CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN – AT 8:47 A.M. ET:  I'm glad The New York Times was alert to this.  Apparently the Obamans are pulling back a new Medicare rule that they tried to sneak through without fanfare:

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration, reversing course, will revise a Medicare regulation to delete references to end-of-life planning as part of the annual physical examinations covered under the new health care law, administration officials said Tuesday.

The move is an abrupt shift, coming just days after the new policy took effect on Jan. 1.

Many doctors and providers of hospice care had praised the regulation, which listed “advance care planning” as one of the services that could be offered in the “annual wellness visit” for Medicare beneficiaries.

While administration officials cited procedural reasons for changing the rule, it was clear that political concerns were also a factor. The renewed debate over advance care planning threatened to become a distraction to administration officials who were gearing up to defend the health law against attack by the new Republican majority in the House.

Although the health care bill signed into law in March did not mention end-of-life planning, the topic was included in a huge Medicare regulation setting payment rates for thousands of physician services. The final regulation was published in the Federal Register in late November. The proposed rule, published for public comment in July, did not include advance care planning.

An administration official, authorized by the White House to explain the mix-up, said Tuesday, “We realize that this should have been included in the proposed rule, so more people could have commented on it specifically.”

“We will amend the regulation to take out voluntary advance care planning,” the official said. “This should not affect beneficiaries’ ability to have these voluntary conversations with their doctors.”

COMMENT:  The administration's move is correct, but typically cynical.  Most people aren't opposed to end-of-life discussions with physicians, as long as they are voluntary, private, and not shaped by government.  What they are concerned about is what these discussions might evolve into – the very "death panels" that Sarah Palin was ridiculed for warning against. 

It is hardly a secret that this administration is filled with governmental control freaks, some of whom think the government should decide what care to give to the elderly, whose life expectancy is short.  They look with envy at European-style "planning."

But America isn't Europe.  We are based firmly in a Judeo-Christian ethic that teaches us to "choose life."  Many Americans rightly fear a government that might take over decisions that are normally made by families, in consultation with physicians and clergy. 

The very cynical manner in which the new regulation, now withdrawn, was introduced, gives credence to those who believe the administration would like to sneak in those "death panels" somewhere down the line.  When a government acts dishonestly, there are consequences.  A lesson, Mr. Obama.

January 5, 2011