ZERO CARE

[BMT (RIP)]

OBAMA TONIGHT: 'So let me be clear: This isn’t about me. I have great health insurance, and so does every Member of Congress'...





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Obama is a siren.

Some post-Homeric authors state that the Sirens were fated to die if someone heard their singing and escaped them, and that after Odysseus passed by they therefore flung themselves into the water and perished.

[Praetorian]

Ughh... What a song and dance....

[Richard]

Fact Check...and so it goes...

Richard's $.02

FACT CHECK: Obama's health care claims adrift?
Calvin Woodward and Jim Kuhnhenn, AP, 22 Jul 2009

President Barack Obama's assertion Wednesday that government will stay out of health care decisions in an overhauled system is hard to square with the proposals coming out of Congress and with his own rhetoric. Even now, nearly half the costs of health care in the U.S. are paid for by government at all levels. Federal authority would only grow under any proposal in play.

A look at some of Obama's claims in his prime-time news conference:

OBAMA: "We already have rough agreement" on some aspects of what a health care overhaul should involve, and one is: "It will keep government out of health care decisions, giving you the option to keep your insurance if you're happy with it."

THE FACTS: In House legislation, a commission appointed by the government would determine what is and isn't covered by insurance plans offered in a new purchasing pool, including a plan sponsored by the government. The bill also holds out the possibility that, over time, those standards could be imposed on all private insurance plans, not just the ones in the pool.

Indeed, Obama went on to lay out other principles of reform that plainly show the government making key decisions in health care. He said insurance companies would be barred from dropping coverage when someone gets too sick, limits would be set on out-of-pocket expenses, and preventive care such as checkups and mammograms would be covered.

It's true that people would not be forced to give up a private plan and go with a public one. The question is whether all of those private plans would still be in place if the government entered the marketplace in a bigger way.

He addressed some of the nuances under questioning. "Can I guarantee that there are going to be no changes in the health care delivery system?" he said. "No. The whole point of this is to try to encourage changes that work for the American people and make them healthier."

He acknowledged then that the "government already is making some of these decisions."

___

OBAMA: "I have also pledged that health insurance reform will not add to our deficit over the next decade, and I mean it."

THE FACTS: The president has said repeatedly that he wants "deficit-neutral" health care legislation, meaning that every dollar increase in cost is met with a dollar of new revenue or a dollar of savings. But some things are more neutral than others. White House Budget Director Peter Orszag told reporters this week that the promise does not apply to proposed spending of about $245 billion over the next decade to increase fees for doctors serving Medicare patients. Democrats and the Obama administration argue that the extra payment, designed to prevent a scheduled cut of about 21 percent in doctor fees, already was part of the administration's policy, with or without a health care overhaul.

Beyond that, budget experts have warned about various accounting gimmicks that can mask true burdens on the deficit. The bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget lists a variety of them, including back-loading the heaviest costs at the end of the 10-year period and beyond.

___

OBAMA: "You haven't seen me out there blaming the Republicans."

THE FACTS: Obama did so in his opening statement, saying, "I've heard that one Republican strategist told his party that even though they may want to compromise, it's better politics to 'go for the kill.' Another Republican senator said that defeating health reform is about 'breaking' me."

[Praetorian]

Originally Posted by Richard

Fact Check...and so it goes...

Richard's $.02

Wow... That was fast.

[Slantwire]

OBAMA: "I have also pledged that health insurance reform will not add to our deficit over the next decade, and I mean it."

And I'm sure he'll count the dollars saved, just the same way he's counting jobs saved by bailouts?

[Pete]

Just ask him.

"...=AP: In trying to rally support for health care overhaul, Obama described a patient who sees a physician for a sore throat, or a parent who brings in a child with a sore throat.

"Right now, doctors a lot of times are forced to make decisions based on the fee payment schedule that's out there. ... The doctor may look at the reimbursement system and say to himself, 'You know what? I make a lot more money if I take this kid's tonsils out,'" Obama told a prime-time news conference.

The president added: "Now, that may be the right thing to do, but I'd rather have that doctor making those decisions just based on whether you really need your kid's tonsils out or whether it might make more sense just to change; maybe they have allergies. Maybe they have something else that would make a difference."......."

[Dad]

I am firmly convinced SOMETHING must be done about the price of healthcare in this country. I am not smart enough to know what. I am smart enough (I think) to know what sounds insane or promoted by special interests. It seems there is too much money syphoned off between the patient and the doctor, that benefits neither the patient nor the doctor. Think about UHC. I am convinced there is a whole lot of money lost in Medicare due to fraud and overcharging for products. I am also a huge believer in Medicare. In regards to Medicare, we need to pay the doctors and force the suppliers to bid for their products.
I know there are doctors and doctors spouses on this board. I would really like to hear your opinions on this issue.

[swpa19]

I am also a huge believer in Medicare.

Are you on Medicare??

[Dad]

Nope. Have an 88 yo father who is. It isn't perfect, but take it away and he is uninsurable

[swpa19]

Lets just hope that the Medicare Budget maintains enough funding to see him through the rest of his years.

Ive dropped my Medicare and have chosen to (for now) go to alternate health care plans. My Medicare options are still open.

[The Reaper]

Anyone who cares, and who does not call their elected representatives to express their concerns, should just shut up and pay up if/when this gets passed.

Call, email, mail your reps ASAP if you want them to oppose this.

http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

TR

[JAGO]

Originally Posted by Dad

I am firmly convinced SOMETHING must be done about the price of healthcare in this country.

Sir,
There is no magic bullet, but we got to start somewhere. I suggest we start w/ tort reform.
v/r
phil

[Dad]

Originally Posted by JAGO

Sir,
There is no magic bullet, but we got to start somewhere. I suggest we start w/ tort reform.
v/r
phil

I have been told by lawyers whom I trust and respect, the total cost of malpractice suits is less than 2% of the total healthcare bill. In spite of this, malpractice insurance continues to rise. The WSJ did an article a while back (1-2 years?) which stated the insurance companies were getting to the point where their reserves were so huge they couldn't hide them anymore. Expect some kind of financial shenanigans whereby they do a go private, then go back public type of deal to make off with the money(this is my opinion, not the WSJ).
Here in Texas we passed legislation limiting malpractice awards. The last figure I saw reported the rates continued up about 17% for doctors. The legislation teamed the doctors and insurers against those "evil trial lawyers". The doctors now figure they have been totally screwed (they have) and are aligning themselves up with the same trial lawyers to take on the insurers. Damn, some days you aren't sure who to shoot. All I am certain of is my health insurance has increased by about 240% in the last six years and neither my family doctor's income, nor mine, have gone up that much. I'll bet my insurance agent makes as much as my family doctor and he works about 20 hours a week. My doctor calls a 70 hour week a short week.

[6.8SPC_DUMP]

Drugmakers to pour cash into health care reform

What went though my mind is pharmaceutical companies are trying to buy their drugs into health care reform and it's a good indication a plan will pass; if drug makers really are willing to spend 150-200 million.

I wish the Gov. could pass legislation to:

• Lower prescription pill cost
• Not allow people with pre-existing conditions to be rejected
• Not allow insurance companies to drop coverage after people become ill
• Provide a clear explanation of coverage

All without divvying out medical care to Americans at a time where spending cuts could soon be large.

The tinfoil hatter in me wonders if the plan isn't designed to aid companies cut down on healthcare expenses and get some back-end on pharmaceutical profits.

Taking TR's advice and trying available methods to contact my Reps.: going to remind them that I'd appreciate it if they read Bill's before voting on them.