The Facts About End-of-Life Counseling

OKLAHOMA CITY -- End of life counseling is a big issue stirring the health care debate in town halls across the country.

Oklahoma seniors worry it will lead to less health coverage for them.

End of life counseling is a provision in the House health care bill. It is a touchy subject, one that has Oklahomans talking.

"They're going to give us classes on euthanasia and I'm about 65-years-old, I'm ready to start," Lynn Parr said.

That's the fear Oklahoma seniors are facing. The controversial end of life counseling has taken on a life of its own. Even those caring for aging parents are sounding off to lawmakers.

"Do you really think they are going to spend $300,000 on my mother to save her life?" a Moore town hall meeting participant said. "It's better to let her die."

But advocates for senior citizens say Americans are hearing scare tactics.

"There are some tremendous myths out there right now and hopefully we can help dispel some of that," Oklahoma Director of AARP Nancy Coffer said.

Coffer encourages end of life counseling. She says it allows seniors to take control of their end of life options.

"It's a provision where doctors can have a consultation every five years with their patient to decide a living will or a physician's directive," Coffer said.

This is unlike what some Oklahomans are hearing and reading.

"I'm concerned about this paper going around today," Nadine Jewel said. "It says Obama care to seniors is just go lie down and die."

Coffer says end of life counseling is not a way for insurance companies to drop seniors and she says it's your option not a government mandate.

"The government is not going to be making those decisions," Coffer said.

But the government will pick up the tab, in the House bill; end of life counseling is paid for by Medicare.

The Oklahoma AARP spokesperson says end of life counseling should be done before a crisis situation, when the individual can make their own choices.

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