Thread: Distortions rife in health care debate

FACT CHECK: Distortions rife in health care debate

By CHARLES BABINGTON, Associated Press Writer Charles Babington, Associated Press Writer – Sun Aug 2, 12:58 pm ET

WASHINGTON – Confusing claims and outright distortions have animated the national debate over changes in the health care system. Opponents of proposals by President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats falsely claim that government agents will force elderly people to discuss end-of-life wishes. Obama has played down the possibility that a health care overhaul would cause large numbers of people to change doctors and insurers.

To complicate matters, there is no clear-cut "Obama plan" or "Democratic plan." Obama has listed several goals, but he has drawn few lines in the sand.

The Senate is considering two bills that differ significantly. The House is waiting for yet another bill approved in committee.

A look at some claims being made about health care proposals:

CLAIM: The House bill "may start us down a treacherous path toward government-encouraged euthanasia," House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio said July 23.

Former New York Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey said in a July 17 article: "One troubling provision of the House bill compels seniors to submit to a counseling session every five years ... about alternatives for end-of-life care."

THE FACTS: The bill would require Medicare to pay for advance directive consultations with health care professionals. But it would not require anyone to use the benefit.

Advance directives lay out a patient's wishes for life-extending measures under various scenarios involving terminal illness, severe brain damage and situations. Patients and their families would consult with health professionals, not government agents, if they used the proposed benefit.

CLAIM: Health care revisions would lead to government-funded abortions.

Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council says in a video, "Unless Congress states otherwise, under a government takeover of health care, taxpayers will be forced to fund abortions for the first time in over three decades."

THE FACTS: The proposed bills would not undo the Hyde Amendment, which bars paying for abortions through Medicaid, the government insurance program for the poor. But a health care overhaul could create a government-run insurance program, or insurance "exchanges," that would not involve Medicaid and whose abortion guidelines are not yet clear.

Obama recently told CBS that the nation should continue a tradition of "not financing abortions as part of government-funded health care."

The House Energy and Commerce Committee amended the House bill Thursday to state that health insurance plans have the option of covering abortion, but no public money can be used to fund abortions. The bill says health plans in a new purchasing exchange would not be required to cover abortion but that each region of the country should have at least one plan that does.

Congressional action this fall will determine whether such language is in the final bill.

CLAIM: Americans won't have to change doctors or insurance companies.

"If you like your plan and you like your doctor, you won't have to do a thing," Obama said on June 23. "You keep your plan; you keep your doctor."

THE FACTS: The proposed legislation would not require people to drop their doctor or insurer. But some tax provisions, depending on how they are written, might make it cheaper for some employers to pay a fee to end their health coverage. Their workers presumably would move to a public insurance plan that might not include their current doctors.

CLAIM: The Democrats' plans will lead to rationing, or the government determining which medical procedures a patient can have.

"Expanding government health programs will hasten the day that government rations medical care to seniors," conservative writer Michael Cannon said in the Washington Times.

THE FACTS: Millions of Americans already face rationing, as insurance companies rule on procedures they will cover.

Denying coverage for certain procedures might increase under proposals to have a government-appointed agency identify medicines and procedures best suited for various conditions.

Obama says the goal is to identify the most effective and efficient medical practices, and to steer patients and providers to them. He recently told a forum: "We don't want to ration by dictating to somebody, 'OK, you know what? We don't think that this senior should get a hip replacement.' What we do want to be able to do is to provide information to that senior and to her doctor about, you know, this is the thing that is going to be most helpful to you in dealing with your condition."

CLAIM: Overhauling health care will not expand the federal deficit over the long term.

Obama has pledged that "health insurance reform will not add to our deficit over the next decade, and I mean it."

THE FACTS: Obama's pledge does not apply to proposed spending of about $245 billion over the next decade to increase Medicare fees for doctors. The White House says the extra payment, designed to prevent a scheduled cut of about 21 percent in doctor fees, already was part of the administration's policy.

Beyond that, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the House bill lacks mechanisms to bring health care costs under control. In response, the White House and Democratic lawmakers are talking about creating a powerful new board to root out waste in government health programs. But it's unclear how that would work.

Budget experts also warn of accounting gimmicks that can mask true burdens on the deficit. The bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget says they include back-loading the heaviest costs at the end of the 10-year period and beyond.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090802/ap_ ... fact_check

For me it is not about the cost. Technology has advanced and has gotten more expensive, like nuclear medicine, etc. For me it is about control. Anytime the government gets involved in ANYTHING they screw it up. I do not trust the particular handful of people that are going to run this system. I have no insurance, at the moment, had chest pains went to the hospital and was tested and treated. I did make arrangements to pay my bill so I am not spunging, but I will say you will get treated, insurance or not. Just look at the illegals to get that picture so when they say people can't get healthcare without government insurance, they are wrong. We will still be caring for the uninsured. This new system will not cover EVERYBODY. Hawaii tried this same system for 7 months, found that it doesn't work, and went back to business as usual. We do need some changes, but to upend the whole system does not make sense.

Also, I might add that it has been said by the likes of Tom Dashle, who could have been the one decideing on this, that people should realize that some things just come with age. I don't think that that mentality has changed. And why, if everything is suppose to be sooooooooo equal do they have a minority healthcare department? Why are we not all created equal? Why do white people not get the same consideration as minorities? I'm telling you, we are committing social suicide with this bill.

Fact Check also said that Obama was born in Hawaii and they posted his certificate of live birth on their web site.

Fact Check is a joke; they are not a reliable source.

Government run health care is not what the American people want or need, it was enacted illegally via the horrible Stimulus bill and violates our constitution. It is just one more thing that Obama can do to meet his goals of complete control over our country and people so that he can put into effect his Fascist government.

Originally Posted by ELE

Fact Check also said that Obama was born in Hawaii and they posted his certificate of live birth on their web site.

Fact Check is a joke; they are not a reliable source.

This article is not by or about factcheck.org .

CHARLES BABINGTON, The Associated Press Writer, is just saying "let's look at the facts" here folks.

(Let's look at facts here folks), this is a rationed health care, do you want government bureaucrats deciding what treatment you get depending on age, race, wealth, I view this plan as a way for genocide on certain segments of our society. This is not about health care it is about control, money, power and building a new America in the eyes of our current administration.

No one has to participate in the proposed plan.

Everyone is free to buy all of the private health care that they want.

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

No one has to participate in the proposed plan.

Everyone is free to buy all of the private health care that they want.

I'm sure you believe that but you've bought into the left wing media, while at first there may be some high cost options available within 5 years those would be gone what remains would be a government rationed health care plan much like Medicare but severally limited to certain groups.

Originally Posted by oldguy

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

No one has to participate in the proposed plan.

Everyone is free to buy all of the private health care that they want.

I'm sure you believe that but you've bought into the left wing media, while at first there may be some high cost options available within 5 years those would be gone what remains would be a government rationed health care plan much like Medicare but severally limited to certain groups.

Do you have a link to a reliable source for data for your claim that private medical care will not be available after 5 years ?

Do you have a link to a reliable source for data for your claim that private medical care will not be available after 5 years ?

Check what Barney Frank said last week. A government option is the first step towards a single payer government managed system. That is the intent of the Democratic Party leadership.

http://www.daylife.com/topic/Barney_Frank