A Detailed examination of Health Care Reform myths - with references

Special Thanks to Ron Myles for compiling this list...

PG 22 of the HC Bill mandates the Govt will audit books of all employers that self insure.

The government(Federal and State) already has the authority to audit any and all books of any employer paying into any tax fund.) The bill does not mandate blanket audits, it expands the currently existing authority.

PG 30 Sec 123 of HC bill - There will be a Government Committee that decides what treatments/benefits you receive.

(For exceptional cases, a panel of BOARD CERTIFIED PHYSICIANS will make recommendations for treatment. The FINAL decision will rest with the patient and patient family and the attending physician(s).)

PG 29 lines 4-16 in the HC bill - Your HealthCare is Rationed. You can only receive a certain amount of "care" per year.

(There is no limit to the amount of coverage that you will receive under the proposed health care plan, however to prevent fraud and abuse, multiple claims for the same treatment will be monitored and require explanation. This is currently done with ALL HEALTHCARE insurance systems.)

PG 42 of HC Bill - The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your HC Benefits for you. You have no choice.

(Applicants will be given a series of health care providers to chose from. Those health care plans approved for use will have been evaluated as meeting the greatest needs of the public at the most effective cost.)

PG 50 Section 152 in HC bill - HC will be provided to ALL non US residents, illegal or otherwise

(CURRENTLY, a medical facility can NOT refuse emergency treatment to anyone and currently those individuals being treated do not have to provide identification to prove citizenship. The proposed plan will provide the treatment, BUT the proper authorities will be notified of the individual if they are in an illegal status.)

PG 58HC Bill - Govt will have real-time access to individuals finances & a National ID Health Card will be issued.

(There are no provisions in the proposed bill that proposes for the government to have "real-time" access to anyone's finances and there is no current technology that would provide that capabilities to the government. The proposed bill does provide for a National Health Care ID card, similar to CURRENT national health care cards for BC/BS, Aetna, CompuCare, etc.)

PG 59 HC Bill lines 21-24 Govt will have direct access to your banks accts for funds transfer.

(There are no provisions for the government to have direct access to anyone's bank account.)

PG 72 Lines 8-14 Govt is creating an HC Exchange to bring private HealthCare plans under Government control.

(The proposed plan will establish standards and regulations, for medical care provided to the American people, under which all health care provides will be required to conform. Those health care providers who chose not to conform will simply not be on the government provided list available to the American people.)

PG 84 Sec 203 HC bill - Govt mandates ALL benefit packages for private HealthCare plans in the Exchange

(This is not true. Private health care plans can operate, but they will not receive government funds. They will receive payments for EMERGENCY treatment provided to those covered under the government plan. This is a current practice of all PRIVATE health care plans)

PG 85 Line 7 HC Bill - Specifies Benefit Levels for Plans = The Govt will ration your Healthcare.

(Again NOT TRUE SEE ABOVE Pg 29 lines 4-16 in the HC )

PG 91 Lines 4-7 HC Bill - Govt mandates linguistic appropriate services...... Example - Translation for illegal aliens

(This will provide, but not mandate, that efforts will be made to provide interpreters for non-English speaking patients to improve diagnostics of patient complaints. This is currently a practice of all HIGH quality hospitals and major medical facilities)

PG 95 HC Bill Lines 8-18 The Govt will use groups i.e., ACORN & Americorps to sign up individually for Govt HealthCare plan

(The government may use what ever resources available to get the major task of enrollment done. The significance of ACORN or Americorps, or any other contracted service group, is not relevant, what is important is getting the job done expediently.)

PG 85 Line 7 HC Bill - Specs of Benefit Levels for Plans. #AARP members - your Health care WILL be rationed

(AGAIN NOT TRUE SEE ABOVE Pg 29 . And one note AARP does not provide health care or any insurance directly. It uses Hartford and other insurance company.)

PG 102 Lines 12-18 HC Bill - Medicaid Eligible Indiv. will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. No choice.

(This is a much needed service. Many qualified individuals are not aware of Medicaid part B, which would relieve them of the burdensome cost of prescription drugs. Individuals would have the choice of rather they use this service or not. This would be an excellent service to the American people.)

PG 124 lines 24-25 HC No company can sue GOVT on price fixing. No "judicial review" against Govt monopoly.

(That is the way health care should be. "PRICE FIXING" is a term intended to mislead people. TVA (True Value Assessment) is the payment offered for services that is based on a fair cost and reasonable profit determined by actual value assessment. Once established the payment is FIXED and may not be exceeded except for extenuating circumstances.)

PG 127 Lines 1-16 HC Bill - Doctors/ #AMA - The Govt will tell you what you can make.

(THIS IS NOT TRUE -- The Government will tell you WHAT THEY WILL PAY FOR YOUR SERVICES)

PG 145 Line 15-17 An Employer MUST auto enroll employees into public option plan.

(True: As a payroll deduction. Just like income taxes, etc. Prevents the employee from having to deal with it.)

PG 126 Lines 22-25 Employers MUST pay for HC for part time employees AND their families.

(TRUE Just as they currently have to pay for workman's comp for part time employees.)

PG 149 Lines 16-24 ANY Employer with a payroll 400k & above who does not prov. public option, pays 8% tax on all payroll

(And?)

PG 150 Lines 9-13 Businesses with payroll between 251k & 400k that don't prov. pub. opt pay 2-6% tax on all payroll

(And?)

PG 167 Lines 18-23 ANY individual who doesn't have acceptable HealthCare according to the Govt will be taxed 2.5%

(True and they will be covered on the government plan. Every American citizen will be covered with quality Health Care))

PG 170 Lines 1-3 HC Bill, Any Nonresident Alien is exempt from individual taxes; American taxpayers will pay for them

(This is the CURRENT policy)

PG 195 HC Bill -officers & employees of HC Admin (GOVT) will have access to ALL Americans financial/personal records

(THIS IS NOT TRUE. There is no current technology that would provide that capabilities to the government.)

PG 203 Line 14-15 HC - "The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax"

(It will be treated as an entitlement fund, similar to Social Security)

PG 239 Line 14-24 HC Bill, Govt will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income, poor will be very affected

(NOT TRUE: The government will more closely monitor the payments made and take corrective action if and when required.)

PG 241 Line 6-8 HC Bill - Doctors, regardless of specialty, will all be paid the same

(NOT TRUE AT ALL. Payments will be made bases on level of difficulty, i.e. specialty, and other factors. Additional payment will be made based on extended expertise. THE SAME AS CURRENT PAY FOR: Public Health Service doctors.)

PG 253 Line 10-18 Govt sets value of Dr's time, professional judgments, etc.

(NOT TRUE. Participating doctors will be paid based on TVA. TVA (True Value Assessment) is the payment offered for services that is based on a fair cost and reasonable profit determined by actual value assessment. Once established the payment is FIXED and may not be exceeded except for extenuating circumstances.)

PG 265 Sec 1131, Govt mandates & controls productivity for private HC industries

(THIS STATEMENT IS INTENDED TO MISLEAD OR DECEIVE. What productivity does the health care industry provide?) The health care industries provide a SERVICE not a product.

PG 268 Sec 1141 Fed Govt regulates rental & purchase of power driven wheelchairs

(GOOD)

PG 280 Sec 1151 The Govt will penalize hospitals for what Govt deems preventable re-admissions.

(THIS IS TRUE, and it will reduce the hospital's overall malpractice insurance cost. And reduce the huge costs of law suites against doctors and health care providing facilities.)

PG 317 L 13-20 PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. Govt tells Drs. what/how much they can own.

(THIS IS A HUGE LIE The proposal would regulate self-serving investments of PARTICIPATING physicians.) (A doctor who treats LUNG CANCER should not own stock in a tobacco company.)

PG 317-318 lines 21-25,1-3 PROHIBITION on expansion- Govt is mandating hospitals cannot expand

(THIS IS NOT TRUE)

PG 321 2-13 Hospitals have opportunity to apply for exception BUT community input required.

(True and this should be the case. The people should have a say.)

PG 335 L 16-25 Pg 336-339 - Govt mandates establishments of outcome based measures.. Rationing

(NOT TRUE AS STATED.)

PG 341 Lines 3-9 Govt has authority to disqualify Medicare Adv Plans, HMOs, etc. Forcing all into Govt HC plan

(NO medical facility will be FORCED into participating, but once accepted they will have to conform to regulations. If they do not, they can be put on an improvement plan or expelled from the participating program.)

PG 354 Sec 1177 - Govt will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs

(NOT TRUE)

PG 379 Sec 1191 Govt creates Telehealth Advisory Committee. HealthCare by phone

(Currently BC/BS, Aetna, and other HC plans have such a service. It is a GOOD service.)

PG 425 Lines 17-19 Govt will instruct & consult regarding living wills, durable powers of atty.

(The Government will provide payment and reimbursement for end of life consultations)

PG 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3 Govt provides apprvd list of end of life resources, guiding you in death

(TRUE. A list of APPROVED participants in the Public Health Care Program)

PG 427 Lines 15-24 Govt mandates program for orders for end of life. The Govt has a say in how your life ends.

(NOT TRUE. Government payments may be suspended if there is no indication by BOARD CERTIFIED PHYSICIANS that the dying patient can be expected to recover.)

PG 429 Lines 10-12 "advanced care consultations" may include an ORDER for end of life plans.

(NOT TRUE. Government payments may be suspended if there is no indication by BOARD CERTIFIED PHYSICIANS that the dying patient can be expected to recover.)

PG 429 Lines 13-25 - The govt will specify which Doctors can write an end of life order.

(NOT TRUE. Government payments may be suspended if there is no indication by BOARD CERTIFIED PHYSICIANS that the dying patient can be expected to recover.)

PG 430 Lines 11-15 The Govt will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life

(NOT TRUE. Government payments may be suspended if there is no indication by BOARD CERTIFIED PHYSICIANS that the dying patient can be expected to recover.)