Much of the debate about the congressional health insurance reforms turns on a section on counseling about the end of life. The simple solution was to take that section out, and last week that seems to have been done.

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., took note of the controversy in an online refutation of alleged myths about the congressional plan.

"I've heard," his site quotes a hypothetical critic, "that one section of health care reform legislation requires seniors to talk to the government every five years about how they want to end their lives. Is this true?"

No, it's not true, Merkley's staff replies on the senator's website, blaming "special interests" for trying to scare seniors. "The House of Representatives bill includes a provision that simply provides access for seniors who want it to a professional medical counselor who can provide information about hospice care, preparing a living will, providing medical power attorney, and n if they request it n end of life decisions.

"These counseling sessions are not mandatory. They are simply made available to those who wish help planning ahead for potentially difficult decisions. Under this provision, Medicare would cover this kind of advice rather than forcing seniors to pay for it out of pocket."

This seems perfectly sensible. But it doesn't have to be in the bill.

According to Merkley, these counseling sessions would be held with a "professional medical counselor." There may be such people, even though the Yellow Pages in the mid-valley don't list that category. But if they exist, chances are they are not doctors. So what are they doing in the federal health care bill?

As far as overall insurance reform is concerned, whether somebody wants to be kept alive with heroic measures that don't really do any good - like demanding experimental cancer treatments within a week of when death is expected, and who should pay for them - is an important issue. But it need not sidetrack efforts to devise a sane insurance system that expands coverage to the millions of people who have none. (hh)