More than 25% of Medicare Costs...

Dr. Dean Edel reported on Friday, August 12 that 27% of all Medicare costs are devoted to a patient's last year of life. Just think of this particular fact and estimate the rate of aging baby boomers needing similar care... Wouldn't it be important that physicians and other health care providers be able to counsel the elderly to properly plan such issues as health care directives, living trusts, and power of attorney authorizations? This has nothing to do with...death panels. It is the uncertainty and the lack of directions/instructions forced on the living by those terminally ill or unable to care for oneself that is most difficult to bear.

Let's spend our health dollars wisely with sound information and under the guidance of professionals.