Just because you are a nurse...

[silentRN]

Just because you are a nurse doesn't mean you have to be a Democrat or Liberal. I remember when the healthcare bill was first being discussed everyone on this site seemed to be pushing leftist ideals and it was a sin to be against Obamacare. I don't see anyone hyping it now. I thought it was a bad bill then and apparently it's a bad bill now. I wonder how many nurses are still siding with the Progressives. I remember how hard I got blasted on this site for speaking against that bill.

[tewdles, RN]

yes...we have to pass something

[herring_RN, ASN, BSN]

We have to pass a deeply flawed bill that the majority of Americans have clearly indicated is unsatisfactory so that we can start to fix it? That's a plan!

How about we scrap the thing without wasting any more time, energy or money and begin to craft a bill that offers the reforms Americans want: simplicity, choice, responsibility and accountability on the part of insurers and participants alike, and equal enforcement for all. No tax breaks or deals for unions or other special interest pay-backs.

Medicare for all?

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

No more than 8% of income for health costs....

[Katie82, RN]

Well it has been said that if the bill passes, there would be more insured customers going to the hospitals. Hopefully more insured customers mean more money for hospitals and hopefully more money for nurses.

It's not quite that simple. The way the bill was written, there would be heavy government involvement with all of those who were previously uninsured, which means reimbursements would be low, as they are with Medicare and Medicaid. Hospitals would not be able to remain solvent with a higher ratio of lower-paying patients. Hospitals lose money on Medicare and Medicaid patients now, they rely on private insurance and ancillary services to pay the bills, including salaries.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

We have to pass a deeply flawed bill that the majority of Americans have clearly indicated is unsatisfactory so that we can start to fix it?

When did the majority of Americans indicate that they didn't want the bill? How did they indicate that?

[Jolie, BSN]

Polls by numerous sources have consistently indicated this:

Health Care Reform

61% Say Congress Should Start All Over Again on Health Care

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/september_2009/health_care_reform

December 21, 2009

Categories:Health Care.Poll: Support for health care bill up slightly

http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/1209/Poll_Support_for_health_care_bill_up_slightly.html

Democrats have a long way to go to really sell the majority of Americans on this bill — 56 percent still oppose the Senate bill, which is now expected to pass on Christmas Eve.

Majority Oppose Current Health Care Bills, but Want Obama to Keep Trying

While most Americans disapprove of the health care measures currently before Congress, there is also a majority that says President Obama should not give up on reform, according to a Quinnipiac University poll conducted Feb. 2-8.

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/02/11/majority-still-oppose-current-health-care-bills-but-want-obama/

[FLmomof5]

reconciliation....While the bill is not perfect the current system is unsustainable....see cmwf.org

And the bill will bankrupt the country. GEEZ!

[FLmomof5]

When did the majority of Americans indicate that they didn't want the bill? How did they indicate that?

Have you ever been to a new source other than MSNBC or left leaning publications????

It has been out for months and the opposition is growing.

[herring_RN, ASN, BSN]

just a partial listing.

the presidents proposal - http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-care-meeting/proposal/whatsnew/overview

policies to improve affordability and accountability - http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-care-meeting/proposal/whatsnew/affordability

policies to crack down on waste, fraud and abuse- http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-care-meeting/proposal/whatsnew/waste-fraud-abuse

policies to contain cost and ensure fiscal sustainability - http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-care-meeting/proposal/whatsnew/cost-sustainability

other policy improvements - http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-care-meeting/proposal/whatsnew/other-improvements

title i. Quality, affordable health care for all americans - http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-care-meeting/proposal/titlei

if you like the insurance you have, keep it:

Nothing in the proposal forces anyone to change the insurance they have. Period. - http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-care-meeting/proposal/titlei/keepit

more choices, greater competition -- health insurance exchange

the proposal creates a new insurance marketplace that lets individuals and families without coverage and small business owners pool their resources and increase their buying power to make insurance more affordable. Private insurance companies will compete for business based on cost and quality and they'll have to follow common-sense rules of the road that rein in the worst insurance industry abuses. - http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-care-meeting/proposal/titlei/exchange

same coverage choices as members of congress

every member of congress will be required to purchase their insurance from the new health insurance exchange - http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-care-meeting/proposal/titlei/congress

the act will provide the largest tax cut for health care in american history. - http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-care-meeting/proposal/titlei/families

tax relief and incentives for small business owners - http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-care-meeting/proposal/titlei/small-business

once the exchanges are up and running, insurance companies will be banned from:

* denying coverage or setting premiums based of your health status, medical history, genetic information or evidence of domestic violence; *setting different premiums based on gender or salary;

*dropping coverage when someone gets sick;

*refusing to renew someone's coverage because of an illness - http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-care-meeting/proposal/titlei/honesty

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

Have you ever been to a new source other than MSNBC or left leaning publications????

Yes, and I don't trust FOX news. Saying you're "fair and balanced" doesn't make it so.

It has been out for months and the opposition is growing.

Opposition by who? The insurance industry? Politicians who take contributions from the insurance industry?

Medicare was enacted because 65-year-olds who weren't being kicked out by their insurers faced sky-high premiums, and were going broke because of medical bills. it was extremely controversial at the time, but America's elders have come to rely on it. Why should non-elderly people have to worry about going bankrupt becuase their health insurer refuses to pay for things, or drops them from the rolls? A car crash, cancer, or diabetes should not lead to bankruptcy.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

And the bill will bankrupt the country. GEEZ!

War is very expensive, but no one seemed to mind the cost of 2 wars before Obama took office.

[tewdles, RN]

The bill will bankrupt the country???

Our current system of health care is costing the USA 16% of the GDP...16%. The experts figure it will be at 20% by 2012 or 15. We have scores of people who die needlessly because of the flaws and access problems with our current delivery system which is based upon ability to pay. We have the poorest health outcomes in the world.

Our current system will bankrupt the country just like it is bankrupting millions of hard working Americans. Yes, the American people want reform. Yes the American people need reform. Yes, the American people deserve reform.

It could be pretty simple...make the congressional health insurance options and premium rates available to all of us...they have a pretty good system.