There have been so many deliberate distortions regarding health care reform that I decided to do my own research on this matter.
The highly respected and credible American Medical Association endorses the House of Representatives health system reform bill (HR 3200).
Further, the AMA researched the many false allegations being circulated regarding health care reform. It found the following:
• No current viable legislation would lead to socialized medicine.
• No one will have to change their current health plan or physician. A public plan would create another option for people who don’t get insurance through employment.
• The current Medicare program will continue as it is today. Medicare Advantage Plans will not be eliminated.
• By insuring the currently uninsured, a family could save up to an extra $1,000 annually for family coverage premiums, as the cost of covering the uninsured is currently passed on to those with coverage in the form of higher premiums.
• There are no provisions to extend coverage to illegal immigrants.
• And, finally, the most egregious allegation out there is that there would be “death panels.” This claim is absolutely false on its face, says the AMA. The provision in question would allow doctors to be paid for voluntary end-of-life care discussions with patients, something the AMA and physicians strongly support. Currently, Medicare won’t pay doctors for taking the time to educate their patients about the options available to them or about the steps they can take to make sure that they receive the kind of care they want at the end of their lives. These are discussions most of us and our families want to have with our doctors.
I encourage readers to do their own homework on health care reform and stop listening to the screamers.
We need health reform now. It has been debated for more than 40 years. Now, this year is the time we provide health care for all Americans as a right, not a privilege.
Check out the facts at www.hsreform.org. Be informed, not duped.
Ya wrote,” Seriously? Information from the AMA is not good enough? Do you only accept information from those web sites that fit your narrow view of this argument?”
I’d like ta point out ta ya that th AMA is not a public responsible legal entity that establishes law. It’s an association of people with a political agenda, an yes even a PAC, pertainin ta their field of employment an nothing more. Sorta like a union, a guild, or as I have already mentioned, a PAC.
Therefore thair opinions an claims or even urgins ta th public are not any more reliable or factual than any other association or organization like those callin themselves hsreform.org which, if ya had checked em out, parrot virtually everythin ya are talkin about as bein th truth.
Seems ta me ya ought th know who’s supportin ya an who’s not before ya start ta discredit em. But hey, it’s yer credibility yer tryin ta sell, not mine.
Now don’t take my response ta ya wrong, it’s just a friendly suggestion on how ta get people ta align with yer point of view as ya argue yer position.
“Do you only accept information from those web sites that fit your narrow view of this argument.”
Ya might not have intended it ta be a personal insult directed at me so I’ll let er slide, even though that’s how I read it. But if ya keep it up I’ll start respondin ta ya in kind. Keep yer civility in check an ya got no problems with anyone.
Here is the whole story to date from personal experience, not AMA research that clearly got it wrong! And I should believe them? Why? Are they not a special interest group?
I received a letter in the mail yesterday from the insurance company notifying me that they were discontinuing the policy (an Advantage Plan)! Since they cannot cancel the policy they have contracted with another carrier for the balance of the policy year. Yes, I am told I will have the option of staying with the new carrier at policy renewal time, but it will still leave me without my primary provider! And if a big insurance carrier can no longer afford to provide the product because of greater paperwork requirements and delayed payments from the government, why should I think that another company will survive the pressure? Besides I will still want my provider back, he has been my doctor for over 32 years!!
So long Advantage Plans!!
For Medicare recipients everything will remain the same???
I now understand what “Hope and Change” means. I must loose Hope while he Changes!
Big pharma and the AMA need to play ball with Obama and the Dems so they can get paid for treating millions of illegal aliens and others currently walking in to county hospitals. AARP, I cannot figure out why they are supporting Obama. Their claims that health reform will help seniors make no sense, since medicare is going bankrupt. I guess they figure someone has to raise taxes to pay for their members health care, and they don't think the GOP will do it.
Just follow the money, you get all the answers.
;)
In fact, read what the AMSA has to say about the AMA's "agenda". Yes, they said "agenda":
"In late August, the American Medical Association (AMA) released a plan detailing its agenda to reduce the number of uninsured people in the United States. The following document discusses the shortcomings of the AMA plan and why it will not solve the healthcare crisis and cannot provide all Americans with affordable, quality healthcare."
http://www.amsa.org/uhc/response_AMA.cfm
From th comments below an my own independent research on th subject, it appears ya didn't completely do yer research.
Shame on ya. Accordin ta Al, Cheri insists that ya do yer research before ya write yer opinions on things like this.
Now I expect ta see th article titled, "Newspaper editor flogs errant writer with a wet noodle for not doin his research.”
Ta th others reading this, ya might find it interestin ta visit https://www.verio.com/whois/whois_results.cfm?fuseaction=whois_results&domain=hsreform.org&cid='$JW]S@CNS0
ta find th info on hsreform.org. Then make up yer own minds on th accuracy of what they might be sellin ya.
Point one. “No current viable legislation would lead to socialized medicine.” Obama’s own words, “…this is the first step.” His vision is socialized medicine so sated in his campaign speeches.
Point two. “No one will have to change their health plan or physician, etc.” Then tell me why I had to change my primary doctor this June. Groundwork has started for major change and the legislation hasn’t even been passed.
Point three. “ Medicare program will continue as it is today. Medicare Advantage Plans will not be eliminated.” Wrong on both counts. Obama’s own words, “I want to bring Medicare into…etc.” Medicare Advantage plans are already being forced out. I am loosing mine and now shopping for a supplement; which by the way will cost me more. Doctors can no longer afford the heavier paperwork required for administration and the delays in getting paid in association with Advantage Plans.
Point four. “By insuring the uninsured...etc.” So are you telling me that AMA is in favor of forced insurance? By the way, not all uninsured are in favor of more government interference in their lives, my son is one of them, a small businessman and uninsured by choice.
Point five. “There are no provisions to extend coverage to illegal aliens.” True, but by current law, medical service cannot be denied. Therefore, even if such a provision existed it would only shift the cost to a different column.
Pont six. “And, finally the most egregious allegation out there is that there would be “death panels.” If it were egregious, why did the Senate remove the Advisory (death) Panel from their version because “its wording would allow it to be used for such.”???? Obama’s words, “It, the Advisory Panel,” won’t be used for that purpose.”?? You state that Medicare wont pay for it now, gosh that means I will be getting a bill in the mail, wrong again? My wife and I sat in a Doctors office 12 years ago and discussed her mother's end-of-life care options and she did not pay for the service, she was on Medicare.
All the above is from personal experienced so no research required.
We already have socialization. To deny that is a futile argument.
We all know that a public option will put private companies out of business.
If medicare won't improve what is the value of healthcare takeover?
We all know we aren't going to save money on the backend. Taxes. So much for "change".
When did socialization cost less? Did you run this by the Russians yet?
More taxes. There are no explicit provisions to prevent healtcare to the illegals. Wink wink.
There are no explicit provisions to prevent deathpanels aka, in the court of law.
Again. Inexplicit "wink wink" because Sara Palin wasn't entirely off the mark.
This is a "piss poor" attempt to hoodwink the taxpayers and it couldn't have come at a worse time.
Even the Democrats know that. It's those liberals.
The only time they agreed with Obama was in April when he set out to revamp the Health Care Plans, and as time went on, changes were made that AMA withdrew their support!!!
What researches did you use?
As far as I know, and in my field, we do not support his plans.