Medicare Will Reimburse Patients for End-of-Life Consultations

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According to the American Medical Association, patients nearing the end of their lives are entitled to expect and receive certain advice and treatment from health care professionals. This includes the opportunity to make appropriate plans, including the creation of a living will and designation of a health care proxy; assistance in creating an advance care directive and related documents and having them filed for future use; and having their wishes for treatment or withholding of treatment honored. Under the Affordable Care Act, Medicare will ensure that patients receive the information they need by reimbursing them for fees incurred during these consultations beginning Jan. 1, 2016. The ACA will not force patients to entertain any consultation that they do not wish to receive, nor will it compel healthcare professionals to provide this advice.

Former Alaskan governor Sarah Palin is a key opponent to the Affordable Care Act
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Opponents to the ACA caution that the provisions of the legislation may coerce patients into agreeing to less end-of-life care and support than their families, their caregivers, or they need. This position is based on the fact that one goal of the ACA is to reduce the growth in health care spending. President Obama refutes this claim by emphasizing that patients continue to have a choice in whether or not to seek end-of-life medical consultations.