[BwayDems] healthcare updates

[polly de mille/richard siegel]

Congress is in recess the rest of this month.  As you are aware, many legislators are holding town-hall type meetings to discuss this issue with constituents.  There is a lot of mis-information that is being spread about the proposed reforms.  The most outlandish statement is that health care reform will lead to 'death panels' that will determine who gets treatment and who will not.  That is not in any of the proposed bills.  There is no mention of ANY form of rationing based on medical futility in ANY of the proposed bills.  




There are several organizations that show side by side comparisons of the bills thus far released by different committees.  All can be accessed through the internet.  Some are:  the American Hospital Association: (www.aha.org), the Kaiser Family Foundation: http://www.kff.org/healthreform/sidebyside.cfm.  If you know of others, please share with members of the Advocacy Committee.

 

Many legislators who are opposed to the above noted bills and the current Obama proposals state they are in favor of a reform plan similar to one proposed by Senator Jim Demint, a Republican representing South Carolina.  In order to be fully informed of all sides of this discussion/debate, a synopsis of his plan, taken from is website, is listed below:   (website: http://demint.senate.gov/public/ )

 

 

The Health Care Freedom Plan:

 

. Protects the right of Americans to keep their employer-based plan without having to pay additional taxes on those benefits. 


. Provides Americans without employer-based coverage with vouchers of $2000 for individuals and $5000 for families to purchase health insurance. The premium for the average private policy sold in the individual market in 2007 was $1,896 for an individual and $4,392 for a family (Source: eHealthInsurance) 


. Allows Americans with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to use their HSA funds to pay for insurance premiums, encouraging employers to contribute to their employees' HSAs.


. Creates a nationwide market for health insurance by allowing individuals to purchase health insurance plans in any state. 


. Provides block grants to states to develop innovative models that ensure affordable health insurance coverage for Americans with pre-existing health conditions. 


. Reduces predatory and frivolous malpractice lawsuits against physicians and hospitals. 


. Assures that every health care consumer has access to price information prior to treatment so they can make informed decisions about their care. 


. Repeals financial bailouts (TARP) to ensure that the plan does not add to the deficit.

 

It is important to make certain that accurate facts are being used when this topic is discussed.  Please remind all to check facts before making a determination of the merits of each proposal.  Please work to support proposals that you agree with.



Thanks to all who have responded and given you opinions.  I urge you to consider sending your thoughts to the list serve (bwdupdates at broadwaydemocrats.org) so that all participate in this dialog.   - Richard

 
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