Conservatives fabricate ‘mandatory’ end-of-life consultations in health bill.

[cal04]

Yesterday, during President Obama’s AARP town hall, a caller stated that she had “heard lots of rumors going around about this new plan.” “I have been told,” she continued, “there is a policy there that everyone that’s Medicare-age will be visited and told to decide how they wish to die.” This “rumor,” which seems to have been started by infamous health care provocateur Betsy McCaughey, has made its way into the standard conservative critique of the Democrats’ reforms.

Watch a compilation:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/07/29/mandatory-consultation/

To substantiate their claims, conservatives point to Sec. 1233 of the House Tri Committee bill, a section titled “ADVANCE CARE PLANNING CONSULTATION.” But while the language allows Medicare to reimburse providers for consulting with patients about end-of-life issues, nothing in the section mandates a consultation. The Wonk Room has more.

http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/07/29/end-of-life-smear/

[Curtland1015]

1. I don't know what's sadder; That they are trying to spread this lie out...

...or that there are people in this country who will be stupid enough to believe it.

[SleeplessInAlabama]

6. I'm more upset than anything....

That at these town halls and in the media, the message is getting killed and everyone is coming up to him and saying "ummm.... ah, uh, am I going to be put into the senior, ah, citizen slaughterhouse with this thing? Please tell me it isn't so." It's ridiculous and IMO Obama isn't doing enough to answer it well. When he explains the public option, instead of saying what it isn't (isn't "government run", doesn't do this or that) he should use the term "payer". I think he's probably scared to do it because of "single payer", but he needs to simply explain that under the system it's simply a not-for-profit system, that operates on a premium model like an insurance company, and pays a fee for service. It just happens that nobody else is generous enough to come forward and provide insurance without a profit, and that's why the option that is administrated by the government is so essential.

I'd prefer HR 676 but I'd like to see a public option before nothing and that's how he needs to frame it.

[fascisthunter]

2. conservatives fabricate the word "conservative"

and every other damn thing

[SalmonChantedEvening]

3. Another dose of fear from the liars on the right. n/t

[BlooInBloo]

4. And tweety just ate it up.

[OHdem10]

5. Is anyone surprised. The Conservatives are determined to stop

Health Care. They are going through the bill with a fine tooth
comb. Look for any little topic they can pull out and twist and
exploit--scare people.

It is simple. The Conservatives know they win by being more
intense and strong in their dissent. We are the nice guys
and I hate to inform you--Nice guys do not win.