Republicans offer seniors health 'bill of rights'

WASHINGTON – Republicans are targeting older Americans worried about President Barack Obama's health overhaul plans with a "seniors' health care bill of rights."

The six principles outlined Monday by the Republican National Committee include protecting Medicare, prohibiting rationing of health care based on age and making sure government doesn't get between seniors and their doctors.

The Obama administration has insisted repeatedly that it doesn't want to shrink Medicare benefits, ration care or reduce the role of doctors. But polls have shown that Americans, and older Americans in particular, still have significant concerns about Democratic health care proposals.

"Under the Democrats' plan, senior citizens will pay a steeper price and will have their treatment options reduced or rationed," RNC Chairman Michael Steele wrote in an op-ed in the Washington Post outlining the "bill of rights."

The GOP principles also include preventing government from "interfering with end-of-life care discussions." That is a reference to a provision in a bill by House Democrats that would allow Medicare to pay for voluntary counseling sessions about living wills and other issues. After critics seized on the provision and charged it could lead to "death panels" and euthanasia, administration officials said it would not likely be included in any final bill.

Source : Yahoo News