In a recent article than ran in the Albany Herald about the protest at Congressman Sanford Bishop’s office against healthcare reform, Congressman Bishop said, “We have the First Amendment in this country, but I find it curious that people choose to protest healthcare reform that would benefit them.” Congressman, you find it curious because at your town hall meeting in Albany you chose to talk to your constituents rather than listen. I know that your staff in the Albany office has become a fan of SWGAPolitics. I hope you are reading this too. I’ll try once more to explain why America, and more importantly—your constituents, do not want this reform.
There is an old saying that goes… “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” I am not implying that the healthcare system in this country could not use a little tweaking, but it is not to the point where we should scrap the entire system and rebuild it. Have you seen the polls that show numbers around 75% of Americans that are happy with their insurance plan? Tweaking the system with free market solutions that involve patient/doctor relationships rather than government officials is where we should look. Let’s explore health savings accounts, tax breaks for healthy lifestyle choices, and a system that is accountable to the patient. Why does the plan not address tort reform? A constituent mentioned that out of 47 million uninsured, only 15 million are chronically uninsured. They can be covered by the savings that will occur through a free market approach. Please sir, I am begging you to listen!
Congressman Bishop, we have the best healthcare system in the world. People come from all over the globe to be treated here in America because their government run plans are substandard to the care in this country. Why do you believe that our system will stay number one when it is run by the bureaucrats in Washington? We may pay more than other countries, but we are getting the best care in the world. What’s more, whether they have insurance or not, nobody is denied treatment in this country.
One of the biggest problems in Washington is that the lawmakers never seem to think beyond the first step with all of the lofty goals and experiments that are conducted on our society. Providing healthcare coverage to everybody sounds like a great thing to do. What will result from this action? Doctors will be told where to live and how much they can spend to treat patients. Patient care will be a decision of the new Health Choices Commissioner. The system that most Americans view as the world’s best will be fundamentally changed forever.
A reporter from CBS recently uncovered in the 1000 plus page bill that section 431(a) “says that the IRS must divulge taxpayer identity information, including the filing status, the modified adjusted gross income, the number of dependents, and “other information as is prescribed by” regulation. That information will be provided to the new Health Choices Commissioner and state health programs and used to determine who qualifies for “affordability credits.” The article cites two other sections where the IRS must report your confidential information to countless government bureaucrats who have no business knowing about the private lives of the citizens of this country. Are you starting to see now why people are protesting?
You said that you have read the House bill at the town hall meeting at ASU. You can then verify the following facts from the bill. Readers of this entry that want to check the facts against the actual bill can find the bill here. I cut several of the points out to reduce the size. Is there any wonder why we would not support this piece of legislation? I beg you Congressman Bishop to read the bill and vote the conscious of your constituents. Government health care for all sounds great, but with these stipulations? I find it curious that legislators choose to vote for healthcare reform that would harm us all.
Pg 16 Line 10 Under Limitation of New Enrollment you will go on the government plan if you ever lose your current insurance coverage. No new policies will be written after Y1.
Pg 22 of the Health Care Bill MANDATES the Govt will audit books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self-insure!!
Pg 30 Sec 123- THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.
Pg 29 lines 4-16 – There is an annual limitation on basic expenses which is a form of rationing.
PG 50 Section 152- HC will be provided to ALL non-US citizens, illegal or otherwise.
Pg 53- Severability:
“If any provision of the Act, or any application of such provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of the provisions of this Act and the application of the provision to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected.”
Pg 58 – Govt will have real-time access to individual’s finances & a National ID Healthcard will be issued!
Pg 59 lines 21-24- Govt will have direct access to your bank accounts for electronic funds transfer
Pg 72 Lines 8-14 Govt is creating an HC Exchange to bring private HC plans under Govt control.
PG 84 Sec 203 – Govt mandates ALL benefit packages for private HC plans in the Exchange
PG 85 Line 7 – Specs of Benefit Levels For Plans. Bishop talked about the plan levels at the ASU town hall, but if the government is providing for all of us we should all get the same level of treatment. Otherwise it can be construed as rationing.
PG 102 Lines 12-18- Medicaid-Eligible Individual will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. No choice.
pg 124 lines 24-25 No company can sue GOVT on price fixing. No “judicial review” against Govt Monopoly.
pg 127 Lines 1-16- RE: Doctors- The Govt will tell YOU what you can make.
Pg 145 Line 15-17 An Employer MUST auto-enroll employees into public option plan. NO CHOICE
Pg 146 Lines 22-25 Employers MUST pay for health care for part time employees AND their families.
Pg 149 Lines 16-24 ANY Employer w/ payroll $400k & above who doesn’t provide public option pays 8% tax on all payroll.
PG 150 Lines 9-13- Biz w payroll between 251k & 400k who don’t provide pub. opt pay 2-6% tax on all payroll
Pg 167 Lines 18-23 ANY individual who doesn’t have acceptable health insurance according to Govt will be taxed 2.5% of income.
Pg 170 Lines 1-3 Any NONRESIDENT Alien is EXEMPT from individual taxes. (Americans will pay)
Pg 195 -Officers & employees of HC Admin (GOVT) will have access to ALL Americans financial/personal records
PG 203 Line 14-15- “The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax.” Yes, it actualy says that.
Pg 239 Line 14-24-Govt will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income, poor will be affected.
Pg 241 Line 6-8- Doctors, doesn’t matter what specialty you have, you will all be paid the same. Why would a doctor study a specialty when they will all be rewarded the same?
Page 280 Sec 1151- The Govt will penalize hospitals for what Govt deems “preventable re-admissions.”
Pg 317 L 13-20- PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. Govt tells Drs. what/how much they can own of a healthcare facility.
Pg 317-318 lines 21-25,1-3: PROHIBITION on expansion- Govt is mandating hospitals cannot expand.
Pg 335 Line 16 Govt mandates establishment of outcome based measures. Health care the way they want. Rationing.
Pg 341 Lines 3-9: Govt has authority to disqualify Medicare Adv Plans, HMOs, etc. Forcing people into Govt plan
Pg 354 Sec 1177 – Govt will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs people!
PG 424 Lines 20 Govt mandates “Advanced Care Planning Consultations.”
Pg 429 Lines 1-9: An “advanced care planning consult” will be used frequently as patients health deteriorates
Pg 429 Lines 13-25 – The govt will specify which Doctors can write an end of life order.
PG 430 Lines 9-17- The Govt will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life.
PG 489 Sec 1308: The Govt will cover Marriage & Family therapy. Which means they will insert Govt into your marriage.
Pg 494-498: Govt will cover Mental Health Services including defining, creating, rationing those services.
PG 501 Section 1181 Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research Established. – Hello Big Brother – Literally.
PG 503 Line 19-25 The Center will collect data both published & unpublished (that means public & your private info)
PG 659-670 Doctors in Residency – Government will tell you where your residency will be, thus where you’ll live.
PG 675-685 Government will regulate hospitals in EVERY aspect of residency programs, including teaching hospitals.
PGs 700-703 Section 1619 If your part of HealthCare plan that isn’t in Government HealthCare Exchange but you qualify for Federal aid, no payment.
Pg 734 lines 16-25 For law enforcement purposes, the Secretary of Health & Human Services will give Attorney General access to ALL data.
PG 739-756 Government sets guidelines for subsidizing the uninsured with your tax dollars.
Page 762 1-8 No DS/EA hospitals will be paid unless they provide services without regard to national origin
Pg 769 SEC 1714 Federal Government mandates eligibility for State Family Planning Services. Abortion & State Sovereignty issues come to mind.
Pg 789-797 Government will set & mandate drug prices, controlling which drugs will brought to market. Bye-bye to innovation
Page 820-824 Sec 1801 Government will identify individuals ineligible for subsidies. Will access all personal finances.
PG 829-833 Government will impose a fee on ALL private health insurance plans including self insured to pay for Trust Fund!
838-840 Government will design & implement Home Visitation Program for families with young kids & families expecting kids.
PG 844-845 This Home Visitation Program includes Government coming into your house & telling you how to parent.
Pg 859 Government will establish a Public Health Fund at a cost of $88,800,000,000. Yes that’s Billion!
PG 876-892 The Government takes over the education of our Medical students and Drs.
PG 898 The Government will establish a Public Health Workforce Corps. to ensure supply of public health professionals.
PG 913-914 Government starts a HealthCare affirmative action program thru guise of diversity scholarships.
Pg 931 The Government will establish Preventative & Wellness Trust fund – The cost for fiscal year 2010 is $2,400,000,000 with billions more for each following year.
PG 934 21-22 Government will identify specific goals & objectives for prevention & wellness activities. Control You!!
PG 940 Lines 22-25 More Government? Offices of Surgeon General -Public Health Services, Minority Health, Women’s Health – THIS MEANS TAX DOLLARS USED TO PAY FOR ABORTIONS.
PG 1017 States give up some of their State Sovereignty.
Outstanding! Well written. You know, with the way we are being talked at instead of listened to its really becoming hard not to draw conclusions about what they are really trying to do.
Everyday i’m more convinced that this bill is more about access to our finances and in turn control and less about healthcare, as with cap and trade giving the fed the power to enter your property without a warrant.
Looks like a power grab more and more with each passing day. And again, awesome post!
It seems that from the moment it was signed, politicians have been trying to trample the Constitution. Even our Founding Fathers did it to some extent. It is natural for government to continue to try and exert control. Ever since the Progressive Movement of the early 20th Century, it has functioned under the belief that a few specialists are best able to decide complex issues. This belief has extended to everything from electricity to now health care. This too is about control in general. Many of these people honestly believe that this is the only way to effectively run health care in this nation. It’s a shame.
Unfortunately, even if we successfully defeat this bill, there will be others. Progressives are, quite often, “true believers” in their various causes and honestly think that reshaping America in this manner is for the best. After this bill, it will be another, then another, and still another. We will continue to have to fight for what matters.
While there is no rest for the wicked, there is none for the righteous either.
Thank you for your great work, Bill! I’ve tried a few times to read the bill, but frankly, I can’t seem to make heads or tails of it. Just too much gobbledy-gook, for lack of a better word this early and without my morning coffee..
Interesting commentary written by a doctor, basically saying that we will begin losing doctors right and left with this bill. What a scary thought:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/08/25/harris.primary.care.doctor/index.html?iref=newssearch
Can I ask a question that is waaaaay off-topic, but that I haven’t seen addressed ANYWHERE? Maybe one of you guys could start another thread… or tell me to shut up lest I might mysteriously disappear off the face of the earth for asking…. but here goes: From what I see, Big O has trampled all over the grounds for impeachment. Has anyone else noticed or am I misunderstanding? Especially the part about violating public trust..
Robin: I’d have to check, but I suspect that proving “violating the public trust” isn’t an easy thing. He’s most definitely violated the trust of many, but I suspect the same could be said of every president since Washington.
Honestly, we need a constitutional scholar on staff here for these questions. It’s a good one, one worthy of a solid answer. I’ll have to see what I can scare up.
Thanks. This guy just scares the [you know what] out of me. Anyone been watching Glenn Beck this week? Am I wrong to be worried?
Robin,
I watched Beck last week. You are not wrong to be worried. Others are wrong to not be!
We learned last week that Jeff Jones of the Weather Underground is now at the Apollo Alliance and was instrumental in writing this healthcare bill that is going to be so great for us! My my…what are our leaders doing?
And are we powerless to stop this kind of stuff? It’s rampant! What will it take for someone in power to say that enough is enough?
We’re not powerless, but it feels that way much of the time. It’s not the people in power who will say enough, but the voters. When they demand that this stop, it will. And that will only happen when people like Sanford Bishop are voted out of office and replaced with someone who recognizes what the government should do and shouldn’t do, and not before then unfortunately.
Great letter! The american people need to wake up and say enough is enough. He is spending too much money. Our great grandchildren will not be able to pay back all of the money he is throwing away. The goverment can not even run cash for clunkers with only about 2% of the car dealers being paid. What makes people think the government can run health care? We have too much government control know. What has happened to privacy?
As a practicing physician for over 23 years in Southwest Ga, this is the most inhumane and cut throat campaign against a bill that will save millions of lives in this country.
You people act as if we can’t have private health care and public health care. We have private colleges and public colleges and they are all doing quite well.
We have the post office that has served America all of these years and we have FedEX and UPS which do shipping but the Post Office still gets the mail out.
I have seen the insurance companies deny patients medicine, procedures, hospitalizations that has resulted in lost lives.
We have worked with Medicare since 1965, a government run program as is the VA system and our military. How selfish it is for those who have insurance to be so callous and cold as to block the effort to insure the less fortunate among us.
I pray Cong Bishop and all of the Democrats will open their eyes and prevent millions more Americans from dying needlessly because of the lack of heath insurance.
Right. Because we have millions of people just dieing in the streets because they have no access to health care.
What you seem to miss is that provisions that Bill outlined in this bill are clearly designed to hurt private insurance, possibly with the intent to kill it.
And as for our “callous and cold” actions, how pompous for you to come here and preach to hard working Americans that we should be forced to pay for others when you, as an alleged physician, could easily provide health care pro bono to those who are less fortunate. Do you really have your head stuck so far in the sand as to believe that such sweeping and expensive legislation is the only way to reform health insurance? Why is it people like you can’t grasp that not endorsing a socialistic plan isn’t the same as not believing the system needs work?
If the democrats were simply talking about extending Medicaid to more working poor and add in an exemption to allow people of all income brackets who have been turned down for other insurance, you wouldn’t see this kind of resistance. But that’s not what’s on the table. Instead, we have a huge program that we will never pay for that won’t save a single damn life…but may well cost us many down the road.
Quit with the scary rhetoric about millions of deaths from a lack of health insurance. If you are indeed a doctor, you know damn good and well that that’s not happening.
Great review and summary of the health care bill!
I have expressed my wishes to our Senators to just kill the bill. You can see that with so many pages and provisions, if they start trying to “fix” this thing, we will still end up with a horrific interference by the government in our lives. I told one group that trying to fix this bill is like putting a breath mint in a cow pie in an effort to make it more palatable.
Thanks again for a thorough review.