Earlier this month, the federal health program for the elderly proposed to start paying physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants to talk with patients about their end-of-life wishes. Details of the plan are expected later this year, with possible adoption next year. Jennifer S. Temel, associate professor of medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital; Lachlan Forrow, associate professor of medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Susan Block, professor of psychiatry at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Holly Thomas, instructor in population medicine; and Angelo E. Volandes, assistant professor of medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital are quoted.
