“Death panel” claim rears its ugly head again
Two years ago, Sarah Palin tried to convince us that a provision in the Affordable Care Act was effectively a “death panel.”
The provision actually allowed physicians to bill Medicare for time spent talking to patients about an end-of-life plan, something every adult should have. But they managed to get the provision rescinded from the law with the fear they induced with the death panel lie.
Now more people will become ill without a plan and no one will know whether they want expensive and ineffective treatment at the end of their lives.
Making out a living will is an important thing to do, but doctors won’t be paid for their time trying to get patients to think about end-of-life care, which by the way is the most expensive care most of us receive in our lifetimes.
Now opponents of health reform are at it again, calling the group that will assess the effectiveness of treatments a “death panel.”
This group, the Independent Payment Advisory Board, is meant to help control costs, but NOT by deciding who gets care. The board will review treatments to see whether they are effective. For example, if you’re taking an expensive name-brand drug and a generic that is chemically the same as what you’re taking is available at far less cost, the board might recommend use of the generic in most situations.
Of course, it’s not as simple as that since the board will look at a wide range of treatments in a search for best practices — that is, the treatments that work the best the highest percentage of the time, and whether a less expensive practice is equally as effective as a more expensive one.
This group will NOT evaluate whether you contribute enough to society to warrant treatment or whether you’re too old for treatment. In fact, the law specifically prohibits such things.
Finding the most effective way to treat illnesses is a cost-cutter because people won’t be subjected to treatments that don’t work. They won’t be given a more expensive drug if a cheaper one will work, or undergo surgery if physical therapy works as effectively.
This does not stifle innovation because as new treatments come along, they’re tested for efficacy. What business wouldn’t want to have the best practice?
So, once again, we have to fight the lies put out there by the opponents of reform.
Let me repeat: There are no death panels in the new law. If someone says there is one, it is a lie.
Tags: Patient Pals & Family Friends
Life o' Mike has a peer support program for people with one or more serious or chronic medical issues or disabilities.
We aim to reduce isolation and fear among people who have conditions, including psychiatric illness, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, mild dementia or other cognitive disorder or disability, thereby reducing depression and complications as people learn to improve self-management of their medical conditions.
Patient Pals help alleviate feelings of isolation and frustration. They can help people develop a list of questions to ask the doctor and then accompany the person to the doctor to make sure all the questions are answered, taking notes to be sure the person understands the doctor’s answers.
Our trained volunteers also accompany their “Pals” to art exhibits, movies and walks outdoors, meet for coffee, call to check in and more.
Our Pals have experienced weight loss, improvement in diabetes, HIV, psoriasis, depression and more, just because they have someone who cares about them. Some relationships develop into longer-term friendships; other Pals move on to more independent lives.
Family Friends are there to help caregivers and other family members grow into their new role.
We need volunteers, who are asked to donate a minimum of one hour a week. Training is free and includes information on active listening, ways to help and when to know more help is needed.
And of course, we need funding.
To learn more, call Leslie Boyd at 828-243-6712 or e-mail lifeomike@gmail.com.
Life o’ Mike honors Joe Eblen
Life o' Mike presented its first Michael T. Danforth Community Service Award to Joe Eblen at a luncheon on June 8, in the Friendship Hall of First Congregational Church, 20 Oak St., Asheville.
Joe, seen here with Leslie Boyd, left, and his wife, Bobbie, has spent his life helping children and families, both as a coach and game official for more than 60 years, and as founder of Eblen Charities.
Start From Seed
Life o' Mike has a new program- Start from Seed (SFS).
SFS is a volunteer doula program aimed at providing non-medical, comprehensive support to low income, high-risk women and families of Buncombe County focusing on three areas:
1. We help new doulas with certification and training in return for their participation as a volunteer doula for SFS
2. We mentor volunteer doulas with their first few clients
3. Our volunteer doulas provide birth and postpartum doula services to low income, high risk moms, providing support and tools to empower them as a new parent.
A birth doula is a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; a postpartum doula provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.
Start from Seed clients are referred to us from the Buncombe County Department of Health’s Nurse-Family Partnership Program, Western North Carolina Community Health Services, and Mission Hospital. The Program is intended and designed for growing clients’ inner strength and helping them gain empowerment to help them cope with the emotional, physical and mental challenges of childbirth, labor, and motherhood.
Our new moms and their infants have many needs. If you would like to help them get off to a good start, please visit our Start from Seed web site: Start from Seed, or call Program Director Chelsea Kouns at 804-814-9946.