JIM HUFFORD

Originally published 1/17/11 on Organon

Just days after taking effect on Jan. 1, 2011, new Medicare regulations authorizing reimbursement to physicians for end-of-life care planning were retracted by the administration. Austin Frakt, pleading for someone to explain the “Medicare end-of-life planning flip-flop,” asks: “Did the Administration follow proper procedure or not?” The stated reason for the retraction was that the rule had been adopted without sufficient notice or opportunity to comment on the issue. I think the legal question, now moot of course, was a close call, but the administration was right to retract. There’s a fairly strong case that notice was inadequate and, therefore, that the rule was procedurally defective.

Continue reading “Why Did The Administration Retreat On Advance Directives?” →