Call to Action From the Chair, Council on Medical Economics, Florida Medical Association

Posted by admin on July 23, 2009 under ***IMPORTANT LEGISLATION***, 2K9 Tea Party Revolution, Conservatism Resurgency, ObamaCare | Be the First to Comment

STOP Government Run Health Care - 
Call Blue Dog Democrats Today!
(numbers below)

The President likes to say that the “Status quo” must change on health care . The fact is that the status quo is the government and insurance companies in charge of health care spending and it has gotten us where we are today.  Yet the President wants to give MORE power to these same groups!  How does that change “the status quo”?Stop Government Run Medicine. 

1. Create a government run insurance program that likely will add over 100 million people onto the backs of taxpayers (Lewin Group).

2. Mandate that everyone buy over-priced health insurance that is created by politicians and lobbyists – a huge profit gain for insurance companies.  It is estimated that insurance costs will GO UP by up to 95%.  This plan has failed in Massachusetts where there are still 2.6% uninsured, premiums have gone up at rates higher than the rest of the country and the state is now spending an additional $1.5 billion in taxpayer money on health care!

3. Create government rationing that will allow insurance company profits to grow and allow government to avoid paying benefits (Campaign for Liberty).

4. Create government committees that will tell doctors what medical tests and treatments they CAN and CANNOT order and punish them financially if they don’t “comply” (www.doctorsforpatientfreedom.com).

5. Prevent you from buying private insurance that is not “government-approved” after 2013 (page 16 of bill) http://www.aapsonline.org/newsoftheday/00351.

6. Create a massive bureacracy that will interfere in the relationship you have with your doctors.

7. Add to the national debt and increase government spending by at least $1.5 trillion over ten years!

8. Cut spending for Medicare patients by $400 billion over ten years!

9. Force seniors to attend “counseling sessions” about alternatives for “end of life care”, or more often if they get sick  (House bill, p. 425-430).

Already Congress has defeated amendments that would have prohibited a) the government from interfering in the practice of medicine and that b) would have prevented insurance plans from being required to pay for abortion benefits -even if you don’t want those benefits.

The House of Representatives needs to hear form you this week so they know you want to

House Bill 3200 will:

There are better ways to drive down health insurance premiums:  put money and power in the hands of individuals and create real competition.  Give them tax benefits to buy health insurance outside of work – not just from their employer. Allow them to buy lower cost insurance from another state.  Allow the natural growth of tax free health savings accounts and high deductible health plans so insurance is used rarely in your life- not every time you see a doctors. That will allow patients to demand more time from their doctors and have the doctor explain why tests and treatments are worth spending money from their own accounts.  The poor and the sick who have can’t find health insurance CAN get help from the government and charities and that will be more affordable for taxpayers. Sadly, the status quo won’t change under Congresional plans – the status quo will be made worse as the same government and insurance companies that created our problems are given even more power.

Please call the following representatives today and let them know: 
1) NO GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTH CARE-  No indvidiual mandate – No public option. 
2) VOTE NO ON HR 3200 and empower individuals – not government and insurance companies. 
3) NO RATIONING.
 

Sincerely,

David McKalip, M.D.
Chairman, Florida Taxpayers Union
Chair, Council on Medical Economics, Florida Medical Association