Health Care Bill

Published

Okay I am going to but my ignorance out there and ask: What is this Health Care Bill going to do to nurses in this country? I have heard so many things since Obama has been elected such as it will make our salaries drop, we will not be able to do over-time and just yesterday, I heard it will make our country's nursing shortage even worse. Now that this bill is passed, what does it mean for us?

below is an email i received. having not read the bill myself i cannot speak to its accuracy, but for the sake of america i hope that it is either false or taken out of context.

an indianapolis doctor's letter to sen. bayh about the bill (note: dr. stephen e. frazer, md practices as an anesthesiologist in indianapolis, in ) here is a letter i sent to senator bayh.. feel free to copy it and send it around to all other representatives. -- stephen fraser

senator bayh,

as a practicing physician i have major concerns with the health care bill before congress. i actually have read the bill and am shocked by the brazenness of the government's proposed involvement in the patient-physician relationship. the very idea that the government will dictate and ration patient care is dangerous and certainly not helpful in designing a health care system that works for all. every physician i work with agrees that we need to fix our health care system, but the proposed bills currently making their way through congress will be a disaster if passed.

i ask you respectfully and as a patriotic american to look at the following troubling lines that i have read in the bill. you cannot possibly believe that these proposals are in the best interests of the country and our fellow citizens.

[color=#0000a0][color=#0000a0]page 22 of the hc bill: mandates that the govt will audit books of all employers that self-insure!!

page 30 sec 123 of hc bill: there will be a govt committee that decides what treatments/benefits you get.

page 29 lines 4-16 in the hc bill: your health care is rationed!!!

page 42 of hc bill: the health choices commissioner will choose your hc benefits for you. you have no choice!

page 50 section 152 in hc bill: hc will be provided to all non-us citizens, illegal or otherwise.

page 58 hc bill: govt will have real-time access to individuals' finances & a 'national id health card' will be issued! [color=#60bf00][color=#60bf00](papers please!)

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page 59 hc bill lines 21-24: govt will have direct access to your bank accounts for elective funds transfer. [color=#60bf00][color=#60bf00](time for more cash and carry)

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[color=#0000a0][color=#0000a0]page 65 sec 164: is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in unions & community organizations: (acorn).

page 84 sec 203 hc bill: govt mandates all benefit packages for private hc plans in the 'exchange.'

page 85 line 7 hc bill: specifications of benefit levels for plans -- the govt will ration your health care!

page 91 lines 4-7 hc bill: govt mandates linguistic appropriate services. (translation: illegal aliens.)

page 95 hc bill lines 8-18: the govt will use groups (i.e. acorn & americorps to sign up individuals for govt hc plan.

page 85 line 7 hc bill: specifications of benefit levels for plans. (aarp members - your health care will be rationed!)

[color=#0000a0][color=#0000a0]page 102 lines 12-18 hc bill: medicaid eligible individuals will be automatically enrolled in medicaid. (no choice.)

page 12 4 lines 24-25 hc: no company can sue govt on price fixing. no "judicial review" against govt monopoly.

page 127 lines 1-16 hc bill: doctors/ american medical association - the govt will tell you what salary you can make.

page 145 line 15-17: an employer must auto-enroll employees into public option plan. (no choice!)

page 126 lines 22-25: employers must pay for hc for part-time employees andtheir families. (employees shouldn't get excited about this as employers will be forced to reduce its work force, benefits, and wages/salaries to cover such a huge expense.)

page 149 lines 16-24: any employer with payroll 401k & above who does not provide public option will pay 8% tax on all payroll! (see the last comment in parenthesis.)

[color=#0000a0][color=#0000a0]page 150 lines 9-13: a business with payroll between $251k & $401k who doesn't provide public option will pay 2-6% tax on all payroll.

page 167 lines 18-23: any individual who doesn't have acceptable hc according to govt will be taxed 2.5% of income.

page 170 lines 1-3 hc bill: any nonresident alien is exempt from individual taxes. (americans will pay.) [color=#60bf00][color=#60bf00](like always)

[color=#0000a0][color=#0000a0]page 195 hc bill: officers & employees of the govt hc admin.. will have access to all americans' finances and personal records. [color=#60bf00][color=#60bf00](i guess so they can 'deduct' their fees)

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[color=#0000a0][color=#0000a0]page 203 line 14-15 hc: "the tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax." (yes, it really says that!) [color=#60bf00][color=#60bf00]( a 'fee' instead)

[color=#0000a0][color=#0000a0]page 239 line 14-24 hc bill: govt will reduce physician services for medicaid seniors. (low-income and the poor are affected.)

[color=#0000a0][color=#0000a0]page 241 line 6-8 hc bill: doctors: it doesn't matter what specialty you have trained yourself in -- you will all be paid the same! (just try to tell me that's not socialism!)

page 253 line 10-18: the govt sets the value of a doctor's time, profession, judgment, etc. (literally-- the value of humans.)

page 265 sec 1131: the govt mandates and controls productivity for "private" hc industries.

page 268 sec 1141: the federal govt regulates the rental and purchase of power driven wheelchairs.

page 272 sec. 1145: treatment of certain cancer hospitals - cancer patients - welcome to rationing!

page 280 sec 1151: the govt will penalize hospitals for whatever the govt deems preventable (i.e...re-admissions).

page 298 lines 9-11: doctors: if you treat a patient during initial admission that results in a re-admission -- the govt will penalize you.

page 317 l 13-20: prohibition on ownership/investment. (the govt tells doctors what and how much they can own!)

page 317-318 lines 21-25, 1-3: prohibition on expansion. (the govt is mandating that hospitals cannot expand.)

[color=#0000a0][color=#0000a0]page 321 2-13: hospitals have the opportunity to apply for exception but community input is required. (can you say acorn?)

page 335 l 16-25 pg 336-339: the govt mandates establishment of=2 outcome-based measures. (hc the way they want -- rationing.)

[color=#0000a0][color=#0000a0]page 341 lines 3-9: the govt has authority to disqualify medicare advance plans, hmos, etc. (forcing people into the govt plan)

page 354 sec 1177: the govt will restrict enrollment of 'special needs people!' unbelievable!

page 379 sec 1191: the govt creates more bureaucracy via a "tele-health advisory committee." (can you say hc by phone?)

page 425 lines 4-12: the govt mandates "advance-care planning consult." (think senior citizens end-of-life patients.)

page 425 lines 17-19: the govt will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney, etc. (and it's mandatory!)

[color=#0000a0][color=#0000a0]page 425 lines 22-25, 426 lines 1-3: the govt provides an "approved" list of end-of-life resources; guiding you in death. (also called 'assisted suicide.')[color=#60bf00][color=#60bf00](sounds like soylent green to me.)

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page 427 lines 15-24: the govt mandates a program for orders on "end-of-life." (the govt has a say in how your life ends!)

page 429 lines 1-9: an "advanced-care planning consultant" will be used frequently as a patient's health deteriorates.

page 429 lines 10-12: an "advanced care consultation" may include an order for end-of-life plans.. (an order to die from the government?!?)

page 429 lines 13-25: the govt will specify which doctors can write an end-of-life order.. (i wouldn't want to stand before god after getting paid for that job!)[color=#0000a0][color=#0000a0]

[color=#0000a0][color=#0000a0]page 430 lines 11-15: the govt will decide what level of treatment you will have at end-of-life! (again -- no choice!)

page 469: community-based home medical services = non-profit organizations. (hello? acorn medical services here!?!)

page 489 sec 1308: the govt will cover marriage and family therapy. (which means govt will insert itself into your marriage even.)[color=#0000a0][color=#0000a0]

[color=#0000a0][color=#0000a0]page 494-498: govt will cover mental health services including defining, creating, and rationing those services.

senator, i guarantee that i personally will do everything possible to inform patients and my fellow physicians about the dangers of the proposed bills you and your colleagues are debating.

furthermore, if you vote for a bill that enforces socialized medicine on the country and destroys the doctor-patient relationship, i will do everything in my power to make sure you lose your job in the next election.

respectfully,

stephen e. fraser, md

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I don't think you have much to worry about. No one is going to harm granny. In-fact I think she has a check coming in the mail. The Repugs have been spreading so much fear, about people killing granny, its no wonder that some people start to believe them.

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Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.
If you're so gung-ho on the Socialist way of life, perhaps The United States of America is not the place for you. Feel free to explore other options.

Wow, really uncalled for. We can disagree about something without being disagreeable.:down: I am a moderate Democrat. Very happy that this bill has passed, that does NOT mean you love this country more than me. That does NOT mean that I need to move somewhere else. That is what is wrong with politics today, we cannot have CIVIL discussions and disagree on topics without it turning into vicious attacks. (You Lie and BABYKILLER!) Really? This from our LEADERS? Shame on them and shame on you.

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Specializes in EMT-P.
Wow, really uncalled for. We can disagree about something without being disagreeable.:down: I am a moderate Democrat. Very happy that this bill has passed, that does NOT mean you love this country more than me. That does NOT mean that I need to move somewhere else. That is what is wrong with politics today, we cannot have CIVIL discussions and disagree on topics without it turning into vicious attacks. (You Lie and BABYKILLER!) Really? This from our LEADERS? Shame on them and shame on you.

Well said...Hard to add to that.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

A note from the friendly neighborhood moderator:

This debate, while controversial, can indeed be had without resorting to attacks. Calling people stupid, calling them liars, and generalizing any one group - be they liberals OR conservatives - as terrible people does nothing to foster good debate.

Not only that, but it is against our Terms of Service here at allnurses.com. As such, it's non-negotiable. Either we play fair or we don't play at all. I kind of expect better behavior from adults than what I've seen so far in this thread. Strong opinions are okay, but voicing them in the form of personal attacks is NOT.

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Wow. Yes, you are a liar with your statements saying "you WILL be dropped" by private insurance. Its bull and you know it. You are either a liar, or serious that stupid to think that insurance companies drop everyone when they get sick. Because you cite no examples, it tends to lead people to the latter. But I guess EVERYONE in the media just misses "all" of these stories too. Must be some sort of conspiracy right? Just go away. You have proven yourself.

We need to take profit out of the health industry

My insurance company flat out refused to pay for my surgery - approved the spinal surgery then refused to pay. the actual reimbursement was

I still pay for insurance - what is a person to do - You tell me...

We need to spend more time finding out what is going on in the world - look it up -The world can be more fun and less scary if we try to stay informed

keep an open mind - find information to support your ideas - read something that you don't agree with...

We have a wonderful tool the internet "google it"

The article below states that the Health reform bill was actually built upon Republican ideals but being 'partisan' not one republician voted for it.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2010/03/why_democrats_are_fighting_for.html

"We have committed the fatal sin ... of becoming cynical and arrogant with respect to decisions affecting the lives of hundreds of millions of people."

-US General Lee Butler, on maintaining a nuclear orificenal

"The most costly of all follies is to believe passionately in the palpably not true. It is the chief occupation of mankind."

-H. L. Mencken

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i seriously doubt it.

for one, no one can get on board on what is constitutional.

and that is mainly r/t everyone's interpretations being so different.

those suing, are battling with weakened, unstable contentions.

personally, i do believe the sc will uphold the bill, on the premises that all have the same right and access to hc.

leslie

I agree with your last sentence, Leslie. It would make all the difference in the world if Congress didn't have the same right and access to healthcare. They might actually give a crap if they couldn't afford insurance. What happened to Obama's plan that everyone would have coverage provided like congress. That got transformed into everyone must buy insurance or face a fine. And taxing some insurance plans? Isn't that one of the reason why McCain lost the election was his support of those taxes. Didn't Obama promise not to do that and look at what is in his plan...I say the whole government needs a bath. Take all those pampered brats out of office and put some common sense people in place.

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Re: the "letter" from Dr Stephen Frazer, here it is on snopes.com

http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/frazer.asp

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Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.
I agree with your last sentence, Leslie. It would make all the difference in the world if Congress didn't have the same right and access to healthcare. They might actually give a crap if they couldn't afford insurance. What happened to Obama's plan that everyone would have coverage provided like congress. That got transformed into everyone must buy insurance or face a fine. And taxing some insurance plans? Isn't that one of the reason why McCain lost the election was his support of those taxes. Didn't Obama promise not to do that and look at what is in his plan...I say the whole government needs a bath. Take all those pampered brats out of office and put some common sense people in place.

I agree...the first fire bath for reform took a great deal of the teeth out of it. My hope is that the American people will now have the stomach to put in place strict term limits for ALL elected political offices. Once we remove the motivation for status quo that paralyzes career politicians we can begin to improve upon our health insurance, and care delivery systems further.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

closing for staff review

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