Replies

Boehner address at link.

Excellent start

No doubt the White House and Democrats in Congress will continue to insist that Republicans "have no plan." But Boehner's four proposals are contained in fleshed-out legislative form in several GOP reform bills. They really exist. You can check them out.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Democrats-stifle-Republican-health-care-plans-8224780-58644807.html

The virtual embargo on reporting Republican legislation has allowed Democrats and their allies in the media to keep up the "Republicans have no plan" attack. Just hours after the president's speech, for example, the Democratic National Committee released a new commercial claiming that Republicans "refuse to offer a plan" to reform the health care system. Just for the record, in case you want to check them out, these are the bills proposed, so far, by Price and his allies in the House:

H.R. 77; H.R. 109; H.R. 198; H.R. 270; H.R. 321; H.R. 464; H.R. 502; H.R. 544; H.R. 917; H.R. 1086; H.R. 1118; H.R. 1441; H.R. 1458; H.R. 1468; H.R. 1658; H.R. 1891; H.R. 2520; H.R. 2607; H.R. 2692; H.R. 2784; H.R. 2785; H.R. 2786; H.R. 2787; H.R. 3141; H.R. 3217; H.R. 3218; H.R. 3356; H.R. 3372; H.R. 3400; H.R. 3438; H.R. 3454; and H.R. 3478.

Why can’t the GOP buy prime time and do a 30 minute infomercial like the dems? Perhaps it’s because all of us conservatives have bailed on the GOP. Their fault; step aside GOP, conservatives will get ‘er done.

PROOF RomneyCARE is a Disaster (and he is clueless)

“Republicans warn: Rationing medicine has already begun
But in a joint opinion piece called "Govt.-Run Health Care Isn't the Answer," published
in the online version of The Advocate, a leading homosexual magazine, Sen. Tom
Coburn, R-Okla., and GOProud's Christopher R. Barron warned the homosexual
community that the Ryan White CARE Act has already demonstrated how government-
run health care has introduced rationing and waiting lists and cost the lives of the people under its provisions.”

“DEATH PANELS OPEN FOR BUSINESS IN MASSACHUSETTS”

“President Obama's newly confirmed regulatory czar defended the
possibility of removing organs from terminally ill patients without their permission.”

“You can’t reap these savings without limiting patients’ choices in some way," said Paul Levy, CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess.”

“State plan may place limits on patients’ hospital options( Mass. RomneyCare )”

"Romney Visits Nebraska, Talks Health Care [where he defends Romneycare] “

"Paying the Health Tax in Massachusetts [Romneycare]
Massachusetts requires every resident to have health insurance, and this
year, without informing us directly, the state had changed the rules in a way that made
our bare-bones policy no longer acceptable. Unless we ponied up for a pricier policy we
neither need nor want—or enrolled in a government-sponsored insurance plan—we
would have to pay $1,000 each year to the state.
How did we become outlaws? “

"National Health Preview - The Massachusetts debacle, coming soon to your neighborhood."
It was only a matter of time.
They're trying to manage the huge costs of the subsidized middle-class insurance program that is gradually swallowing the state budget.
The program provides low- or no-cost coverage to about 165,000 residents, or three-fifths of the newly insured, and is budgeted at $880 million for 2010, a 7.3% single-year increase that is likely to be optimistic.
The state's overall costs on health programs have increased by 42% (!) since 2006."

A Very Sick Health Plan; Bay State’s ‘Grand Experiment’ Fails [RomneyCare]
"Initiated on Mr. Romney’s gubernatorial watch in 2006, this “experiment” has fallen on hard times, and predictably so. “

Health care in Massachusetts: a warning for America [Romney brings Mass. to its knees]
The Bay State's mandatory insurance law is raising costs, limiting access, and lowering care.
Three years ago, Massachusetts adopted a plan requiring all residents to purchase health
insurance, with state subsidies for lower-income residents. But rather than creating a
utopia of high-quality affordable healthcare, the result has been the exact opposite –
skyrocketing costs, worsened access, and lower quality care."

"‘Severe’ doc shortage seen hiking wait time
“The shortage is getting more severe”"

“Health costs to rise again.( RomneyCare )
The state’s major health insurers plan to raise premiums by about 10 percent next year,
prompting many employers to reduce benefits and shift additional costs to workers.”

“Nation’s ill-advised to follow Mass. plan [Health plan a failure]
September 17, 2009 The canary is dead.
Massachusetts, the model for the ObamaCare universal insurance plan, is the canary in
the health care coal mine. Yesterday, its obit appeared on the front page of both The Wall
Street Journal and The Boston Globe-Democrat “

"Bay State Insurance Premiums Highest in Country - Boston Globe August 22, 2009
Massachusetts has the most expensive family health insurance premiums in the country,
according to a new analysis that highlights the state’s challenge in trying to rein in medical costs
40 percent higher than in 2003. Over the same period, premiums nationwide rose an average of 33 percent..."

"Massachusetts: the laboratory for ObamaCare“

"Massachusetts' Obama-like reforms increase health costs, wait times [RomneyCare]
Premiums are growing 21 to 46 percent faster than the national average"

"Mass. Pushes Rationing to Control Universal Healthcare Costs (RomneyCare)
A 10-member Massachusetts state healthcare advisory board unanimously recommended
that the state begin rationing healthcare to keep the state’s marquee universal health care program afloat financially.”

"1,000 cancer patients 'refused treatment'"

"Massachusetts Universal Healthcare System Breaking Down Already
ERs in Massachusetts have not seen a downturn in visits. On the contrary, it seems that ER visits are actually on the upswing in the Bay State. In fact, in 2007 they were higher than the national average by 20 percent...”

"Hospital patients 'left in agony'"

"National Health Preview - The Massachusetts debacle, coming soon to your neighborhood.
In Massachusetts's latest crisis,
They're trying to manage the huge costs of the subsidized middle-class insurance program that is gradually swallowing the state budget.
The program provides low- or no-cost coverage to about 165,000 residents, or three-fifths of the newly insured, and is budgeted at $880 million for 2010, a 7.3% single-year increase that is likely to be optimistic.
The state's overall costs on health programs have increased by 42% (!) since 2006
Mr. Romney should have known better before signing on to this not-so-grand experiment, especially since the state's "free market" reforms that he boasts about have proven to be irrelevant when not fictional.
Only 21,000 people have used the "connector" that was supposed to link individuals to private insurers."

A Very Sick Health Plan; Bay State’s ‘Grand Experiment’ Fails [RomneyCare]
… fiscal troubles aplenty within Repubican Mitt Romney’s brainchild, Massachusetts’ “grand experiment” in “universal” health care."
"Initiated on Mr. Romney’s gubernatorial watch in 2006, this “experiment” has fallen on hard times, and predictably so.
Even though the Bay State commenced its program with a far smaller percentage of uninsured residents than exists nationwide,
“RomneyCare” is threatening to bankrupt the state.“

"Dem Congresswoman Admits Obama Health Care Plan Will Destroy Private Health Insurance Industry"

"Romney’s mistreatments a sick man, as Gov. Mitt Romney meets a medical marijuana patient"

PROOF OBAMA - CARE is a Disaster (and Congress could care less)

“The former CBO director, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, warns today on the effect ObamaCare
will have on our economy and health care. …This bill will lead to a huge middle class tax increase:
The bill creates a new health entitlement program that the Congressional Budget Office
(CBO) estimates will grow over the longer term at a rate of 8% annually, which is much
faster than the growth rate of the economy or tax revenues.“

”When Barack Obama ran for president, he promised that his health care plan would
"lower health-care costs by $2,500 for the typical family." Now, it turns out that new
legislation that he supports creating public-private "co-operatives" will increase the costs
of family health insurance by $4,000 by 2019.”

”Robert Reich Reveals Brutal Health Care Truths; MSM Snores
"We're going to have to, if you're very old, we're not going to give you all that
technology and all those drugs for the last couple of years of your life to keep you
maybe going for another couple of months. It's too expensive...so we're going to let
you die."

”PriceWaterhouseCoopers concluded that the cost of health insurance for the average
family will rise by $4,000 by 2019, as compared with doing nothing:”

“Customers will pay big for health fix: insurers”

“A major new report confirms the worst fears of many: Health care reform will raise the
costs for most Americans—by about 18% on average. That is on top of existing inflation of health coverage.”

“The WSJ Guide to ObamaCare. A comprehensive collection of our editorials. "

“45% Of Doctors Would Consider Quitting If Congress Passes Health Care Overhaul
Two of every three practicing physicians oppose the medical overhaul plan under
consideration in Washington, and hundreds of thousands would think about shutting
down their practices or retiring early if it were adopted, a new IBD/TIPP Poll has found.
The poll contradicts the claims of not only the White House, but also doctors' own lobby
— the powerful American Medical Association “

"Obama health care plan projected to cost 5.2 million jobs
In addition wages would be “stunted” for another 10.2 million wage earners."

"Oregon Offers Terminal Patients Doctor-Assisted Suicide Instead of Medical Care
PORTLAND, Ore. — Some terminally ill patients in Oregon who turned to their state for health care
were denied treatment and offered doctor-assisted suicide instead
"[How could they] not pay for medication that would help my life, and yet offer to pay to end my life?"

"Obama Health-Care Would Drive Up Inflation and Health-Care Costs
ObamaCare would shrink the economy, drive up health-care costs and inflation,
and increase the deficit,
Overall, total federal expenditures will be 5.6 percent higher than otherwise by 2019, adding $285.6 billion to the federal deficit in 2019”

"Pushing Veterans Toward the Grave”

PROOF Socialized Medicine is a Disaster

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2369511/posts "In September 2005 the GMC found Dr Shankar guilty of serious professional misconduct after he dismissed the case of a baby with a blocked artery and then forged his notes on the examination. Nine-day-old Daniel Miller, whose leg had turned dark blue, had a life threatening blood clot and his toes were becoming gangrenous, but Dr Shankar had said his nappy was too tight. He was suspended for six months, and after a failed appeal in March 2007 received a further nine month ban. However, in January 2008 the GMC allowed him to return to unrestricted practice." http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01505/Nikki_Sams_1505230c.jpg http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/10/20/article-1221461-06E16677000005DC-800_233x743.jpg "Hospital patients 'left in agony'"
"Patients were allegedly left screaming in pain and drinking from flower vases on a nightmare hospital ward.
She said: "We saw patients drinking out of..."

“Woman bleeds to death after doctor punctures jugular - and no blood is available(UK) "

“Canadian Aboriginals receive body bags for flu

Health officials ordered an investigation Thursday into why the Canadian government
sent body bags to an Aboriginal reserve in Manitoba after community leaders requested
assistance to deal with an expected outbreak of swine flu. “

"Patient with ulcer collapses and dies after paramedics tell her: 'Stop being a drama queen'"

"Doctors said I'd had a miscarriage and did nothing as my premature baby fought for his life"

"British Death Panel IBD Editorials September 10, 2009
Single Payer: In Britain, where the public option is about all most patients get,
a newborn has died because national guidelines recommend that the baby not be treated."

"Is This The Obamacare Future? Overworked Doctors in Australia Worried They Are Killing Patients
there are long waiting lists for orthopedic surgery (median wait for total hip replacement is 88 days;
10% of patients waited over 345 days in 1999 to 2000), and cataract surgery (median is 73 days; 10% waited more than 316 days)."

"Bed shortage forces 4,000 mothers to give birth in lifts, offices and hospital toilets"

"Sentenced to death on the NHS ….
they can then have fluid and drugs withdrawn and many are put on continuous sedation until they pass away.

"NHS blunders allowed cannibal Peter Bryan to kill two”

"Paramedics told: 'Let accident victims die if they want to' in new row over patient rights (UK)"

"Patients Forced To Wait Hours In Ambulances Parked Outside A&E Departments"

"Cancer survivor confronts the health secretary on 62-day wait (UK)"

"Hospital patient so shocked at dirty ward she climbed out of bed to clean it herself."

"Kidney cancer patients denied life-saving drugs by NHS rationing body NICE (UK) "

"Girl, 3, has heart operation cancelled three times because of bed shortage (UK)."

I can cut it down to 5 words.

The people don’t want it.

Excellent start.

Dems need to grow a brain and trial lawyers would have to demand their bribes back for it to happen.

bump

Socialized Medicine aka Universal Health Care daily digest PING LIST

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I can cut it down to 1 “word”.....FUBO!!!

One thing that I think should be talked about to those who do support 0bamacare...I believe that should it pass then our very lifestyles will be regulated. For instance, if you smoke or drink, then I believe that you will be placed low on the list once health care becomes rationed. I don’t smoke or drink, but if someone else does, then that is their personal choice. Those choices will themselves become “rationed” until everything is covered, from Cokes to candy bars. Anything deemed unhealthful will bump you from the list when it comes to receiving healthcare.

What should Congress do regarding "healthcare" reform?

Item 1: First and foremost...REFORM MEDICAL WELFARE!

This one pillar of "healthcare" is actually the only thing Congress should even consider reforming.

When PJ O'Rourke was saying "You think healthcare is expensive now...wait till it's free"...this is what he was talking about.

"Healthcare inflation" is largely caused by under-reimbursement and non payment for "free healthcare" racked up by overzealous medicaid proponents (RAT legislatures) and then the costs passed on to insured and paying patients. The practice of "cost shifting" should be totally banned.

Medicaid is way way too big, and available to able bodied working people. This jeopardizes the benefits for the truly needed. Everyone on the program needs to be regularly evaluated, means tested and drug tested. We should not be subsidizing frauds and drug dealers.

This is your damn "public option" make people pay for it. It should be means tested for those who have no ability to make their own way.

Let people buy into it. At least they would be partially pulling their own weight. Let there be a sliding scale...the more they earn...the more of the premium they pay, until they are self sufficient or can get on a better group plan with an employer.

Finally, let it be privatized, all domestic carriers should be required to participate. There's your partnership. The govt handles the enrollment/eligibility and enforcement portion...the private sector provides true insurance with proper cash reserves and commercial reimbursement rates for the providers.

And for God's sake don't let it cover everything under the sun...like elective cosmetic surgery!

Item two: Ban stupid public policy!

1. Ban the practice of community rating and guaranteed issue on individual plans.
2. Require underwriting.
3. Allow purchasing across state lines.
4. Require High risk pools to handle chronic care and pre-existing condition cases in....these typically apply to 1% of the individual market.

Boener’s doing a good job; everyone stop picking at him.

My only question is now that they’ve put out their response, is it in the form of a bill to consider in committee or just a response?

A response is not quite useless, but can’t be submitted. If it is talked about consistently tomorrow, that would be ideal, but still in needs to exist materially to have some legs.

They keep trying to come with new taxes and fees while the solution is spiting in their face, very accurately I might add. ‘’Resume off shore drilling etc. and pledge the gov’t royalties to healthcare. Same with mining, grazing on fed land etc.’’ Also the auctioing of radio freq. bandwiths. We could all have a 3 Cadilac health ins. policy, with only a small fee etc. create funds when needed to supplement the income from royalties etc.

Number one: let families and businesses buy health insurance across state lines;
Number two: allow individuals, small businesses, and trade associations to pool together and acquire health insurance at lower prices, the same way large corporations and labor unions do today;
Number three: give states the tools to create their own innovative reforms that lower health care costs; and

Number four: end junk lawsuits that contribute to higher health care costs by increasing the number of tests and procedures that physicians sometimes order not because they think it's good medicine, but because they are afraid of being sued.
[OR - because medicare now approves and will pay for them.]

IOW -- GET THE GOVERNMENT OUT OF HEALTHCARE!!!

#1: Who stopped insurance companies from selling their product across state lines?

#2: Who stopped the ability to pool and buy insurance at better rates?

#3: There is NO reason for the feds to give the states anything. Simply get out of their way and let them take care of their own.

#4: Tort reform! Now where have I heard that before?
Who encouraged and allowed the despicable lawyers to run amuck in the first place?

ONE word:

Unconstitutional.

I’d add that the mandates state’s make are one of the prime reasons costs are so high; I mean why does a single man like me have coverage for prenatal care!? One size doesn’t fit all.

If that’s addressed, I think it would resolve much of the problems with cost...obviously the other things listed are helpful, too.

I’m glad he spoke up and it was brief and to the point.

Rep. Bachmann has asked that we all meet with our congressional rep this Thursday at High Noon - in person. I feel the need for a road trip. anyone else?

Number one: let families and businesses buy health insurance across state lines;

Given the standard profit margins in the industry, this will do little to reduce costs, but it will lead to one hell of a merger and acquisition flurry. All that would do is Federalize the regulation of health care, which would eventually be little different than socializing it in the first place. It would lead to an oligopoly market capable of claiming "higher margins."

So, do you want "too big to fail" in health care? I thought not.

Uh, no thanks Dr. Boner. Stick with beating up the trial lawyers and pricing based upon behavior.