Sebelius: In Wake Of 'Death Panel' Furor, End Of Life Provision Probably Off The Table
Appearing on This Week with guest host Jake Tapper, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said that a provision to require Medicare to reimburse doctors who provide end-of-life counseling probably won't survive the legislative process.
"I think it's really horrific that some opponents of the health reform bill have used this painful, personal moment to try and scare people about what is in the bill," Sebelius said referring to politicians like Sarah Palin who falsely suggested that the government planned to create "death panels." But, she added, because of their handy work, the end-of-life counseling provision "probably will be off the table."
So now I guess granny gets to keep that freedom-loving privilege of paying for an optional end-of-life counseling session out her social security check. Thanks, GOP.


















Sounds like Sebelius needs a bit more STFU in her diet.
August 17, 2009 4:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jeebus. If they can't explain a simple, straightforward provision like this, the whole thing is doomed. Seriously.
August 17, 2009 4:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
I said this somewhere else, have you tried to feed a spoiled kid a dinner when all the child wanted was to play x-box forever?
August 17, 2009 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Convincing me to support someone who tucks tail and backs down from some whack-a-doodle claiming Obama wants to kill Aunt Milly is going to take some doing.
The Democrats are becoming a party led by weak tinklers.
August 17, 2009 4:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
I really don't care about this. Doctor's have these discussions all the time and can bill it for whatever. Dump it. It sounds like it was a repuke set up anyway as a repuke allegedly wanted this provision originally.
I am way more concerned about the public option issue. If they can't win that one, then the whole thing is really doomed.
August 17, 2009 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm more bothered by the fact that the dems are surrendering to blatant Republican lies than I am bothered by losing this particular provision.
We can pass a law later promoting end-of-life care. It will be easy, since even Republicans support these laws when they aren't making things up to create a diversion. If we cave on this, though, will come back to haunt us in negotiations later-- and removing the end-of-life provisions won't even shut up the tea partiers, who will surely just keep claiming the provisions are in there.
August 17, 2009 5:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
To be blunt: This is fucking ridiculous.
So this is how policy will be set? All it takes is for a bunch of certifiable morons to go bat-shit crazy over a proven lie and Sibelius buckles.
What's next?
August 17, 2009 4:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah how about Sebelius says "we'll stand our ground for what the provision really says instead of being swayed by attacks from the looney bin"......I mean, if I'm understanding correctly, Sarah Palin can stop legislation in it's tracks just by opening her mouth and spouting inane bullshit?!
August 17, 2009 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was trying to decide which comment to ditto but it's pretty much all of them. What are we left with in this country if the certifiably insane folks get to decide what we will and will not do?
August 17, 2009 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does Kathleen Sebelius really believe that the way to make Republicans act like sensible adults is to give in to their childish dishonesty?
The administration seems intent on proving that Republican tactics of lying and yelling are their best options. If Democrats back down, expect more and more of this kind of wild-eyed mendacity from the right wing.
August 17, 2009 5:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well done, Democrats. I guess Sarah Palin won the election after all!
August 17, 2009 6:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thats why she quit being Govenor.
August 17, 2009 6:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow.....stupidity wins, that is so fun.
August 17, 2009 6:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, and Brian:
So now I guess granny gets to keep that freedom-loving privilege of paying for an optional end-of-life counseling session out her social security check. Thanks, GOP.
This is NOT the doing of the GOP. They have absolutely no say in this. It's the DEMOCRATS and their complete chickenshittedness who are ensuring that we maintain the status quo, or make it worse.
August 17, 2009 6:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
can someone remind me why it was so important for the dems to win all those senate seats? or what it meant about what the country wanted when they DID win those seats?
because it seems to me like it isn't much different than if they had, say, 50 seats. maybe even 49, given baucus's behavior.
August 17, 2009 7:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Waiting for this lady to resign.
August 17, 2009 7:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Many reformers recognized roughly 30 percent of all health-care spending in the U.S. -some $700 billion a year- might be wasted on unnecessary tests and treatments, and payment reform could solve this problem. Is this claim overstatement ? Please not to fear quitting drug !
Provided the American people pay around double the amount of efficient systems, the result is still well below them, the ratio of waste might be estimated to far more than 50% in the U.S.
Let's be conservative regarding the ratio. If 10% of savings apply to the combined Medicare and Medicaid cost of $923.5bn per year, as of July, the savings of $923.5bn over the next decade are possible.
And when these savings add to the already allocated $583 billion, the savings of wastes involving so called "doughnut hole" , the unnecessary subsidies for insurers, abuse, exorbitant costs by the tragic ER visits etc, the concern over revenue might be a thing of the past.
As a matter of fact, with the promising redesign in the pipeline, some patient-focused clinics in 10 regions have already achieved 16% of savings in Medicare while their quality scores are well above average.
Please be 'sure' to visit http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/13/opinion/13gawande.html?hp for credible evidences !
Thankfully, the provisions in the reform include more expansive, systematic policies including 'a patient's outcome-based payment system' than they have. I for one firmly believe this American innovation, 'a patient's outcome-based payment system' , is capable of turning profit-oriented practices into patient-focused system / value.
Dr. Armadio at Mayo clinic says, "If we got rid of that stuff (waste), we save a third of all that we spend and that is 2.5 trillion dollars on health care. A third of that and that is 700 billion dollars a year. That covers a lot of uninsured people."
Please visit http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=820455&catid=391 for detailed infos
Thank You !
August 18, 2009 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink