Oregon Public Broadcasting

Advocates of end-of-life care are reintroducing legislation that would reimburse physicians for discussing advanced medical planning with their patients.

Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer is spearheading the revamped bill. The proposal would expand Medicare and Medicaid coverage to doctors' conversations regarding end-of-life care.

It would also make advance directives from one state valid in another.

Dr. Robert Gluckman is the Chief Medical Officer of Providence Medical Group's Teaching Clinics. He worked with Blumenauer on the revamped bill. 

Robert Gluckman: "We know that in cancer patients who have end of life care planning, they are far less likely to die in an ICU setting. When we measure their quality of life in terms of their symptom control, their ability to communicate with their families, it is far advanced when they've had advance care planning."

Provisions supporting advanced care planning were originally included in the federal health care overhaul. Critics accused backers of sponsoring so-called "death panels".

That public debate took advanced care conversations out of the overhaul. Months later, advocates hope the second time's a charm.

Blumenauer will present the new bill to Congress next week.