You know there’s a new administration around, when legislators start thinking ahead. Sen. Mark Warner has been thinking way ahead. He’s proposed legislation that will vastly enhance end-of-life care. He calls it The Advanced Illness Care Management Benefit — and the idea is to stick it in the Medicare Package, which makes perfect sense.
Translated, it means if you — or someone you know — is terminally ill, you have the right to counseling to figure out what your options are. Since Medicare pays for about 80 percent of all hospice care, it’s a good idea to combine the two benefits.
Warner said the other day: “I firmly believe that any comprehensive health reform should include more information, counseling and resources that will allow patients, their families, their caregivers and others to consider and discuss decisions about when and how long to pursue treatments at the end of life.”
“Currently, we leave it to families to resolve these extraordinarily difficult decisions, often in moments of crisis, with very little guidance or planning,” he added.
Will Warner’s good idea have traction? No one knows. But it sure is worth considering.
Ok, I am now jumping up and down and clapping at the same time. No easy feat for the uncoordinated such as myself.
The legislation is S-1263 and titled: Senior Navigation and Planning Act of 2009.
It encompasses hospice and palliative care and significantly increases access to counseling and care management for chronic illness for patients with a chronic or life threatening illness. Of particular note, Senator Warner’s family has struggled with Alzheimer’s disease and he has urged patients and their families to consult with their health care providers, counselors and spiritual advisors when making decisions about care options and quality of life issues. Please take a moment to review it and let your representative know where you stand on the issue.
Judy, sorry for the double entry, I was obviously dizzy from my clapping and jumping