CMS published a rule on January 10, 2011 that withdraws a provision in the final 2011 Medicare physician fee schedule rule that included “voluntary advance care planning” in Medicare beneficiaries’ annual wellness visits. This regulatory provision became controversial for addressing end-of-life counseling policy, which lawmakers had earlier decided to drop from the health reform legislation. In the January 10 rulemaking, CMS notes that it “has since become apparent that we did not have an opportunity to consider prior to the issuance of the final rule the wide range of views on this subject held by a broad range of stakeholders (including members of Congress and those who were involved with this provision during the debate on the Affordable Care Act).” The policy change is effective January 10, 2011.