CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
– HEALTH
July 16, 2009 – 12:52 p.m.
CBO Chief: Health Bills To Increase Federal Costs
By David Clarke and Edward Epstein, CQ Staff
The health care overhauls released to date would increase, not reduce, the burgeoning long-term health costs facing the government, Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf said Thursday.
That is not a message likely to sit well with congressional Democrats or the Obama administration, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif., said Thursday she thinks lawmakers can find ways to wring more costs out of the health system as they continue work on their bills.
The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Democrat Max Baucus of Montana, who has not yet released a bill, said his panel is acutely aware of the long-term cost concern. “Clearly our committee will do what it can,” he said. “We are very seriously concerned about that issue. We very much want to come up with a bill that bends the cost curve.”
But Baucus suggested the White House is making the task difficult with opposition to one cost-cutting approach Elmendorf cited — limiting or even ending the tax exclusion for employer-provided health benefits.
The Democrats and President Obama have cited two goals in their overhaul proposals — expanding coverage to the estimated 47 million Americans who currently lack it and bringing down long-term costs because the growth in Medicare and Medicaid spending threatens to swamp the federal budget in coming years.
Under questioning from Chairman Kent Conrad , D-N.D., Elmendorf told the Senate Budget Committee that the congressional proposals released so far do not meet that second test.
“In the legislation that has been reported, we do not see the sort of fundamental changes that would be necessary to reduce the trajectory of federal health spending by a significant amount and, on the contrary, the legislation significantly expands the federal responsibility for health care costs,” he said.
Elmendorf was not addressing the narrow question of whether the Democrats’ legislation would be budget-neutral over 10 years. Congressional Democrats and the White House have promised to offset the cost of health care legislation over that period.
But budget analysts and some members fear the legislation will not slow the growth of health care spending enough to prevent it from overwhelming the federal budget after that 10-year window.
Earlier this week, House leaders introduced their overhaul plan, which is being considered by three committees this week.
Elmendorf said that CBO has not completed its evaluation of the House plan, but what it has seen so far does not represent “the sort of fundamental change, the order of magnitude necessary to offset the direct increase in federal health costs from the insurance coverage proposals.”
Senate Bills
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved its draft bill Wednesday, and Christopher J. Dodd , D-Conn., the acting chairman of that panel, said his panel had reduced the initial price tag of its bill as estimated by the CBO. “I’m very confident we can meet the president’s goal of having a fully paid-for 10 year program on health care right around $1 trillion,” he said.
Senate Finance, not the HELP Committee, has jurisdiction over the tax code and Medicare — the areas Elmendorft targeted for savings.
Dodd complained that CBO refuses to assume that government savings will occur from an increased focus on wellness and preventive health care.
“The only thing CBO does is tell you how much taxpayer money has to be invested to achieve those results,” Dodd said.
“We believe we have crafted legislation that does bend that curve, bring health care costs down and make it affordable for all Americans,” he said. “I appreciate their work, but frankly we’re on the right track, we have a solid bill and one that’s affordable.”
The Senate Finance Committee has yet to release its overhaul proposal, and Elmendorf said he did not want to publicly discuss the conversations he has had with members of that committee, including Conrad.
When asked what could be done to help “bend the curve” of health care costs over time, Elmendorf pointed out that most health experts believe the tax exclusion for employer-provided health insurance is an area that could help reduce costs. Many experts say the exclusion encourages high health care spending since it shields workers from the cost of their coverage.
Baucus took aim at Obama on that point. “Basically, the president is not helping us. He does not want the exclusion” to be capped or eliminated, he said.
None of the congressional plans released so far address the tax exclusion, and it is not clear whether Finance will tackle the issue.
Many experts also have told CBO that altering the Medicare payment system so that it emphasizes cost effectiveness, rather than fees for services as the current system does, would also help, Elmendorf said.
“Delivery system reforms,” Baucus said, would be “a game changer in this bill.”
However, he told reporters two days ago that the payment reforms in his bill and in the House bill are more similar than they are different. And those would not significantly alter the current system.
Surtax vs. Cost Savings
Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that if more cost savings can be produced in the legislation now being assembled in the House, a proposed $544 billion tax surcharge on the wealthiest Americans could be scaled back.
As three House committees began marking up the health care overhaul bill (
“I believe all the costs of the health care reform bill can come out of squeezing costs out of the health care system,” she said.
But then she added that even if that were true, the revenue from the proposed surtax would be needed to help with startup costs associated with making changes to the health system and for reducing the big federal budget deficit.
“We have to have a revenue stream to pay for it,” she said of the bill. “If we don’t need it, we can use it to reduce the deficit,” Pelosi said.
Under questioning, she said that some of those high-income taxpayers who would face the proposed surcharge might get a break. “If we can get more savings, perhaps we can cut it at the high end,” Pelosi said.
Under the surtax plan spelled out by the Ways and Means Committee, the bottom two surtax rates would disappear if health care savings to the government exceed $175 billion by 2013. But those rates would double if the government fails to save at least $150 billion.
Pelosi said she wants to encourage House members to propose more structural changes that could wring costs out of the system. “More structural changes? Absolutely. They are already significant, “she said, referring to the proposed legislation unveiled Tuesday. “Can there be more? Absolutely,” she added.
Pelosi said she remains confident that the legislation can be changed enough to bring on board many of the Blue Dog Democrats who have threatened to walk away from a bill that they see as too expensive.
Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry A. Waxman , D-Calif., plans to meet with Blue Dogs to see how their concerns can be addressed.
“What we’re saying is, let the process unfold in the public process,” Pelosi said. She said members are getting a chance to speak up in the committee markups, then in the Rules Committee and finally on the floor.
She said the bill will be on the House floor in the last week of July, which would fulfill her pledge to have the House vote on the bill before it leaves for its long August recess.
Alex Wayne, Jane Norman and John Reichard contributed to this story.
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Comments
The dems are driving this country off a cliff. What a bunch of crooked bastards!
Re-making the American health care system behind closed doors, in a politicized atmosphere and while operating under a self-declared and wholly artificial deadline guarantees poor quality legislation. Of course, "quality" here is a matter of perspective. If you're in favor of socialized medicine, irrespective of the final form and efficiency of its implementation, then you're likely not to consider the current effort misguided. The rest of us have much to be concerned about.
You know when you got kennedy involved in writing healthcare you can see another foney fraudulent program thats rapes the taxpayers. Did you like Kennedy HMO'S??????? Did you like kennedy No Child Left behind School Program????????? Well kennedy wrote both them dead fish programs. Now we have the great Chris Dodd 1/3 the master mind in the Freddi-Fannie housing scandal collapse , along with frank 1/3 and obama_ACORN 1/3 promoting this whorendous foney heathcare that will cost taxpayers somewhere between 3 and 10 trillion. the democrat like cluckie schummmmmmer thing the Insurance companies should kick in. If they do they are dead meat just like GM and Chrysler that obama destroyed. If they don't the taxpayers voter have a chance at defeating this foney fraudulent bill. obama and the democrat just shoved the Nation Debt to over 1 trillion dollars. The fine print in obama-dodd-kennedy foney fraudlent healthcare will shove it close to 10 trillion when th counting is all done. Can obama grand kids afford that?????. Will they pay it ? Hell NO Can Tiger Woods grand Kids afford that???????Will they pay it ? Hell NO Can (you name the athlete that signe to 15 million contract) grand kids afford it???????Will they pay it ? Hell NO Will Kennedy grand kids pay their tax or will they hide their inheritance overseas?????????????Will they pay it ? Hell NO Will John Kerry grand kids pay the tax or will Heinz hide their earnings so they don't have to pay it??????????????? Will they pay it ? Hell NO Will cluckie schummmmmmmmmer grand kids pay it or will they hide their earnings???????????????Will they pay it ? Hell NO Guess what rich people don't seem to pay taxes and then midlle class hard working taxpayers/citizens end up having to pay for programs the idiots in Washington DC shove down our throat. Is Warren Buffet going to pay healthcare taxes on all the money he shoved in Bill Gates Non Profit???? Hell NO Is Bill Gates going to pay Healthcare on all the money he made off his Monoply before he was required by courts to get out of management or go to jail under Anti-trust laws?????? Hell NO Is ACORN now CCI(Crooked Criminals Incorporated by obama) going to pay healthcare taxes on all the millions in money they screw the Federal government out of????????? Hell NO folks they have a 1100 page fonewy fraudlent healthcare program and it time to shove that program right back in their face aqnd tell them to start eatin suckers, WE AIN'T TAKING YOUR FONEY ELCRAPO NO MORE. WE DON'T HAVE ANYMORE GD MONEY AND YOU DON'T EITHER OBAMA. LOOK AT MASSACHEUTTS HEALTHCARE GOING BROKE. LOOK AT CALIEEEFORNIA GOING BROKE. Its time to tell obama and the Democrat Hell No we don't want their Healthcare, we want TORT REFORM to STOP THE CROOKED LAWYERS, THIS WILL REDUCE HEALTHCARE BY 30%. WE WANT OUR IMMIGRATION LAWS ENFORCED THIS WILL CUT THE EMERGENCY ROOM MEDICAL PROGRAM BY 75% AND STOP ILLEGAls in the emergency rooms. Dood is guilty of not paying freakin taxes he owes, what in the Hell makes you think he is going to be honest on paying heathcare taxes
As a tax payer and a son of two elderly parents whom live with me, I find it a complete embarassment what they are trying do with health insurance. If this goverment would cut malpractice law suits and doctors making millions of dollars along with parmacuetical companies,we would have no reason to accept this bill. Poor is all over the world and everytime there is new blood it goes help the poor and punish the working class. History keeps repeating itself and by the way what about companies that our billions went to, do they pay the 4.5 % surtax.
Yeah, remove the tax exemption for employer provided healthcare. Nothing like killing the private health insurance option. With the added tax, everybody would go for the public health plan, and the deficit will grow, until the government does go bankrupt.
National, Obama Run ,Gov. Run Health Care....how it works.......1. You get sort a sick......2. You call in and they mail you this chart, one above...... 3. You hire a consultant to read the chart to you. 4. You hire a consultant to call the first "box" on the chart. 5. The "box" line is busy. Another hour of consultant time....the second call,,,,, the "box" says they will send you a 14 page double legal size form in triplicate, you must fill out all 42 pages so the first "box" can proof it for your silly mistakes and faux pas. A week after submitting the mandatory 42 pages, a crumpled post card comes with "postage due", and says your being audited by the Health Czar for eligiblity.... to go to either box three or box two. A fast paced month later a foul smelling nerd in a plaid jacket with a Acorn button on the lapel shows up for the audit. He looks you over...you ask why...."to see if your still breathing". If breathing is shallow you go directly to box four for expedited two month express service; if you breathe even or sort of even you can call box two , but only if west of the Missouri River and have your passport, baptism records, social security paperwork, and that essay you wrote to Sister Mary Jean in your fifth grade on PEACE,,,,, otherwise you call box three ,if your north of the Mason Dixon Line , at half past tweleve on any even day of an odd month and after BUBBA the gas station attendant gives ya your five gallon gasoline ration for the week......ala King and I, etc. etc. etc......if you do not qualify for box three or box two or no person contacts you in box 78 about bashing relentlessly the Acorn nerd....call box 27 for FORM 18a-237,ala King and I, etc. etc. etc...... HOPE AND CHANGE,,,,GOTTA HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME.... And are you informing the loons back there that many doctors are older in California and will retire...Also, rural hospitals make a living on Medicare and other care programs....they will close due to cash flow problems...also, many small businesses will drop health coverage and pay the 8%; many of these plans are very expensive, have lots of sick people % wise in them...they will dump them on Obama raising the cost of care or bring on rationing faster in the public run plan....it will be carnage...a dumping ground and make many Americans second class citizens as Congress, Gov. Workers, State Legislators will keep their Escalade plans....ala Marie Antoinette....if this happens, you will see riots across the country, for Americans are not going to let Gov. Workers, Legislators have a seperate Escalade plan while we die in the streets like lowly pigeons...
Kind of hard to reduce the cost of healthcare if in the process of "reform", the core cost issues are not being addressed: 1) Litigation costs due to excessive litigation and excessive payouts resulting in high cost malpractice insurance and higher costs passed to consumers. Winner: Lawyers Loser: Consumer 2) Pharmaceutical costs due to lack of competition and excessive profit. Winner: Pharaceutical comapnies Losers: Consumers 3) High cost of medical training - $200K to become a doctor. Those costs get past to consumer Winner: Universities Loser: Consumers 4) High cost of medical equipment due to excessive profits - again, costs get passed to consumers Winners: Medical manufacturing compaines Losers: Consumers 5) High cost of private insurance due to all of the above + the profit added by insurance coapnies. Winners: Insurance companies Losers: Consumers 6) Too much "for profit" and not enough "non profit" throughout the system. Winners: Coporations Losers: Consumers Isn't the healthcare system supposed to be for the consumer? Where is the consumer in all of this? Is there anyone who believes that the underlying costs will not continue to increase as they have been? So, in the name of reform they want to add a governmant beuracracy, force requirements on individuals and employers, and add 45+ million to a system that is already stressed. Brilliant. Is there anyone who believes that this will not lead to higher costs for all and lower care across the board?
When these costs are wringed out of the healthcare system more wil lose their jobs, people will wait in lines for a number to see a doctor, general practioners will be performing surgery in their offices like they did at the turn of the century, you will be chosen to live or die by government. Government just wants our money and not our healthcare, and sure costs are up because government can't manage money. They always spend more than they take in, debt up to their eyeballs with our money. Our government is run by idiots that think they are the only ones with answer, and their answer is always wrong. The cost of living will increase as the cost to fund this idiot program will be passed along to middle class. I'm old enough to know, taxes were low when I was young, but the government has continued to borrow and the interest continues on money they never have a plan to pay back. The only thing they are good at is mismanagement.
You must have your facts wrong. Obama told us it will be less; not more. He KNOWS what he's talking about!
The Obama Admn never lets facts like these get in the way of their agenda.
Why is it considered cutting costs when you tax others to pay for a program. Wouldn't cutting cost actually be cutting costs. If the government would spend less money wouldn't that cut cost? Why does the government need to spend $18m on a website to track where stimulus money goes?. Any SQL database can be used to do that. It's just a waste.
"We have to have a revenue stream to pay for it," she said of the bill. "If we don't need it, we can use it to reduce the deficit," Pelosi said. Well, I certainly appreciate the lip-service, er, acknowledgment regarding some basic financial reason, but, really, if the required taxation levels appear too stifling, more debt could be issued in it's stead. Yes. And I do worry about how Congress, collectively, will determine 'need'. Pompeii on the Potomac. A Vesuvius of our own making.
Our government officials have gone insane. We are out of money, and all they can do is come up with more ways to spend. Where is common sense?
Ding Ding Ding. nothing is free and the prolonged cost of "universal" care is going to grow until it sinks the budget. Ref:social security or Medicare. Same concept of centrally managed system by indiviuals who don't know how to balance a chaeck book or budget. Instead reform tort law, give more leeway to family practician's. Its called a practice not an exact science. accidents happen. not all are due compensation but the current lawsuits are leading to ballooning insurance premiums and massive increases in healthcare costs. Leave people to make their own choices. If i don't want health care and i get injured i have to pay the price.
The debate on the cost of health care reform seems important, but it is a convenient diversion from the more important issue: Our "Quack-in-Chief" along with his quintessential quacks in Congress and their left-winged birds-of-a-feather in the media are leading us lemmings to leap pell-mell into a sordid sea of statism in health care. The debate over the economics of healthcare reform ducks the fact that they are engaging in political and economic malpractice by precipitously prescribing a massive dose of statism -- exactly the wrong medicine at the wrong time for what ails our economy, in general, and our healthcare system, in particular. With a few notable exceptions (www.doctorsonstrike.com), no one points out that these proposals violate the inalienable rights of doctors and patients, who --as citizens -- have the right to voluntarily buy and sell healthcare services in a free market and to negotiate mutually acceptable terms and conditions in their trading relationships - without governmental interference. Government does not have any constitutional or moral authority to compel ("mandate") individuals to be covered by healthcare insurance, or to compel ("mandate") employers of any size to provide healthcare insurance to employees; such mandates are immoral and unconstitutional because they violate the rights of employees and business owners. Government does not have any constitutional or moral authority to force ("surcharge") any one group -- the productive, the creators of wealth -- to pay for the healthcare of any other group -- the unproductive, the looters of wealth; this is a nothing more than stealthy stealing -- an unjust expropriation and transfer of wealth that is immoral and unconstitutional because it violates the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Government does not have any constitutional or moral authority to shift the financial burden of healthcare from one group -- the present generation of patients -- onto the backs of another group -- the next generation of taxpayers; this is generational theft -- a form of stealthy stealing -- an unjust expropriation and transfer of wealth that is immoral and unconstitutional because it violates the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The genius of our framers is that they formally recognized in our founding documents that the purpose of government is to protect inalienable rights, not violate them -- that the constitution protects inalienable rights as a sort of "firewall" against the power of greedy and needy factions in a fickle democracy -- factions that are easily persuaded to vote for vote-hungry, thuggish politicians to get them to do their stealing and other dirty work for them. Tell Congress to vote "no" on any government option and "no" on any mandates for individual and employer coverage -- precisely because these are immoral and unconstitutional violations of our rights.
Obama knows that his mask is falling fast! He is so insulting to the american people. He thinks that everyone is stupid and is going to keep falling for his smoke and mirrors. Yes we still have some that are following him like the pipe piper that he is trying to be however, I think that even those with half a brain will start to figure him out for the phony that he is. I would hope that would be the case!
This just passed the houseof Rep. You will not have the choice of keeping your own healthcare...the worst of this healthcare bill..you will Pay 36% taxes out of your pay to pay for healthcare..This is it America..boot those Dems out , Impeach Obama and his puppeteers...Stop this healthcare bill.
Chris Dodd, why isn't he the one along with Barney Frank in 2005 claimed that the mortgage market was fine and well when they were warned that a meltdown was imminent? If you believe this life long Democrat who only got in because his father was there before, then believe that Obama will produce his real birth certificate, or believe that Obama will reduce the deficit which he is quadrupling, or believe that the CIA really did lie to Nancy Pelosi, or believe that Joe Biden really is a member of Mensa, or believe that Barry will convince the world dictators to be our friends by apologizing for the USA. When are the American people going to wake up and see what is happening to them? When are the taxpayers going to revolt due to the inept and irresponsible actions of the Democrats and some Republicans? Remember only about half of all workers pay income tax. Look at California. We are being forced down the same road thanks to Barry, Nancy, Harry and the fools who could not hold down a real job producing something besides hot air. Speaking of hot air, since 2000 the temperatures are dropping. Hello Al Gore. Wake up. Sun spot activity is down. Do you want Cap and Tax on energy? It all comes down to MORE big government control. And when is the last time you praised our govenment run organizations or plans? Post office, Social Security (broke), Medicare (broke), Amtrak, (losing $) Public schools, etc. Wake up America.
Never Question Obama...he is god.
I am shocked - Washington telling us that something is oing to save us money or cost less than it actually will. Washington is nothing more than a den of power mad and crazed theives who want to steal the very last dime in our pockets. What they have done is treason and just about everyone of them should be sitting in prison on life sentences for what they have done to our Country. My God have mercy on their soles while they burn in hell.
Sure Senator Dodd, you are sure a fully paid ten year program will happen, just as you were sure that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac didn't need additional over sight. I am sure their heart is in the right place, unfortunately, their hearts won't be paying for it. We are in the midst of a recession and the only thing our Government seems eager to do is spend more money that we don't have. Isn't that philosophy part of what caused this economic crisis in the first place? I have an idea, why don't we wait a year, craft a bill that makes sense, that everyone can have a chance to read. What's the rush? Oh, yeah - they think they can pass it now while Obama is still popular and the people are still entranced. It isn't about doing what is right and prudent, its about getting it done. Sounds like Larry the Cable Man, doesn't it?
After selling health care reform based on the argument that we "pay too much", it's extremely offensive that Dems would offer "reform" that costs over a trillion dollars, but doesn't reduce costs at all. How stupid do they think we are? Of course, Obama campaigned on the argument that warmongering costs too much, and has still expanded and increased our military spending since taking office, so at least they're consistently inconsistent.
If the democrats pushing this bill are "acutely" aware of the long term cost concern, then why are they in such a hurry to pass it? Apparently, there is much that the Americanpeople will not like about it, and this is an effort to conceal the truth. What else is new.
There are no fees for medical procedures published in the US. I asked my Senator for the side by side comparison of India's medical procedure fees and then the US's medical procedure fees. A chap near where I live flew to India, had a six-figure heart procedure for $5,000 and his primary care physician pronounced him perfectly healthy
Obama is simply a half breed communist and he has the Dem party thinking they will be the politburo in his dictatorial administration. But after he becomes dictator, he will dump the Dems and have his army of Acorn black brothers running the country. Of course you might say this is racist. The fact that Obama is a racist and cannot be questioned because of his blackness is what is wrong with this country. He is a under appreciated little black boy.
First Obama promised he could insure every American using savings from making healthcare more effecient which of course most of us knew was a lie. Then he said he would do it by raising taxes on the poor with a Tobacco Tax. That was done and its not enough. Then he said the deficit cannot go down without Obamacare. Now he wants to raise taxes on the rich and tax employers 8% for healthcare. Looks like his promises were based on lies and plenty of Koolaid.
This Congress, and the false prophet they have in the White House have usurped more power - that they have no authority to have to begin with, in such a short time one hardly knows where to catalog all the transgressions. Bottom line - the American people had better stand up for themselve because no one - especially the mainstream media is looking out for us. I have no idea where these morons got their values from, but they are not the values or beliefs of my country. It is time for the American people to march on DC and remove our government from power as it no longer serves the people - it only serves itself. First thing we do after that is implement term limits, then repeal every disaster of a policy from this admin/Congress and then PUT THESE SCUMBAGS UNDER A MICROSCOPE - and charge every single one of tem that commited a crime against the people or Constitution.
The "urgency" of this "crisis" has more to do with Obama's and his social democrat colleagues' efforts to seize control of another major section of our economy, along with our energy and financial sectors. Add to that a bigger role in our higher education system and citizen dependence on Big Brother is essentially complete. I'm sure they're frantically trying to "fix" our health care system before the public loses interest in Michael Jackson's passing and starts to realize where they're trying to take us.
God Bless Mr. Elmendorf for having the guts to say what so many of us have been saying for some time now! Thank you! There's no way we can get better coverage for more people and save money!! Does Barry think we're all stupid and/or asleep? I hope Doug Elmendorf doesn't lose his job for being honest. Now we have proof that we need to scrap this terrible bill - we can't afford it and there are way more ramifications to it than Obama is admitting. This bill needs to be read and understood before anyone even thinks about it.
What's most important is not whether or not government costs go down, but whether *our* costs go down. If the nation as a whole saves more money on healthcare than the extra money that the government is spending on healthcare, we come out ahead. Of course it would be ideal if the government also saved money, but it's more important that the overall cost of healthcare -- public *and* private together -- goes down.
It doesn't matter what the cost projections are, once a national health care system is set up, the government can use it's monopoly to undercut the private competition and drive them out of business, or just revise the law to ban private insurance outright. Then the government can reduce health care costs by decreasing the amount of procedures covered, denying some benefits altogether.
It is quite clear that the Obama Administration is only interested in gaining as much government control of society as possible in as short a time as possible. They accomplish this by breaking our economy.
What is truly special is that members of congress are excluded from participation. they get to keep their existing Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)...................
Having worked as a CFO for elected officials for over thirty years, I can tell you that being elected to public office doesn't make someone an immediate genius. Dumb elected officials with some humility eventually become knowledgeable of finance. Those with big egos literally go backwards, in that they think that getting elected was the same as being a genius. Congress is full of the latter type, and telling them that we can't afford something is a personal offense, and they endeavor to pass their dumb laws anyway. Grab your bonnets. We are in for a rough ride.
I just read that our VP said "We have to spend money or the country will go bankrupt." THIS IS FREAKIN INSANE!!!!!!
Healthcare is so expensive because of government intervention in the free market for over 40 years. Medicare in 1965, Medicaid and HMOs created by Congress in the 1970s. Government programs are already running half of healthcare in our country, 49% of spending in 2008. Add to that all the mandates (required health insurance for every government contractor, required bodily injury insurance for every motorist, etc.), tax funded/deferred research and development (subsidizing pharmaceuticals to discover treatments but still make private profits on them, while providers can be sued for not paying for every available treatment), attempts at oversight create such a tangle of regulations that medical practices prioritize legal research over medical care just to stay in business. The patients and doctors lose in all these situations. The answer is removing government piece by piece from medicine, starting with the most recent additions (Medicare part D/prescription drugs) and moving back through tort reform, repealing HMO laws, cutting government contractor requirements, etc.
What is so funny about this is that Barry Obama and his fascist allies have no interest in repairing our health care sector. They want to control everything we do. They want to control our financial institutions, manufacture smart cars that we don't want and won't buy, fund unions that will bankrupt other companies like GM, control the mortgage industry and on and on. But, could someone tell me anything that the government has ever done efficiently? Meidcare? A disaster. Social Security? Bankrupt. The only thing our government has ever done is become larger, less efficient and more out of control. And, Mr. Obama said from the start he wouldn't do anything about tort reform. As in the French revolution, "Kill the lawyers, first."
Yeah the Kennedy's with their great fortune hidden away in Offshore accounts always have big plans for the rest of us don't they.
As I read these comments about a health care program it is very sad that grown people are grasping at anything (Kennedy?Clinton) to make something work at the taxpayers expense. What is even worse these people are running our country. More so we have a liar who was elected by the people who is killing our country and no one to answer too on this earth. Health care needs to be addressed by the people not little committees from N. Dakota and says here is my plan. Look at Canada and England did you know most people that require care come to the U.S.? Can you imagine our country doing this? Look at it this way people that have major medical issues will die...fact!!!The healthy people will make it. Basic MRIs, CAT scans and other basic needs will be at a cost for those who can pay for it or you be on a waiting list ...3 months...6 months. GOD HELP us and get these crazy people out of these positions. We do not want to have socialized medicine. I know who my GOD is ...I don't think they know who GOD is!!!
As a 75 year old it is obvious to me who is destroying Medicare. Doctors. I had a light stroke and was put on a blood thinner 5 years ago and every 18 days (yes I said days) I was required to have a blood check. In 5 years my dosage was changed 23 + times. Not only that when I took my annual physical I was not given a urine test or blood check for my thinner. I was told that they were no longer a part of a physical and I would have to make appointments over the next 3 weeks to get those checked. I checked with a new doctor and he checked my blood took me off the medication I was put on and 3 tests since then have all been spot on. He replaced my rat poison with a .81 mg coated aspirin and says that if all goes well in the next two months he will require only 4 visits a year. He is is young and I hope the "country club" set doesn't get to him. During prior 5 years I was required to see the nurse practicioner 49 times and the doctor 8 times. Medicare is going broke because of doctor/hmo greed, it is as simple as that.
Leftists have cottage cheese (being kind) for brains. Do you think they care about any of this? Don't count on it. When you elect Marxists, this is what you get. They just don't care.
Get out and VOTE! We blame Obama for what's happenin. Yeah he's drivin the train but he's got a complicit bunch of engineers - a Democratic Congress. The Republicans are just as much to blame. They've all sat around on their Cushy behinds way too long. They need to be shown the front door. If they don't want to leave pick em up by their scrawny behinds and pitch them through the front door> VOTE THEM OUT OF OFFICE< Do you honestly think that what is going on is by accident? C'mon folks. Obama's agenda is to D-E-S-T-R-O-Y this country. For all you pubic school dropouts I'll spell it again, and for all you college commie Professors who spew leftist propaganda like a baby throws up I'll spell it again, D-E-S-T-R-0-Y. For all of you who voted for this slimebag, I hope you've woken up but I have my doubts. I think we need to pass a law the next time we vote for ANYTHING: (1) make sure that the person voting can SPELL; (2) READ English; (3) spendt at least TWO years in the military; (4) UNDERSTAND the Constitution of the United States of America; (5) was home-schooled. (6) and the MOST important one of all>no WHO IN THE H**l YOU ARE VOTING FOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!My Dad and all the other vets who went to war and are still fightin didn't fight to keep these slimebag politicians in office so get on the phone and call your Congressmen and tell them NO you don't want health care reform, NO you don't want another bailout, NO you don't want a second stimulus package, run for office, DO SOMETHING, go to a Tea Party, get involved. If we don't do this, by the end of this year, at the rate these speed-demons are going, we may not even have a country left. And if this happens, and right now it is anyone's guess I(would you agree) WE WILL HAVE ONLY OURSELVES TO BLAME. G-D BLESS THIS REPUBLIC, IF WE CAN KEEP IT. AND WE'VE DONE A P**S POOR JOB SO FAR.
My dear friends and fellow Americans on this post: Make no mistake, this is about power. It is about control over the masses. This program in conjunction with cap and tax, followed by mass amnesty for illegals, will lead to permanently ensconsing the existing power elite. Don't get seduced into arguing over the numbers and dollars. That is all smoke and mirrors. It diverts attention from a far bigger problem now threatening the ideals of our constitutional government. Health care issues could easily be fixed by doing the following: - Set up a small govt. agency to process uninsured applicants. Proof of citizenship and need would be required. The 18-34 year old crowd that refuse to buy it because they believe they do not bleed would be forced to buy insurance. The 17-18 million Americans who make over $50k but refuse to buy insurance because they would rather drive a Mercedes,
This is crazy. We have the VP saying that the federal government has to spend money to keep from going broke, I guess this is one of the many ways they want to do it. Someday I would like be able to run my household the way the government does; can't afford something, no problem just take your neighbors money and get what you want. Isn't this legalized theft. When are these fools going to be held financially accountable for what they are doing. If they want to support all those too lazy to work then do it with their money and keep their hands out of my pockets, I work too hard for what little I get to keep already.
Health bills to increase federal cost..... HBO official. Now that's a rare intelligence right there. Give that person a cigar! Wow. Spend a trillion and a half dollars above current spending, and it's a revelation that it will increase costs. Gee. Do ya THINK??
About time the masses figured out that this is not about Health Care, it is about POWER. This is the biggest power grab in the history of mankind but it will fail. Sad part is that they will devistate the economy and our leadership position in the world community for generations. It is sad that the first Black president is going to go down in history as the worst. I had the audacity to hope for better.
if the Vice President saying "we have to spend more to keep from going bankrupt" is not enough for AMERICANS to wake up - then nothing will do it.
28th Amendment Proposal: Congress shall make no law prohibiting an individual (or business owned or co-owned by an individual) from contracting with any physician or other provider of goods or services in the medical professions. Congress shall enforce the contract at a cost of 5% of the agreed fee of the contract payable by each party in gold or silver or notes backed by gold or silver. The Congress is expressly prohibited from funding or regulating any form of medical care for any reason whatsoever.
What Obama and his minions are doing makes perfect sense. Cut and paste the link below and all your questions will be answered. If you agree, pass it on. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdUY08kEXN4
Unfortunately, there are millions of people out there who still think Obama is the end all and be all, the smartest and most wonderful president, evah! My Democrat friends believe hook, line and sinker that this health care bill is necessary and will be great. After all, it's FREE! They don't get it at all. And personally, I'm afraid.
My friends this is just smoke and mirrors. The Obamanation we call a president is drawing all the media focus towards healthcare to hide what he is doing with the economy. Take it from us here in california, we have run out of money and now government programs (and jobs) have to be cut out becuase we MUST balance our budget, we cant just print more money like the feds. So why are we considering another 1Tillion plus government program???
Well 'the OBAMA' and the rest of the MORONIC MARXISTS prove they couldn't count or think!!! Spread-the-wealth more like the STIMULUS-S^IT-SCAM for DEMBHOLE-DROIDS masquerading as POLS!!! HOW ABOUT ACORN COUNTING WHERE THIS STIMULUS HAS WORKED??? Now bring on the phonies of HEALTH CARE!!! BARACH'incurably-dishonest'OBAMA running GovernmentMotors now BigBanks getting rich off the TAX PAYER'S suffering because it is doctah BARRY-BLACK-PUNK-FLY-SWATTER-n-CHIEF rescuing all our medical care by DESTROYING the USA and making it OBAMALAND - LAND OF USEFUL MARXIST IDIOTS!!!
as clint once said... make my day! 25% of we physicians are just waiting for these fools to pass univ. healthcare and pay for it by cutting my already abysmal reimbusements! its eht excuse we all need to quit and retire!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Someone please check my math. Proposal: Fund a Health Care Plan that will cost $1.5T over 10 years by charging high earners a 5.4% tax...and charging a reduced tax for those earning between $280K to $1M. Congress' math doesn't add up to me. I based this on what IRS statistics I could find, using the most conservative numbers. I could find 2006 data for individuals, and 2003 data for businesses. FINDINGS: Businesses and Individuals will be charged DOUBLE! Calculation Methodology: Ex: So, if we are saying 150k people are earning between $1M- $1.5M, I assumed $1M times the number of payers, times the 5.4% tax. Total individuals would (354,093) would pay $39,329,523,000. Businesses (1,249,769) would pay $265,163,193,000.In summary, all earners (1,603,862) would pay $304,492,716,000 per year, or $3.044T over 10 years. So If the plan is going to cost $1.5T over 10 years, why is the public being charged double? Granted this is based on assumptions. Lots of them. Math Conservative Assumptions Used: No tax between $280K-$1M earners since I don't know what that reduced surtax will be. (This could potentially add an addition 3 million individual and 2.2 million business payers to this tax) No increase in earnings between 2006 to present for individuals and 2003 for businesses earners. No increase or decrease in numbers of individuals or businesses that qualify for these brackets. Assuming the lowest $ amount possible for each bracket. Assuming that between this time frame, and 10 years from now, no changes in earnings, or numbers of individuals and businesses. Even still, like I said, this is very conservative in estimate, and it is still DOUBLE the cost being proclaimed. So, if program costs 1.5T, why, at minimum is the charge $3.4T?
Lets get real and acknowledge that Government has become synonymous with a blood sucking leech. YES everyone deserves Health Care BUT forcing everyone to carry health insurance IS NOT giving them health care, in fact for myself and many others that CHOOSE NOT to purchase Insurance, the money we save ALLOWS US to see a doctor when we need to! Obama's plan would cost me several thousand dollars and guarantee not even one visit for health care. There are several options Nationwide that could be increased to benefit the poor, un or underinsured, SIMPLE CARE (. com) is one such low cost plan that allows people to get medical care at an affordable rate. Unfortunately Governments have stepped in and NYS stopped one Dr from helping the poor uninsured by saying he couldn't charge them less than his costs for the day were, BUT since these patients do not have insurance the Dr does in fact save money by not needing extra staff to deal with insurance companies, paperwork and crazy billing practices. ALSO please do NOT fall for the YOU NEED INSURANCE or you can't sue if a major malpractice occurred. this is UNTRUE!!! to summarize, yes everyone NEEDS access to health care BUT insurance should not be the answer or the key that allows you to see a Doctor. Insurance should return to its place of being there for catastrophic illness or injury and hospital stays
someone please explain to me why I have to work half a year to support some illegal alien and their anchor baby. Why are they still here when we have 14 million american citizens , and legal immigrants in this country unemployed/underemployed. Why do I have to pay for Jose's healthcare when he shouldn't be here anyway? Additionally no employer will offer healthcare after this and we will all be on the government plan. It is time to throw these people out
You want to save on health costs? Stop paying bills for illegal immigrants. And start paying health bills for those Americans who lost their jobs. They have contributed to the system in the past, the illegals and their employers never have. Fine the employers iof illegals as per our existing laws which haven't been enforced? Why not? Why weren't the guilt fired?
ALERT-WE MUST ALSO STOP AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS! go to www.numbersusa.com and register. they make it easy to fight back!
Are the Senators willing to give up their government perks, retirement benefits and be a part of the public health insurance ? Naw. They just make the laws for the little people. When Obama was asked if he was willing to have the health care of his wife, mother-in-law and two daughters in the hands of the public health insurance, he replied that he would want the best possible medical care for them. So, that was a round about way of saying, "I'm a millionaire. My family won't have to worry about not having the finest in medical care". We're trusting the government that has wrecked this economy to dole out medical care ? I see now see how easily nations are conquered by a few.
The health care bill that the House passed includes a paragraph on page 12 that FORBIDS PRIVATE INSURERS FROM ISSUING NEW PRIVATE POLICIES AFTER THE LEGISLATION BECOMES LAW!! That means that if you lose your private insurance for whatever reason, you will be FORCED to join the public plan because there will be no other options, and you will be fined if you do not have health insurance!! Call and email your senators and congresspersons and tell them that this is NOT ACCEPTABLE!! Read about it here:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=332548165656854
Come On, People! Comments are great, but make it really count!! Email your representatives now!!! I did today, and it only took 15 minutes. If we bombard them, maybe they will listen :)
Expect Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf to get "fired" by President O'Mama. Just as O'Mama (illegally) fired Inspector General Gerald Walpin: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124511811033017539.html
The history of universal health care in other countries is that it does reduce costs over the long run as governments force health care suppliers to wring costs out of their processes. Health care in the U.S. is very inefficient and politicized, such as the madate that Medicare can't negotiate for lower drug costs which forces U.S. residents to try and get their drugs from Canada. Taiwan which went to 15 countries and picked the best practices from each country thought U.S. health care processes were laughable. Other countries started with the premise that it was unacceptable to not provide health care to all of its citizens. They also ruled out citizens going broke from health care costs. We have the most convoluted processes in the western world for getting health care and our costs are double. They is no question that we should be able to get health care costs down. We are supposed to be the greatest country on earth, yet we are unable to get our health care costs down? That is totally ridiculous.
President Obama and Congress are acting like a drunken cajun in a whore house with his brother-in-laws charge card........
Quite a bunch of whiners posting here. Don't y'all know to shut the hell up, obey the One, and pay when you're told to? We D.C. lefties know what's best for you and the rest of the masses. Of course those of us who are better than you will be enrolled in a "special" health care program as is our due. Just like paying taxes, crappy, socialized heathcare will only be for "the little people". If you don't like it, then it'll be off to the re-education campuses with you.
Budget neutral in 10 years? How stupid are these people?
show us the damm birth certificate Or get tared and feathered the rest of this is Bull he is not the president he is not an american
population control
This could be called revenge politics...at America's/taxpayer's expense of course. One thing is for sure, I hold each and every elected and unelected government @ss wipe, that has had a part in unleashing these travesties upon us, responsible. I have no sympathy for Kaliphornia, they deserve Bozo, Frankenstein and Porklosi, they own that gruesome threesome. I also hold the ignorant and uniformed for voting for these @ss wipes...It's ironic to see these liberals drive by in their SUVs and foreign imports sporting Obummer/Bi-dum stickers...What a bunch of tools.
Oh boy, I can't wait. Soon we'll be like Canada, having pathetic access to care. The lottery system will be fun, won't it? Attention citizens of Anytown, USA, it's time to draw the monthly lottery to see which one of you gets to see the town doctor this month. Oh, goodie, I can't wait. SAY "NO" TO NATIONALIZED DEATHCARE!!!!!
Bush fought an unpopular war and got crucified for it. Obama is going to bankrupt the country and ruin our heath care system and our economy (if you have a job at Blue Cross or any other private insurer, better start looking for a new one now). and he still gets a 57% approval ratring. Go figure.
My husband is a physician at a university hospital. He does research, teaches physicians, and takes incredible care of hispatients. He is considered tops in his field and I can't tell you how many times when I've been introduced to one of his patients I'll hear, "your husband saved my life". Last night we went out to dinner and I said, "well at least you'll be retiring soon and you won't have to deal with this completely destroyed medical system." He said, "what I'm really worried about is what kind of healthcare system we will have to deal with for our own health....I can't even imagine how bad this is going to get. There will be such low standards of care and it will be near impossible to get tests and drugs that we can easily get now." "It is going to be worse then Canada and the UK and the American people just don't get it." We have the best healthcare system in the world. Obama, Pelosi, and Reid are about to destroy it.
We should pray that this reform is stopped. Some 119 million could wind up in this public option plan. Many would leave private health insurance so that business for private health insurance would dry up. This would mean that many who have private health insurance now would lose their coverage. It is unimaginable that the supporters of the reform feel that the quality of health care would improve under government control. Just look at current government-run health care to know that health care would certainly suffer if controlled by government. For example government-run Medicaid is substandard as compared to private health insurance and is full of waste, fraud and abuse. Government-run Medicare coverage has huge gaps. Both government-run health systems are not sustainable in their current forms. The federal government should reform these bankrupted government-run systems instead of making them the foundation of all health care in the country. In the proposal Government would either mandate that businesses offer specific health care coverage or your coverage would be designed by the government if you did not have coverage through your employment. This would increase costs to businesses and likely increase unemployment. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated that the cost the proposed health care reform could be as much as $1 to $2 trillion over 10 years, depending on the reform enacted. Since the federal government already has record deficits this year much of the reforms would be paid for with borrowed money. The CBO estimates an annual increase of 6.7% in costs with the proposed program. Higher taxes are inevitable under the plan and that would dampen an already-struggling economy. In spite of the tremendous costs not everyone will be covered in the proposed reform. The CBO projects that some 16 to 17 million nonelderly residents would not be insured under the plan. The so-called health care reform diminishes individuals' control and responsibility over their personal health care decisions. In addition it undermines constitutional state authority in health policy, and it will stifle innovation and experimentation in delivery of quality health care. The proposed reform takes away more of our liberties and gives more control to the federal government. That is a scary thought.
If they think the COSTS of this are going to be high now, just wait until all the lawsuits brought on by the lawyers over "rationed" care start rolling in.....Hell hath no fury like a tort lawyer's client scorned.
When are the American people going to realize that the ONLY thing that accepting these government run programs that is a certainty, is they will make EVERYONE dependent on the government, thereby keeping these bastard in Washington in a job. The LESS we depend on government the LESS we need them! These people All know this is going to cost trillions, no matter what they project, and say top the American people now! But ,they will be gone and our grand children will be dealing with the consequences! They know they will force EVERYONE to be on the government program through time. How can Pelosi, and the other morons say they have the support of the American people? Who is she talking about? 73% of the American people are perfectly happy with the health care they currently have! We MUST put an end to this insanity!
Congressman are supposed to be representatives of the people. Polls show we don't want to spend money on this worthless pile of legislation. Why won't they listen. Didn't Obama say during the campaign that he wanted every american to have access to the same excellent health care that he does? I think if they're going to ram this down our throat, they should be required to enroll and also be taxed on it. I would also like their pension benefits. Kick 'em all out and make them live like the rest of us. They are not the gods they think they are.
We need a class action lawsuit to force Obama to provide a valid long form birth certificate entitling him to hold the office of President of the United States of America. Until such time, we should stop sending our hard earned money to Washington to squander. We have TAXATION WITH MISREPRESENTATION and that my friends is criminal!
All that is needed to cut the costs to people is to make all medical tax deductible. currently on the amount over 7.5% of your gross income is deductible. So if you make 35,000 a year, you can only deduct costs above 2625 dollars. Also, for you guys whinning about the pharmaceutical companies, it takes over a billion dollars to get a new drug to market. It costs someone making a generic drug about 500,000 dollars to copy they formula then start cranking out the generic drug. The problem is, the generic manufactorer doesn't create new drugs with his profits, the drug company does. So we are shooting ourselves in the foot with a cry for generic drugs. http://hanson807.wordpress.com
What Obama and his minions are doing makes perfect sense. Cut and paste the following link and you will know why. If you agree, pass it on. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdUY08kEXN4
When all federal employee's and unions have the same health care that they are coming up with for us, then I'll be for it. Otherwise if congress and senate, executive, and judicial are exempt, that means the health care package is crappy. Wise up folks.
OK here is a simple way to explain it to some of you and to those of you with Liberal friends here is how you can lay it out....exactly what is going on in Congress with healthcare....let me use an analogy...homelessness.... Now some people are homeless in the US for different reasons and that is very tragic so in order to fix that problem for those people...EVERYONE IN THE United States will be required to move out of their homes and into Government Housing Projects. Some may get a couple more years in their home but ulimately everyone WILL be FORCED into govenment run housing projects. Well except Congress and their families...they get to keep living in their homes they have made very sure of that. It is as simple as that...that is the thought process of our government. PLEASE don't whine about how they are trying to contain unstainable costs because if that were true they would 1st wait to find out exactly how much this piece of crap bill will cost us...they are not...and they would heed the CBO warning it will increase not decrease costs...they are not! As for the quality issue...well if they really cared they would actually read the bill to see if it provides quality care...they are NOT and if it was quality care they would sign up themselves and their family for it..THEY ARE NOT.
So many of the comments on this board are fascinating. We have a worse life expectancy, our coverage goes down every year, our premiums rise, rethugs and talking heads lie or don't give the whole truth. There seems to be a concern about "socialized medicine". There is no control now over who your doctor is. The insurance company determines that and when an employer changes plans, chances are your doctor is no longer available to you. If you think there's no one standing between you and your doctor when a major medical procedure needs to be done, you're blind. Ask your doctor if he needs approval because he does. Ask people who have insurance but have to pay tens of thousands of dollars out of their pockets for their unpaid claims. Ask what the bottom line in the letter from the CBO is. You don't hear that; everyone just talks about that top figure without considering the rest of it. Better headline and talking point, I guess. The commenters on this board are eiither very rich, employed by the insurance companies, hate anything that will help the American people, Obama and dem haters, or very, very stupid.
PLEASE, PLEASE, people, contact your Senators and House of Representative Delegates TODAY!!! A brief email from EACH and EVERY ONE OF US WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Easily find your representatives at www.house.gov and www.senate.gov. I did yesterday and it only took 15 minutes...not to mention how much better I feel about doing something proactive. Tell them to vote NO on this catastrophic bill BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!!!!!
If in fact universal healthcare does pass. What will this do to malpractice since you cannot sure the Gov? This will pass since the Dem's controll everything and the Repubs are pansies. Healthcare is available to everyone, health insurance is not, so get a better job!
If we have or can raise a trillion dollars to pay for health care, we ought to be using it to pay down the national debt instead. If we don't do something about that soon we're going to be lucky if we have the basics like roads and schools.
WE ARE BROKE WE CAN'T AFFORD THIS!
About 8-12 million illegal immigrants are included in the Heathcare proposal. We should be eliminating "freebies" for illegals (food stamps, housing, education, medical), NOT adding a new one!!! But no - the government wants to cut Medicare & Medicaid and get those illegals covered!!!! They estimate their Heathcare proposal will cost #1.5 trillion - so you just know it will be twice or three times that amount -- because they have no sense of cost.
"CBO Chief: Health Bills To Increase Federal Costs" - isn't this the objective? Obama has promised to "return" wealth to those he likes, the one promise he will absolutely keep.
By the time you finish reading all of the responses, another 7,000 people will have lost their health care coverage. It becomes the taxpayers who then provide coverage for these people as they will then become eligible for state covered health insurance. We cannot afford not to fix this mess. There is so much lies and mis-information being posted here and elsewhere, that no wonder so many of you don't know what your are talking about.
Wouldn't it make more sense to fix medicaid and medicare first? Wouldn't that resolve everything anyway?
Chris Dodd? $1 Trillion in cost? Are you people going to buy this bull sh$t from a corrupt bastard of a crony liar of a politician who strokes a sweetheart mortgage deal behind the scenes with Countrywide, then extorts banks into lending 12%-28% of their loans to the bottom 1/6 of wage earners!!!???? Why hasn't Dodd been arrested for fraud along with his fat fago Barnie 'Rubble' Frank? Next on Obama's To Do list? How about a 'Hide the Truth Czar' to add to the narcissist has.
Ccarmona....... By the time you are reading this, there are 7,000 illegal people who have entered our borders to suck up free health care, free schools, free this and free that, and by the time you liberals our typing your comments about Bush creating this mess, there are 10,000 people losing their jobs .......all because of the socialism that has arrived because of a narcissist marxist in the White House. ARREST OBAMA AND PUT HIM ON TRIAL FOR TREASON
Obama has never told the truth about anything. All lies......5 day public vetting of bills, restriction on lobbyists (he hired 5 in his cabinet), and the list is too long for me to spend typing them. He is bankrupting the nation on purpose. This is an act of treason.
Obama doesn't care if you can afford atax or not. eventually he will have you out of your ability to pay. He'll have you out of the house and on the street. He still doesn't care. He'll merely pull in more and more value until he populaion reaches the Eugenist Perfection. 250 Million People in the World. My guess is this clown wants to rush and will do something like this.
The biggest reason health care costs are rising is because we are the most litigous socienty on earth. There are 20 attorneys for every engineer in the U.S. They sue doctors at the drop of a hemestat. Ambulance chasers who are in bed with the Democrat party. They are one of the biggest supporters of the DEMarxists. The DEMarxists support them in their crimminal greed. Not a single provision in this PORK HEALTH CARE disgrace of a bill to curb or cut this activity. More of the same corruption from a narcissist in the White House.
A Canadian women had circulatory problems in her legs and could not see a specialist for nine months under their socialized health system. The woman was too late. They ended up having to amputate her legs. This is the outrageous dogma of government control and imposed sharing of misery that this narcissist in the White House has brought upon us.
Meanwhile, NPR, the Liberals' sock puppet, put out this distortion of the CBO Chief's report: http://bit.ly/eZH3r For the real story from the CBO, I urge you to read: http://cboblog.cbo.gov/?p=328 And see the chart that is the critical part of their analysis: http://cboblog.cbo.gov/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/slide2.jpg What the Democrats are not saying is that America is rapidly getting older. Within 10 years, the baby boomer generation will begin retiring, and as we do, we will draw down from social security and our investments. Gen X and Gen Y simply won't have enough population of wage earners to generate adequate tax revenues to cope with the demand on the health system. Meanwhile, the Obama Administration is recommending rationing of healthcare, particularly to the elderly. That is, they WANT you to die. And did I mention that the Democrats House health reform legislation will cover illegal aliens? So, even though you paid taxes all your life, you will be a lower priority for health care than someone who entered the US illegally and who does not pay taxes. Please read the CBO report. Their projections show that we will be amassing such incredible debt within 10 years that it is entirely possible that the US Government will go bankrupt. Yes. I said bankrupt. At some point, the Chinese and the Middle Eastern states that hold trillions of US debt will call our notes. This is insanity. It is time to make the Democrats understand that our pocketbooks do no amount to an endless ATM machine.
How about just cancelling medicare, medicaid and social security all together...and the citizen is all alone in finding a way to make it past 100 years old. Face it, government interference drove up the cost of medical care in the first place. i say cancel all of those programs which are destined for bankruptcy anyway. Too many parasites. CANCEL.
and I think we should arrest Obummer and the Congress for high treason in violatiing the Constitution. SHOW ME THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE>
I am in agreement with a lot of the people who have posted. Bottom line is that we as a country are bankrupt. At this time we cannot afford givernment appropriated health care. It would be a wonderful thing and I would love to have it, but not at the expense of our fiscal policy, and those that will inherit our debt. I also worry that with this massive growing debt we will never be able to pay it back and those buying our treasuries take their money out due to the risk. There has to be a cost effective way to do this. Why not work on a group rate PPO style, and take a portion of the trillions and put toward health care like vouchers. This keeps competition in the market and the best company providing the health insurance gets my business. As others suggested we need to address tort reform to help keep the costs low. I guess I just do not understand why we need to create a new bureaucracy when we already have companies in place like Blue Cross who could give us a group rate at a fraction of the costs of government run healthcare. If the government gave me a voucher or tax credit I could purchase my own. I would be very curious to know how much for example Cobra premiums for all Americans would fare against the cost of the governent health plan. For me, I would rather the option of choosing my own health insurance company and let the free market compete for my business. Maybe my approach is to expensive to but it sure would be nice to cost out a few options.
Civil war is near, be prepared! Instead of North vs. South, it will be conservative vs. liberal!
I had high hopes for Obama, but I'm sadly coming to think he's in way over his head. His administration is remarkably incompetent.
Has any one seen this one? It's Not An Option By INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY | Posted Wednesday, July 15, 2009 4:20 PM PT Congress: It didn't take long to run into an "uh-oh" moment when reading the House's "health care for all Americans" bill. Right there on Page 16 is a provision making individual private medical insurance illegal. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IBD Exclusive Series: Government-Run Healthcare: A Prescription For Failure -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When we first saw the paragraph Tuesday, just after the 1,018-page document was released, we thought we surely must be misreading it. So we sought help from the House Ways and Means Committee. It turns out we were right: The provision would indeed outlaw individual private coverage. Under the Orwellian header of "Protecting The Choice To Keep Current Coverage," the "Limitation On New Enrollment" section of the bill clearly states: "Except as provided in this paragraph, the individual health insurance issuer offering such coverage does not enroll any individual in such coverage if the first effective date of coverage is on or after the first day" of the year the legislation becomes law. So we can all keep our coverage, just as promised -- with, of course, exceptions: Those who currently have private individual coverage won't be able to change it. Nor will those who leave a company to work for themselves be free to buy individual plans from private carriers. From the beginning, opponents of the public option plan have warned that if the government gets into the business of offering subsidized health insurance coverage, the private insurance market will wither. Drawn by a public option that will be 30% to 40% cheaper than their current premiums because taxpayers will be funding it, employers will gladly scrap their private plans and go with Washington's coverage. The nonpartisan Lewin Group estimated in April that 120 million or more Americans could lose their group coverage at work and end up in such a program. That would leave private carriers with 50 million or fewer customers. This could cause the market to, as Lewin Vice President John Sheils put it, "fizzle out altogether." What wasn't known until now is that the bill itself will kill the market for private individual coverage by not letting any new policies be written after the public option becomes law. The legislation is also likely to finish off health savings accounts, a goal that Democrats have had for years. They want to crush that alternative because nothing gives individuals more control over their medical care, and the government less, than HSAs. With HSAs out of the way, a key obstacle to the left's expansion of the welfare state will be removed. The public option won't be an option for many, but rather a mandate for buying government care. A free people should be outraged at this advance of soft tyranny. Washington does not have the constitutional or moral authority to outlaw private markets in which parties voluntarily participate. It shouldn't be killing business opportunities, or limiting choices, or legislating major changes in Americans' lives. It took just 16 pages of reading to find this naked attempt by the political powers to increase their reach. It's scary to think how many more breaches of liberty we'll come across in the final 1,002. © Copyright 2009 Investor's Business Daily. All Rights Reserved.
Our governement is being run by a bunch of crimnals. Mobsters from Chicago. I will be damned if I let 535 people in the house and senate dictate to me whether I live or die. Damn murderers.
As a medical professional, I can tell you that hospitals simply do not want to save money.. If a hospital does save money they consider that the department was over the budgeted and will punish that department by reducing funding for the next year. I have a parts/service/repair business and we rarely get calls from hospitals trying to save money in the same way that the private operations do. The notion that hospitals are going to contribute is just more smoke and mirrors. If hospitals have money to give why not simply lower prices. The fact is that they want to raise the medicare procedure rates which will raise healthcare costs. If you do not have insurance you will not be given medicare rates like the insurance companies get. As it stands doctors of large hospitals are not allowed to refer patients to other clinics even if they have better equipment. I have seen several business go under for this reason. Stark laws designed to reduce/eliminate this type of self referal should be applied to Hospitals so that we can have fair competition and give the consumer a choice. If we really want to save money we would level the playing field by making hospitals. doctors and surgery centers adhere to and posted medicare pricing. I have found that not only do they charge significantly more but they do not pubically post procedure prices. Do some pricing for yourself it is almost impossible to get a quote and the ones you do will be signifficantly higher than medicare. If Obama wants to reform healthcare he should start with his wife with her $300K she was pocketing at the University of Chicago along with the $1,000,000.00 Brock earmarked for the same Hospital. I know of several clinics/centers in the chicago area that would still be in business today if they were not paying Cook county taxes or had some type of assistance. Most area business owners would be estatic to make the same type of money that MO was pulling in. Due to improvements in manufacturing, service, competition and the econmy most hosptial equipment has gone down in price. It seems to me that what we typically talk about is the raise in insurance premiums. Anybody that has worked with insurance companies know that they tend to to act in a governmental way by controling and micromanaging every little step of any procedure. Their idea of saving money is to reduce servcies and not find cost effective ones. I think most people would agree that we could make a better case for insurance reform. Why do we have this need to keep fueling the insurance companies greed.. Cleaning up corruption, leveling the playing field, fiscal responsibility and fair competion will fix the healthcare system. I believe in this country it is time for BO to do the same. BO tear down the wall.
Have you had ur kool-aid today? as soon as obama the america hater ruins our country..i'm thinking belize? costa rica maybe.. i'll never give that communist any more of my tax dollars,all the business in this country will move out and we won't have a country but the poor will have what they need
Putting democrats in charge of health care is like putting Bernie Madoff in charge of your portfolio. The same politicians that brought you and bankrupted Soc Security, Medicaid, Medicare, SChip, Amtrak, the Post Office and budget management like in California will now manage your healthcare and be exempt from the same rules in coverage.
Doesn't Obama sound like a used car salesman? The non-partisan CBO says it won't work....then Obama gives a 10 minute speech saying "yes we can"...and people still support this guy. We've lost our way.
Remember when the Medicare system was seriously broken (Medicare being a plan that THEY created) and needed urgent fixing? I'm sorry, why can we even remotely think this is any different. Funding it by taxing - how absurd ... tax anyone you wish Rich - Middle - Poor, Employers - Employees or simply left-handed people - who with ANY mind thinks that ANY health care tax would actually be used to fund a health care program. It must be remembered that Social Security taxes were to go into its own fund ... to be off-limits to Congress .. ONLY for Social Security - that was until the weasels made some modifications to their accounting methods and the fund was folded into the general budget ... sure did make our books look good for a while - But it also allowed the CROOKS (BOTH PARTIES) to get their dirty little mitts on it and spend it for plenty of pork projects.
Anyonewho takes willful advantage of another, robs another of his substance, lives at the ecpense of others, and flourishes on another's work anf grows fat on it, can't be called a man. He's a parasite, and he's done worse harm to himself than others They lose the ability to survive away from their host. In a way the host is more guilty than the parasite, for suffering the parasite!
When is the last time you heard someone say: "Gee, we need the government to run this because they are so efficient and cost effective?" Look at Social Security funding. Look at Medicare funding. They are going broke. Barry, Chris, Nancy all want us to believe that they can run it better than the current private market. Chris Dodd. Isn't he the one who along with Barney Frank ignored warnings of a mortgage meltdown in 2005? On yeah, he is reliable. Nancy Pelosi. Isn't she the one who really believes the CIA lied to her? Nancy, look in the mirror and you will see the biggest liar of them all! And Barry. Why he has great experience as what? So far, he spent over 787 Billion dollars to stimulate the economy and keep unemployment below 9%. Blew that one, eh?
My God what have we come to? We have elected a government that totally ignores us and does whatever it pleases. All of these people KNOW they will be reelected again no matter what they do. Going to tea parties does not help us. Calling, writing or sending telegrams to "our" representatives does not help us. Where will all this end? Will we lose ALL of our freedoms? Time for us to do SOMETHING. Look at www.putamericafirst.net and see if these folks have the beginnings of an idea. We need help. We are so screwed!
We cannot afford this bogus health care reform, this expense will sink the republic. There has never been a cheaper than projected government program. Do you think we are broke now? Yes, add this to the pot and we'll have old people being murdered in their hospital beds like parts of Europe already do! Fact! AARP better wake up or we'll kill off their members one by one in government supervised medical facilities...fact!
why doesn't the CBO score what a single payer outcome would look like in comparison? they don't because they know it would be cheaper than what is being proposed now. it's also democrats' failure to insist a single payer option be scored. bush & republicans had EIGHT long years to address the healthcare crisis. what did it get us? medicare part D - which was set up so the government's hands were tied and wasn't allowed to negotiate with big pharma to get cheaper drugs AND left us with $7 Trillion in unfunded liability. 7 trillion! yes, that was T as in turkey. i didn't hear republicans bemoaning the debt passed onto their grandchildren when this bush boondoggle was passed, so spare me your faux outrage. the GOP has no credible claim to posture as fiscal conservatives.
Efficiency my hat! Our hospitals are exceedingly efficient compared to those in Europe. All sorts of computerized data transfer and management. There's no room left for cost-cutting except to ration like the UK's messy NHS. Let Obama's cronies ask the Mayo Clinic about cost -cutting and efficiency. Most large hospitals are now close to Mayo's careful fiscal management. Get ready for chaos.
Bobojake, I couldn't have said it any better. Well the content anyway.
Why does everyone think when they elected Obama that he would use good judgement and would do a quality job? For his first major real life decision, he asked a nasty beeeeaaatch that looks like a dude to marry him, and his "resume" doesn't include ummmm even running a lemonade stand!!! SO, he MUST be the chosen one!!! Leading us to all marry nasty dude lookin' chicks and run businesses when we can't even tell someone what a quick ratio is (or why Kensian economics has NEVER worked in history). PLUS, add in his pathological lying, smug persona, his questionable coordination (hey Wisconsin--this dude can't even BOWL!!!), his multi-million dollar "date night" to NYC, the heaping praise he gets from Castro and Chavez (not to mention Chavez just said recently "I hope they don't shoot him like Kennedy"--meaning our own CIA taking him out) and now Cap n Trade and Obamacare??? Hillary just APOLOGIZED today for our global warming. APOLOGIZED on MY BEHALF for apparently my negligent carbon footprint and farts. Then you got Joey Biden a heartbeat away! I'd actually watch the TV every day if Biden was President just to watch the daily train wreck. I don't think the guy reads newspapers much. One word won't suffice, so you get two--OBAMA DI$A$TERAMA!
Putting our ranking Democrats in charge of socialistic healthcare is like hiring a convicted pedophile on work release to babysit your kids. Either way, your children get f*cked repeatedly and will be scarred for decades to come.
The CBO has warned against it. Dems wanna push it through anyhow. Do you realize this bill will cover the 12 million illegals in the USA? Meanwhile, small business owners will be taxed & hurt by this. Obama is trying to create a nation of dependents...already, one third are receiving some government handout. When that number reaches 50%, we're done. Who stands to benefit? Illegals, shiftless sloths, and democrats in power...keep people dependent and discourage innovation and that dying yankee ingenuity we used to hear about. So instead of hope & change, 2012's campaign slogan should be "Line up to git yo free sheeeot."
What did you people expect from a man whose qualifications included solely being a "community orgainizer", a liar and possibly a felon in that strange home buying scheme of his personal residence? A qualified leader? Folks, we are all about to be treated to a healthcare system that is EXACTLY like the VA system and we all "know" how great that works. We are screwed if this passes. Write your Congressman and both your Senators and scare the bejebus out of them with guarantees they will be looking for work elsewhere the next time they come up for reelection if they support this madness.
We all agree that cost cannot be impacted by price alone - we need to spend more time on debunking the HealthCare Reform efforts from our government by focusing on utilization factors. For example, we have a problem with obesity on the US - so let's focus on solutions for prevention, nutrition, pay attention to how fast food companies are doing in their advertising, address the chronic disease conditions which are 75% alterable with lifestyle changes, solve the illegal immigrant/ER situation, teach financial responsibility ion the schools and address tort reform. If none of this is done and the government succeeds in their best dream, the problem will not be solved at all, just more debt incurred. Americans need to accept responsibility to change behaviorally or it we will continue on the same financial death spiral we are on now. Given that most politicians are attorneys, I wonder how likely tort reform is. Price alone cannot be the best strategy - after all of the cuts physicians have been taking from Medicare over the last several years (and now facing a 21% cut again, if they do not support the government reform train - is that "blackmail") have not kept medical cost inflation down ...has it!
dangerous liberal marxism must be defeated. "Destroy healthcare now" say the libs
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