And here are instructions for commenting.
FEDERAL REGS COMMENT DEADLINE IS
SEPT 8 AT 5PM (Who needs legislation? Death Panels Back By Government
Fiat!)
September 3, 2015
Dear all,
It has been almost five years since I wrote you about
the effort of the federal government to impose EOL consultations on us through
the use of a carrot and stick.
That alert apparently made its way to the desk of Robert Pear
at the NY Times, their healthcare expert. He was interested in LifeTree's
investigative work and ran a story on Christmas Day titled "Obama
Returns to End-of-Life Plan That Caused Stir."
On January 4, 2011, the Obama administration withdrew the EOL
portion of the new regulation, just 10 days after the NY Times article. The
story had captured the news over the holidays.
Since then the Big Death lobby, a.k.a. the Third Path
Movement, has been patiently at work getting ready to come at this problem
again!
A "Notice and Comment Rulemaking" period is currently under
way with a deadline of September 8, 2015, 5pm Eastern. After that deadline next
Tuesday, an important change in how medicine will be practiced will take place
unless CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) receives serious
negative comments from the general public.
Here is what has happened. Please continue to read. This is
important!!
Two new CPT Codes
(Current Procedural Terminology Codes, registered trademard of the American
Medical Association) can be used by healthcare professionals starting Jan 1,
2016 to record Advance Care Planning Services and apply for reimbursement from
the federal government for these "services."
These Advance Care
Planning talks will record wishes pertaining to medical treatment and record
them in an advance care document such as 1) healthcare proxy, 2) healthcare
power of attorney, 3) living will and 4) POLST/MOST/POST/MOLST form. (You know,
the POLST form that become doctor's orders!)
These codes are 99497
for the first 30 minutes of advance care planning discussion and form completion
with the patient by the physician or other qualified health professional, and
99498 for any additional minutes spent with the patient for that
purpose.
PLEASE, take a moment right now to tell the federal
government that you oppose this regulatory change. (See the list of suggested points which you could make,
below)
You can submit comments
electronically, by regular mail, or by express or overnight mail. Use only one
method. Please comment
IMMEDIATELY.
