Caduceus - Symbol of the Physician
On June 19th the American Medical Association announced that President Obama would be addressing the 158th annual meeting in Chicago next Monday, June 15th. AMA President warmly welcomed the President’s participation. In a press release Dr. Nancy H. Nielson, MD. in part had the following to say:
“President Obama has made health reform a top domestic priority, as has the AMA. President Obama’s speech to AMA physicians shows that he values the input of those who dedicate their lives to caring for patients. We have a historic opportunity for health-care reform this year, and the AMA is committed to improving the system so that it works better for patients and physicians. We are honored to welcome President Obama to our annual meeting, where physicians develop the policies that guide the AMA’s advocacy.”
“The AMA is actively working for health reform that covers the uninsured, makes private insurance more affordable, increases the value our nation receives from its health-care spending and enhances prevention and wellness for patients,”
However, concerns have been raised about the course the President has thus far chosen to reveal. Robert Pear for the New York Times reports that the AMA will oppose a government sponsored insurance plan that Mr. Obama’s plan is thus far espousing. The opposition of the AMA could well be an insurmountable hurdle to the Obama Administration’s plans for Socialized Health Care.
The Times goes further:
“But in comments submitted to the Senate Finance Committee, the American Medical Association said: “The A.M.A. does not believe that creating a public health insurance option for non-disabled individuals under age 65 is the best way to expand health insurance coverage and lower costs. The introduction of a new public plan threatens to restrict patient choice by driving out private insurers, which currently provide coverage for nearly 70 percent of Americans.”
If private insurers are pushed out of the market, the group said, “the corresponding surge in public plan participation would likely lead to an explosion of costs that would need to be absorbed by taxpayers.””
A serious bone of contention is the requirement that physicians accepting Medicare Patients would also have to accept patients in the new public plan, something not all physicians are in the position of being able to do.
Also of concern is though unaddressed by the Times piece is Illegal Immigrants, no not undocumented immigrants, Illegal Immigrants, they are breaking the laws of this Nation. These people would presumably have access to this care. To date, no information on this is available one way or another. Perhaps Mr. Obama will be shedding some light on this very important issue. Given the fact that Illegal’s generally have no insurance, affording medical care is very difficult. Providers and Hospitals end up absorbing the cost as a loss, which is passed down in the form of higher prices for everyone. Considering that this single group of patients makes up one of the single largest groups responsible for the high cost of medical care, one would think this a priority to address. This is an issue that should be addressed, but so far it has not.
As the Times further reports;
"Nancy Pelosi is backing Obama’s plan for a Public Insurance option saying, “A bill will not come out of the House without a public option,” on MSNBC on Wednesday."
This is the makings of an outright disaster. Not simply because of the Governments basic inability to do anything efficiently (The DMV comes to mind), but because the United States does not have the money to pay for it. The funds will be created by taxation, and most of those will be paid by middle and lower income brackets in the form of a few things reported in the Politico also on the 10th of June:
"Even Congress is getting into the act, giving serious consideration to taxing sugary drinks and alcohol to help pay for the overhaul."
The Politico goes further to state;
"Any health care reform plan that Obama signs is almost certain to call for nutrition counseling, obesity screenings and wellness programs at workplaces and community centers."
Are you ready for the nanny state to force you onto the treadmill while it taxes you for it? Is this the change America was promised?
Government inserting itself into Health-care is not an appropriate use of Government funds, power, or legislation. The Constitution was not written to limit what the people could do, it was written to specifically state what the government is allowed to do. Government is not allowed to provide Medical Insurance to anyone. Nor is it allowed to dictate to physicians how to run their business, how to treat their patients, or to dictate forms of treatment allowable.
Again as reported in the times:
“America’s Health Insurance Plans, a lobby for insurers, said Tuesday that the government plan proposed by some Senate Democrats could “dismantle employer-based coverage and significantly increase costs for those who remain in private coverage.”
Many Americans who currently have Medical insurance will not be eligible for this plan, as it looks at this time that coverage will be dependent on what the government believes you can afford, thus limiting the roles to those below a yet to be announced income level. Once again, this is nothing short of thinly disguised income redistribution, only this time it is using the Health care system to do it.
Congress and Obama can not afford to mess this up. So far, everything is pointing to higher costs, longer waits, government dictated treatment, and physicians turned into Government employees.
Is that the change you signed up for?
Let's hope Obama takes the Doctors advise, because Government sponsored health-care is looking like a bitter pill no American can afford to swallow.
Comments
The government should revise bad policies and programs that run up costs. Leave the rest alone. It is not an insurance company.
Government is not the cure for what ails mankind...its the big lie and the dems/liberals have embraced it in error. America is doomed by huge debt that will destroy us.
This just adds to that burden and may be the tipping point. Good for the AMA to bring the truth to the light.
BWA!
I work in the health care field, and I can tell you that if Obama's health care plan is anything like medicaid (Medi-CAL in Calif) it will be an UNMITIGATED DISASTER!
There is not a perfect healthcare system in the world. The US is facing a crisis. As a small business owner, I can no longer keep paying the ever increasing health insurance premiums. I will be forced to close or move to a country with socialized medicine. Wake up America. The Europeans and Canadians are healthier and live longer than us. How bad could their systems be?
Mr. Black,
Well I can tell you my Canadian relatives and friends living in British Columbia all hope fervently they do not ever get a disorder requiring long term care such as Brain Cancer. They literally wait months for appointments. There is a reason many Canadians end up coming to the States for treatment, the lines in Canada are that long, people die waiting in them.
I for one am not interested in Health Care that ends up being run like the Post office or the DMV, which is how all government run operations end up. The malaise that government brings to quality of service, care, and innovation is not something anyone can afford.
best thing that can happen is obama reels in the AMA. This powerful organization has lobbied against and tried to destroy wellness/ preventive medicine for years ie (Chiroprctic) I personally hope he takes them down. As for our health care system, it is a complete joke and is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. .(JAMA july 2000 issue) the US government has every right to protect It's citizens from corporations/ organizations who take advantage of American citizens by over medicating them and feeding them garbage with the end result being poor health and skyrocketing healthcare costs for everyone. Yes it does work in Europe their infant mortality is considerably lower and life span is longer. cancer rates, diabetes,heart disease and obesity much lower in europe than in the US.
I lived in Europe for three years and received what passes for medical care there. How bad can it be? VERY bad. I would like to see what these statistics are claiming that europeans are healthier. I find it hard to believe but if it is the truth I can say from experience that it is not due to their health care system.
Congress are attorneys. Doctor's insurance premiums range from 5,000 a month to 100,000 a month, depending on the specialty. Tort reform limiting this cost, plus making the litigant liable for all costs when making million dollar itchy crotch lawsuits after brain surgery and liver transplants, is about 90% of the solution. And this is why Obama is not saying anything, since he is speaking in front of 500 attorneys when he talks to Congress. How did John Edwards get his money, anyone? Obama is an attorney? So this is the sacred, golden calf. The bogus litigation is a giant parasite on the back of the medical profession. If the AMA would discipline and bar bad doctors, that would help. The government does nothing efficiently. What a joke. My friends in Costa Rica an Honduras say its just another giveaway for the rich and powerful who will get the only good doctors in the system, they'l cut in line. You watch. I guarantee it. Start saving for flights to Costa Rica to visit retired doctors
Health Bill Raises Economic Concern For Real Estate Not covered by Press:
The costs of government-mandated health insurance will cause many home buyers not to qualify for home mortgages. Democrat Sen. Reid (NV) has the power, when bringing together different health-care proposals for a vote, to either help or destroy future home ownership for millions of Americans. All the current health care proposals mandate taking 8 to 10 percent of middle class income; that lost income will no longer be available to the middle class to qualify for loans to buy homes or other kinds of property: If current health care proposals pass, millions of Americans will suddenly cease to qualify as home buyers. Many homeowners may have difficulty paying their mortgages after government takes 8 to 10 percent of their income for mandatory health insurance and penalties. Historically, fewer home-buyers has resulted in forcing down home selling prices and caused a reduction in property taxes collected by count
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!