Posted on 08/18/2009 9:51:24 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
WASHINGTON -- The gutsy admonition that "failure is not an option" has turned into the "failed public option" in President Obama's trouble-plagued, government-run health care plan.
The idea of the federal government operating another health-insurance business to compete with Blue Cross/Blue Shield and hundreds of other private plans has crashed and burned -- the victim of a massive grassroots protest movement and deepening fears and divisions among Democratic lawmakers.
The White House gave Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius the go-ahead Sunday to suggest that the administration was not necessarily wedded to a government health-insurance plan for millions of uninsured Americans. But in a bit of good-cop/bad-cop playacting, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs insisted Monday that the president was still behind a government plan and that the news media had misinterpreted her remarks. Other West Wing officials said his positions had not changed, though they left him some wiggle room.
"The goals are choice and competition. His preference is a public option. If there are other ideas, he's happy to look at them," Gibbs said. But the Democratic Party's dominant left wing smelled a hasty retreat from the ideological core of Obama's nationalized health care plan. The party was fully at war with itself, and action on health care, this year at least, appeared to be a much shakier prospect.
Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota, a leader in the health care debate who is pushing state and regional insurance co-operatives, pounded another nail in the public option's coffin Sunday, declaring that Democrats did not have the votes for it in the Senate.
Party liberals who have been among Obama's strongest supporters were furious, blaming the White House for a botched, weak-kneed strategy and -- worse -- betrayal of a solemn campaign promise to millions of voters.
"I wonder if the White House truly understands the depth of anger they'll face from the progressive side if they fail to pass health care reform with a strong public option," screamed Markos Moulitsas, founder of the radical Daily Kos Web site that has become the bible of the left's ground forces.
"We haven't busted our [expletive] the last four years to pass bank bailouts and give insurance companies everything they ever wanted. If we wanted that, we'd be Republicans," Kos wrote Monday. If Democrats "can't do the right thing here," he warned, he would lead a revolt "to rid ourselves of the corporatist hacks that infest our party."
Former Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean's Democracy for America, a liberal grassroots group, sent an e-mail to its supporters saying that "a health care bill without a public option is DOA in the House. Period." Despite denials of a changed position, the White House has seen the handwriting on the wall, tacitly acknowledging that they were losing public support at the grassroots level because of the fierce opposition at hundreds of town-hall gatherings during Congress' month-long August recess.
A Rasmussen poll for the first time in two years finds that voters give Republicans a slight edge over the Democrats on the health care issue. A USA Today/Gallup Poll reports that independents are now siding with the town-hall protesters by two to one. Another Gallup Poll says more Americans disapprove of Obama's health care plan by 49 percent to 43 percent.
Reports coming in from the town-hall meetings also reveal deep doubts in the electorate about the government's ability to run responsibly any kind of business, let alone health care. Web sites and the blogosphere were peppered this week with repeated references to the government's most notorious business failures: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Amtrak, the post office and, most disturbing of all, the Medicare program itself, which faces trillions of dollars in unfunded liabilities.
Another complaint being voiced by many Americans questioned the White House's decision to focus on a government takeover of the health care industry when the economy remained in shambles and was a much higher priority. Unemployment, home foreclosures and bankruptcies continued to rise as consumer confidence plunged and economists were forecasting a long and weak recovery period. New polls showed that confidence in Obama's economic policies has collapsed.
This week, a USA Today/Gallup Poll reported that 57 percent of those surveyed said the administration's $787 billion spending stimulus plan was either having no effect on the economy or was making things worse. Sixty percent voiced doubts it would have any impact next year or beyond. Nearly seven months into Obama's presidency, the wheels seem to be coming off his agenda. The energy tax plan is stalled in the Senate. Health care has turned into a Democratic battleground. Public confidence in his economic-stimulus plan is evaporating.
In each of these initiatives, the common denominators are more spending, deeper debt and increased taxes. At a time when the American people are tightening their belts, Fat City is getting fatter than ever.
“The wheels off the bus go round and round...”
By the way, where is Biden?
“TownDownFalls” are for the good.
I’d like to see both Pres and Veep who have been governors. Enough legislators who cannot administrate their way out of a paper bag.
This is good news, but Obama could still do irreparable harm in the meantime, so we need to keep contacting our reps., and fighting in every way we can to stop socialism.
I really doubt that Obama or his supporters have any idea of the grass roots activism springing up against him and his policies. It will become apparent though - even the MSM can’t disguise it forever...
It is a good time to be alive - and fighting for the Constitution. Sometimes it is not all that clear, but sometimes when those that come into power push their leftist agenda too hard, even those that are usually asleep at the voter’s booth finally wake up.
Long live AMERICAN voters! They will always prevail!
The Dem agenda is REVOLUTIONARY and designed to not allow reversal. Paying no attention to the public, they will push ahead with all the force they can muster. For them, as with Alinsky and the last line of H. Clintons’ thesis...”There is only the fight.” Force is what the Dems are ALL about..unAmericanism is their manifest destiny, and they believe in it....fanatically. Will a significant number of Dems revolt against unAmericanism? Doubtful.
Rush Limbaugh is callinng the recent “ No Public Option” a “head fake.”
And Rush is right.
Read whats in the Bill and you will see:
http://www.classicalideals.com/HR3200.htm
The Health Care Bill: What HR 3200, ‘‘America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009,” Says
John David Lewis
August 6, 2009
What does the bill, HR 3200, short-titled ‘‘America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009,” actually say about major health care issues? I here pose a few questions in no particular order, citing relevant passages and offering a brief evaluation after each set of passages.
This bill is 1017 pages long. It is knee-deep in legalese and references to other federal regulations and laws. I have only touched pieces of the bill here. For instance, I have not considered the establishment of (1) “Health Choices Commissio0ner” (Section 141); (2) a “Health Insurance Exchange,” (Section 201), basically a government run insurance scheme to coordinate all insurance activity; (3) a Public Health Insurance Option (Section 221); and similar provisions.
This is the evaluation of someone who is neither a physician nor a legal professional. I am citizen, concerned about this bill’s effects on my freedom as an American. I would rather have used my time in other ways—but this is too important to ignore.
We may answer one question up front: How will the government will pay for all this? Higher taxes, more borrowing, printing money, cutting payments, or rationing services—there are no other options. We will all pay for this, enrolled in the government “option” or not.
(All bold type within the text of the bill is added for emphasis.)
1. 1. WILL THE PLAN RATION MEDICAL CARE?
This is what the bill says, pages 284-288, SEC. 1151. REDUCING POTENTIALLY PREVENTABLE HOSPITAL READMISSIONS:
‘(ii) EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN READMISSIONS.—For purposes of clause (i), with respect to a hospital, excess readmissions shall not include readmissions for an applicable condition for which there are fewer than a minimum number (as determined by the Secretary) of discharges for such applicable condition for the applicable period and such hospital.
and, under “Definitions”:
‘‘(A) APPLICABLE CONDITION.—The term ‘applicable condition’ means, subject to subparagraph (B), a condition or procedure selected by the Secretary . . .
and:
‘‘(E) READMISSION.—The term ‘readmission’ means, in the case of an individual who is discharged from an applicable hospital, the admission of the individual to the same or another applicable hospital within a time period specified by the Secretary from the date of such discharge.
and:
‘‘(6) LIMITATIONS ON REVIEW.—There shall be no administrative or judicial review under section 1869, section 1878, or otherwise of— . . .
‘‘(C) the measures of readmissions . . .
EVALUATION OF THE PASSAGES:
1. This section amends the Social Security Act
2. The government has the power to determine what constitutes an “applicable [medical] condition.”
3. The government has the power to determine who is allowed readmission into a hospital.
4. This determination will be made by statistics: when enough people have been discharged for the same condition, an individual may be readmitted.
5. This is government rationing, pure, simple, and straight up.
6. There can be no judicial review of decisions made here. The Secretary is above the courts.
7. The plan also allows the government to prohibit hospitals from expanding without federal permission: page 317-318.
2. Will the plan punish Americans who try to opt out?
What the bill says, pages 167-168, section 401, TAX ON INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT ACCEPTABLE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE:
‘‘(a) TAX IMPOSED.—In the case of any individual who does not meet the requirements of subsection (d) at any time during the taxable year, there is hereby imposed a tax equal to 2.5 percent of the excess of—
(1) the taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income for the taxable year, over
(2) the amount of gross income specified in section 6012(a)(1) with respect to the taxpayer. . . .”
EVALUATION OF THE PASSAGE:
1. This section amends the Internal Revenue Code.
2. Anyone caught without acceptable coverage and not in the government plan will pay a special tax.
3. The IRS will be a major enforcement mechanism for the plan.
3. what constitutes “acceptable” coverage?
Here is what the bill says, pages 26-30, SEC. 122, ESSENTIAL BENEFITS PACKAGE DEFINED:
(a) IN GENERAL.—In this division, the term ‘‘essential benefits package’’ means health benefits coverage, consistent with standards adopted under section 124 to ensure the provision of quality health care and financial security . . .
(b) MINIMUM SERVICES TO BE COVERED.—The items and services described in this subsection are the following:
(1) Hospitalization.
(2) Outpatient hospital and outpatient clinic services . . .
(3) Professional services of physicians and other health professionals.
(4) Such services, equipment, and supplies incident to the services of a physician’s or a health professional’s delivery of care . . .
(5) Prescription drugs.
(6) Rehabilitative and habilitative services.
(7) Mental health and substance use disorder services.
(8) Preventive services . . .
(9) Maternity care.
(10) Well baby and well child care . . .
(c) REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO COST-SHARING AND MINIMUM ACTUARIAL VALUE . . .
(3) MINIMUM ACTUARIAL VALUE.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The cost-sharing under the essential benefits package shall be designed to provide a level of coverage that is designed to provide benefits that are actuarially equivalent to approximately 70 percent of the full actuarial value of the benefits provided under the reference benefits package described in subparagraph (B).
EVALUATION OF THE PASSAGES:
1. The bill defines “acceptable coverage” and leaves no room for choice in this regard.
2. By setting a minimum 70% actuarial value of benefits, the bill makes health plans in which individuals pay for routine services, but carry insurance only for catastrophic events, (such as Health Savings Accounts) illegal.
4. Will the PLAN destroy private health insurance?
Here is what it requires, for businesses with payrolls greater than $400,000 per year. (The bill uses “contribution” to refer to mandatory payments to the government plan.) Pages 149-150, SEC. 313, EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS IN LIEU OF COVERAGE
(a) IN GENERAL.—A contribution is made in accordance with this section with respect to an employee if such contribution is equal to an amount equal to 8 percent of the average wages paid by the employer during the period of enrollment (determined by taking into account all employees of the employer and in such manner as the Commissioner provides, including rules providing for the appropriate aggregation of related employers). Any such contribution—
(1) shall be paid to the Health Choices Commissioner for deposit into the Health Insurance Exchange Trust Fund, and
(2) shall not be applied against the premium of the employee under the Exchange-participating health benefits plan in which the employee is enrolled.
(The bill then includes a sliding scale of payments for business with less than $400,000 in annual payroll.)
The Bill also reserves, for the government, the power to determine an acceptable benefits plan: page 24, SEC. 115. ENSURING ADEQUACY OF PROVIDER NETWORKS.
5 (a) IN GENERAL.—A qualified health benefits plan that uses a provider network for items and services shall meet such standards respecting provider networks as the Commissioner may establish to assure the adequacy of such networks in ensuring enrollee access to such items and services and transparency in the cost-sharing differentials between in-network coverage and out-of-network coverage.
EVALUATION OF THE PASSAGES:
1. The bill does not prohibit a person from buying private insurance.
2. Small businesses—with say 8-10 employees—will either have to provide insurance to federal standards, or pay an 8% payroll tax. Business costs for health care are higher than this, especially considering administrative costs. Any competitive business that tries to stay with a private plan will face a payroll disadvantage against competitors who go with the government “option.”
3. The pressure for business owners to terminate the private plans will be enormous.
4. With employers ending plans, millions of Americans will lose their private coverage, and fewer companies will offer it.
5. The Commissioner (meaning, always, the bureaucrats) will determine whether a particular network of physicians, hospitals and insurance is acceptable.
6. With private insurance starved, many people enrolled in the government “option” will have no place else to go.
5. Does the plan TAX successful Americans more THAN OTHERS?
Here is what the bill says, pages 197-198, SEC. 441. SURCHARGE ON HIGH INCOME INDIVIDUALS
‘‘SEC. 59C. SURCHARGE ON HIGH INCOME INDIVIDUALS.
‘‘(a) GENERAL RULE.—In the case of a taxpayer other than a corporation, there is hereby imposed (in addition to any other tax imposed by this subtitle) a tax equal to—
‘‘(1) 1 percent of so much of the modified adjusted gross income of the taxpayer as exceeds $350,000 but does not exceed $500,000,
‘‘(2) 1.5 percent of so much of the modified adjusted gross income of the taxpayer as exceeds $500,000 but does not exceed $1,000,000, and
‘‘(3) 5.4 percent of so much of the modified adjusted gross income of the taxpayer as exceeds $1,000,000.
EVALUATION OF THE PASSAGE:
1. This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code.
2. Tax surcharges are levied on those with the highest incomes.
3. The plan manipulates the tax code to redistribute their wealth.
4. Successful business owners will bear the highest cost of this plan.
6. 6. Does THE PLAN ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT TO set FEES FOR SERVICES?
What it says, page 124, Sec. 223, PAYMENT RATES FOR ITEMS AND SERVICES:
(d) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed as limiting the Secretary’s authority to correct for payments that are excessive or deficient, taking into account the provisions of section 221(a) and the amounts paid for similar health care providers and services under other Exchange-participating health benefits plans.
(e) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed as affecting the authority of the Secretary to establish payment rates, including payments to provide for the more efficient delivery of services, such as the initiatives provided for under section 224.
EVALUATION OF THE PASSAGES:
The government’s authority to set payments is basically unlimited.
The official will decide what constitutes “excessive,” “deficient,” and “efficient” payments and services.
7. Will THE PLAN increase the power of government officials to SCRUTINIZE our private affairs?
What it says, pages 195-196, SEC. 431. DISCLOSURES TO CARRY OUT HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE SUBSIDIES.
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, upon written request from the Health Choices Commissioner or the head of a State-based health insurance exchange approved for operation under section 208 of the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, shall disclose to officers and employees of the Health Choices Administration or such State-based health insurance exchange, as the case may be, return information of any taxpayer whose income is relevant in determining any affordability credit described in subtitle C of title II of the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009. Such return information shall be limited to—
‘‘(i) taxpayer identity information with respect to such taxpayer,
‘‘(ii) the filing status of such taxpayer,
‘‘(iii) the modified adjusted gross income of such taxpayer (as defined in section 59B(e)(5)),
‘‘(iv) the number of dependents of the taxpayer,
‘‘(v) such other information as is prescribed by the Secretary by regulation as might indicate whether the taxpayer is eligible for such affordability credits (and the amount thereof), and
‘‘(vi) the taxable year with respect to which the preceding information relates or, if applicable, the fact that such information is not available.
And, page 145, section 312, EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS EMPLOYEE AND DEPENDENT COVERAGE:
(3) PROVISION OF INFORMATION.—The employer provides the Health Choices Commissioner, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary of the Treasury, as applicable, with such information as the Commissioner may require to ascertain compliance with the requirements of this section.
EVALUATION OF THE PASSAGE:
1. This section amends the Internal Revenue Code
2. The bill opens up income tax return information to federal officials.
3. Any stated “limits” to such information are circumvented by item (v), which allows federal officials to decide what information is needed.
4. Employers are required to report whatever information the government says it needs to enforce the plan.
8. 8. Does the plan automatically enroll Americans in the GOVERNMENT plan?
What it says, page 102, Section 205, Outreach and enrollment of Exchange-eligible individuals and employers in Exchange-participating health benefits plan:
(3) AUTOMATIC ENROLLMENT OF MEDICAID ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS INTO MEDICAID.—The Commissioner shall provide for a process under which an individual who is described in section 202(d)(3) and has not elected to enroll in an Exchange-participating health benefits plan is automatically enrolled under Medicaid.
And, page 145, section 312:
(4) AUTOENROLLMENT OF EMPLOYEES.—The employer provides for autoenrollment of the employee in accordance with subsection (c).
EVALUATION OF THE PASSAGES:
1. Do nothing and you are in.
2. Employers are responsible for automatically enrolling people who still work.
9. 9. Does THE PLAN exempt federal OFFICIALS from COURT REVIEW?
What it says, page 124, Section 223, PAYMENT RATES FOR ITEMS AND SERVICES:
(f) LIMITATIONS ON REVIEW.—There shall be no administrative or judicial review of a payment rate or methodology established under this section or under section 224.
And, page 256, SEC. 1123. PAYMENTS FOR EFFICIENT AREAS.
‘‘(C) LIMITATION ON REVIEW.—There shall be no administrative or judicial review under section 1869, 1878, or otherwise, respecting—
‘‘(i) the identification of a county or other area under subparagraph (A); or
‘‘(ii) the assignment of a postal ZIP Code to a county or other area under subparagraph (B).
EVALUATION OF THE PASSAGES:
1. Sec. 1123 amends the Social Security Act, to allow the Secretary to identify areas of the country that underutilize the government’s plan “based on per capita spending.”
2. Parts of the plan are set above the review of the courts.
He’s in that secret “Special Room” beneath the VP’s home at the National Observator that no one knows about. The key to the door was “lost” about two weeks ago. See’ya Joe in the Fall of 2012!
In an undisclosed location. Its so undisclosed, Biden doesn't even know where he is.
The PUMAs are Democrats, and many have led in the fight against “The Won” in health care and the birth certificate/nbc issue. Some had their eyes opened when BHO used misogynistic Alinsky and Chicago Way tactics against Hillary and many saw that he was a puppet of dark forces. President Reagan had millions of Democrat supporters and I predict that Governor Palin will too, if she runs in 2012.
If Barry doesn’t lighten up on his agenda soon, I see another revolution or civil war in our future.
Is this how a U.S. President is supposed to do his job? I don’t see this kind of thing in his job description.
—Technical Editor
-—— Original Message -——
From: David Plouffe, BarackObama.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 5:47 PM
Subject: Thursday: Strategy meeting with the President
Friend —
President Obama is holding a live strategy meeting on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.
Eastern Time for all Organizing for America supporters. I hope you can join us, online or by phone.
The President will update us on the fight to pass real health insurance reform — what’s happening in D.C. and what’s happening around the country.
He’ll lay out our strategy and message going forward and answer questions from supporters like you. And we’ll unveil the next actions we’ll organize together.
This is a critical time in this President’s administration, and in the history of our country. I hope you can join us.
Here are the details:
What: Organizing for America National Health Care Forum
When: Thursday, August 20th, 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time
RSVP and submit a question for the President.
The President wrote to us a few weeks ago to ask us to go the extra mile this month in the fight for health insurance reform. And so far, you’ve stepped up in a big way: Last week, an astounding 60,000 Organizing for America volunteers stopped by representatives’ and senators’ local offices.
You told your health care stories to staffers and members of Congress — of losing insurance after getting laid off, of being denied coverage upon finding out about a serious illness. And you thanked those supporting real health insurance reform for all the work they’ve done so far.
But these local office visits were only part of the story. The D.C. media has been trumpeting coverage of town halls disrupted by angry opposition to reform. But the reality on the ground is very different. Organizing for America supporters are showing up in huge numbers at these meetings all across the country — outnumbering opponents of reform, often by overwhelming margins.
You’ve organized 11,906 local events in all 50 states — from press conferences to community discussions — since we launched our big campaign for reform in June. And you’ve made hundreds of thousands of calls to Congress.
Your work so far has been incredible. But the special interests and partisan attack groups who oppose reform will not let up, and they will tell whatever lies they can to spread fear. There’s a lot more work for all of us to do.
This Thursday’s meeting is our chance to huddle as a team, get the latest information and talk about how we’re going to achieve this victory. You don’t want to miss it.
Click here to RSVP and submit a question for President Obama:
http://my.barackobama.com/forum
Hope you can make it,
David Plouffe
Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee — 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
To unsubscribe, go to: http://my.barackobama.com/unsubscribe
Hey Markos Moulitsas: go coitus yourself on top of a flagpole.
Give a PUMA a dish of Kool-Aid, and its eyes will glaze over and it will follow its master everywhere.
".....More on Sen. Jim DeMint’s “Waterloo” statement in regards to ObamaCare:
From conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh, July 22, 2009 transcript:
Obama on Edge as Magic Fades; DeMint Hits Nerve with “Waterloo”
".....I know these kind of people, folks. I’ve worked for them; I’ve been fired by them. They’ve never been criticized, never laughed at, never teased. Remember, Maureen Dowd made some comment about his elephant ears during the campaign, and he walked down off the stage and confronted her. He said, “I’m very, very sensitive about my ears,” and she said, “We’re just trying to toughen you up!” So I guarantee you there’s instability over there in the White House. They’ve been coming unhinged because the magic that got him elected is gone.
Can you imagine, folks…? Imagine if they’d have done health care first instead of Porkulus. They’d have gotten it. They would.
Nobody would dare stop the first thing he was going to do. He was in his honeymoon, the first black president, historical and all that.
He was going to get that. He got that stimulus in two weeks.
We better thank our lucky stars - I never thought I would say this, - but we better thank our lucky stars that they did stimulus first. ‘Cause if they had done this first, it would be signed into law already. He woulda gotten it.
I’ll bet Rahm Emanuel is kicking himself and the furniture, stabbing steaks with a knife and sending dead fish to himself because he’s all upset about the strategical blunder.
Now they started with Porkulus and it ain’t working! It’s not doing anything for anybody, and the poll numbers are plummeting. And because of that, the health care problem’s in big trouble.
Nothing this administration has done has fixed anything, and each and every day, there’s a greater realization of that fact by more and more people…"
Complete transcript: HERE
Did the Axelrod break?
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