Health Care Bill Becomes Law

Wow.  Not sure I would have called this a year ago.  I really thought we would be able to make the will of the American people known and this boondoggle would go the way of the dodo.  It seems obvious to me that while there are some reforms that were clearly needed with regard to health insurance, this takeover was not a good approach.  Let me be clear, I am very much against the new law, and I want to explain why because I am NOT all about letting children die on the streets.

First, of course people in America should have access to good health care.  There are laws in place to assure citizens that those in need of care will be taken care of regardless of their insurance status or their ability to pay.  What does that mean?  No one in need can be turned away from an Emergency Room.  Hospitals that are public (County or State financed) cannot turn away patients on the basis of insurance status or ability to pay up front in cash.  

Does this happen?  I have friends and family members in multiple states who have had cancer or other life threatening illnesses who had no insurance and no savings who were cared for very well or whose lives were saved despite their finances.   So, yes, America takes care of her citizens.

Second, people in this argument have constantly confused health care with health insurance.  ALL Americans have access to health care.  Period.  Most Americans get health insurance through their workplace as a benefit.  Most have co-pays and premiums so this health insurance is not free.  Nor should it be.  

Medical care is given by highly educated and trained individuals who spend many years learning their craft and spend a lot of money on education.  To make this service free would be ludicrous to the time and money it takes to become a doctor or other medical provider.  Plus - what kind of care would you get from someone who worked for free?  I mean, McDonald's pays people and they can't even get your lunch order correct.  Would you want someone who wasn't paid at all removing your spleen?

Third, the Bill which became law today is an absolute disaster.  Are there some good things in this Bill?  Yes, there are.  Is the Bill a good piece of legislation?  No, not at all.  Why?

• Pg 22 of the HC Bill MANDATES the Govt will audit books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self insure.

• Pg 30 Sec 123 of HC bill - THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.

• Pg 42 of HC Bill - The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your HC Benefits for you.

• PG 50 Section 152 in HC bill - HC will be provided 2 ALL non US citizens, illegal or otherwise.

• Pg 58HC Bill - Govt will have real-time access to individuals finances & a National ID Healthcard will be issued.

• Pg 59 HC Bill lines 21-24 Govt will have direct access to your banks accts for electronic funds transfer to pay premiums.

• Pg 95 HC Bill Lines 8-18 The Govt will use groups i.e., ACORN & Americorps to sign up individuals for HC plan.

• PG 102 Lines 12-18 HC Bill - Medicaid Eligible Individuals will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid.

• pg 124 lines 24-25 HC No company can sue GOVT on price fixing. No "judicial review" against Govt.

• Pg 145 Line 15-17 An Employer MUST auto enroll employees plan.

• Pg 126 Lines 22-25 Employers MUST pay for HC for part time employees AND their families.

• Pg 149 Lines 16-24 ANY Employer with a payroll 400k & above that does not provide health insurance pays 8% tax on all payroll

• pg 150 Lines 9-13 Small business with a payroll between 251k & 400k that doesn't provide health care insurance  pays 2- 6% tax on payroll.

• Pg 167 Lines 18-23 ANY individual who doesn't have acceptable HC according to the Govt will be taxed 2.5% of income.

• Pg 170 Lines 1-3 HC Bill Any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt from indiv. taxes. (Americans will pay)

• Pg 195 HC Bill -officers & employees of HC Admin (GOVT) will have access to ALL Americans financial /personal records and bank information.

• PG 203 Line 14-15 HC - "The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax" Yes, it says that.

• Pg 239 Line 14-24 HC Bill-  Govt will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income, poor affected.

• Pg 241 Line 6-8 HC Bill - Doctors, doesn't matter what specialty you have, you'll all be paid the same.

• PG 253 Line 10-18 Govt sets value of doctor's time, professional  judgment, etc. Literally value of human life.

• PG 265 Sec 1131Govt mandates & controls productivity for private HC industries.

• PG 268 Sec 1141 Fed Govt regulates rental & purchase of power driven wheelchairs.

• PG 272 SEC. 1145. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CANCER HOSPITALS - Cancer patients - rationing of care.

• Page 280 Sec 1151 The Govt will penalize hospitals for what Govt deems preventable readmission.

• Pg 298 Lines 9-11 If doctors treat a patient during initial admission that results in a readmission -Govt will penalize the doctor.

• Pg 317 L 13-20 PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. Govt tells Drs. what/how much they can own and if they can invest in a practice or hospital.

• Pg 317-318 lines 21-25,1-3 PROHIBITION on expansion- Govt is mandating hospitals cannot expand as the hospital board deems fit.

• pg 321 2-13 Hospitals have opportunity to apply for exception BUT community input required from groups like ACORN.

• Pg335 L 16-25 Pg 336-339 - Govt mandates estab. of outcome based measures. HC the way the government wants.

• 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 citizens.

• Pg 379 Sec 1191 Govt creates more bureaucracy - Telehealth Advisory Cmtte.  HC by phone.

• PG 425 Lines 4-12 Govt mandates Advance Care Planning Consult. Senior Citizens end of life counseling

• Pg 425 Lines 17-19 Govt will instruct & consult regarding living wills, durable powers of atty. Mandatory

• PG 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3 Govt provides apprvd list of end of life resources, guiding you in death

• PG 427 Lines 15-24 Govt mandates program 4 orders 4 end of life. The Govt has a say in how your life ends

I could go on, but 2700 pages is a lot.

Not enough for you?  Here is an article from "Investors Business Daily" that lists 20 drawbacks of the new law:  http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/capitalhill.htm

The point is, this Bill which is now Law is a disaster of a train wreck moving slowly towards us.  Hopefully, Texas will successfully sue on the grounds that the Law is unconstitutional.  I hope your state is successful too.