"Health Care Reform"... That's what the Administration calls HR3200. You can read the whole 1,000 plus pages for yourself here, and see what you think.
Or if you don't have the time, and reading legalese makes you sort of nauseated, then here is a pretty good summary of some of the particularly troubling "reforms" they want to commit on us. Example below...
PG 425 Lines 4-12 Government mandates Advance Care Planning Consult. Think Senior Citizens end of life.
PG 425 Lines 17-19 Government will instruct & consult regarding living wills, durable powers of atty. Mandatory!
PG425 L22-25, 426 L1-3 Government provides approved list of end of life resources, guiding you in death.
PG 427 Lines 15-24 Government mandates program for orders for end of life. The Government has a say in how your life ends.
PG 429 Lines 1-9 An “advance care planning consultant” will be used frequently as patients health deteriorates.
PG 429 Lines 10-12 “advance care consultation” may include an ORDER for end of life plans. AN ORDER from Government.
PG 429 Lines 13-25 The Government will specify which Doctors can write an end of life order. Logan’s Run anyone?
PG 430 Lines 11-15 The Government will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life.
PG 432 Lines 18-21 The Government will publish “quality measures” for individual’s end of life in Federal Register.
.............................................................................
This is an email sent out by David Axelrod this week. It is quite long and I chose mostly the items which he calls the "Myths" being circulated about health care, and have made some corrections.
Dear Friend, (sure)
This is probably one of the longest emails I’ve ever sent, but it could be the most important.
Across the country we are seeing vigorous debate about health insurance reform. Unfortunately, some of the old tactics we know so well are back (because we invented them)- even the viral emails that fly unchecked and under the radar, spreading all sorts of lies and distortions. (Like this one!)
As President Obama said at the town hall in New Hampshire, “where we do disagree, let's disagree over things that are real, not these wild misrepresentations that bear no resemblance to anything that's actually been proposed.” (Ironic that Obama would say "real" in a completely staged event!)
So let’s start a chain email of our own. At the end of my email, you’ll find a lot of information about health insurance reform, distilled into 8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage, 8 common myths about reform and 8 reasons we need health insurance reform now.
Right now, someone you know probably has a question about reform that could be answered by what’s below. So what are you waiting for? Forward this email.
Thanks,
David
David Axelrod
Senior Adviser to the President
P.S. We launched www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck this week to knock down the rumors and lies that are floating around the internet. You can find the information below, and much more, there. For example, we've just added a video of Nancy-Ann DeParle from our Health Reform Office tackling a viral email head on. (Go staged Nancy-Ann, Go!) Check it out:
8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage
(Promises, Promises...campaigning)
1. Ends Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history.(Now the Gov't will deny you coverage based on 'special needs' or age!)
2. Ends Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays: Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses. (Until Gov't is able to force them to operate at a loss, and go out of business, thereby forcing YOU onto the public plan where you will get much less care for your premiums...and countless hidden taxes!)
3. Ends Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care: Insurance companies must fully cover, without charge, regular checkups and tests that help you prevent illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics.(Unless we decide to drop any of these services to you because we can, because we get to set all the rules!)
4. Ends Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill: Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage for those who become seriously ill. (Now the Gov't will deny you coverage based on 'special needs' or age!)
5. Ends Gender Discrimination: Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender. (This issue will pale in comparison to what we have in store.)
6. Ends Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage: Insurance companies will be prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive.(Now Gov't will do it!)
7. Extends Coverage for Young Adults (Who already choose not to get insurance because they don't feel they need it): Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.
8. Guarantees Insurance Renewal: Insurance companies will be required to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full. Insurance companies won't be allowed to refuse renewal because someone became sick. (And if you can't pay, and the insurance company can't carry you, they can pay a fine, or go out of business, and you will automatically get enrolled into the Gov't plan!)
Learn more and get details: http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/health-insurance-consumer-protections/(Consumer protection? A contradiction in terms here.)
8 common myths about health insurance reform (This is my favorite part!!)
Reality check? We check reality by taking the lies listed below and lining them up with what HR 3200 says in black and white!
1. Reform will stop "rationing" - not increase it: It’s a myth that reform will mean a "government takeover" of health care or lead to "rationing." To the contrary, reform will forbid many forms of rationing that are currently being used by insurance companies.
PG 29 Line 4-16 YOUR HEALTHCARE IS RATIONED!!! Additionally you can reference PG 15 Line 19-25
PG 30 Line 123 THERE WILL BE A Government COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.
PG 85 Line 7 Specs for of Benefit Levels for Plans = The Government will ration your HealthCare! #AARP members your Health care Will be rationed.
PG 111 Line 208 The Federal Government will usurp all State powers in State Based HealthCare Exchange. Violation of 10th Amendment.
PG 119 Line 1-3 establish geographically-adjusted premium rates for public option Can you say ACORN census? PG 121 Line 223 PAYMENT RATES FOR ITEMS AND SERVICES. Can you say Government price fixing & monopoly?
PG 287 Line 14-25 PROOF that Government will ration HealthCare by mandating waiting periods for readmission. PG 298 Line 9-11 Drs, treat a patient during initial admission that results in a readmission - Government will penalize you.
Pg335 L16-25,PG 336-339 Government mandates estab. of outcome based measures. HealthCare the way they want. Rationing.
PG 341 Line 3-9 Government has authority to disqualify Medicare Adv Plans, HMOs, etc. Forcing into Government plan.
PG 354 Line 1177 Government will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs people!
PG 379 Line 1191 Government creates more bureaucracy – Telehealth Advisory Committee. Can you say HealthCare by phone?
PG 438 Section 1236 The Government will develop a patient decision making aid program that you & Dr. WILL use.
PG 443 Lines 7-24 Government at taxpayers expense test out an “Accountable Care Org” program (Government doesn’t have plan.)
PG 444 Lines 1-6 Government’s Accountable Care Program will mandate services & infrastructure thru reward/penalty system.
PG 460 Section 1302 The Government WILL provide medical services in your home. Paging Nurse Pelosi!!
PG 464 Lines 17-22 Independent Patient Center Home Medical Services - Drs. don’t have to be at your home just someone directed by Dr
PG 502 Section 1181 Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research Established. - Hello Big Brother - Literally.
PG 502 Line 5-18 Government builds the “Center” to conduct, support, & synthesize research to define our HealthCare Services.
2. We can’t afford reform: It's the status quo we can't afford. It’s a myth that reform will bust the budget. To the contrary, the President has identified ways to pay for the vast majority of the up-front costs by cutting waste, fraud, and abuse within existing government health programs; ending big subsidies to insurance companies; and increasing efficiency with such steps as coordinating care and streamlining paperwork. In the long term, reform can help bring down costs that will otherwise lead to a fiscal crisis.
PG 170 Line 1-3 Any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt from individual taxes. (Americans will pay)
PG 195 officers & employees of HealthCare Administration (Government) will have access to ALL Americans financial/personal records.
PG 198 Line 1-3 1.5% ADDITIONAL TAX on peeps who have
income of 500k to 1mil. Redistribution of Wealth.
PG 198 Line 4-6 5.4% ADDITIONAL TAX on peeps who have income of 1mil+. Redistribution of Wealth
PG 199 Line 1-4 Surtax rates on raised AGAIN on Americans in 2012.
they see fit to show savings. (Cooking the books)
PG 203 Line 14-15 “The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax” Yes, it says that.
PG 202-215 is a Government rewrite of the tax code ensuring more taxes for EVERYONE, Everywhere.
PG 238-249 Line 1121 Doctors-Government mandates your growth, costs, value, services, & income. Welcome to rationing (Ties in to cost cutting to afford)
PG 253 Line 10-18 Government sets value of Dr’s time, prof judg, etc. Literally value of humans. We’re next. (Ties in to cost cutting to afford)
G 355-369 Line 1181 Government disguises tax on Drug Companies as rebate to Government to subsidize Drugs. We pay in the end.
PG 401 Section 1221 Americans will fund Medicare Language & Translation Services Program. Can you say MORE taxes?
3. Reform would encourage "euthanasia": It does not. It’s a malicious myth that reform would encourage or even require euthanasia for seniors. For seniors who want to consult with their family and physicians about end-of life decisions, reform will help to cover these voluntary, private consultations for those who want help with these personal and difficult family decisions.
Reading this in the actual bill is much more disturbing than in the summary…
PG 425 Lines 4-12 Government mandates Advance Care Planning Consult. Think Senior Citizens end of life.
PG 425 Lines 17-19 Government will instruct & consult regarding living wills, durable powers of atty. Mandatory!
PG425 L22-25, 426 L1-3 Government provides approved list of end of life resources, guiding you in death.
PG 427 Lines 15-24 Government mandates program for orders for end of life. The Government has a say in how your life ends.
PG 429 Lines 1-9 An “advance care planning consultant” will be used frequently as patients health deteriorates.
PG 429 Lines 10-12 “advance care consultation” may include an ORDER for end of life plans. AN ORDER from Government.
PG 429 Lines 13-25 The Government will specify which Doctors can write an end of life order. Logan’s Run anyone?
PG 430 Lines 11-15 The Government will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life.
PG 432 Lines 18-21 The Government will publish “quality measures” for individual’s end of life in Federal Register.
PG 29 Line 4-16 YOUR HEALTHCARE IS RATIONED!!! Additionally you can reference PG 15 Line 19-25
PG 502 Section 1181 Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research Established. - Hello Big Brother - Literally.
PG 502 Line 5-18 Government builds the “Center” to conduct, support, & synthesize research to define our HealthCare Services.
PG 620 Line 1-9 The Government will define, prioritize, and nationalize your Health Care Services.
PG 621 Lines 20-25 Government will define what Quality means in HealthCare. Since when does Government know about quality?
PG 624 “Quality” measures shall be designed to assess outcomes & functional status of patients.
PG 632 Lines 14-25 The Government may implement any “Quality measure” of HealthCare Services as they see fit.
** Mandatory “End of Life” Counseling - Required EVERY five years Page 425 HR 3200 or more frequently if your condition changes page 428. Psychological Induced Euthanasia.
Congress would make it mandatory absolutely that every five years people in Medicare have a required counseling session," she said. "They will tell [them] how to end their life sooner."
The proposal specifically calls for the consultation to recommend "palliative care and hospice" for seniors in their mandatory counseling sessions. Palliative care and hospice generally focus only on pain relief until death.
There is no functional definition of what a Physician's End of Life Order. It could mean anything from direct Euthanasia to reduction from medical to palliative care. Basing care upon medical cost / benefit versus actuarial life expectancy is equally meaningless and appears to be nothing but an excuse to deny quality of life care to people over a certain age.
QALY - “quality-adjusted-life-year” It is used by health care administrators and researchers to measure the benefit of a given medical procedure in bill it is "QUALITY REPORTING INITIATIVE".
The goal is to provide them with a common denominator in measuring benefits — how many years of life is expected to be gained in a patient if we give him this treatment? But the QA part says not all years are equal, nor is an additional year of life in a healthy 25-year-old male equivalent to that of a 65-year-old paraplegic female. You have to adjust for quality.
So for example we’re told that half of medical costs come in the last year of life. But do we know when our last year of life is? Often not. Some often live past the time diagnosed by the doctor.
The important point is that QALY won’t save us money. In fact, it probably makes matters worse.
What does it mean to use a QALY calculation for a treatment that is neither necessary nor unnecessary? The political economy of that is difficult. No politician will want to be seen as funding some unnecessary procedures — that supposedly is why they want to have health care reform. But if colon cancer mortality rates start to reach British or European levels, those who pass ObamaCare will not see power again for a very long time. Knowing that, they are likely instead to keep funding many of those middle-category procedures, just as they do now. Electoral outcomes are part of the cost-benefit analysis when government chooses your medical procedures.
PG 30 Line 123 THERE WILL BE A Government COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.
4. Vets' health care is safe and sound: It’s a myth that health insurance reform will affect veterans' access to the care they get now. To the contrary, the President's budget significantly expands coverage under the VA, extending care to 500,000 more veterans who were previously excluded. The VA Healthcare system will continue to be available for all eligible veterans. *Eligible is just VA speak for rationed care. Anyone who has tried to get help from the VA, knows full well what can and can't be done for them...mostly can't. It's currently the best example we have of what they want to do to everyone...rationed care.
PG 42 The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your HealthCare Benefits for you. You have no choice!
PG 50 Line 152 HealthCare will be provided to ALL non US citizens, illegal or otherwise.
PG 85 Line 7 Specs for of Benefit Levels for Plans = The Government will ration your
HealthCare!
PG 434 Section 1234 Military Active, Reservists, Families - If you’re not enrolled in Tricare it is mandated.
PG 434 Section 1234 Military Active, Reservists, Families - Once HealthCare bill is passed your premiums will go up.
PG 525-620 deals with the Government basically taking over nursing homes, PGs 525-620 deals with the Govt basically taking over nursing homes,long-term care facilities (think assisted living) through regulations of the facilities, the owners of sd facilities, the employees of sd facilities and even the land owners of that sd facilities reside on. Additionally as you read these 90+ pages you can come to the conclusion that any Health related svcs will be determined and rationed by the Govt for our senior citizens and others in nursing homes. This one post should do enough to raise awareness of the control the Govt is exerting over the older population of American citizens. Wounded soldiers often must reside in nursing homes as well.
PG 620 Line 1-9 The Government will define, prioritize, and nationalize your Health Care Services.
PG 621 Lines 20-25 Government will define what Quality means in HealthCare. Since when does Government know about quality?
5. Reform will benefit small business - not burden it: It’s a myth that health insurance reform will hurt small businesses. To the contrary, reform will ease the burdens on small businesses, provide tax credits to help them pay for employee coverage and help level the playing field with big firms who pay much less to cover their employees on average.
PG 22 MANDATES the Government will audit books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self insure!!
PG 59 Line 21-24 Government will have direct access to your banks accounts for electronic funds transfer!
PG 110 Line 7-12 Employment taxes on ALL employers NOT offering Government HealthCare. No choice.
PG 110 Line 13-18 An excise tax on ALL goods from companies not offering Government HealthCare. ALL Americans pay
PG 126 Line 22-25 Employers MUST pay for HealthCare for part time employees AND their families.
PG 150 Line 9-13 Biz with payroll btw 251k & 400k who doesn’t provide public option pays 2-6% tax on all payroll.
PG 151 Line 1-3 Aggregate Rules-tax on employers payroll not on public option include payroll of other biz.
IMPACTS BUSINESSES:
PG 199 Line 1-4 Surtax rates on raised AGAIN on Americans in 2012.
they see fit to show savings. (Cooking the books)
PG 203 Line 14-15 “The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax” Yes, it says that.
PG 202-215 is a Government rewrite of the tax code ensuring more taxes for EVERYONE, Everywhere.
Small businesses—with say 8-10 employees—will either have to provide insurance to federal standards, or pay an 8% payroll tax. Business costs for health care are higher than this, especially considering administrative costs. Any competitive business that tries to stay with a private plan will face a payroll disadvantage against competitors who go with the government “option.”
6. Your Medicare is safe, and stronger with reform: It’s myth that Health Insurance Reform would be financed by cutting Medicare benefits. To the contrary, reform will improve the long-term financial health of Medicare, ensure better coordination, eliminate waste and unnecessary subsidies to insurance companies, and help to close the Medicare "doughnut" hole to make prescription drugs more affordable for seniors.
PG 30 Line 123 THERE WILL BE A Government COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.
PG 85 Line 7 Specs for of Benefit Levels for Plans = The Government will ration your HealthCare! #AARP members your Health care Will be rationed.
PG 111 Line 208 The Federal Government will usurp all State powers in State Based HealthCare Exchange. Violation of 10th Amendment.
PG 239 Line 14-24 Government will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income, poor affected.
PG 355-369 Line 1181 Government disguises tax on Drug Companies as rebate to Government to subsidize Drugs. We pay in the end.
PG 525-620 deals with the Government basically taking over nursing homes, PGs 525-620 deals with the Govt basically taking over nursing homes,long-term care facilities (think assisted living) through regulations of the facilities, the owners of sd facilities, the employees of sd facilities and even the land owners of that sd facilities reside on. Additionally as you read these 90+ pages you can come to the conclusion that any Health related svcs will be determined and rationed by the Govt for our senior citizens and others in nursing homes. This one post should do enough to raise awareness of the control the Govt is exerting over the older population of American citizens.
PG 620 Line 1-9 The Government will define, prioritize, and nationalize your Health Care Services.
PG 621 Lines 20-25 Government will define what Quality means in HealthCare. Since when does Government know about quality?
PG 624 “Quality” measures shall be designed to assess outcomes & functional status of patients.
PG 632 Lines 14-25 The Government may implement any “Quality measure” of HealthCare Services as they see fit.
Pg 956 line 18-24 Sections of The SSA Medicare Drug, prescription, and Modernization Act of 2003 is repealed.
7. You can keep your own insurance: It’s myth that reform will force you out of your current insurance plan or force you to change doctors. To the contrary, reform will expand your choices, not eliminate them.
PG 24 Line 116 Government effectively sets prices for ALL private health plans.
PG 30 Line 123 THERE WILL BE A Government COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.
PG 37 Line 132 The Government will be reviewing grievances about themselves and will decide on appeals for rejected claims.
PG 42 The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your HealthCare Benefits for you. You have no choice!
PG 72 Line 8-14 Government is creating an HealthCare Exchange to bring private HealthCare plans under Government control.
PG 84 Line 203 Government mandates ALL benefit packages for private. HealthCare plans in the Exchange.
PG 502 Line 5-18 Government builds the “Center” to conduct, support, & synthesize research to define our HealthCare Services.
PG 620 Line 1-9 The Government will define, prioritize, and nationalize your Health Care Services.
PG 621 Lines 20-25 Government will define what Quality means in HealthCare. Since when does Government know about quality?
PG 624 “Quality” measures shall be designed to assess outcomes & functional status of patients.
PG 632 Lines 14-25 The Government may implement any “Quality measure” of HealthCare Services as they see fit
1. The bill does not prohibit a person from buying private insurance, but it makes it imposible for private insurers to compete.
2. Small businesses—with say 8-10 employees—will either have to provide insurance to federal standards, or pay an 8% payroll tax. Business costs for health care are higher than this, especially considering administrative costs. Any competitive business that tries to stay with a private plan will face a payroll disadvantage against competitors who go with the government “option.”
3.The pressure for business owners to terminate the private plans will be enormous.
4. With employers ending plans, millions of Americans will lose their private coverage, and fewer companies will offer it.
5. The Commissioner (meaning, always, the bureaucrats) will determine whether a particular network of physicians, hospitals and insurance is acceptable.
6. With private insurance starved, many people enrolled in the government “option” will have no place else to go.
-The bill defines “acceptable coverage” and leaves no room for choice in this regard.
-By setting a minimum 70% actuarial value of benefits, the bill makes health plans in which individuals pay for routine services, but carry insurance only for catastrophic events, (such as Health Savings Accounts) illegal.
8. No, government will not do anything with your bank account: It is an absurd myth that government will be in charge of your bank accounts. Health insurance reform will simplify administration, making it easier and more convenient for you to pay bills in a method that you choose. Just like paying a phone bill or a utility bill, you can pay by traditional check, or by a direct electronic payment. And forms will be standardized so they will be easier to understand. The choice is up to you – and the same rules of privacy will apply as they do for all other electronic payments that people make.
PG 58 Government will have real-time access to individuals’ finances & a National ID HealthCare Card will be issued!
PG 59 Line 21-24 Government will have direct access to your banks accounts for electronic funds transfer!
PG 61 Line 22-24 Congress has no clue what Electronic Medical Records will cost. Asks for estimate.
PG 62 Protection of Data, Government shows they will have database of your personal & financial info.
PG64 L 21-25, pg65 L 1-5 which refers to processing payment transactions by financial institutions
PG 65 Line 164 is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in Unions & community organizations (ACORN).
PG 195 officers & employees of HealthCare Administration (Government) will have access to ALL Americans financial/personal records
Learn more and get details:
http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck/
http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck/faq YOU WILL NOTE THAT AXELROD DOES NOT REFER YOU TO HR3200 TO CHECK HIS REALITY AGAINST THE REAL BILL!)
NOTE: Believe it or not, Axelrod's email went on...and on. He followed up the previous sections showing 8 reasons that reforms are needed. Each one a sort of "Personal appeal" to really knock it out of the park. More campaigning. Suffice it to say that Tort reform was not one of them.
So, Axelrod wanted his email to "go viral"...can we make this corrected version go viral? I think we can!
