It is not a "death panel", I think they are called Quality Improvement Organizations or QIOs. Among other things QIOs investigate and resolve issues relating to non-coverage and appeals for coverage reconsideration. If you have an issue, you present your case to one of these panels.
Medicare pays claims that are "deemed medically necessary." And the medically necessary procedures are subject to treatment and care based on a set of "approved charges". If you are poor and you have a doctor that does not accept these charges, if you face a life or death issue with lets say using some some cutting edge "experimental" procedure or drug, you may have no options other than death. So the question is what criteria is used and what criteria will be used under Obama's plan.
This is a legitimate concern. The issue is being ignored, Obama's platitudes and dismissive attitude is disturbing.
---------- Post added at 03:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:05 PM ----------
Yes, insurance companies make these kinds of decisions, and I have some problems with our existing system. However, Obama ignoring the question regarding the public option is not helpful. Simply saying it is being done in the private sector does not make me feel better about it, nor does it address the problems with it.
---------- Post added at 03:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:08 PM ----------
Not always. And in HMO's with the "gate keeper", that person has too much power in my view. And I will say it again, I doubt having the "gate keeper" being a federal government employee solves that problem.
---------- Post added at 03:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:11 PM ----------
I am amazed by stuff like this:
Investors.com - Third World Care?