rational discussion of healthcare concerns, not a time to spread fear among seniors," said Braley.
Numerous organizations have debunked as false the claim that the government would make end-of-life decisions on behalf of seniors. Provisions in healthcare reform proposals merely allow Medicare to reimburse healthcare providers for multiple end-of-life care consultations, allowing seniors greater choices and flexibility in their care.
Republican Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) stated: “How someone could take an end of life directive or a living will as [euthanasia] is nuts… The problem you got is that there's so much swirling around about health care and people are taking bits and pieces out of this. This was thoroughly debated in the Senate MVP. It's voluntary. Every state in America has an end of life directive or durable power of attorney provision.” [Washington Post, 8/11/09]
AARP stated: “This measure would not only help people make the best decisions for themselves, but also better ensure that their wishes are followed… To suggest otherwise is a gross, and even cruel, distortion…” [7/24/09]
USA Today stated: “…lies appear to be in full sprint as the nation's health care debate goes local… In this case it's a section of a House bill inserted by members of both parties to allow Medicare to pay doctors for optional end-of-life counseling, something that's already covered in a new patient's first Medicare visit… But critics have twisted this into a sinister, cost-saving plot by the government to force seniors to end their lives early… Neutral arbiters have rightly demolished this.” [USA Today, 8/10/09]
The Associated Press stated: "Nothing in the legislation would carry out such a bleak vision. The provision that has caused the uproar would instead authorize Medicare to pay doctors for counseling patients about end-of-life care, if the patient wishes.” [AP, 8/11/09]
Factcheck.org stated: “The claim that the House health care bill pushes suicide is nonsense.”
Jeff Giertz, Communications Director, Contact Jeff
Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01)
Dx: Fear Rx: The Facts about Health Care Reform - "Death Panel" Sarah
by
Alta Price
on Wed 12 Aug 2009 01:00 PM CDT
Dx: Fear Rx: The Facts about Health Care Reform – “Death Panel” Sarah
   by Alta Price, M.D.
(cross-posted at Quadsville.com in Dr Dx's Blog)
At Facebook, Sarah Palin worries about her parents or baby with Down Syndrome standing “in front of Obama’s ‘death panel’ so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their ‘level of productivity in society,’ whether they are worthy of health care”.
My first reaction: What?!?!?!?
This craziest of claims is on every blog, on T.V., and repeated by Republicans in Congress. Since she neglects to cite the HR 3200 page describing these “death panels”, I can only conclude this is one of the more fantastical interpretations of the section on reimbursing physicians if a patient wants help planning for end-of-life care (making a living will).
My mother passed away last August. Her choice of in-home hospice care, completely paid for by her government plan (a.k.a. Medicare), let her die at home, surrounded by her family. Yes, it saved Medicare some money, too. But it was her decision, and if she had wanted hospitalization for the last two weeks of her life, under HR 3200 she could have had that instead. Furthermore, nothing in the bill requires anyone to think about the care they want at the end of their life or to have a living will. But if you want to make your wishes known to your doctor and family, Medicare will pay your doctor to help you with your advance directive. Even the AMA, staunchly opposed to voluntary euthanasia, supports this provision.
Governor Palin, how did you get from Medicare paying doctors for their time working on a patient’s living will to “death panels”?
Dr Dx
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Here are versions of the wild assertions based on one little section of the House bill, HR 3200 (you can read the full text of the bill here), on a topic never considered controversial before (legislation making living wills legal has been supported by members of both parties in the past). The Truth comes from Health Care for America Now, one of the lead coalition groups fighting for health care reform, with a statement from the author of this provision thrown in for good measure.
Wild Assertions and Hysterical Claims:
"Page 425-430: More bureaucracy: Advance Care Planning Consult: Senior Citizens, assisted suicide, euthanasia?; Government will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney, etc. Mandatory. Appears to lock in estate taxes ahead of time; Government provides approved list of end-of-life resources, guiding you in death; Government mandates program that orders end-of-life treatment; government dictates how your life ends; Advance Care Planning Consult will be used to dictate treatment as patient's health deteriorates. This can include an ORDER for end-of-life plans. An ORDER from the GOVERNMENT; Government will decide what level of treatments you may have at end-of-life."
TRUTH: All of these hysterical claims have been debunked elsewhere. HR3200 provides for the reimbursement of a voluntary session of end-of-life counseling with your physician once every five years. This in no way means the government will make decisions for patients or encourage doctor-assisted suicide. Counseling simply makes patients and their families aware of their options.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), who co-authored the provision, released a fact sheet on advance planning consultations in the House health care bill that states: "Myth: Patients will be forced to have this consultation once every five years. FACT: Advance planning consultations are not mandatory; this benefit is completely voluntary. The provision merely provides coverage under Medicare to have a conversation once every five years if - and only if - a patient wants to make his or her wishes known to a doctor. If desired, patients may have consultations more frequently if they are chronically ill or if their health status changes."
Find Dr Dx right here on Blog for Iowa every afternoon for the next couple of weeks.
Congressman Loebsack Hosts Sixteen Town Halls
by
Trish Nelson
on Wed 12 Aug 2009 05:00 AM CDT
Congressman Loebsack Hosts Sixteen Town Halls
 Discusses Health Care Reform, Issues Important to Iowans
Congressman Dave Loebsack will be hosting Town Hall meetings across Iowa's Second District. The Congressman will discuss health care reform, economic recovery, and address issues that are important to Iowans. The full schedule is below. As a member of the House of Representatives Progressive Caucus, Congressman Loebsack has been working hard to save the public option. Please come out and show your support.
Saturday, August 15th
9:30 AM CEDAR RAPIDS
343 Cedar Hall, Kirkwood Community College
6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW
12:00 PM MOUNT PLEASANT
Civic Center
307 East Monroe Street
2:00 PM FORT MADISON
City Hall Council Chambers
811 Avenue E
3:30 PM BURLINGTON
City Hall Council Chambers
400 Washington Street
Saturday, August 22nd
10:00 AM IOWA CITY
Public Library
123 S. Linn St.
11:45 AM TIPTON
Cedar County Extension
107 Cedar Street
2:00 PM MUSCATINE
City Hall Council Chambers
215 Sycamore Street
4:00 PM COLUMBUS JUNCTION
City Hall Council Chambers
232 2nd Street
Saturday, August 29th
10:30 AM WASHINGTON
Public Library
120 East Main Street
1:00 PM FAIRFIELD
Fairfield Public Library
104 W. Adams St.
2:30 PM OTTUMWA
Ottumwa Public Library
102 W. Fourth
4:15 PM BLOOMFIELD
Bloomfield- Davis County Hospital
509 N. Madison
Saturday, September 5th
11:30 AM KEOSAQUA
Village Cup & Cakes
220 Main St.
1:45 PM CENTERVILLE
Centerville- Mercy Hospital
1 St. Joseph Dr., Conference Rooms A&B
3:15 PM CORYDON
Wayne County Hospital
417 S. East St.
Saturday, September 12th
2:00 PM KEOKUK
Public Library Round Room
210 North 5th Street
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