Provenge

Medicare will now pay for Provenge, which costs $93,000 and prolongs life for about four months, although this is the median not the mean. This comes to about $279,000 per year, and probably more for a quality-adjusted life year. At the hearing where this was decided, may objected to the possibility that Medicare would consider costs, calling it "rationing". What precedent does this set, and what else could Medicare cover if it were to value life so highly?