health care reform
Senate Finance Committee drops end-of-life provisions from draft reform bill.
The Los Angeles Times reports that the Senate Finance Committee has decided to scrap the part of its healthcare bill that in recent days has given rise to fears of government ‘death panels,’ with one lawmaker suggesting the proposal was just too confusing.
CQ HealthBeat reports that on Thursday, Finance Committee member Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-IA) said that the committee dropped consideration of end-of-life provisions similar to those that have prompted claims by opponents that the House health overhaul bill authorizes so-called ‘death panels. The panel, according to Sen. Grassley has been trying to avoid ‘unintended consequences’ by working methodically through the consequences of policy options. The end-of-life provisions were dropped entirely because of the way they could be misinterpreted and implemented incorrectly, Grassley said, adding, “Maybe others can defend a bill like the Pelosi bill that leaves major issues open to interpretation but I can’t.”
The Boston Globe adds that the language is still in the House legislation, which would permit Medicare to pay doctors for voluntary counseling sessions on end-of-life issues, including living wills, making a close relative or friend a healthcare proxy, hospice care, and information about medications for chronic pain. According to the Globe, the issue illustrates the intense passions in the healthcare debate. The phrase ‘death panels” proved to be a volatile buzzword, and it quickly caught on in talk radio, cable television, and at town hall meetings conducted by members of Congress on summer recess.
White House Escalates Campaign Against Healthcare Reform “Myths”
ABC World News (8/13, lead story, 3:00, Gibson) reporting, “After days of raucous, in your face town hall meetings about healthcare reform, the White House [Thursday] said enough, and launched its own email chain letter campaign to counter the critics and try to get the upper hand in the intense national debate. Supporters of reform say opponents are using malicious misinformation, trying to kill reform for political purposes.” ABC’s Tapper added, “The last few weeks have been dominated by opponents of President Obama’s healthcare reform push. White House officials insist it’s not too late for the President to make his case to the American people.”
Healthcare Debate Shifts to Television Screens
The CBS Evening News reported, “As tempers flare in the healthcare debate, both sides are employing everything in their arsenals to win over Americans.” USA Today reports the “healthcare battle…is shifting to television screens as groups on each side of the issue launch multimillion-dollar ad blitzes to influence the debate. Advocacy groups such as the US Chamber of Commerce and the AARP are spending a combined $500,000 on healthcare ads every day.” Groups on all sides have invested a combined $57 million in healthcare ads this year…and supporters have outspent those who oppose the legislation by roughly 2-to-1.
