Wrong. It is an exellent bill that should be expanded to include a Single Payer Option, which the GOP obstructionists blocked.
On 11/5/10, Keith In Tampa <[email protected]> wrote: > Tom? > > Have you actually looked at what you are sending out, and checked it out on > the web? > > Come to find out, many of the claims are true, and many of the claims, > albeit might be exaggerated, might in fact come true, sense most of the meat > of the bill will be written by government bureaucrats. By example, Page > 29; there's no doubt that health care will be rationed, and even your > partisan rebuttal doesn't even deny that. Page 42, the Health Care Commizar > will in fact determine health care benefits, no dispute. > > In general, this is a rotten bill that must be repealed. > > > > On Fri, Nov 5, 2010 at 8:18 PM, Tommy News <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Health Care Reform Lies, Smears, and Truth >> Health care reform is not "Obamacare", which is an offensive and >> misleading term. >> >> Fight the Smears >> >> There is a nasty and misleading right-wing chain email going around. >> Some of you may have gotten it forwarded to you by family and friends. >> >> >> The email pretends to go through the "itemized contents of the Health >> Care Reform Bill," pulling out outrageous claims like, "Page 29: >> Admission: your health care will be rationed!" >> >> >> The insurance industry is funding these emails through hired shills >> and, of course, these claims are universally false. So we want to arm >> you with the tools to fight back against these smears. >> >> >> Below, we've created an email you can copy and paste in response to >> anyone who forwards you these lies. Just reply to the smear email and >> make sure everyone knows the truth >> >> >> We can fight these smears, one lie at a time. >> >> >> Copy the email below this line and use it to respond to this smear or >> download a document with this email text. >> ------------------------------ >> >> >> >> >> The contents of the email I am replying to are patently false. If the >> anonymous writer of this email had actually read the bill, he or she >> would know better. >> >> >> Here are the facts. Anyone can verify them by reading the bill at >> http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3200/text >> >> >> Actual itemized contents of the Health Care Reform Bill: >> >> >> "Page 22: Mandates audits of all employers that self-insure!" >> >> >> TRUTH: This is not an "audit," it's a study. Moreover, the bill states >> (pp. 22-23) that the report will "include any recommendations the >> Commissioner deems appropriate to ensure that the law does not provide >> incentives for small and mid-size employers to self-insure or create >> adverse selection in the risk pools of large group insurers and >> self-insured employers." This is almost directly the opposite of the >> email's claim. >> >> >> "Page 29: Admission: your health care will be rationed!" >> >> >> TRUTH: Page 29 continues to define the "essential benefits package" >> and discusses limits on what Americans will have to spend on health >> care under this minimum standard. In no way does this section >> stipulate the rationing of care. >> >> >> "Page 30: A government committee will decide what treatments and >> benefits you get (and, unlike an insurer, there will be no appeals >> process)" >> >> >> TRUTH: Page 30 begins to describe the Health Benefits Advisory >> Committee which establishes certain minimum standards for health >> insurance plans. In no way does this committee deny treatments and >> benefits to Americans with health insurance. >> >> >> "Page 42: The 'Health Choices Commissioner' will decide health >> benefits for you. You will have no choice. None." >> >> >> TRUTH: Page 42 begins to describe the Health Choices Commissioner's >> duties. The idea that this person will decide what benefits Americans >> receive is patently false, given that most Americans will keep their >> current plans under reform, and Americans within the exchange will >> have the choice of purchasing many different kinds of health plans. >> Rather, the Commissioner will establish minimum standards to protect >> Americans. >> >> >> "Page 50: All non-US citizens, illegal or not, will be provided with >> free healthcare services." >> >> >> TRUTH: Pages 50-51 contain a provision stating that discrimination >> will not be allowed in the provision of health care services. Nowhere >> does the bill state that non-US citizens will be provided free health >> care services. The bill prohibits federal dollars from being used for >> undocumented immigrants. >> >> >> "Page 58: Every person will be issued a National ID Healthcard." >> >> >> TRUTH: Page 58, in the context of a discussion of administrative >> standards, mentions that "determination of an individual's financial >> responsibility at the point of service and, to the extent possible, >> prior to service, including whether the individual is eligible for a >> specific service with a specific physician at a specific >> facility...may include utilization of a machine-readable health plan >> beneficiary identification card." In no way does the bill state that >> such a card would be national, or that it would be issued to every >> person, or that it would, in fact, be used at all. >> >> >> "Page 59: The federal government will have direct, real-time access to >> all individual bank accounts for electronic funds transfer." >> >> >> TRUTH: Page 59 continues the discussion of administrative standards, >> and authorizes electronic transfers of money within the government. In >> no way does this provision grant the government access to individual >> bank accounts. >> >> >> "Page 65: Taxpayers will subsidize all union retiree and community >> organizer health plans (read: SEIU, UAW and ACORN)" >> >> >> TRUTH: Here's what page 65 says: "Not later than 90 days after the >> date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human >> Services shall establish a temporary reinsurance program to provide >> reimbursement to assist participating employment-based plans with the >> cost of providing health benefits to retirees and to eligible spouses, >> surviving spouses and dependents of such retirees." No mention is made >> of unions or community organizations. >> >> >> "Page 72: All private healthcare plans must conform to government >> rules to participate in a Healthcare Exchange." >> >> >> TRUTH: That's true! Plans have to have a minimum standard of benefits, >> bat can offer other plans as well. But that's fair, isn't it? Private >> insurers can continue to operate outside the exchange if they wish - >> should the government establish no standards for the exchange? In that >> case, how could reform end insurance industry abuses and help to >> control costs? >> >> >> "Page 84: All private healthcare plans must participate in the >> Healthcare Exchange (i.e., total government control of private plans)" >> >> >> TRUTH: This section says is that if private health care plans want to >> operate in the Exchange, they must provide a basic benefit package. >> >> >> "Page 91: Government mandates linguistic infrastructure for services; >> translation: illegal aliens" >> >> >> TRUTH: Some American citizens are more comfortable speaking a language >> other than English, especially in a sensitive situation like a >> consultation with their doctor. This provision in no way opens the >> door for coverage of undocumented workers. >> >> >> "Page 95: The Government will pay ACORN and Americorps to sign up >> individuals for Government-run Health Care plan." >> >> >> TRUTH: Page 95 makes no mention of ACORN and Americorps; all it says >> is that the Commissioner can conduct outreach to vulnerable >> populations, making them aware of their options. >> >> >> "Page 102: Those eligible for Medicaid will be automatically enrolled: >> you have no choice in the matter." >> >> >> TRUTH: People who are eligible for Medicaid will not have to face the >> burdens of paperwork and other bureaucratic struggles. Far from >> depriving people of choice, this measure will ensure coverage. >> >> >> "Page 124: No company can sue the government for price-fixing. No >> 'judicial review' is permitted against the government monopoly. Put >> simply, private insurers will be crushed." >> >> >> TRUTH: This section describes rate-setting under the public health >> insurance plan option, which will compete with private insurers, who >> can set their own rates. Because of inherent advantages like their >> established administrative and provider frameworks, private insurance >> companies will not be "crushed" by government competition. >> >> >> "Page 127: The AMA sold doctors out: the government will set wages." >> >> >> TRUTH: The government will negotiate rates with providers under the >> public health insurance plan option. However, private insurers will >> continue to pay their own rates. >> >> >> "Page 145: An employer MUST auto-enroll employees into the >> government-run public plan. No alternatives." >> >> >> TRUTH: This is simply not true. Employers with more than 20 employees >> aren't even eligible to participate in the exchange, let alone the >> public plan, until several years after the exchange launches in 2013. >> Moreover, no employer will be forced to participate in the public >> plan. >> >> >> "Page 146: Employers MUST pay healthcare bills for part-time employees >> AND their families." >> >> >> TRUTH: Employers are required to pay some benefits for part-time >> employees on a basis proportional to what they pay for full-time >> employees. No language on this page or the next stipulates coverage >> for the families of part-time employees. >> >> >> "Page 149: Any employer with a payroll of $400K or more, who does not >> offer the public option, pays an 8% tax on payroll" >> >> >> TRUTH: The payroll penalty applies to employers with payroll over >> $500,000 who do not provide insurance to their employees. The >> percentage for employers with payroll from $500,000 - $750,000 is 6%. >> Employers do not have to offer the public option to avoid this >> penalty, they can offer private insurance if they wish. >> >> >> "Page 150: Any employer with a payroll of $250K-400K or more, who does >> not offer the public option, pays a 2 to 6% tax on payroll" >> >> >> TRUTH: This is false, see above. >> >> >> "Page 167: Any individual who doesn't' have acceptable healthcare >> (according to the government) will be taxed 2.5% of income." >> >> >> TRUTH: Pages 167-173 detail what "acceptable health care" means >> (basically, insurance coverage) and also allow for many different >> kinds of exceptions to this rule. >> >> >> "Page 170: Any NON-RESIDENT alien is exempt from individual taxes >> (Americans will pay for them)." >> >> >> TRUTH: Non-resident aliens do not have to pay the penalty for not >> having health insurance, nor will the receive federal assistance, >> because they are not required to purchase health insurance. They are >> not exempted from individual taxes generally. >> >> >> "Page 195: Officers and employees of Government Healthcare Bureaucracy >> will have access to ALL American financial and personal records." >> >> >> TRUTH: This is a gross overstatement. For the purposes of determining >> affordability credits for Americans who need financial assistance in >> purchasing health insurance, employees of the Health Choices >> Administration will have access to tax information that the federal >> government already keeps. As is clearly stated on page 196, "Return >> information... may be used by officers and employees of the Health >> Choices Administration or such State-based health insurance exchange, >> as the case may be, only for the purposes of, and to the extent >> necessary in, establishing and verifying the appropriate amount of any >> affordability credit described in subtitle C of title II of the >> America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 and providing for the >> repayment of any such credit which was in excess of such appropriate >> amount.'' >> >> >> "Page 203: "The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as >> tax." Yes, it really says that." >> >> >> TRUTH: This quote is taken out of context, and is in fact referring to >> a calculation used in the bill. Full context of quote: "'(4) NOT >> TREATED AS TAX IMPOSED BY THIS CHAPTER FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES.-The tax >> imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax imposed by this >> chapter for purposes of determining the amount of any credit under >> this chapter or for purposes of section 55.'' >> >> >> "Page 239: Bill will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors >> and the poor most affected." >> >> >> TRUTH: This section has nothing whatsoever to do with reducing >> services. It makes much needed changes to the way in which physician >> reimbursement is recalculated every year. The bill will, in fact, >> create much more opportunity for seniors and the poor to receive >> necessary care. >> >> >> "Page 241: Doctors: no matter what specialty you have, you'll all be >> paid the same (thanks, AMA!)" >> >> >> TRUTH: Page 241 does not say this. Nowhere does it say this. It >> does say that physicians will be grouped into certain categories >> regardless of specialty. These categories merely determine if the >> physician is engaged in primarily therapeutic or preventative care. >> >> >> "Page 253: Government sets value of doctors' time, their professional >> judgment, etc." >> >> >> TRUTH: There is no good response to this assertion as it appears to >> have been made up completely. The section deals with 'misvalued codes' >> meaning that the government is potentially not paying an acceptable >> rate for a specific service. This will allow the government to, for >> example, pay more for services that require more payment, such as >> high-overhead procedures. The author of these criticisms separately >> attacks the bill for paying the same rate to all doctors, then attacks >> again for paying different rates. >> >> >> "Page 265: Government mandates and controls productivity for private >> healthcare industries." >> >> >> TRUTH: This section amends the Social Security Act to include >> productivity measures. There is no mandate or control of anything. >> This merely updates the way in which doctors and hospitals are paid >> through Medicare. >> >> >> "Page 268: Government regulates rental and purchase of power-driven >> wheelchairs." >> >> >> TRUTH: No, this changes the way Medicare pays for power drive >> wheelchairs (13 month payments vs. one lump sum). It is essentially >> rent-to-own for power wheelchairs, and is one of the ways that >> Medicare already pays for wheelchairs. >> >> >> "Page 272: Cancer patients: welcome to the wonderful world of rationing!" >> >> >> TRUTH: Overusage of the hot-button word "rationing" is a way to >> deflect attention away from the actual language of the bill and incite >> unjustified fear. This section only compares costs incurred by cancer >> hospitals to costs incurred by similar hospitals, and adjusts payments >> to reduce the possibility of fraud and abuse. >> >> >> "Page 280: Hospitals will be penalized for what the government deems >> preventable re-admissions." >> >> >> TRUTH: This is almost correct. The section is one of the first >> efforts at targeting excessive readmissions. Excessive readmissions >> are physically and emotionally damaging to patients, while >> simultaneously putting them, and the health care system, in far more >> financial risk than is necessary. The American Hospital Association >> recommended reduced payments for avoidable readmission in testimony to >> Congress. >> >> >> >> >> "Page 298: Doctors: if you treat a patient during an initial admission >> that results in a readmission, you will be penalized by the >> government." >> >> >> TRUTH: This is patently false. The section is about possible methods >> that the Secretary of Health and Human services might consider in >> order to address the growing problem of patient readmission. This >> section does not, in any way, create a penalty, nor does it even >> mandate policy. It merely provides examples of recourses that might >> be considered. >> >> >> "Page 317: Doctors: you are now prohibited from owning and investing >> in healthcare companies!" >> >> >> TRUTH: This provision only limits Doctor's investments in health care >> facilities that they refer patients to The effort to limit >> self-referral has been ongoing for many years as an effort to reduce >> fraud and abuse. This is, essentially, the medical community >> equivalent of insider trading. Limiting this incentive works to put >> the patient's health above all other considerations. Doctors remain >> free to engage in investment opportunities in areas that don't create >> a significant conflict of interest. >> >> >> "Page 318: Prohibition on hospital expansion. Hospitals cannot expand >> without government approval." >> >> >> TRUTH: This section regulates physicians' investment in hospitals to >> make sure that physicians are not unfairly benefiting from their power >> to refer patients to hospitals they have a stake in. The section does >> not prohibit hospital expansion. >> >> >> "Page 321: Hospital expansion hinges on 'community' input: in other >> words, yet another payoff for ACORN." >> >> >> TRUTH: In the ongoing effort to demonize community-based groups such >> as ACORN, every instance of the word "community" has become associated >> with that group's efforts. In reality, this provision allows for >> anyone to provide input. This includes homeowners, religious leaders, >> neighborhood groups, and others. There are no payoffs. There is no >> money exchanged in any way. >> >> >> "Page 335: Government mandates establishment of outcome-based >> measures: i.e., rationing." >> >> >> TRUTH: This provision is included in order to allow the government to >> base payments on practices that work. Nowhere does it say health care >> will be rationed. The attempt to isolate what works and what does not >> work in Medicare Advantage plans only benefits the health care system >> in general. >> >> >> "Page 341: Government has authority to disqualify Medicare Advantage >> Plans, HMOs, etc." >> >> >> TRUTH: The government can disqualify some Medicare Advantage Plans >> from receiving some additional payments, but only if those plans are >> not meeting necessary requirements. >> >> >> "Page 354: Government will restrict enrollment of SPECIAL NEEDS >> individuals." >> >> >> TRUTH: This section only deals with how to handle special needs >> individuals who need to enroll outside of the open enrollment period. >> Almost every type of plan operates with open enrollment periods. This >> section does not create more restrictions. >> >> >> "Page 379: More bureaucracy: Telehealth Advisory Committee (healthcare >> by phone)." >> >> >> TRUTH: This section merely expands existing Telehealth programs, >> which supplement but do not replace other health coverage, and provide >> a vital resource to Americans in rural and remote areas. >> >> >> "Page 425-430: More bureaucracy: Advance Care Planning Consult: Senior >> Citizens, assisted suicide, euthanasia?; Government will instruct and >> consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney, etc. >> Mandatory. Appears to lock in estate taxes ahead of time; Government >> provides approved list of end-of-life resources, guiding you in death; >> Government mandates program that orders end-of-life treatment; >> government dictates how your life ends; Advance Care Planning Consult >> will be used to dictate treatment as patient's health deteriorates. >> This can include an ORDER for end-of-life plans. An ORDER from the >> GOVERNMENT; Government will decide what level of treatments you may >> have at end-of-life." >> >> >> TRUTH: All of these hysterical claims have been debunked elsewhere. >> HR3200 provides for the reimbursement of a voluntary session of >> end-of-life counseling with your physician once every five years. This >> in no way means the government will make decisions for patients or >> encourage doctor-assisted suicide. Counseling simply makes patients >> and their families aware of their options. >> >> >> "Page 469: Community-based Home Medical Services: more payoffs for ACORN." >> >> >> TRUTH: ACORN is not a Community-Based Medical Home. >> >> >> "Page 472: Payments to Community-based organizations: more payoffs for >> ACORN." >> >> >> TRUTH: This is clearly still referring to community health groups, not >> ACORN. >> >> >> "Page 489: Government will cover marriage and family therapy. >> Government intervenes in your marriage." >> >> >> TRUTH: Covering marriage and family therapy, as many private insurance >> plans do, does not mean that the government "intervenes in your >> marriage." The types of individuals who are recognized as therapists >> are clearly defined on page 491; in brief, professionals only, not >> bureaucrats. >> >> >> "Page 494: Government will cover mental health services: defining, >> creating and rationing those services." >> >> >> TRUTH: This section expands government coverage for mental health >> services under various government programs, and ensures that all >> mental health services will be offered by qualified professionals. >> >> More: >> http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/fight_the_smears >> -- >> Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time. >> Have a great day, >> Tommy >> >> -- >> Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. >> For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum >> >> * Visit our other community at >> http://www.PoliticalForum.com/<http://www.politicalforum.com/> >> * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. >> * Read the latest breaking news, and more. > > -- > Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. > For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum > > * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ > * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. > * Read the latest breaking news, and more. -- Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time. Have a great day, Tommy -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more.
