Wednesday August 12, 2009, 7:30 pm
You Do Not Have Health Insurance


http://www.truthout.org/080709A?n

The Baseline Scenario: "Right now, it appears that the biggest barrier to health care reform is people who think that it will hurt them. According to a New York Times poll, '69 percent of respondents in the poll said they were concerned that the quality of their own care would decline if the government created a program that covers everyone.'

Since most Americans currently have health insurance, they see reform as a poverty program - something that helps poor people and hurts them.

If that's what you think, then this post is for you. You do not have health insurance.

Let me repeat that. You do not have health insurance. (Unless you are over 65, in which case you do have health insurance. I'll come back to that later.)"




So, thanks to Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Speaker Pelosi says she will bring a vote to the floor on single-payer after the recess. Are you all ready to make those phone calls and write those letters?


Nancy's contact info..http://speaker.house.gov/contact/

Send our speaker an e-mail of encouragement.

Wednesday August 12, 2009, 8:08 pm
California councilman joked about assassinating Obama

Wednesday August 12, 2009, 9:40 pm
Just because Republicans have health industry plants all over the place, they shouldn't accuse demos of doing the same. We know Demos aren't that shrewd.

Thursday August 13, 2009, 7:40 am
Thank you Blue, they're digging their own grave at this point.

Thursday August 13, 2009, 11:37 am
I can't tell you how nice it would be to have health insurance.I have not had any since I turned 18.My employer does not offer insurance and I can't afford the private policies that companies offer. In addition I have type 1 juvenille diabetes since age 11 and no insurance company will give me covereage despite the fact I have no prolems with my illness. Before anyone says anything...type 1 diabetes was not caused because I was unhealthy or lazy or fat or poor.It was caused by genetics and failure of the pancreas most likely caused by some virus. Anyway just because im not rich or employeed by someone who offers insurance or because I have a chornic illness does not mean I don't deserve insurance. When I broke my leg in 2004 I spent two weeks trying to find a doctor that would fix it because I had no insurance.I needed a metal plate put in and since I had no covereage most doctors told me that I would just have to wrap it with a ace bandage and hope for the best. After borrowing several thousand dollars one doctor agreed to do the surgery. I had no insurance so I had no therapy when it was over so it took me over a year to be able to walk again. With no insurance...that is the so called death panel. Because no matter how sick you get if you have no insurance the doctors are going to let you die.

Thursday August 13, 2009, 11:47 am
Raine, I've heard similar stories from so many people in America. A father was in a severe accident for example, which was covered for insurance but when he had to change insurance for some reason (maybe changing jobs?) no providers would cover him because of the past accident, despite the fact it was years ago and he was fine, and it was in no way his fault.
I also talked to a woman who, although she had insurance, had a baby, and overall the birth cost her something like 10 grand, or some ridiculous amount. So the healthcare system is clearly failing many people.

In the UK healthcare is free at point of service, and has been this way for decades. I've read that this means people in the UK tend to visit the doctor more often, which mean health issues are usually caught before they escalate. In the US people wait until they really have to go to the doctor because they can't afford to otherwise, which means health problems have time to get worse and end up costing everybody more in the long run.

Thursday August 13, 2009, 12:48 pm
I hope the heck Rush Limbaugh ROTS IN HELL! What a jack ass! He is worse than Howard Stern and I think he is bad enough. Where the crap does the GOP(Greedy Old Pretenders)... they sure as hell do not represent the people, not unless they are billionaires, are sucking oil out of our soil, taxing the poor, and allowing the rich to get richer through greed and corruption... lying through their teeth, bunch of losers! IF they cared one thing about our nation and us as citizens they WOULD NOT BE LYING, CHEATING, AND REEKING HAVOC AT these Town hall meetings! This kind of crap just burns me up. They want to accuse US (THE DEMOCRATS) as setting up this little girl??? What about their own posing questions, then screaming, hollering, shouting and disrupting every town hall meeting across this land like a bunch of freaking two year olds... my Grandson is 3 and more well-behaved than that bunch of got one foot in the ground old farts! They are writing a check with their mouths and actions, that their rear end won't be able to sign come election time!!! Between Palin and her stupidity! and the rest of that bunch of old goats, I would be ASHAMED TO ADMIT I WAS A REPUBLICAN IF I WERE one of them! Insanity, jealousy, lies, greed, corruption... tie is all together and you have a Republican!

Thursday August 13, 2009, 12:54 pm
Exactly... even now I have Humana that took the place of my Medicare... and I have an extremely urgent situation going on from complications from Lupus. I am totally and completely bruised all over my arms and legs, to the point, you touch my skin and I bleed... or I hemorrhage under the skin for no reason. My hematologist has ran thousands of dollars of blood work, and he is so puzzled and concerned he wanted me to go to one of the teaching hospitals in Dallas... where I could have a Team of doctors that can find out what is going on and treat me. He told me over the phone yesterday, to let them know it is emergent, and not let them put me off for weeks or months... his words were "I may not make it 2 months)... talking about me... then I call the couple of huge teaching hospitals in Dallas. and they do NOT TAKE MY HUMANA! Why??? Because ???? Heck if I know.. I guess I will just have to die... it is a stupid, tangled, one sided, allow the CEO's of these insurance companies richer than rich, all the while they are so greedy, to heck with us that are severely ill... So, I totally agree with Raine.... it is a screwed up, one sided, let's get rich, deny coverage for those who are ill, not pay enough or on time so the hospitals and doctors won't take our insurance....

I am literally in tears at this moment, with the thought that if I don't get some doctor quickly I might bleed to death... it sucks... Rhia

Thursday August 13, 2009, 1:36 pm
Of course they're attacking her. It's okay for the far right stooges to go to town halls and scream at the top of their lungs to prevent any discussion of any kind, but let just one person ask a question that might foster an explanation of what healthcare reform is really about, they go ballistic. Besides, who is easier to attack than an 11-year-old girl who can't fight back. We all know about Rush--no suprise there.

Thursday August 13, 2009, 1:53 pm
Raine, I know that having diabetes is not your ault; 2 friends of mine recently had their toddler diagnosed with diabetes ... it's genetic. Most people don't realize that ... and I'm so sad to read about the problems you had with your broken leg and learning to walk without the necessary therapy.

Rhia, my heart aches for you. Call the ofoffices of your representatives in Congress and ask for their help; sometimes, all it takes is a phone call from a member of Congress to get the ball rolling.

Barry, the more comments you post on different news articles and the more I read, the more I like you!

Thursday August 13, 2009, 1:58 pm

Professor Stephen Hawking Enters U.S. Health Care Debate

Thursday August 13, 2009, 2:01 pm
Wow, I didn't realise people blamed diabetics for having diabetes O_o crazyness :(

Thursday August 13, 2009, 2:19 pm
It is so frustrating ... no, rather, it's INFURIATING, watching and listening to those who are opposing Obama at every turn. Now they attack an 11 year old girl ... for asking a question at a Town Hall meeting.

Obama is a man who is trying his best to help straighten out a country that was left in a shambles by Bush ... but even more so by Cheney, when Bush was still listening to him.

We are so lucky to have Obama. I feel so sure that he will turn out to be one of our best presidents. Those who voted for him and now feel *disappointment* or who are "discouraged" becaisuse our country's not all back on its feet are too shallow to understand that change takes guts and time. And it takes ALL of us working together, not all of us at each other's throats (just to gain political advantage).

Will our country ever learn? Will it ever get it right? We have so much to be thankful for, yet what we hear so much of is negativism, fear and petty whinings over imagined wrongs. And prejudice!

Thursday August 13, 2009, 2:23 pm
(I see that the end of my comment was left out, so I'll just add it here):

Does any sane person REALLY believe our government would stand by and allow *death panels"? Or the euthanization of our elderly? Or forced abortions? Or the myriad other bogus wrongs Obama has been accused of? What insanity.

If Obama loses on health care reform, our country will deserve the mess it will continue to be in.

I'm for Obama 101%. He's a gift and a blessing, and I pity those who are too blind or too prejudiced to see that.

I'm neither a Democrat nor a Republican. I'm an Independent, and I'm for the best man for the job. Today, Obama is that man!

I believe in him with all my heart and soul.

Mary

Thursday August 13, 2009, 2:38 pm
Great comments Mary :) Yes, I think in the future Obama will be viewed positively, of course it's early days and I have plenty of criticisms for him but overall I think he'll do his best.

The healthcare debate reminds me of the struggle to get healthcare in the UK that is free at point of service, this fight started after WW2, around 1948 and faced huge oppostion from doctors, politicians, the media and so on. So it did take effort and initially people were against it. However 60 years later, and though people complain about level of service and so on most will acknowledge the fact we're lucky to have it.

It's interesting to read about, if anyone's interested, googling 'NHS history' will probably get you some good sites.

Thursday August 13, 2009, 3:08 pm
I had to make a visit to my doctors office earier today. The entire office is up in arms about the idiocy being promoted by the right wing conservative idiots out there. Get out there and tell people the TRUTH. Bige money doesn't have to keep controlling this country! Health care is too important to all of us to let it go down the drain because of a few nut cases. ALL the people out there who want something better for all of us, need to speak up! I have lived in a country with "socialized medicine" and have seen the benefits. The only way we are going to see anything better than what we have is to fight for it and tell all those who have been bought out by insurance and pharma to take a hike!

Thursday August 13, 2009, 3:49 pm
Why do you Americans put up with having a 3rd world health service that only serves the rich? The rest of the free world has moved to Healthcare for everyone!

Thursday August 13, 2009, 4:21 pm
Lain,

I hate to say this about my own compatriots, but someone else on the internet summed it up by saying, "the majority of the American public are mushrooms." That is, they are kept in the dark and fed manure.

A narrowly-controlled media and political system that disguises itself as a 1st-rate Democracy has the average American convinced that they live in an open society where time and time again public opinion on such issues as health care, peace, education, etc., are contradicted by the unwavering belief that either wing of the Corporate Republicrat Party have their best interests in mind when formulating policy. Those policies are more often than not the commodification of everything, with the ruling Elite making financial gains to the detriment of the general public. Point this out back in the USA and be condemned as "anti-American."

Go figure.

Thursday August 13, 2009, 5:08 pm
Oh yeah... it was just coincidence that BHO called on a Democratic official on the first question or just happened to pick out an 11 year old girl concerned about all the mean signs whose mother was a huge supporter of the Obama operation. The Dems are now stooping to using children to further their agenda/propaganda. Shame on you !! Well...since the election of BHO, so far, none of the shenanigans has been able to fool enough people to make a difference.

Thursday August 13, 2009, 5:09 pm

Professor Stephen Hawking Enters U.S. Health Care Debate
"I wouldn't be here today if it were not for the National Health Service," he told The Guardian. "I have received a large amount of high-quality
treatment without which I would not have survived.

Thursday August 13, 2009, 5:45 pm
Lady L, Gina, all of you out there! Please read! So it Begins -- the August Attack on Health Care Reform
This week I received a mass email that exhorted the recipients to pray for our country because of the disaster surely to befall on us if health care reform is passed. It is very important for all of us to understand what health reform is about because being able to respond to these distortions is important. So I went through every charge and answered it and sent it back to the huge email list to which it had been distributed. I wish I had seen the excellent rebuttal done by Politifact before I spent all this time, but it's encouraging to know we have multiple ways to toss this stuff back.
The original email charges are in bold and my comments are in CAPS below each of these distortions. I am not really shouting (in CAPS) but in a way I am. This makes me mad, particularly the charges about killing old people.
The bill being referred to is HR 3200 Affordable Health Care Choices -- this is what is being referred to as the House Bill. Of course the bill will be modified before it ever goes to the House lloor, but this version is the one that the email charges refer to.

FIRST OF ALL -- Please note that the first five hundred pages of the bill, or Titles I and II, refer mainly to the new Health Exchanges and the health plans that will offer benefits through these exchanges. There is also language about improvements to Medicare, although you will note that the author of these attacks (anonymous to me) seem to confuse Medicare with private plans.

SO HERE STARTS THE CHARGES -- AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM!
Page 22 -- MANDATES the government will audit books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self insure.

NO, ACTUALLY THE LANGUAGE SAYS THAT A STUDY SHOULD BE COMMISSIONED TO DETERMINE -- IN GENERAL -- HOW MANY EMPLOYERS ARE SELF-FUNDING THEIR BENEFITS AND MIGHT WANT TO SHIFT THEIR EMPLOYEES TO THE HEALTH EXCHANGE. NOTHING IN THERE ABOUT AUDITING THE BOOKS.
Page 30 Section 123 -- There will be a Government COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.

NOT EXACTLY. AN INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE WILL RECOMMEND THE BENEFITS TO BE OFFERED, JUST LIKE WHAT YOUR EMPLOYER DOES NOW OR YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY -- THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES TO BUY MORE EXPENSIVE OR COMPREHENSIVE PLANS BUT IT WILL BE YOUR CHOICE. FOR HEALTH PLANS THAT OFFER BENEFITS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO BUY THEIR INSURANCE THROUGH THE EXCHANGE, JUST LIKE WITH MEDICARE SUPPLEMENTS NOW, THERE WILL BE A COMMON PACKAGE OF BENEFITS OFFERED SO PEOPLE CAN COMPARE THEIR CHOICES.
Page 29 lines 4-16 -- Your Health Care is RATIONED.

WOW. NOT AT ALL! THIS LANGUAGE SAYS THAT YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY MORE THAN A SET AMOUNT EACH YEAR FOR YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE. RIGHT NOW YOU ALL HAVE MAXIMUM AMOUNTS THAT YOUR INSURANCE WILL PAY ANNUALLY AND THEN YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN. THE NEW LAW WILL PROTECT YOU FROM HAVING TO PAY MORE THAN SET AMOUNTS. YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY!!
Page 42 -- The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your Health Care benefits for you. You have no choice.

AGAIN. NOT TRUE. THERE WILL BE CHOICES OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF PLANS YOU CAN BUY. RIGHT NOW IF YOU ARE EMPLOYED YOUR EMPLOYER CHOOSES FOR YOU. IN THE EXCHANGE, ALL KINDS OF PLANS WILL BE OFFERED FOR YOU TO CHOOSE. DID YOU THINK YOU WOULD PERSONALLY BE ABLE TO CHOOSE WHAT SERVICES YOU WANT COVERED AND WHAT YOU DO NOT? HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT EXCEPT THROUGH A RIDER?
Page 50 Section 152 -- Health Care will be provided to ALL non-U.S. citizens, illegal or otherwise.
THERE IS NOTHING ON PAGE 50 OR SECTION 152 ABOUT ILLEGALS. ILLEGALS WILL NOT BE COVERED. THIS SECTION PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THEIR RELIGION OR GENDER OR ANYTHING ELSE.

Page 58 - Government will have real-time access to individual's finances and a National ID Health Card will be issued.

NO. IT SAYS THAT THE HEALTH PLANS IN THE EXCHANGE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DETERMINE YOUR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY BEFORE THEY ISSUE YOU AN INSURANCE PLAN. YOU ALREADY HAVE ID CARDS IF YOU HAVE PRIVATE INSURANCE NOW OR EVEN MEDICARE. AND YOU CAN'T GET HEALTH INSURANCE NOW UNLESS YOU CAN PAY FOR IT. THIS IS NO DIFFERENT. IT'S NOT THE GOVERNMENT BUT THE PRIVATE INSURANCE PLANS THAT WILL REQUIRE THIS INFORMATION.
NOTE THIS INPOLITIFACT.COM
•

Page 59: The federal government will have direct, real-time access to all individual bank accounts for electronic funds transfer. Barely True: Section 163 sets out goals for electronic health records. One of the goals is to include features that "enable electronic funds transfers, in order to allow automated reconciliation" between payment and billing. The legislative summary says the intent in the section is "to adopt standards for typical transactions" between insurance companies and health care providers. The legislation generically describes typical electronic banking transactions and does not outline any special access privileges.
Page 59 lines 21-24 -- Government will have direct access to your bank accounts for electrical funds transfers.

NOT THE GOVERNMENT. AGAIN. YOU WILL HAVE TO APPROVE AN ELECTRONIC (NOT ELECTRICAL!) FUND TRANSFER IF YOU WANT TO PAY YOUR PREMIUMS THAT WAY. IT WILL BE THE PRIVATE INSURERS WHO PROCESS THIS, LIKE BLUE CROSS, AETNA, ETC. HOW DO YOU DO IT NOW?
Page 65 Section 164 -- A payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in unions and community organizations (ACORN).

NO. THIS IS A PROGRAM WHERE THE GOVERNMENT WILL HELP EMPLOYERS WHO PROVIDE RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TO PAY FOR THOSE BENEFITS IF THEY EXCEED A CERTAIN AMOUNT. IT'S A REINSURANCE PLAN THAT LARGE EMPLOYERS REALLY LIKE BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THEM TO CONTINUE GIVING THEIR EMPLOYEES RETIREE BENEFITS WHEN THEY RETIRE BUT NOT BREAK THE PRIVATE EMPLOYER'S BANK. UNIONS OPERATE HEALTH PLANS JUST LIKE PRIVATE EMPLOYERS SO OF COURSE THEY ARE INCLUDED. NOTHING SAID ABOUT ACORN HERE.
Page 72 Lines 8-14 -- Government is creating a Health Care Exchange to bring private health care plans under government control.

IT IS TRUE THAT GOVERNMENT WILL HELP TO REGULATE THE EXCESSIVE ACTIONS OF PRIVATE INSURERS WHEN THEY DENY YOU COVERAGE BECAUSE OF A PREEXISTING CONDITION OR BECAUSE YOU WERE SICK. BUT DON'T WE ALL WANT THAT? EVEN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY HAS AGREED TO THAT. THE EXCHANGE IS A WAY TO KEEP OUR PRIVATE INSURANCE SYSTEM WORKING, BUT NOT ALLOW THEM TO DENY YOU INSURANCE OR CHARGE YOU AN ARM OR A LEG. HAVE YOU EVER HAD TO BUY PRIVATE INSURANCE BY YOURSELF? IF YOU DID, YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU WERE EVER SICK, THEY CAN REFUSE TO SELL IT TO YOU OR CHARGE YOU A LOT.
SEE NY TIMES SUNDAY WITH THIS QUOTE:

Lawmakers of both parties agree on the need to rein in private insurance companies by banning underwriting practices that have prevented millions of Americans from obtaining affordable insurance. Insurers would, for example, have to accept all applicants and offer a minimum package of benefits, to be defined by the federal government. Nearly all Americans would be required to have insurance. Lawmakers also agree on the need to provide federal subsidies to help make insurance affordable for people with modest incomes. For poor people, Medicaid eligibility would be expanded.
Page 84 Section 203 -- Government mandates ALL benefit packages for private Health Care plans in the Exchange.

THERE WILL BE DIFFERENT PLANS FOR YOU TO CHOOSE FROM, BASIC TO COMPREHENSIVE DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU WANT TO PAY. RIGHT NOW, IF YOU ARE A MEDICARE BENEFICIARY AND CHOOSE TO BUY A SUPPLEMENT OR "GAP" PLAN, YOU CHOOSE PLANS FROM A MENU AND THE BENEFITS ARE MANDATED AND CONSISTENT.
Page 85 Line 7 -- Specifications for Benefit Levels for Plans = The government will ration your Health Care.

NO RATIONING HERE. YOU CHOOSE THE BENEFITS YOU WANT TO PAY FOR. ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR PLAN, YOUR DOCTOR DECIDES WHAT TREATMENTS YOU NEED. "BENEFITS" MEANS YOU GET HOSPITAL SERVICES AND LAB AND X-RAY. IT DOESN'T DETERMINE WHEN OR HOW OR WHY. JUST LIKE THE PLANS YOU HAVE NOW THROUGH YOUR EMPLOYER OR WHICH YOU BOUGHT YOURSELF. NO DIFFERENT.
Page 91 Lines 4-7 -- Government mandates linguistic appropriate services. Example -- translation for illegal aliens.

YES, LINGUISTIC SERVICES. NO, ILLEGAL ALIENS. NO SERVICES TO ILLEGAL ALIENS. THIS IS A BLATANT LIE. THERE IS NO MENTION OF ILLEGAL ALIENS HERE AT ALL.
Page 95 Lines 8-18 -- The government will use groups i.e., ACORN & Americorps to sign up individuals for Government Health Care plan.

THE BILL SAYS "APPROPRIATE ENTITIES" WILL HELP WITH ENROLLMENT. DOESN'T MENTION ACORN OR AMERICORPS.
Page 85 Line 7 -- Specs of Benefit Levels for Plans. AARP members -- Your Health Care WILL be rationed.

NO MENTION OF AARP. NO RATIONING. YOU GET TO CHOOSE THE LEVEL OF BENEFITS YOU CAN AFFORD. BUT SOMEONE HAS TO DESIGN THESE PLANS. GOVERNMENT WILL REQUIRE PRIVATE PLANS TO DESIGN THE BENEFITS SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THEM AND CHOOSE APPROPRIATELY.
Page 102 Lines 12-18 -- Medicaid Eligible individuals will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. No choice.

NO. LINE 16 SAYS IF YOU DO NOT ELECT (CHOOSE) TO ENROLL IN A PRIVATE PLAN AND IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID BY REASON OF LOW INCOME, YOU CAN BE ENROLLED AUTOMATICALLY. BUT YOU MAKE THE CHOICE.
Page 124 lines 24-25 -- No company can sue the government for price fixing. No "judicial review" against government monopoly.

TRUE, NO JUDICIAL REVIEW OF GOVERNMENT RATE NEGOTIATIONS. BUT GOVERNMENT IS NOT A MONOPOLY HERE. THIS ONLY PERTAINS TO THE PUBLIC PLAN AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE THE PUBLIC PLAN, NOR DOES A DOCTOR HAVE TO CHOOSE TO CONTRACT WITH THE PUBLIC PLAN. IT IS VOLUNTARY.
Page 127 Lines 1-16 -- Doctors/AMA: The Government will tell you what you can make.

NO. THIS PERTAINS ONLY TO THE PAYMENTS NEGOTIATED FOR THE PUBLIC PLAN. IT'S THAT WAY NOW WITH MEDICARE. PHYSICIANS CAN CHOOSE TO CONTRACT WITH MEDICARE AND THEY CAN CHOOSE TO CONTRACT -- OR NOT -- WITH THIS PUBLIC PLAN. AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE TO ENROLL IN THE PUBLIC PLAN. NO ONE IS TELLING DOCTORS WHAT THEY CAN MAKE.
Page 145 Line 15-17 - An Employer MUST automatically enroll employees into public option plan. No Choice.

ABSOLUTELY NOT. THE EMPLOYER CAN PROVIDE ITS OWN COVERAGE OR IT CAN ALLOW EMPLOYEES TO CHOOSE FROM THE MANY, MANY PRIVATE INSURANCE OPTIONS. NO ONE HAS TO GO INTO THE PUBLIC PLAN. SOME SMALL EMPLOYERS (TO BE DEFINED) CAN ALLOW THEIR EMPLOYEES TO CHOOSE A PLAN FROM THE EXCHANGE. IN MOST OF THE BILLS, LARGE EMPLOYERS CANNOT MOVE THEIR EMPLOYEES INTO THE EXCHANGE, AT LEAST IN THE FIRST FEW YEARS.
Page 126 Lines 22-25 -- Employers MUST pay for Health Care for part time employees AND their families.

THIS PAGE NUMBER AND REFERENCE IS WRONG. NOT SURE WHAT PAGE THEY ARE REFERENCING. BUT YES, THERE ARE SOME REFERENCES TO COVERING PART TIME EMPLOYEES.
Page 149 Lines 16-24 -- ANY Employer with payroll 400k and above who does not provide public option pays 8 percent tax on all payroll.

THERE IS AN EMPLOYER MANDATE FOR SMALL EMPLOYERS THAT HAVE MORE THAN 400K IN PAYROLL IN THE HOUSE BILL. BUT IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PUBLIC PLAN. THE PUBLIC PLAN IS OPTIONAL.
Page 150 Lines 9-13 -- Business with payroll between $251k and $400k who does not provide public option pays 2-6 percent tax on all payroll.

NO REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC OPTION. WHERE IS THIS COMING FROM?
Page 167 Lines 18-23 -- Any individual who does not have acceptable Health Care according to the government will be taxed 2.5 percent of income.

THIS IS TRUE. THERE IS AN EMPLOYER MANDATE AND AN INDIVIDUAL MANDATE IN THIS BILL. EVERYONE MUST HAVE INSURANCE AND THERE ARE PENALTIES IF THEY DO NOT GET IT. BUT THERE ARE ALSO SUBSIDIES TO HELP THEM PAY FOR IT. IT'S LIKE AUTO INSURANCE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT AND YOU PAY FINES IF YOU DON'T GET IT.
Page 170 Lines 1-3 -- Any NONRESIDENT alien is exempt from individual taxes. (American citizens will pay).

ILLEGAL ALIENS WILL NOT BE COVERED. THEREFORE THEY WILL NOT BE PENALIZED. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO GET THEIR CARE IN EMERGENCY ROOMS LIKE THEY DO NOW, WITH THOSE COSTS BEING SHIFTED TO THE REST OF US.
Page 195 -- Officers and employees of Health Care Administration (government) will have access to ALL American's finance/personal records.

NOT ALL RECORDS. AND ONLY FOR THAT INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES. DO YOU WANT GOVERNMENT PAYING SUBSIDIES FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD COVERAGE? PROBABLY NOT.
Page 203 Line 14-15 Health Care -- "The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax". Yes, it says that.

IT DOES. AND IT'S FUNNY. BUT TAX IS A LEGAL TERM UNDER THE IRS RULES AND THIS IS A CLARIFICATION.
Page 239 Line 14-24 -- Government will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income, and poor will be affected.

NO. THE LANGUAGE IS NOT VERY CLEAR BUT IT REFERS TO A FEE SCHEDULE, WHICH IS IN PLACE NOW ANYWAY FOR MEDICAID. YOU THINK GOVERNMENT PAYS ANYTHING A PROVIDER CHARGES WITHOUT CHECKING IT?
Page 241 Line 6-8 -- All doctors will be paid the same regardless of their specialty.

NO. THIS REFERS ONLY TO A CERTAIN EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IN MEDICARE. IT IS NOT A BLANKET PROVISION BY ANY MEANS.

Page 253 Line 10-18 -- Government sets value of doctors' time, professional judgment, etc.; literally the value of humans.

THE RVU (RELATIVE VALUE UNIT) IS THE WAY DOCTORS ARE PAID FOR MEDICARE NOW. IT'S A COMPLICATED FORMULA. PHYSICIANS ACCEPT IT, AND ACTUALLY, SOME LIKE IT BECAUSE IT REWARDS THEM FOR TIME SPENT TALKING TO PATIENTS, NOT JUST TIME WRITING PRESCRIPTIONS. THIS WHOLE SECTION IS ABOUT PAYMENT FOR MEDICARE. MEDICARE ALREADY USES THESE FORMULAS. IF YOU DIDN'T LIKE THIS, WHY DIDN'T YOU SPEAK UP EARLIER WHEN MEDICARE WAS PASSED IN 1965?

Page 265 Section 1131 -- Government mandates and controls productivity for private Health Care industries.

THIS IS FOR MEDICARE. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE EXCHANGE OR PRIVATE PLANS.

Page 268 Section 1141 -- Government regulates rental and purchase of power driven wheelchairs.

THIS IS ABOUT MEDICARE. GOVERNMENT ALREADY DOES THIS. NOT EVERYONE NEEDS A POWER DRIVEN WHEELCHAIR. DON'T YOU WANT YOUR TAXPAYER MONEY BEING SPENT WISELY BY MEDICARE?
Page 272 Section. 1145 -- Treatment at certain CANCER HOSPITALS; rationing for cancer patients.

NO. THIS REFERS TO MEDICARE PAYMENTS TO CANCER HOSPITALS AND THE ATTEMPT BY GOVERNMENT TO KEEP COSTS UNDER CONTROL BY NOT OVERPAYING.
Page 280 Section 1151 -- The government will penalize hospitals for what government deems preventable re-admissions.

THIS REFERS TO MEDICARE AGAIN. AND YES, IF A HOSPITAL DUMPS A PATIENT OUT BEFORE THEY ARE READY TO LEAVE AND THEY HAVE TO COME BACK AND BE ADMITTED AGAIN, THE HOSPITAL SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. THIS IS ONLY FOR MEDICARE.
Page 298 Lines 9-11 -- Doctors, treat a patient during initial admission that results in a re-admission and the government will penalize the doctor.

THIS APPLIES TO MEDICARE ONLY. AND YES, THE DOCTOR WHO RELEASES THE PATIENT SHOULD ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE IF THE PATIENT HAS TO COME BACK.
Page 317 Lines 13-20 -- PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. Government tells doctors what/how much they can own.

NOT ALL OWNERSHIP. JUST SITUATIONS WHERE DOCTORS OWN THE MAJORITY OF A HOSPITAL OR LAB AND ONLY SEND THEIR PATIENTS TO THE PLACE THEY OWN, THUS INCREASING THEIR INCOME BUT NOT GIVING PATIENT ANY CHOICE. THERE ARE ALREADY PROHIBITIONS ON WHAT THEY CALL "SELF-REFERRAL" IN PLACE, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS EFFECTIVE.
Page 317-318vLines 21-25,1-3 -- PROHIBITION on hospital expansions.

NO. ONLY SITUATIONS WHERE DOCTORS OWN THE HOSPITAL AS WELL AS THE LABS, ETC. AND THEY HAVE A MONOPOLY.
Page 321 2-13 -- Hospitals have opportunity to apply for exception BUT community input is required. Approval by ACORN?

NOTHING SAID ABOUT ACORN HERE OF COURSE. AND BY THE WAY, THERE HAVE BEEN PROGRAMS TO REVIEW HOSPITAL EXPANSIONS SINCE 1980. THESE PROGRAMS WERE CALLED HEALTH PLANNING AND THEY ALLOWED THE PUBLIC TO COME AND COMMENT ON WHETHER OR NOT A HOSPITAL SHOULD BUY A NEW MRI OR BUILD A NEW WING..
Page 335 Lines 16-25; Page 336-339 -- Government mandates establishment of outcome based measures. Health Care the way they want it. Rationing.

THIS ONLY APPLIES TO MEDICARE AT FIRST, BUT IT IS COMMONLY USED NOW IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. WHY SHOULDN'T WE MEASURE THE QUALITY OF CARE RECEIVED? HEDIS, CAPHS, ALL USED FOR YEARS BY PRIVATE SECTOR -- EVEN BEFORE MEDICARE USED THESE MEASURES -- MOST DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS AGREE THAT OUTCOME MEASURES ARE IMPORTANT. THIS IS NOT CONTROVERSIAL IN MOST CIRCLES. WHO DOESN'T WANT BETTER QUALITY CARE?
Page 341 Lines 3-9 -- Government has authority to disqualify Medicare Advance Plans, HMO's, etc., thus forcing people into government plan.

YIKES. MEDICARE IS A GOVERNMENT PLAN. AND IT'S MEDICARE ADVANTAGE, NOT ADVANCE. AND MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS ARE HMOS AND PPOS AVAILABLE TO MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES NOW. THE PROGRAM WAS STARTED BY PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH. THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH RUNS MEDICARE, HAS ALWAYS REGULATED MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS SINCE THEY FIRST STARTED.
Page 354 Section 1177 -- Government will RESTRICT enrollment of special needs people.

NO. THIS PROVISION ATTEMPTS TO STRENGTHEN PLANS THAT SERVE PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. YOU READ IT COMPLETELY WRONG.
Page 379 Section 1191 -- Government creates more bureaucracy -- Tele-Health Advisory Committee. Health Care by phone?

ONLY FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN REMOTE AREAS. THIS WOULD ALLOW DOCTORS TO TALK TO PATIENTS WHO LIVE IN ALASKA OR SOME RURAL AREA WHO ARE SICK AND CAN'T GET TO A DOCTOR IN A TIMELY WAY. IT COULD SAVE LIVES.
Page 425 Lines 4-12 -- Government mandates Advance Care Planning Consults. Think senior citizens end of life.

THIS ONE REALLY MAKES ME MAD. ALL THIS DOES IS ALLOW PEOPLE TO CHOOSE (GET IT, CHOOSE?) TO HAVE A CONSULTATION ABOUT WHAT IS CALLED AN ADVANCED DIRECTIVE. AN ADVANCED DIRECTIVE IS NOTHING MORE THAN A STATEMENT BY A PERSON ABOUT HOW THEY CHOOSE (CHOOSE!) TO BE TREATED IF THEY GET A TERMINAL DISEASE. THE PERSON CAN DECIDE THEY WANT EVERYTHING POSSIBLE DONE FOR THEM OR THEY CAN DECIDE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE ON FEEDING TUBES. BUT IT IS THEIR CHOICE. NO ONE ELSE'S. AND THIS IS AN OPTIONAL BENEFIT. NO ONE NEEDS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT IF THEY DON'T WANT TO.
Page 425 Lines 17-19 -- Government will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney. Mandatory!
NOT MANDATORY. NOT MANDATORY. NOT MANDATORY.
OPTIONAL. OPTIONAL. OPTIONAL.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO HAVE A CONSULTATION EVERY FIVE YEARS, YOU CAN. IF YOU DO NOT CHOOSE TO DO IT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
Page 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3 -- Government provides approved list of end of life resources, guiding you in death.

THE LIST OF RESOURCES IS JUST A LIST SO PEOPLE KNOW WHERE TO FIND OUT INFORMATION.

427 Lines 15-24 -- Government mandates program for orders for end of life. The government has a say in how your life ends.

NO MANDATE. NO SAY IN HOW YOUR LIFE ENDS.
THIS IS AN OPTIONAL PROGRAM. . BUT IF THERE IS A PROGRAM TO ADVISE PEOPLE, OF COURSE THE GOVERNMENT WANTS THAT PROGRAM TO GIVE ACCURATE INFORMATION AND RESPECT PEOPLE'S WISHES.

Page 429 Lines 1-9 -- An "Advanced Care Planning Consultant" will be used frequently as patients health deteriorates.

CAN BE USED MORE FREQUENTLY. NOT WILL BE USED. IF THE PATIENT IS DYING QUICKLY AND NEEDS MORE HELP, THAT HELP WILL BE AVAILABLE.
Page 429 Lines 10-12 -- "advanced care consultation" may include an ORDER for end of life plans. AN ORDER from Government!

NOT FROM THE GOVERNMENT. IT PLAINLY SAYS IF THERE IS AN ORDER -- FROM THE PATIENT TO THE DOCTOR -- THE DOCTOR ISSUES THE ORDER. NOT THE GOVERNMENT. READ IT! LINES 13-25.

Page 429 Lines 13-25 - The government will specify which doctors can write an end of life order.
.
NO. ONLY DOCTORS WHO ARE LICENSED PROFESSIONALS CAN MAKE THAT ORDER. AND THE ORDER IS AT THE REQUEST OF THE PATIENT TO START WITH. GOVERNMENT ONLY ASSURES THAT A REAL DOCTOR OR QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IS HELPING OUT.
Page 430 Lines 11-15 -- The government will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life.

NO. THE INDIVIDUAL PATIENT DECIDES THAT. IT PLAINLY STATES THAT THE INDIVIDUAL DECIDES. NOT THE GOVERNMENT. NOT EVEN THE DOCTOR.
Page 469 -- Community Based Home Medical Services = Non-profit organizations. ACORN Medical Services?

NOTHING TO DO WITH ACORN. AND IT'S NOT HOME MEDICAL. IT'S "MEDICAL HOME." THAT'S A CONCEPT THAT IS GAINING A LOT OF RESPECT AMONG PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THEM TO GET PAID FOR HELPING TO COORDINATE PATIENT CARE MORE EFFECTIVELY.

Page 472 Lines 14-17 -- Payment to community-based organizations; One monthly payment to a community-based organization like ACORN.
ACORN IS NOT A MEDICAL HOME OR A MEDICAL ORGANIZATION. NO PAYMENT TO ACORN. I HAVE SEARCHED THE BILL AND ACORN IS NEVER MENTIONED.

Page 489 Section 1308 -- The government will cover marriage and family therapy, which means they will insert government into your marriage.
NO. THIS IS A CLARIFICATION OF A BENEFIT UNDER MEDICARE. IT ALLOWS CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKERS TO BE INCLUDED AS WELL AS PSYCHOLOGISTS. IT IS VERY TEMPTING TO GET SNARKY ABOUT THIS ONE. A LOT OF PEOPLE COULD USE A LOT MORE MARRIAGE COUNSELING!! Please read and consider the truth! You know Pete, like telling people what you raelly do!!!!!!!!!



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Thursday August 13, 2009, 6:03 pm
@Blue, on twitter, there was group thing or something called #welovethenhs, it was cool, random ppl saying why national healthcare is beneficial to everyone.

I don't have a twitter account so I don't know how to find it, I just remebered somebody showed it to be before. It was nice because I like to hear personal stories.

Thursday August 13, 2009, 6:17 pm
Hey Lady L, this is just for you. I am a bit too white to be considered brown, and and a bit too brown to be considered white. Who cares? Look at the real issues about health care and quit relying on all those idiots out there who would sell you down the river in a heartbeat? You and I dear LL have more in common with PRESIDENT OBAMA than with all those money grubbing fools out there. Think for yourself and STOP asking someone for his or her opinions!

Thursday August 13, 2009, 6:55 pm

Professor Stephen Hawking Enters U.S. Health Care Debate

Thursday August 13, 2009, 8:23 pm
Blue, you too are a keeper! keep up the good fight.

Thursday August 13, 2009, 9:02 pm
Gina R: Who in the Repukelican party stoops time and time again by dragging out the Downs Syndrome baby when it is convenient as a prop? You guessed it! Sarah Palin, exploiter of the mentally disadvantaged. The same Sarah Palin who cut funding for Special Olympics in Alaska, the same Sarah Palin mayor of Wasilla (Wasilly) who tried to force the victims of rape to pay for their own forensics rape kits until the town council stopped her, the same Sarah Palin who managed to mismanage the health care of the people of Alaska so badly that the Federal government had to intervene. BTW, Alaska has the highest cases of rape in all of the states of America and it has roughly one half million people. Wow! I am not impressed.

It is only natural for the bullies, I mean the right wing teabaggers, birthers, deathers, wingnuts religious fringejobs to threaten an 11 year old. This shows how truly pathetic and desperate they are when they go after a child, who asked an intelligent question. At least this child has more manners and brains than all of those screaming me-me's disrupting these town hall meetings across the country.

Friday August 14, 2009, 8:07 am
Deborah ... do you think Republicans will "know the difference" ???

Faithful Progressive: Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Sarah Palin: What a real champion of the intellectually challenged looks like.

Friday August 14, 2009, 11:06 am
Those who are fomenting all the screaming and name-calling have no shame and have no conscience. They will attack anyone, anywhere, any time as long as they kill any attempt at reform. The only thing important to them is that the insurance companies continue to make obsene profits over the pain-wracked bodies of our sick.

Saturday August 15, 2009, 8:39 am
The RepubliCON bullie$ are here, too, Barry.

Tuesday August 18, 2009, 5:37 pm
WATCH: Man Who Brought Assault Rifle To Obama Rally Was Part Of Radio Stunt

The man with the semi-automatic (referred to in interviews as "Chris," no last name) was spotted at the protest by CNN news cameras, in the middle of a Q&A. Today, his interviewer -- Ernest Hancock of conservative talk radio show Declare Your Independence With Ernest Hancock -- went on CNN and explained to host Rick Sanchez that he and Chris were actually in the middle of a radio broadcast. Hancock, also packing heat at the rally, had invited Chris to come down the protest with his rifle to be interviewed. The two men had known each other for two years, through their work for presidential hopeful Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas).

During the segment on CNN, Rick Sanchez said, "the more we look into this, the more it appears that it was really planned." Hancock concurred: "Oh, it's more planned than you think." In addition to scheduling the interview, Hancock had also informed the local police force.

As the interview continued, Rick Sanchez loudly exclaimed, "This was a publicity stunt!"

"Oh absolutely," Hancock responded.

Sanchez pushed on, "isn't there something terribly disingenuous about putting people on like that? And isn't there also something a little bit... dangerous about playing these kinda games--"

"Oh, it's not a game," Chris interjected.

"---with what I imagine is a loaded weapon," Sanchez continued.....

Chris is also featured in a YouTube video produced by the libertarian group Freedom's Phoenix. In this video he expounds further on his right to bear arms. He also explains that he is "absolutely totally against health care... health care in this way, in this manner, stealing it from people. I don't think that's appropriate."

Tuesday August 18, 2009, 8:53 pm

Child stalker Michelle Malkin defends attacking 11-year-old girl: "No Shame, No How"

Malkin once again proves that there's nothing so low that she won't do it. You may remember that she attacked 12-year-old Graeme Frost over the SCHIP vote and posted personal information about his family. Well, now she's lowering the bar and attacking an 11-year-old girl. (Malkin link here)

At least she's an equal-opportunity smear artist. I know this happened a few days ago, but I had to address it. Bob Cesca covered it with his post: Malkin and Fox News Are Stalking Children Again

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 11:52 am
Blue--Some of these people have a bottomless capacity for sordid self-promotion. Neither Chris not Malkin care one whit about healthcare reform. He just wants his picture on TV and she wants to see her name in print. They both probably Google themselve daily. Forget about them.

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 3:07 pm
Barry ... you'll see your prophetic words repeated ... again and again ... hope you'll come to the MARCH ...

BE THERE ... 9/12/2009 in D.C.


The place to organize for the March on DC
I just wanted to remind everyone that you can connect with other people in your state by joining our ning social networking site. JOIN NOW and find a bus to ride in on, or a caravan of cars coming from your area. Connect with others in your state and work together to spread the word!
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Thursday August 20, 2009, 9:32 am
I just heard that Chris belongs to a rabid malitia group that was busted a while back on weapons charges. They were also stockpiling ammonium nitrate fertilizer (used by Timothy McVey to blow up the federal building in Oklahoma City). Then Feds didn't charge them with conspiracy to commit terrorist acts because it would have been too much trouble.

Wednesday August 26, 2009, 9:21 am
Right wing suggests 9/11 event is 'socialist'

GOP senator ignored Obama assassination threat

Friday August 28, 2009, 1:06 pm
Veterans For Common Sense: Veterans demand an apology from the Republicans and FOX for lies about the VA

Tuesday September 1, 2009, 3:46 pm
Beck guest: Health reform may spark ‘black genocide’