N.P. MacCann: Health insurers are today's 'death panels'

Sarah Palin is right to fear "death panels."

But it is not the government Sarah needs to fear. Let me tell you a story.

This summer, the Senior Navigation and Planning Act of 2009 (S.1263) health care reform legislation was introduced on the Senate floor. It was this legislation that probably caused the outrage against "government death panels." This is the legislation that would strengthen the quality and availability of counseling, support services and care management for patients and families coping with life-limiting illnesses. Medicaid and Medicare coverage is expanded for these services, which include hospice stays for the terminally ill in life's final stages. This legislation was applauded by many reputable sources and supporters of health care reform.

However, a mega-giant health insurance company also came to the support of this legislation and provided statistics to report to lawmakers that claimed 27 percent of Medicare's budget is spent during the last year of older patients' lives on unnecessary hospital tests and procedures. The mega-giant he

Cheap Car Insurance for Students Discount Tips - car-insurance-for-students.com - by Sinhawk Media - Search - Sitemap