Universal Health Care for America

[Luke_Wilbur]

U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine), a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following statement today in response to Majority Leader Reid's decision to include a public option,with a state opt-out provision, in the health care reform bill:

 

"I am deeply disappointed with the Majority Leader's decision to include a public option as the focus of the legislation. I still believe that a fallback, safety net plan, to be triggered and available immediately in states where insurance companies fail to offer plans that meet the standards of affordability, could have been the road toward achieving a broader bipartisan consensus in the Senate."

 

Members of Congress have proposed that the public option should only be created if certain criteria are met, rather than having a set date for creation. The criteria for the trigger vary, but are generally tied to the performance of private insurance companies, and the cost of their premiums.

Edited October 28, 2009 by Luke_Wilbur

[Guest LAW]

Here is some recent White House Press Gaggle.

 

 

Q Does the President think that it can work its way through without the support of Olympia Snowe?

 

MR. GIBBS: That's a better question for Olympia Snowe. I don't know what the dynamics are. I don't know what the vote count is in the Senate. That'd be a question, too, for Senator Reid.

 

Q Politico is reporting that Joe Lieberman is saying he'll join Republicans on a filibuster. Is Obama confident he can get the Democrats to beat back a filibuster in the Senate?

 

MR. GIBBS: I haven't seen the report from Senator Lieberman or why he's saying what he's saying. I think Democrats and Republicans alike will be held accountable by their constituents who want to see health care reform enacted this year. We see it in the polling that you guys do every day that they want the system, as it is now, to be fixed to ensure accessibility for those that don't have it, for cutting costs for those who do, and for important insurance reforms like preexisting conditions to be addressed. And we know that if that doesn't happen, people say they'll be very disappointed by that, and we think people will make progress to ensure that this gets done.

[Guest 88.5 Loyal Listener]

LAW it is interesting to note Lieberman's position on health care

 

In 2005 Senator Lieberman, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) introduced the FairCare Act, which addresses two serious problems plaguing our nation's health care system: inconsistent health care quality and health care disparities.

 

Currently, Americans get the right kind of care from their health care providers only 45% of the time, which results in up to 99,000 preventable deaths and $30 billion dollars in costs. For minorities, the situation is worse.

 

In the United States today, there is a well-documented pattern of health care disparities among racial and ethnic minorities. Studies have shown that these groups are less likely to receive regular medical care or preventive screenings and education. Many of these disparities persist, even when factors like income and access to health care are taken into account.

 

FairCare would help alleviate our country's medical quality problems by establishing standards for quality care and the electronic data collection necessary to assure adherence to this care. It focuses on the specific problem of minority health care disparities and works to involve communities in the designing of solutions. Senator Lieberman worked hard to incorporate key elements of FairCare into the FY 2006 Senate Budget Reconciliation Bill.

[Guest A Fixed Game]

Joe Lieberman Say No to Public Option Keith Olbermann. The Senator will allow debate, but will side with the Republicans and filibuster the bill.

 

[Guest 36]

The insurance industry lost a boatload of money on most of their investments when the market tanked, but at least their investment in Joe Lieberman (I-CT) looks like it will pay off handsomely.

[Guest A Fixed Game]

Connecticut is the insurance capital of the world. This script is way to easy to follow. I just want to know how much he is getting.

[Guest Redneck Convert]

Well, I'm glad old Joe is against this Public Option, but it's a mystery to me why. I mean, it couldn't be because his state is home to Aetna and the Hartford and a couple dozen other big insurance cos. And I know it couldn't be because his wife was head of planning and in charge of lobbying for Pfizer. Which makes Viagra, by the way.

[Guest A Fixed Game]

The Senator from Aetna (Lieberman's 10th largest contributor) seems to think the Public Option would be bad for taxpayers and drive up the private insurance premiums.

 

Any low income, or moderate income person coming into the exchange brings a subsidy...you can take the subsidy and buy Aetna, you can take that subsidy to buy the public option. So the public option gets nothing better or worse...than any private company that's involved in the exchange - Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

 

Everyone knows about Lieberman's love affair with the Neocons AND his over-the-top campaigning for McCain. He's been bought. The insurance companies own him. He is the same Senator that monkey wrenched Hillary Clinton’s health care reform effort more than a decade ago. Lieberman's timing in announcing his opposition to the Senate finance bill was one day after the insurance lobby released its study against it.

 

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dc/2009/10/not-the-first-time-joe-has-shi.html#ixzz0VKTpMj4Z

 

 

If you live in Connecticut - make your voice heard. Over the past decade, premiums have gone up 138 percent, 3.5 times the growth in family incomes. Sign the petition to tell Senator Joe Leiberman to give the public option an up or down vote in the senate.

[Guest ALWAYS RED]

Fixed Game. A federal mandate to buy health insurance is unconstitutional. Maybe you need to move to China or Cuba.

[Guest Henry]

Let each State of the Union decide on its own. That is where the decision should be. The Federal Government has a plan. Now it is time for state governments to decide whether they want to adopt it.

[Luke_Wilbur]

I really think there is no incentive in place for government workers. I know the District Health Care system is beyond criminal. Joe still does not have his Medicaid. DDS is putting him through psychological tests before they accept him. This has been going on since June. Will the federal government do any better? I think not.

[Guest Human]

Well Luke! It will take dc social services 45 to 60 days once they deem him disabled/ or what ever it's called. "Though it should have never lasted this long". I kept my claws away from blisting the newspapers, and everyone else on joes plight.

 

In politics you come at it from every direction.

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I really think there is no incentive in place for government workers. I know the District Health Care system is beyond criminal. Joe still does not have his Medicaid. DDS is putting him through psychological tests before they accept him. This has been going on since June. Will the federal government do any better? I think not.

[Guest Human]

By the Way; Where were you Law in all of this?

 

Never leave a gap that your group "The Democrats" can't handle.

Because Joes Plight shows a complete lack of accountability, and your responce was? Lets' have health care for all.

[Guest August]

If Joe lived in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, his plight may be worse. These States look to oppose Universal Health Care.

[Luke_Wilbur]

That is side stepping the point. Joe is an active case. It is going on five months for him to be accepted into the program.

 

Joe has done everything they have requested him to do. Read the story and then tell me about accountablility. The District has prolonged his case, because they have no incentive to better organized and move faster.

 

http://www.dcmessage...showtopic=16714

 

I love the idea of Universal Health care for everyone. But, at this point it is just an idea. The administration has been fuzzy on how much it will cost each taxpayer and who will be accountable in managing the system.

 

Until that is resolved, I personally will not support it.

Edited October 30, 2009 by Luke_Wilbur

[Guest Nadeam]

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Leaders, Committee Chairs, Members of Congress and Americans who are struggling under the current health care system held a rally on the West Front of the Capitol this morning to unveil H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act. Below are the Speaker’s opening remarks.

 

“Good morning. It is with great pride and with great humility that we come before you to follow in the footsteps of those who gave our country Social Security and then Medicare, and now universal, quality, affordable health care for all Americans. [Applause.]

 

“We are brought to this historic moment for our nation and our families because of the work of our three great chairmen of the committees in the House — Chairman Charlie Rangel of Ways and Means — thank you Mr. Rangel — Chairman Henry Waxman of the Energy and Commerce Committee. I think that George Miller has a hearing — Chairman George Miller has a hearing — as do some of our other chairs and other Members are in hearings because the work of Congress does not stop just because we have an important message to give to you.

 

“I am very grateful for the cross-section of Members that we have — generationally, geographically, philosophically — in every way and from all the committees of jurisdiction that worked on this legislation. And also Members of the Caucus who participated over and over again under the leadership of our Chairman John Larson and our Vice-Chair Xavier Becerra.

 

“So here we are. For nearly a century — it’s really over a century — leaders of all political parties, starting over a century ago with President Theodore Roosevelt, have called and fought for health care and health insurance reform. Today we are about to deliver on the promise of making affordable, quality health care available for all Americans [Applause] — laying the foundation for a brighter future for generations to come.

 

“The Affordable Health Care for America Act is founded on key principles of American success: opportunity, choice, competition, and innovation. We have listened to the American people, we are putting forth a bill that reflects our best values and addresses our greatest challenges. And we are putting it online for all Americans to see.

 

“Here’s what our health insurance reform legislation will mean to American families, workers, and the economy. [To heckler:] Thank you, insurance companies of America. [Laughter and applause.]

 

“This is why this legislation is important: affordability for our middle-class that lower costs for every patient, reins in premiums, co-pays, and deductibles, limits out of pocket costs, and lifts the cap on what insurance companies cover each year. Affordability for the middle-class and security for our seniors. By strengthening Medicare, it secures the financial stability and solvency of Medicare for years to come, provides seniors with better benefits and guaranteed access to their doctors. And in this legislation, we will immediately begin to close the donut hole.

 

“Affordability for the middle-class, security for our seniors, and responsibility to our children. It reduces the deficit, meets President Obama’s call to keep the cost under $900 billion over 10 years, and it insures 36 million more Americans. [Applause.]

 

“That said, the bill is fiscally sound. It will not add one dime to the deficit as it expands coverage, implements key insurance reforms, and promotes prevention and wellness across the health system. The bill will expand coverage, including a public option to boost choice and competition in the health insurance reform. [Applause.]

 

“It covers 96 percent of all Americans and it puts affordable coverage in reach for millions of uninsured and underinsured families — lowering health care costs for all of us.

 

“One other very important feature is that it ends discrimination for pre-existing medical conditions. [Applause.] It opens doors to quality medical care to those who were shut out of the system for far too long. And because of the work of our Members and our meetings across the country, we know that prevention and wellness are important part of this legislation and it puts a major new emphasis on preventive care, expands access to screenings and other treatments to keep Americans healthy, and promotes workplace wellness.

 

“The drive for health care reform is moving forward. The Affordable Health Care Act will ensure, again, affordability for the middle-class, security for our seniors, and responsibility to our children.

 

“As we continue to move through the legislative process, it is critical to remember what this means to the American people. Today we will hear stories that serve as our inspiration. We will listen to people whose hopes are our motives for action. Our President has said: ‘Our progress will be measured by the success of America’s families in making progress for themselves.’ And so, these stories are a place that need our attention, will have our action, and we look forward to hearing them.

 

“We are very proud of the work of everyone in our Caucus and all the staff has been extraordinary, the public’s input has been absolutely necessary. But a key player from the start, working with our three chairman, coordinating that effort so that we would arrive at something historic, something that changes the way business is done in Washington D.C. by having these three committees work together and come together with a bill to make significant change for the better for the American people — it simply would not have been possible without the extraordinary leadership of our great Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.”

[Guest ALWAYS RED]

In an appearance on Fox’s On the Record with Greta Van Susteren, Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) outlined the impact of Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) 1,990-page government takeover of health care that costs Americans at least $1.1 trillion. Boehner noted that Speaker Pelosi’s health care bill will raise the cost of health insurance for most American families, kill jobs with new tax increases and new mandates, and cut seniors’ Medicare benefits. Boehner also highlighted the better solutions House Republicans are offering to lower health care costs for seniors, working families, and small businesses. Following are the full video and excerpts from the interview:

 

 

BOEHNER ON SPEAKER PELOSI’S 1,990-PAGE GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTH CARE:

 

“Speaker Pelosi’s 1,990-page bill is going to raise the cost of health insurance for most American families. It’s going to raise the cost of health insurance, new mandates, new taxes. I think it’s just – it’s a monstrosity. And it’s exactly what the American people have been telling the Congress for months that they don’t want. They don’t want government control of their health care, and that’s exactly what this is.”

 

BOEHNER ON HOUSE REPUBLICANS’ BETTER SOLUTIONS TO LOWER COSTS AND INCREASES ACCESS TO QUALITY CARE:

 

“Well, if you look at their plan, it’s not just the so-called public option that’s there to compete with private insurance companies. You know, I used to run a small business. I can compete with people in the private sector, but I could never compete with the government. They have no cost to capital. They write all the rules. They set the premiums. And what’s going to happen is they’re going to drive every private health insurance company out of business.

 

“Republicans have much better ideas, I think, that would take the current system and make it work better. And over the coming days, you’re going to hear an awful lot about the specifics of what we would do to lower the cost of health insurance in America and really do this in a step-by-step gradual process.”

 

BOEHNER ON THE JOB-KILLING TAX HIKES IN SPEAKER PELOSI’S HEALTH CARE BILL:

 

“Well, if you look at the employer mandate – if you’re an employer that has over a $500,000 payroll annually, you either have to provide health insurance under their proposal or you pay an eight percent tax to the federal government. Many employers pay more than eight percent to cover the cost of their employees’ health insurance. Some of them – all of them are going to have to have their plans re-reviewed by the federal government to make sure that they’re, quote, ‘adequate.’

 

“Many employers are just going to give up and they’re going to get rid of their employer-provided health care plans, pay the eight percent tax and let their employees go fend out in the private market or in this so-called government option. But what will happen is we’re raising the cost of employment at a time when unemployment is at near record highs. What we ought to be doing is helping employers bring back employees, get our economy going again. And here we are taxing employment, which means that we’re going to end up with less numbers of employees in America.”

 

BOEHNER ON HOW SPEAKER PELOSI’S HEALTH CARE BILL WILL PILE MORE DEBT ON THE BACKS OF OUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS:

 

“1,990 pages – now, tell me – tell me that this isn’t going to add to the deficit. They have all these estimates that try to predict what’s going to happen over the next 20 years or so with the cost of this plan. But this is the government making these estimates.

 

“You know, I remember when Medicare was passed. I’ve looked at the estimates. The Medicare cost estimate for this year is one thirty-fifth of what it actually is. And so when the federal government gets involved, the American people know what to expect. It’s going to cost a lot more. The federal government is going to end up making more decisions for the American people and get into the relationship between doctors and their patients. This is exactly what the American people are saying no to.”

 

BOEHNER ON THE $500 BILLION IN SENIORS’ MEDICARE CUTS IN SPEAKER PELOSI’S HEALTH BILL:

 

“Well, there are $500 million worth of Medicare cuts over the next 10 years. The most significant change is the $162 billion cut to Medicare Advantage. You know, I’ve got 27,000 Medicare enrollees in my district. And according to the Congressional Budget Office, about 80 percent of them would lose their coverage under this proposal. My seniors love their Medicare Advantage plans. And remember, the President said no one will be forced from the insurance policy they have today. If they like it, they can keep it…that’s not true.”

[Guest Ron]

Any small business with a total annual payroll of over $500,000 that does not meet these requirements will be subject to a new tax, which reaches as high as 8 percent once payroll reaches over $750,000.

[Guest Revlon67]

I think the health care plan should be read by all. It is already online - it is HR 676 and the companion S 703

[Guest Mary Andrus]

I like the idea of doctor's doing house calls. This would reduce preventable hospitalizations and readmission, ER visits and duplication diagnostic tests for high-cost, chronically ill patients.

[Guest FactChecker]

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) today applauded the strong, bipartisan vote to report H.R. 3596, The Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009.

 

"Today’s vote is an important step forward toward opening up health and medical malpractice insurance markets to real competition," said Conyers. "Joined by three of my Republican colleagues, the House Judiciary Committee agreed to bring antitrust enforcement to the two most abusive practices of the health insurance industry - price fixing and market allocation. Although state regulation of this industry is crucial – and is preserved in this bill – it has proved insufficient to prevent these particularly abusive practices. No one on this committee believes that price fixing or carving up markets is a good thing, and the wide, bipartisan support for this bill’s passage reflects this. This measure fixes a mistake sitting on the federal statutes for over sixty years, making an important contribution to the health reform efforts underway in both houses of Congress."

 

H.R. 3596, The Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009 passed by recorded vote with a bipartisan margin of 20-9.

 

The health industry’s antitrust exemption is very limited to allow state regulation of the industry to stay in place. This was a concession to the states, not to the industry, which would prefer consistent rules nationwide.

[Guest No Money]

What bone heads exempted health insurers from antitrust law in the first place?

[Guest Max Henderson]

I would like to know. Health insurance companies want anti-trust exemptions yet fear monopolies like Medicare and Robust Public option. Go figure.

[Guest xethtoon]

How To Tell You Need Health Care Reform

 

[Luke_Wilbur]

Enrollee Premium and Average. Cost Sharing.

 

SFC_Subsidies_Penalties_10-09.pdf