Posted on 08/16/2009 7:45:09 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o
Yes, words matter. Even adding one wrong word could cost taxpayers trillions. That is exactly what is being proposed.
Currently, publicly funded programs such as Medicare and Medicaid only pay for medically necessary health care. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, Maryland Democrat, publicly said President Obama's proposed health care plan will pay for "any service deemed medically necessary or medically appropriate." What a difference the word "or" makes....
Dropping "medically necessary" as a minimum requirement would be disastrous and bankrupt our health care system.
...Think this is fantasy? In December 2000, "HCA The Healthcare Company," a for-profit hospital chain, paid the government $731.4 million to resolve allegations that, among other things, it billed for lab tests that were not medically necessary. In March 1997, SmithKline Beecham Clinical Laboratories Inc. paid $325 million to settle similar allegations. That is $1 billion from just two companies. With a lower standard being proposed, perhaps these costs would now be paid?
...We already know that 10 percent of health care bills are fraudulent. Wait until you remove the requirement that all services must be medically necessary. Then the charges we once called fraud would now be allowed. In fact, it would be hard to ever prove another health care fraud case because a provider will clam he thought the costs were "appropriate."
If you think "cash for clunkers" ran out of money fast, wait until every health care professional starts lining up at the feeding trough to bilk the government out of trillions when you drop the minimum requirement that services be medically necessary.
So, one word "or" could devastate an already struggling economy. Mr. Obama, let's scrap "or medically appropriate" and leave the "medically necessary" requirement alone.
(Joel Hesch is a law professor at Liberty University and leading expert on fraud against the government.)
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
One of the big unstated reasons for "or medically appropriate" is that the Health Reform/Deform Bills will subsidize the targeting and killing of babies via abortion. This is a procedure which in less than 1% of cases in "medically necesary," defined as essential to prevent death or lasting serious bodily injury to the child's mother.
The abortionists' own research agencies know that public funding would lead promptly to an additional 300,000 preborns exterminated annually, with the number rising as the dominance of public funding grows.
None of these Health Bills are going to mention the banned words "several hundred thousand additional abortions." Every damned one of them, however, will feature the handy all-purpose verbiage which guarantees it.
So look for it: a super-elastic, bungee-cord term which means anything they want it to mean. They won't call it "terminating." They won't call it "killing." But they'll call it "appropriate."
Here's how a monopoly works:
A big grocery store moves into a town and offers prices so low they drive every other store out of business. When there's only store in town, they raise the prices through the roof.
That type of unfair competition has been outlawed.
But it's what's dems are pushing with health care. They'll offer the lowest price - companies will buy into it as it's a short term benefit - and when all the insurance companies are broke, the gov system raises prices, installs their committees that offer "pay to play" favors. If you don't like it, tough. They're the only "store" in town.
“Cash for Caskets”
“Get Grandma Shovel Ready”
LOCAL (DISTRICT) PHONE NUMBERS
OBAMACARE
ACTION
PING
Whoa! I forgot to mention this in my last ping:
Due to screening procedures, individuals sending written mail to their representative’s Washington, DC office are experiencing a delay of about 3-6 weeks.
DC Congressional telephone communication has reported breakdowns as well, because of the huge volume of calls. And of course, now they’re on August break.
There’s a group called Liberty Counsel which offers a fast, smart service: they will FAX your anti-ObamaCare to your Senators and Reps plus strategically selected Pro-Life and Blue Dog Democrats for a reasonable fee. I am not a member and have no connection with Liberty Counsel, but I think their Stop ObamaCare FAX idea is targeted, efficient, and a great time-saver.
Contact Liberty Counsel to check out what they’re offering.
Following is the official list of Blue Dog Democrats, followed by their LOCAL (DISTRICT) PHONE NUMBERS . Since they are in recess, these are the phone numbers to reach them at their “home office.”
Uusally they won’t ask you for your address on the phone, but keep in mind that they rightly make a priority of hearing from people in their own districts. If you have any pretext for using an address in their particular state (e.g. your mama lives in that state) please do so: you’ll get a higher priority response.
Following this list is a sample letter I offer for your consideration.
Now go get ‘em!
Altmire, Jason (PA-04) (724) 378-0928
724-378-6171 (fax)
Arcuri, Mike (NY-24) (315) 793-8146
Toll Free: 1-800-235-2525
Fax: 315-798-4099
Baca, Joe (CA-43) (909) 885-2222
Barrow, John (GA-12) (202) 225-2823
Berry, Marion (AR-01) (870) 972-4600
Bishop, Sanford (GA-02) (229) 439-8067
Boren, Dan (OK-02) (918) 423-5951
Boswell, Leonard (IA-03) 515-282-1909
Iowa Toll Free: 1-888-432-1984
Fax: 515-282-1785
Boyd, Allen (FL-02) (850) 561-3979
Fax (850) 681-2902
Bright, Bobby (AL-02) (334) 277-9113
Fax: (334) 277-8534
Cardoza, Dennis (CA-18) (209) 383-4455
Fax: 726-1065
800-356-6424
Carney, Christopher (PA-10) (570) 585-9988
Toll free: (866) 846-8124
Fax: (570) 585-9977
Chandler, Ben (KY-06) (859) 219-1366
FAX: (859) 219-3437
Childers, Travis (MS-01) (662) 841-8808
Fax (662) 841-8845
Cooper, Jim (TN-05) ( 615) 736-5295
Fax: 615-736-7479
Costa, Jim (CA-20) (559) 495-1620
Fax:(559) 495-1027
Cuellar, Henry (TX-28) (956) 725-0639
Fax (956) 725-2647
Dahlkemper, Kathy (PA-03) (814) 456-2038
Toll Free: (877) 528-4948
Fax: (814) 454-0163
Davis, Lincoln (TN-04) (931) 490-8699
Fax: (931) 490-8675
Donnelly, Joe (IN-02) (574) 288-2780
Fax: 574.288.2825
Ellsworth, Brad (IN-08) (812) 465-6484
Fax (812) 422-4761
Giffords, Gabrielle (AZ-08) : (520) 881-3588
Fax: (520) 322-9490
Gordon, Bart (TN-06) Phone: (615) 896-1986
Griffith, Parker (AL-05) (256) 551-0190
Fax: (256) 551-0194
Harman, Jane (CA-36) (310) 643 3636
Fax: (310) 643 6445
Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie (SD) (605) 367-8371
• Toll Free: (866) 371-8747
Fax: (605) 367-8373
Hill, Baron (IN-09) (812) 288-3999
Fax (812) 288-3873
Toll Free: (866) 440-1321
Holden, Tim (PA-17) (717)234-5904
Fax: (717) 234-5918
Kratovil, Jr., Frank (MD-01) (443) 262-9136
Fax: (443) 292-9713
McIntyre, Mike (NC-07) (910) 815-4959
Fax (910) 815-4543
Marshall, Jim (GA-03) (478) 464-0255
Toll-free: (877) 464-0255
Fax: (478) 464-0277
Matheson, Jim (UT-02) (801) 486-1236
Toll free: (877) 677-9743
Fax - (801) 486-1417
Melancon, Charlie (LA-03) (985) 876-3033
Fax: (985) 872-4449
Michaud, Mike (ME-02) Phone: (207) 942-6935
Fax: (207) 942-5907
Minnick, Walt (ID-01) Phone: (208) 888-3188
Fax: (208) 888-0894
Mitchell, Harry (AZ-05) (480) 946-2411
Fax: (480) 946-2446
Moore, Dennis (KS-03) (913) 621-0832
FAX: (913) 621-1533
Murphy, Patrick (PA-08) (215) 826-1963
Fax: (215) 826-1997
Nye, Glenn (VA-02) (757) 326-6201
Fax: (757) 326-6209
Peterson, Collin (MN-07) (218) 847-5056
Fax: (202) 225-1593
Pomeroy, Earl (ND) (701) 224-0355
Fax: (701) 224-0431
Ross, Mike (AR-04) (870) 881-0681
Fax (870) 881-0683
Salazar, John (CO-03) (970) 245-7107
Fax: (970) 245-2194
Sanchez, Loretta (CA-47) (714) 621-0102
Fax: (714) 621-0401
Schiff, Adam (CA-29)(626) 304-2727
Fax: (626) 304-0572
Scott, David (GA-13) (770) 210-5073
Fax: (770) 210-5673
Shuler, Heath (NC-11) (828) 252-1651
Fax: (828) 252-8734
Space, Zack (OH-18) (330) 364-4300
TOLL FREE: (866)910-7577
Fax: (330) 364-4330
Tanner, John (TN-08) (731) 885-7070
Fax: (731) 885-7094
Taylor, Gene (MS-04) (228) 864-7670 Fax: (228) 864-3099
Thompson, Mike (CA-01) (707) 226-9898
\ Fax: (707) 251-9800
Wilson, Charles (OH-06) (740) 633-5705
Toll Free: (888) 706-1833
Fax: (740) 633-5727
Do you really think wholesale government “reform” of the healthcare and insurance industry will be effective, or even healthy?
I don’t. Most of the people of the United States don't. And most of the people in YOUR DISTRICT don't/
According to a Rasmussen survey released today, only 35 percent of Americans believe that passage of the bill "currently working its way through Congress" would be better than not passing any health care legislation this year.
The “Cash for Clunkers” program was suspended after just six (six!) days (days!) because of “unanticipated” demand, “unanticipated” costs and “unanticipated” paperwork. Multiply that by 100,000 --- and that’s what I think would happen to a government-driven “reform” of healthcare and insurance.
Rep. Pelosi is trying to demonize private insurance companies as “villains,” saying (I quote from the AP story) "Of course they've been IMMORAL ALL ALONG in how they have treated the people that they insure."
Do you believe that?
WE, the citizens, are grown-ups: WE are in a position to judge whether the proffered services are worth the cost. Do our representatives think insurers are ALL immoral? Do they think we, the citizens, are ALL stupid?
Are our government representatives prepared to “save” health insurance the way they government “saved” General Motors? The way they “saved” passenger rail (Amtrak)?
Rubbish, in my opinion.
Please stop this dubious and potentially disastrous “reform” before “American Health care” goes the way of Amtrak --- and “Cash for Clunkers.”
Lots of talk on TV this morning that Obama and the Dems will abandon the push for a public option. Not good enough, and probably just a temporary retreat from that goal. This entire thing needs to be killed, and some sensible, but limited reforms passed later.
BTTT
i called my blue dog, he sent me a letter stating that he forwarded my negative thoughts about the bill to his office in dc where he can look into my complaints and see about making changes.
*sigh*
Why have someone else fax them when you can call or fax them yourself. I don’t trust anyone anymore. They may very well be sending everything to the scrap bin.
The scap bin is where every bill from this admin should be thrown.
I do not begrudge those who morally come down on the side of saving the mother's life (and I will not entertain debate on this point on this thread -- it is beside the main point).
On the other hand, having heard many mothers relate their "war stories" and having observed many women in the ninth-month and having been present in the delivery room, let me state (and any mother out there please correct me if I err) that every woman carrying a healthy, full-term baby will put her health at risk in some way, making that a ridiculous clause.
Thanks for the ping!
AARP is now saying they appose Obamacarecrappola...
but I just saw an AARP commercial pushing national health care.
these people lie every bit as well as zer0bama does.
We emailed our congressman and Senators last week. Our worthless congressman gave me the typical crap that you’ve been hearing about how we need to do this. I sent them another message on Friday and it said the server was down. I tried again on Saturday and today and I got the same message. We just typed up the email and put the letter in the mail.
If nothing else the Postal Service will appreciate the money.
(1) Tort reform. Say we limit the liability payouts for "pain and suffering" to $250,000. I understand Texas did this, and the liability lawsuits plummeted. This leads to much lower liability insurance premiums for doctors, which in turn means they can stop practicing CYA "defensive medicine" and cut out the hyper-expensive redundant testing.
(2)Getting the dead hand of over-regulation off the throat of true inter-state, nationwide competition among private insurers.
I am open to education on this. Anything you'd object to in my "platform"? Anything you'd want to add? Or correct?
I agree on both tort form and over-regulation. I just don’t want BO to have ANY input. I don’t trust him with anything.
Also make HSA's avaiable everywhere.
AARP is crap. It was crap (liberal politically) 20 years ago and it is still crap.
Agreed on that.
Correctamundo on the mandates. Please explain to me briefly about HSA’s. (I need to get educated quick about the policy stuff.)
at age 50, ten years ago, I started getting their mailings,which after reading about their rabid anti gun stance, wound up in the trash, though sometimes I would load up other junk mail in their prepaid envelopes and mail it back to them.
I always wanted to wrap a brick in brown paper and tape one of their prepaid envelopes to it and mail it back to them, but after 9/11 I thought that in itself might be some sort of federal infraction (the krazy kat national brick act or something)so I never did that.
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