WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representative Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) applauded the proposal to create a benefit for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries who have end-of-life discussions with their doctors as included in the proposed 2016 Physician Fee Schedule by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Representative Blumenauer released the following statement:
“I applaud and welcome the inclusion of reimbursements for doctors to have end-of-life care discussions with their patients covered by Medicare and Medicaid in the proposed 2016 Physician Fee Schedule released by CMS today. This provision is long overdue. It has support in Congress and with over 60 organizations, including the American Medical Association and AARP.
“Patients and their families should be encouraged to think about how they want to be treated at the end of their life and to express their goals, values, and preferences to their physicians. I encourage them, as well as providers and advocates, to support this proposed benefit.
“I’m confident the Obama Administration will consider all of the available social and medical evidence in favor of advance care planning to finalize this decision in the coming months. Those of us who feel passionately about this issue will continue to push to make this provision a reality.
“In the meantime, I will do everything I can to spotlight this issue and mobilize support including re-introducing my bipartisan legislation, the Personalize Your Care Act, which would reimburse doctors for these conversations and strengthen end-of-life planning and care for all Americans.”