Medicare Expands Coverage

Thanks to new Medicare regulations, West Virginia's elderly will have an easier time making end-of-life decisions, such as entering hospice care or deciding whether they wish to be resuscitated or put on life support. With the new regulations, patient costs will be covered for consultations regarding all forms of end-of-life care with a physician during an initial "Welcome to Medicare" visit, as well as during annual checkups. Hope is that increased advance planning will lead to better quality of life, as well as reduce the costs incurred during ordinary emergency hospital care.