Use this to debunk lies about healthcare bill.......

I posted this late Saturday night but was asked by commenters to re-post today, since who reads stuff at midnight!

I received one of those chain emails with an amazing list of distortions about the House health reform bill. So I responded to the long list of people to whom it was sent (and it's really burning up the internet apparently) with my own rebuttal to their pretty wild charges. I read every charge, read the actual language in the bill, and attempted to answer the charges in simple terms that people who don't usually think about insurance or policy could understand. We can't stop this type of craziness but we need to be able to respond adequately. Turns out that politifact.org had already done some of this work, as well as electronicmaji on Daily Kos (who is posting a little bit every day with more analysis, bless his heart), so there's a good amount of pushback to these lies.

My comments are listed below under the numbered charges. I apologize for the caps. I wanted to differentiate my response from the original charge.

A version of this post is cross posted at Huffington Post - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...

Obamagrandma's diary :: :: The page numbers are from House Bill 3200 the Affordable Health Care Choices Act. http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/... although obviously when the three House bills are combined, the legislation will change.

1, Page 22 - MANDATES the Government will audit books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self insure.

NO, ACTUALLY THE LANGUAGE SAYS THAT A STUDY SHOULD BE COMMISSIONED TO DETERMINE -- IN GENERAL -- HOW MANY EMPLOYERS ARE SELF-FUNDING THEIR BENEFITS AND MIGHT WANT TO SHIFT THEIR EMPLOYEES TO THE HEALTH EXCHANGE. NOTHING IN THERE ABOUT AUDITING THE BOOKS.

2.Page 30 Section 123 - There will be a Government COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.

NOT EXACTLY. AN INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE WILL RECOMMEND THE BENEFITS TO BE OFFERED, JUST LIKE WHAT YOUR EMPLOYER DOES NOW OR YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY -- THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES TO BUY MORE EXPENSIVE OR COMPREHENSIVE PLANS BUT IT WILL BE YOUR CHOICE. FOR HEALTH PLANS THAT OFFER BENEFITS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO BUY THEIR INSURANCE THROUGH THE EXCHANGE, JUST LIKE WITH MEDICARE SUPPLEMENTS NOW, THERE WILL BE A COMMON PACKAGE OF BENEFITS OFFERED SO PEOPLE CAN COMPARE THEIR CHOICES.

3.Page 29 lines 4-16 - Your Health Care is RATIONED.

WOW. NOT AT ALL! THE LANGUAGE IN THIS SECTION DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT RATIONING. IT SAYS THAT YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY MORE THAN A SET AMOUNT EACH YEAR FOR YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE. RIGHT NOW YOU ALL HAVE MAXIMUM AMOUNTS THAT YOUR INSURANCE WILL PAY ANNUALLY AND THEN YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN. THE NEW LAW WILL PROTECT YOU FROM HAVING TO PAY MORE THAN SET AMOUNTS. YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY!!

4.Page 42 - The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your Health Care Benefits for you. You have no choice.

AGAIN. NOT QUITE TRUE. THERE WILL BE CHOICES OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF PLANS YOU CAN BUY. RIGHT NOW IF YOU ARE EMPLOYED YOUR EMPLOYER CHOOSES FOR YOU. IN THE EXCHANGE, ALL KINDS OF PLANS WILL BE OFFERED FOR YOU TO CHOOSE. OF COURSE YOU CAN'T INDIVIDUALLY CHOOSE WHICH BENEFITS YOU WANT AND WHICH YOU DO NOT. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN DO NOW ANYWAY!

5.Page 50 Section 152 - Health Care will be provided to ALL non US citizens, illegal or otherwise.

THERE IS NOTHING ON PAGE 50 OR SECTION 152 ABOUT ILLEGALS. ILLEGALS WILL NOT BE COVERED. THIS SECTION PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THEIR RELIGION OR GENDER OR ANYTHING ELSE.

6.Page 58 - Government will have real-time access to individual's finances and a National ID Health Card will be issued.

NO. IT SAYS THAT THE HEALTH PLANS IN THE EXCHANGE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DETERMINE YOUR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY BEFORE THEY ISSUE YOU AN INSURANCE PLAN. YOU ALREADY HAVE ID CARDS IF YOU HAVE PRIVATE INSURANCE NOW OR EVEN MEDICARE. AND YOU CAN'T GET HEALTH INSURANCE NOW UNLESS YOU CAN PAY FOR IT. THIS IS NO DIFFERENT. IT'S NOT THE GOVERNMENT BUT THE PRIVATE INSURANCE PLANS THAT WILL REQUIRE THIS INFORMATION. SEE POLITIFACT.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS. - http://politifact.com/...

7.Page 59 lines 21-24 - Government will have direct access to your bank accounts for electrical funds transfers.

NOT THE GOVERNMENT. AGAIN. YOU WILL HAVE TO APPROVE AN ELECTRONIC (NOT ELECTRICAL!) FUND TRANSFER IF YOU WANT TO PAY YOUR PREMIUMS THAT WAY.IT WILL BE THE PRIVATE INSURERS WHO PROCESS THIS, LIKE BLUE CROSS, AETNA, ETC. HOW DO YOU DO IT NOW?

8.Page 65 Section 164 - A payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in Unions & community organizations (ACORN).

NO. THIS IS A PROGRAM WHERE THE GOVERNMENT WILL HELP EMPLOYERS WHO PROVIDE RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TO PAY FOR THOSE BENEFITS IF THEY EXCEED A CERTAIN AMOUNT. IT'S A REINSURANCE PLAN THAT LARGE EMPLOYERS REALLY LIKE BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THEM TO CONTINUE GIVING THEIR EMPLOYEES RETIREE BENEFITS WHEN THEY RETIRE BUT NOT BREAK THE PRIVATE EMPLOYER'S BANK. UNIONS OPERATE HEALTH PLANS JUST LIKE PRIVATE EMPLOYERS SO OF COURSE THEY ARE INCLUDED. NOTHING SAID ABOUT ACORN HERE.

9.Page 72 Lines 8-14 - Government is creating an Health Care Exchange to bring private health care plans under Government control.

GOVERNMENT WILL HELP TO REGULATE THE EXCESSIVE ACTIONS OF PRIVATE INSURERS WHEN THEY DENY YOU COVERAGE BECAUSE OF A PREEXISTING CONDITION OR BECAUSE YOU WERE SICK ONCE THEY CHARGE YOU A LOT MORE. THE EXCHANGE IS A WAY TO KEEP OUR PRIVATE INSURANCE SYSTEM WORKING, BUT NOT ALLOW THEM TO DENY YOU INSURANCE OR CHARGE YOU AN ARM OR A LEG. IF THEY WANTED GOVERNMENT CONTROL, THEY WOULD HAVE WRITTEN A SINGLE PAYER LAW. THIS LAW KEEPS THE PRIVATE SYSTEM INTACT BUT SIMPLY ASKS INSURERS TO ACCEPT EVERYONE AND NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST YOU. HAVE YOU EVER HAD TO BUY PRIVATE INSURANCE BY YOURSELF? IF YOU DID, YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU WERE EVER SICK, THEY CAN REFUSE TO SELL IT TO YOU OR CHARGE YOU A LOT.

10.Page 84 Section 203 - Government mandates ALL benefit packages for private Health Care plans in the Exchange.

THERE WILL BE DIFFERENT PLANS FOR YOU TO CHOOSE FROM. BASIC TO COMPREHENSIVE DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU WANT TO PAY. RIGHT NOW IF YOU ARE A MEDICARE BENEFICIARY AND CHOOSE TO BUY A SUPPLEMENT OR "GAP" PLAN, YOU CHOOSE PLANS FROM A MENU AND THE BENEFITS ARE MANDATED AND CONSISTENT.

11.Page 85 Line 7 - Specifications for Benefit Levels for Plans = The Government will ration your Health Care.

NO RATIONING HERE. YOU CHOOSE THE BENEFITS YOU WANT TO PAY FOR. ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR PLAN, YOUR DOCTOR DECIDES WHAT TREATMENTS YOU NEED. "BENEFITS' MEANS YOU GET HOSPITAL SERVICES AND LAB AND X RAY. IT DOESN'T DETERMINE WHEN OR HOW OR WHY. JUST LIKE THE PLANS YOU HAVE NOW THROUGH YOUR EMPLOYER OR WHICH YOU BOUGHT YOURSELF. NO DIFFERENT.

12.Page 91 Lines 4-7 - Government mandates linguistic appropriate services. Example - Translation for illegal aliens

YES, LINGUISTIC SERVICES. NO, ILLEGAL ALIENS. NO SERVICES TO ILLEGAL ALIENS. THIS IS A BLATANT LIE. THERE IS NO MENTION OF ILLEGAL ALIENS HERE AT ALL.

13.Page 95 Lines 8-18 - The Government will use groups i.e., ACORN & Americorps to sign up individuals for Government Health Care plan.
THE BILL SAYS "APPROPRIATE ENTITIES" WILL HELP WITH ENROLLMENT. DOESN'T MENTION ACORN OR AMERICORPS.

14.Page 85 Line 7 - Specs of Benefit Levels for Plans. AARP members - Your health care WILL be rationed.

NO MENTION OF AARP. NO RATIONING. YOU GET TO CHOOSE THE LEVEL OF BENEFITS YOU CAN AFFORD. BUT SOMEONE HAS TO DESIGN THESE PLANS. GOVERNMENT WILL REQUIRE PRIVATE PLANS TO DESIGN THE BENEFITS SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THEM AND CHOOSE APPROPRIATELY.

15.Page 102 Lines 12-18 - Medicaid Eligible individuals will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. No choice.

NO. LINE 16 SAYS IF YOU DO NOT ELECT (CHOOSE) TO ENROLL IN A PRIVATE PLAN AND IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID BY REASON OF LOW INCOME, YOU CAN BE ENROLLED AUTOMATICALLY. BUT YOU MAKE THE CHOICE.

16.Page 124 lines 24-25 - No company can sue Government for price fixing. No "judicial review" against Government Monopoly.

TRUE NO JUDICIAL REVIEW OF GOVERNMENT RATE NEGOTIATIONS. BUT GOVERNMENT IS NOT A MONOPOLY HERE. THIS ONLY PERTAINS TO THE PUBLIC PLAN AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE THE PUBLIC PLAN NOR DOES A DOCTOR HAVE TO CHOOSE TO CONTRACT WITH THE PUBLIC PLAN. IT IS VOLUNTARY.

17.Page 127 Lines 1-16 - Doctors/AMA: The Government will tell you what you can make.

NO. THE GOVERNMENT WILL NEGOTIATE RATES WITH DOCTORS LIKE THEY DO NOW. THIS PERTAINS ONLY TO THE PAYMENTS NEGOTIATED FOR THE PUBLIC PLAN. IT'S THAT WAY NOW WITH MEDICARE. PHYSICIANS CAN CHOOSE TO CONTRACT WITH MEDICARE AND THEY CAN CHOOSE TO CONTRACT -- OR NOT -- WITH THIS PUBLIC PLAN. AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE TO ENROLL IN THE PUBLIC PLAN.

18.Page 145 Line 15-17 - An Employer MUST automatically enroll employees into public option plan. No Choice.

ABSOLUTELY NOT. THE EMPLOYER CAN PROVIDE ITS OWN COVERAGE OR IN SOME OF THE BILLS, IF THE EMPLOYERIS SMALL, IT CAN ALLOW EMPLOYEES TO CHOOSE FROM THE MANY MANY PRIVATE INSURANCE OPTIONS. NO ONE HAS TO GO INTO THE PUBLIC PLAN.

19.Page 126 Lines 22-25 - Employers MUST pay for Health Care for part time employees AND their families.

THIS PAGE NUMBER AND REFERENCE IS WRONG. NOT SURE WHAT PAGE THEY ARE REFERENCING. BUT THERE ARE PROVISIONS IN THE HOUSE BILL THAT REQUIRE COVERAGE OF PART TIME EMPLOYEES.

20.Page 149 Lines 16-24 - ANY Employer with payroll 400k & above who does not provide public option pays 8% tax on all payroll.

THERE IS AN EMPLOYER MANDATE FOR SMALL EMPLOYERS THAT HAVE MORE THAN 400K IN PAYROLL IN THE HOUSE PLAN BUT IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PUBLIC PLAN. THE PUBLIC PLAN IS OPTIONAL.

21.Page 150 Lines 9-13 - Business with payroll between $251k and $400k who does not provide public option pays 2-6% tax on all payroll.

NO REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC OPTION. WHERE IS THIS COMING FROM?

22.Page 167 Lines 18-23 - Any individual who does not have acceptable Health Care according to the Government20will be taxed 2.5% of income.

THIS IS TRUE. THERE IS AN EMPLOYER MANDATE AND AN INDIVIDUAL MANDATE IN THIS BILL. EVERYONE MUST HAVE INSURANCE AND THERE ARE PENALTIES IF THEY DO NOT GET IT. BUT THERE ARE ALSO SUBSIDIES TO HELP THEM PAY FOR IT. IT'S LIKE AUTO INSURANCE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT AND YOU PAY FINES IF YOU DON'T GET IT.

23.Page 170 Lines 1-3 - Any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt from individual taxes. (American Citizens will pay).

ILLEGAL ALIENS WILL NOT BE COVERED. THEREFORE THEY WILL NOT BE PENALIZED. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO GET THEIR CARE IN EMERGENCY ROOMS LIKE THEY DO NOW, WITH THOSE COSTS BEING SHIFTED TO THE REST OF US.

24.Page 195 - Officers & employees of Health Care Administration (Government) will have access to ALL American's finance/personal records.

NOT ALL RECORDS. AND ONLY FOR THAT INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES. DO YOU WANT GOVERNMENT PAYING SUBSIDIES FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD COVERAGE? PROBABLY NOT.

25.Page 203 Line 14-15 Health Care - "The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax". Yes, it says that.

IT DOES. AND IT'S FUNNY. BUT TAX IS A LEGAL TERM UNDER THE IRS RULES AND THIS IS A CLARIFICATION.

26.Page 239 Line 14-24 - Government will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income, and poor will be affected.

NO. THE LANGUAGE IS NOT VERY CLEAR BUT IT REFERS TO A FEE SCHEDULE, WHICH IS IN PLACE NOW ANYWAY FOR MEDICAID. YOU THINK GOVERNMENT PAYS ANYTHING A PROVIDER CHARGES WITHOUT CHECKING IT?

27.Page 241 Line 6-8 - All doctors will be paid the same regardless of their specialty.

NO. THIS IS A DISTORTION OF THAT SECTION OF THE BILL. THAT SECTION REFERS ONLY TO EVALUATE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES THAT PHYSICIANS PROVIDE, NOT THEIR PAYMENT FOR TREATMENT OF A MEDICAL CONDITION. AND IT ONLY REFERS TO MEDICARE PAYMENT NOT PAYMENT TO DOCTORS FOR PRIVATE PLANS OR PRIVATE PATIENTS.

28.Page 253 Line 10-18 - Government sets value of doctors time, professional judgment, etc; literally the value of humans.

THE RVU (RELATIVE VALUE UNIT) IS THE WAY DOCTORS ARE PAID FOR MEDICARE NOW. IT S A COMPLICATE FORMULA. PHYSICIANS ACCEPT IT AND ACTUALLY SOME LIKE IT BECAUSE IT REWARDS THEM FOR TIME SPENT TALKING TO PATIENTS NOT JUST TIME WRITING PRESCRIPTIONS. THIS WHOLE SECTION IS ABOUT PAYMENT FOR MEDICARE. MEDICARE ALREADY USES THESE FORMULAS. IF YOU DIDN'T LIKE THIS, WHY DIDN'T YOU SPEAK UP EARLIER WHEN MEDICARE WAS PASSED IN 1965?

29.Page 265 Section 1131 - Government mandates and controls productivity for private Health Care industries.

THIS IS FOR MEDICARE. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE EXCHANGE OR PRIVATE PLANS.

30.Page 268 Section 1141 - Government regulates rental and purchase of power driven wheelchairs.

THIS IS ABOUT MEDICARE. GOVERNMENT ALREADY DOES THIS. NOT EVERYONE NEEDS A POWER DRIVEN WHEELCHAIR. DON'T YOU WANT YOUR TAXPAYER MONEY BEING SPENT WISELY BY MEDICARE?

31.Page 272 Section. 1145 – Treatment at certain CANCER HOSPITALS; rationing for cancer patients.

NO. THIS REFERS TO MEDICARE PAYMENTS TO CANCER HOSPITALS AND THE ATTEMPT BY GOVERNMENT TO KEEP COSTS UNDER CONTROL BY NOT OVERPAYING.

32.Page 280 Section 1151 - The Government will penalize hospitals for what Government deems preventable readmissions.

THIS REFERS TO MEDICARE AGAIN. AND YES, IF A HOSPITAL DUMPS A PATIENT OUT BEFORE THEY ARE READY TO LEAVE AND THEY HAVE TO COME BACK AND BE ADMITTED AGAIN, THE HOSPITAL SHOULD BE REPSONSIBLE FOR THAT. THIS IS ONLY FOR MEDICARE.

33.Page 298 Lines 9-11 Doctors, treat a patient during initial admission that results in a readmission and the Government will penalize the Dr.

THIS APPLIES TO MEDICARE ONLY. AND YES, THE DOCTOR WHO RELEASES THE PATIENT SHOULD ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE IF THE PATIENT HAS TO COME BACK.

34.Page 317 Lines 13-20 - PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. Government tells Doctors what/how much they can own.

NOT ALL OWNERSHIP. JUST SITUATIONS WHERE DOCTORS OWN THE MAJORITY OF A HOSPITAL OR LAB AND ONLY SEND THEIR PATIENTS TO THE PLACE THEY OWN, THUS INCREASING THEIR INCOME BUT NOT GIVING PATIENT ANY CHOICE.

35.Page 317-318=2 0Lines 21-25,1-3 - PROHIBITION on hospital expansions.

NO. ONLY SITUATIONS WHERE DOCTORS OWN THE HOSPITAL AS WELL AS THE LABS, ETC. AND THEY HAVE A MONOPOLY.

36.Page 321 2-13 - Hospitals have opportunity to apply for exception BUT community input is required. Approval by ACORN?

NOTHING SAID ABOUT ACORN HERE OF COURSE. AND BY THE WAY, THERE HAVE BEEN PROGRAMS TO REVIEW HOSPITAL EXPANSIONS SINCE 1980 AND THAT PROGRAM WAS CALLED HEALTH PLANNING.

37.Page 335 Lines 16-25; Page 336-339 - Government mandates establishment of outcome based measures. Health Care the way they want it. Rationing.

THIS ONLY APPLIES TO MEDICARE IN THE BILL. AGAIN. BUT WHY SHOULDN'T WE MEASURE THE QUALITY OF CARE RECEIVED? HEDIS, CAPHS, ALL USED FOR YEARS BY PRIVATE SECTOR -- EVEN BEFORE MEDICARE USED THESE MEASURES -- MOST DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS AGREE THAT OUTCOME MEASURES ARE IMPORTANT AND THIS TYPE OF MEASUREMENT IS BEING DONE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR ALREADY WITH PLANS YOU HAVE.

38.Page 341 Lines 3-9 Government has authority to disqualify Medicare Advance Plans, HMO s, etc. thus forcing people into Government plan.

YIKES. MEDICARE IS A GOVERNMENT PLAN. AND IT'S MEDICARE ADVANTAGE, NOT ADVANCE. AND MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS ARE HMOS AND PPOS AVAILABLE TO MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES NOW. THE PROGRAM WAS STARTED BY PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH. THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH RUNS MEDICARE, HAS ALWAYS CERTIFIED AND DECERTFIED MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS SINCE THEY FIRST STARTED.

39.Page 354 Section 1177 - Government will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs people.

NO. YOU READ THIS SECTION COMPLETELY WRONG. THIS PROVISION IS INSERTED TO HELP PLANS THAT SERVE PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

40.Page 379 Section 1191 - Government creates more bureaucracy - Tele-Health Advisory Committee. Health Care by phone?

ONLY FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN REMOTE AREAS. THIS WOULD ALLOW DOCTORS TO TALK TO PATIENTS WHO LIVE IN ALASKA OR SOME RURAL AREA WHO ARE SICK AND CAN'T GET TO A DOCTOR IN A TIMELY WAY. IT COULD SAVE LIVES.

41.Page 425 Lines 4-12 - Government mandates Advance Care Planning Consults. Think Senior Citizens end of life.

THIS ONE REALLY MAKES ME MAD. ALL THIS DOES IS ALLOW PEOPLE TO CHOOSE (GET IT, CHOOSE?) TO HAVE A CONSULTATION ABOUT WHAT IS CALLED AN ADVANCED DIRECTIVE. AN ADVANCED DIRECTIVE IS NOTHING MORE THAN A STATEMENT BY A PERSON ABOUT HOW THEY CHOOSE (CHOOSE!) TO BE TREATED IF THEY GET A TERMINAL DISEASE. THE PERSON CAN DECIDE THEY WANT EVERYTHING POSSIBLE DONE FOR THEM OR THEY CAN DECIDE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE ON FEEDING TUBES. BUT IT IS THEIR CHOICE. NO ONE ELSE'S. AND THIS IS AN OPTIONAL BENEFIT. NO ONE NEEDS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT IF THEY DON'T WANT TO.

42.Page 425 Lines 17-19 - Government will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney. Mandatory!

NOT MANDATORY. NOT MANDATORY. NOT MANDATORY.
OPTIONAL. OPTIONAL. OPTIONAL.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO HAVE A CONSULTATION EVERY FIVE YEARS, YOU CAN. IF YOU DO NOT CHOOSE TO DO IT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

43.Page 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3 - Government provides approved list of end of life resources, guiding you in death.

THE LIST OF RESOURCES IS JUST A LIST SO PEOPLE KNOW WHERE TO FIND OUT INFORMATION.

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

NO MANDATE. NO SAY IN HOW YOUR LIFE ENDS.
THIS IS AN OPTIONAL PROGRAM. . BUT IF THERE IS A PROGRAM TO ADVISE PEOPLE, OF COURSE THE GOVERNMENT WANTS THAT PROGRAM TO GIVE ACCURATE INFORMATION AND RESPECT PEOPLE'S WISHES.

45.Page 429 Lines 1-9 - An "Advanced Care Planning Consultant" will be used frequently as patients health deteriorates.

CAN BE USED MORE FREQUENTLY. NOT WILL BE USED. IF THE PATIENT IS DYING QUICKLY AND NEEDS MORE HELP, THAT HELP WILL BE AVAILABLE.

46.Page 429 Lines 10-12 - "advanced care consultation" may include an ORDER for end of life plans. AN ORDER from Government!
NOT FROM THE GOVERNMENT. IT PLAINLY SAYS IF THERE IS AN ORDER -- FROM THE PATIENT TO THE DOCTOR -- THE DOCTOR ISSUES THE ORDER. NOT THE GOVERNMENT. READ IT! LINES 13-25

47.Page 429 Lines 13-25 - The Government will specify which Doctors can write an end of life order
.
NO. ONLY DOCTORS WHO ARE LICENSED PROFESSIONALS CAN MAKE THAT ORDER. AND THE ORDER IS AT THE REQUEST OF THE PATIENT TO START WITH. GOVERNMENT ONLY ASSURES THAT A REAL DOCTOR IS HELPING OUT.

48.Page 430 Lines 11-15 - The Government will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life.

NO. THE INDIVIDUAL PATIENT DECIDES THAT. IT PLAINLY STATES THAT THE INDIVIDUAL DECIDES. NOT THE GOVERNMENT. NOT EVEN THE DOCTOR.

49.Page 469 - Community Based Home Medical Services = Non profit organizations. ACORN Medical Services?

NOTHING TO DO WITH ACORN. AND IT'S MEDICAL HOME NOT HOME MEDICAL.

50.Page 472 Lines 14-17 – Payment to community-based organizations; 1 monthly payment to a community-based organization like ACORN.

ACORN IS NOT A MEDICAL HOME OR A MEDICAL ORGANIZATION. NO PAYMENT TO ACORN. I HAVE SEARCHED THE BILL AND ACORN IS NEVER MENTIONED.

51.Page 489 Section 1308 - The Government will cover Marriage & Family therapy, which means they will insert Government into your marriage.

NO. THIS IS A CLARIFICATION OF A BENEFIT UNDER MEDICARE. IT ALLOWS CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKERS TO BE INCLUDED AS WELL AS PSYCHOLOGISTS. BUT IT'S HILARIOUS THAT ANYONE WOULD THINK GOVERNMENT WOULD WANT TO BE INSERTED INTO YOUR MARRIAGE!

PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS. .

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/8/3/760935/-Crazy-attacks-on-health-reform-begin

...however, I know of no townhall meeting where I am ~~ SoCal.

But...I am going to copy this and send it out in an email if that is OK with you.

Thanks again ~~ that took some time and effort. :hi:

These all fall into Title I of the bill: TITLE I—PROTECTIONS AND STANDARDS FOR QUALIFIED
HEALTH BENEFITS PLANS (QHBP)

The entire title is about the reform of for-profit health insurance. Setting new rules for private insurers, including employers who self-insure and what constitutes 'essential benefits'.




Page 22: Mandates audits of all employers that self-insure!


......Secretary of Labor, shall conduct a
26 study of the large group insured and self-insured employer health care markets. Such study shall examine the following: If they have the resources to cover and how plans differ from the typical insured.

Page 29: Admission: your health care will be rationed!
Definition of is to be included in essential benefit plans, including

(B) APPLICABLE LEVEL.—The applicable level specified in this subparagraph for Y1 is $5,000 for an individual and $10,000 for a family. Such levels shall be increased (rounded to the nearest $100) for each subsequent year by the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index (United States city average) applicable to such year.

Page 30: A government committee will decide what treatments and benefits you get (and, unlike an insurer, there will be no appeals process)

Yes, there is to be a committee. Again to set and make recommendations to the standard essential benefit plan. This plan is what reforms for-profit insurance, reducing disparities, making for cost savings, disallowing 'pre-existing conditions from being dropped, etc. Appeals processes are under Section 132 on page 37.

Page 42: The "Health Choices Commissioner" will decide health benefits for you. You will have no choice. None.

IN GENERAL.—The Commissioner shall undertake activities in accordance with this subtitle to promote accountability of QHBP offering entities in meeting Federal health insurance requirements, regardless of whether such accountability is with respect to qualified health benefits plans offered
through the Health Insurance Exchange or outside of such Exchange.
Goes on to define the penalities a 'QHBP offering entity' (insurance provider) is subject to for violations.

Page 50: All non-US citizens, illegal or not, will be provided with free healthcare services.


Says no such thing. It says, "SEC. 152. PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION IN HEALTH CARE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise explicitly permitted by this Act and by subsequent regulations consistent with this Act, all health care and related services (including insurance coverage and public health activities) covered by this Act shall be provided without regard to
personal characteristics extraneous to the provision of high quality health care or related services.

Page 59: The federal government will have direct, real-time access to all individual bank accounts for20electronic funds transfer.

This again, is in regards to reducing costs within the private health insurance industry and says exactly this, "enable electronic funds transfers, in order to allow automated reconciliation with the related health care payment and remittance advice;" This refers to the standardization of financial and administrative functions between health care providers and insurance companies!


Page 65: Taxpayers will subsidize all union retiree and community organizer health plans (read: SEIU, UAW and ACORN)

Wrong again. This section talks about the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish a temporary reinsurance program (in this section referred to as the ‘‘reinsurance program’’) to provide reimbursement to assist participating employment-based plans with the cost of providing health benefits to retirees and to eligible spouses, surviving spouses and dependents of such retirees. The amount paid for this policies is capped : the Secretary shall reimburse such plan for 80 percent of that portion of the costs attributable to such claim that exceeds $15,000, but is less than $90,000. Goal is to lower the costs borne directly by employer for providing retiree insurance. (pages 68 & 69).

Page 72: All private healthcare plans must conform to government rules to participate in a Healthcare Exchange.

Doesn't say that. It says that "the Commissioner shall— (1) under section 204 establish standards for, accept bids from, and negotiate and enter into contracts with, QHBP offering entities for the offering of health benefits plans through the Health Insurance Exchange, with different levels of benefits required under section 203" If the insurance companies want to play, they have to meet the government standards.

Page 84: All private healthcare plans must participate in the Healthcare Exchange (i.e., total government control of private plans)

Again, does not say that all plans must participate in the Healthcare Exchange, just that those entities that do, must offer at least a basic plan within a service area. They can, then optionally, offer an enhanced and a premium plan.

Page 91: Government mandates linguistic infrastructure for services; translation: illegal aliens

Again, there is absolutely nothing about resident status in this. The section reads, in it's entireity, "(7) CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE SERVICES AND COMMUNICATIONS.—The entity shall provide for culturally and linguistically appropriate communication and health services."

Page 95: The Government will pay ACORN and Americorps to sign up individuals for Government-run Health Care plan.

Says, "USE OF OTHER ENTITIES.—In carrying out this subsection, the Commissioner may work with
other appropriate entities to facilitate the dissemination of information under this subsection and to provide assistance as described in paragraph (2)." Then defines CHIP, Medicare, and States assistance. Also, this section is dealing with the Healthcare Exchange (participating for-profit insurance companies).

Page 102: Those eligible for Medicaid will be automatically enrolled: you have no choice in the matter.

Another blatant lie. "(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." Plenty of choice!

Page 124: No company can sue the government for price-fixing. No "judicial review" is permitted against the government monopoly. Put simply, private insurers will be crushed.

This entire Subtitle B is about the Public Option. What this section says is that the Secretary can establish the payment rates. "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.
24 (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.-

Page 127: The AMA sold doctors out: the government will set wages.

This is the Public Option and there are two methods for physician payments.

"(A) PREFERRED PHYSICIANS.—Those physicians who agree to accept the payment rate established under section 223 (without regard to cost-sharing) as the payment in full. (B) PARTICIPATING, NON-PREFERRED PHYSICIANS.—Those physicians who agree not to impose charges (in relation to the payment rate described in section 223 for such physicians) that exceed the ratio permitted under
section 1848(g)(2)(C) of the Social Security Act. (Same as Medicare)."

Page 145: An employer MUST auto-enroll employees into the government-run public plan. No a lternatives.

Completely untrue. On page 145, there are 3 different ways an employer can provide health insurance for employees. But this is where somebody got the 'autoenrollment' stuff. Page 147, " (1) IN GENERAL.—The requirement of this subsection with respect to an employer and an employee is that the employer automatically enroll suchs (sic) employee into the employment-based health benefits plan for individual coverage under the plan option with the lowest applicable employee premium." This is followed immediately with a section describing how an employee may opt-out.

Page 126(sic) 146: Employers MUST pay healthcare bills for part-time employees AND their families.

Again, a lie. It clearly states: "In the case of coverage for an employee who is not a full-time employee, the amount of the minimum employer contribution under this subsection shall be a proportion.." This is still for those insurers participating in the Public Option.

Page 149: Any employer with a payroll of $400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays an 8% tax on payroll

Really, it's stated as 'EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS IN LIEU OF COVERAGE.' and goes into Health Insurance Exchange Trust Fund.

Page 150: Any employer with a payroll of $250K-400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays a 2 to 6% tax on payroll

See above.

Page 167: Any individual who doesn’t' have acceptable healthcare (according to the government) will be taxed 2.5% of income.

Well, they actually got something right. It's how you get mandatory participation. With a whole slew of exemptions listed in this section.

Page 170: Any NON-RESIDENT alien is exempt from individual taxes (Americans will pay for them).

Somebody doesn't understand what a non-resident is. And no, Americans aren't going to pay for them because they're not required to have insurance in the USA because they're not citizens!

Page 195: Officers and employees of Government Healthcare Bureaucracy will have access to ALL American financial and personal records.

Wow. It clearly states that "the Secretary 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.." Same stuff the IRS has on you already each year:
taxpayer identity, filing status, adjusted gross income, and number of dependents to "indicate whether the taxpayer is eligible for such affordability credits."

:hi:

Thanks.

for them so well the last 30 years.

Thanks for the hard work, Joanne98.

But something tells me the fascists aren't the least bit interested in facts. They will latch on to any reason to hate.

It is so important for people to be able to see the information for themselves, especially in an understandable way. Great job!

Thanks for reposting.

Thank you!