By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    stress disorder
    5 Ways To Manage Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
    October 27, 2021
    Medical device classification and development strategies
    Medical device classification and development strategies
    April 5, 2023
    varicose veins
    Varicose Veins Prevention: 3 Lifestyle Changes to Make Right Now
    May 1, 2022
    Latest News
    First Aid Training Enhancing Workplace Health and Safety
    September 25, 2023
    Beyond the Clinic: Medical Surveys Are a Roadmap to Passive Income for Doctors
    September 23, 2023
    5 Self-Care Habits to Help You Live an A+ Life
    September 21, 2023
    Keep Employees Safe & Healthy By Reducing Warehouse Injuries
    September 20, 2023
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Time for some healthcare New Year’s resolutions
    December 17, 2015
    Can Big Data Analytics Make Telemedicine More Functional?
    February 5, 2021
    Criminal Injustice and DNA Testing
    July 15, 2011
    Latest News
    Job Seekers with Disabilities Should at Health Insurance Benefits
    September 12, 2023
    Reasons That Drug Prices Are Rising to Unsustainable Levels
    September 12, 2023
    How Revenue Lifecycle Management Helps Healthcare Providers to Optimize Business Operations
    September 6, 2023
    The Hidden Benefits of Practice Exams for Medical Professionals
    September 6, 2023
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Do-It-Yourself Death Panel
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Aa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Aa
Search
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Public Health > Do-It-Yourself Death Panel
BusinessPolicy & LawPublic Health

Do-It-Yourself Death Panel

DavidEWilliams
Last updated: 2015/05/04 at 8:00 AM
DavidEWilliams
Share
2 Min Read
SHARE
How are you feelin' today, mom?

How you feelin’ today, mom?

How are you feelin' today, mom?

How you feelin’ today, mom?

More Read

Home Health Worker

Guarding Your Health – 6 Essential PPE Investments for the New Home Health Worker

Understanding Trust Litigation When Dealing with Health Issues
The Journey to Healing: Navigating the Aftermath of Wrongful Death Claims 
Navigating Immigrant Police Encounters When Getting Healthcare
How Personal Injury Law Supports Your Wellbeing

Federal law allows states to recover Medicaid costs from heirs. This little known provision is getting more attention as part of the debate over Medicaid expansion. The Wall Street Journal (New Wrinkle for Health Law) wrote a balanced article about it, highlighting consumer fears about having to sell assets while also sharing the government perspective that “estate recovery helps shore up the program for others who need it.”

The online comments and letter to the editor generally support the view that recipients’ estates should have to pay back the government. The letter (First, Estates Should Repay the Taxpayers) is characteristic of the righteous indignation provided by the commenters.

Where is it written that a person is entitled at death to leave assets to children, particularly after someone else, in this case the taxpayers who fund Medicaid, has paid the health-care bills? Where is it written that children are entitled to inherit assets from a parent who has unpaid bills for services received during his or her lifetime?

Maybe if the issue were framed differently the commenters would rethink. Two points in particular:

  • If we seek to reclaim Medicaid payments we need to reclaim Medicare payments as well. Although recipients pay into the system, Medicare is far from self-sustaining. More than 40 percent of Medicare spending is financed from general revenues.
  • If the government starts going after estates for medical expenses more broadly, dying patients will worry that heirs will ration care to preserve their own inheritances. And with so much at stake, it’s not a paranoid thought

So here’s my question for the commenters and letter writers: Are you willing to expand this logic to Medicare and provide your own heirs with an incentive to form a death panel for you?

Image courtesy of artur84 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
DavidEWilliams May 4, 2015
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Share
Previous Article A Humble Opinion: Book Review
Next Article Medikidz book art MediKidz: Super Heroes for Health Education

Stay Connected

1.5k Followers Like
4.5k Followers Follow
2.8k Followers Pin
136k Subscribers Subscribe

Latest News

workplace first aid training
First Aid Training Enhancing Workplace Health and Safety
Health September 25, 2023
Anxiety Disorder
The Importance of Nutrition in Anxiety Disorder Treatment
Anxiety September 24, 2023
spinal health
How to Advocate For Your Spinal Health In A Healthcare Setting: Strategies From Dr. Brandon Claflin
News September 24, 2023
Medical Surveys
Beyond the Clinic: Medical Surveys Are a Roadmap to Passive Income for Doctors
Health September 23, 2023

You Might also Like

health insurance disability
Policy & Law

Job Seekers with Disabilities Should at Health Insurance Benefits

September 12, 2023
medical billing training
Medicare

Navigating Through the Essentials: Medical Billing Training for Beginners

September 12, 2023
rising drug costs
Pharmaceuticals

Reasons That Drug Prices Are Rising to Unsustainable Levels

September 8, 2023
healthcare providers
Hospital Administration

How Revenue Lifecycle Management Helps Healthcare Providers to Optimize Business Operations

September 6, 2023
Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Follow US
© 2008-2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?