I've been exchanging email with Natalie who is very knowledgeable about some aspects of healthcare. I learn from her, and most of the time I appreciate the information she shares with me.
But Natalie, like many others, is now being used by people who want to see healthcare reform fail. And the reason those people want reform to fail is because they have been sucking lots of money -- OUR money -- out of the system -- money that won't be so easily available once reform goes through. Their bazillion dollar incomes and bonuses are threatened. So they will make up anything at all, even if its a pure lie, to incite ordinary citizens into believing things that just are not true. Don't believe it? Then explain why $1.4 million PER DAY is being spent on lobbyists in Washington, DC.
You may not realize that you are being used, too. Here's how to tell:
If you have forwarded any email about healthcare reform that says anything about how older people will be euthanized, or will be forced to choose their time of death, then you have been used. There is language in one of the bills about helping seniors with their advance directives. It has nothing to do with the right - or a requirement - to die. The proposal on the table suggests that if someone wants counseling to set up their advance directives, then Medicare will pay for the counseling. Truth is, we should all have advance directives in place! There is much written here at About.com about these important documents.
If you have told anyone you are against healthcare reform because it will be RATIONED after healthcare reform, then you have been used. Rationing is nothing new. Rationing has been going on for years, in many ways, and has been forced by insurance companies who deny care to save money.
If you have believed any information about a government commission or group that will determine what healthcare you get, then you have been used. In fact,there is a commission and its only task is to be sure that the private insurers who will participate are covering the people they need to cover, and offering the basics in their plans. (I also have to ask - who on earth could believe an entire commission would be set up to determine their healthcare? Seriously? We can't even get 15 minutes with one doctor; how could we get a whole commission? )
If you are appalled because you think the healthcare reform proposals even mention abortion, you have been used. The word "abortion" is never even mentioned in any of the proposals.
If you are upset because you believe illegal aliens or other non-US citizens will get "free healthcare" then you have been used. Not even American citizens will get free healthcare, much less non-citizens.
If the thought of a healthcare system such as one in Canada or Great Britain scares you, and you believe somehow that the United States could end up with a similar system, then you are being used.
If the thought of a single-payer, government run healthcare system seems unAmerican to you? Then you are being used, too -- because that's exactly what Medicare is -- a single-payer, government-run healthcare system.
There are a handful of other suggestions, too, many of which are not true.
So I have a request of you today. The next time you are confronted with a statement, an email, a Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, Betsy McCaughey or any of the rest of these inciters' statements -- or just as bad, a partisan politician's false interpretation of what's going on in Washington... check the facts before you get upset, and particularly before you pass it on.
This is a problem, you know. Trying to legislate based on lies. How will we end up with an affordable, accessible reform program if the outcomes are based on lies?
What have you heard? What concerns do you have? I'll help you fact check:
What Concerns Do You Have About Healthcare Reform?
Get a "Reality Check" on Healthcare Reform from WhiteHouse.gov
Review myths vs. reality from AARP
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Wow, forceful and straightforward, I really appreciate this article! I was watching John Stewart on The Daily Show last night where he took after many of the silly things being said about health care reform.
This is terrific, Trisha! Love the way you’ve deconstructed some of these major points…much appreciated!
Daphne
You’re so awesome Trisha – really important stuff you are saying here.
What concerns me about health care reform (and I’m totally for it by the way!) is how will all our provider’s fare when so many more people can now have the healthcare that they need as it’s available to every American.
I believe that our medical staff, including the professional, administrative and other support staff (i.e. housekeeping), are vastly overstretched right now with the workflow.
Obviously, we will need more staff to accomodate more patients as health care becomes available for everyone. That’s clear.
I’m concerned that there won’t be enough professional providers to meet the need. Furthermore, I think there needs to be some financial incentives (and don’t ask me who picks up the tab for this one – dunno!) to encourage people to go to med school, get medical training, etc – instead of just getting out of school with massive amounts of debt and huge costs to get set up in practice.
I really want more financial incentive for people like radiation techs, phlebotemists, nurses, nurses aides, etc – those people who make the system run and are very hands on with the patients. These people have to be trained and are often the unsung heroes – underpaid, overworked, unappreciated.
That needs to change imho!!! And immediately isn’t soon enough.
I want health care reform because I believe everyone deserves good quality health care. And I believe we have to start SOMEWHERE! There are many things that will need to be ironed out along the way – but this particular bump of not having enough staff and how to encourage more people who love helping others to enter the field to get the training they need, is a big issue that I don’t know how to resolve.
That’s why we need lots of people recognizing that THIS is also part of healthcare reform. It’s unrealistic to ask more and more of these people without financial support as well as reasonable working conditions.
Maybe somewhere it has been addressed and I am missing it. I hope that’s the case. IF you know something about this, please share it with us.
You’re doing important work, Trisha, and thanks for keeping us well informed!
Great article! We need these changes (and probably more), and I am so disheartened to see the reactions of poorly informed (and used) people.
Hi Trisha,
I just wanted to commend you on your effort to inform people of inaccuracies in the health reform debate. Unfortunately, you clouded your good effort when you chose to name those who oppose the President’s health reform proposals. Your effort to inform simply turned political and in the end turned me off. Next time, stick to your mission at hand- the truth- and your message will be much more powerful.
Char — you have raised very important points and I hope others will scroll up to your comment, read them, and understand them well.
I have heard talk about the lack of enough primary care physicians, and I have written on the topic. But you are right — other supporting professionals need to be brought into the mix, too.
Thanks for your thoughtful addition to the conversation.
The word “abortion” is never even mentioned in any of the proposals.
…and until it is , as in “abortion will in no way be encouraged or funded…” I can’t even consider this proposal as empowering patients.
Saying that the word is not used, therefore it won’t happen is naive.
In supporting United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’ affirmation of “sexual and reproductive health,” President Obama has recognized an international right to abortion. Similar language in reform legislation would be interpreted the same way.
** I want language that protects the rights of the unborn.
Senator Mikulski offered an amendment to the Senate health-care bill that would provide for any service deemed “medically necessary or medically appropriate.” When pressed by Senator Hatch, she admitted this would require the coverage of abortion services by health-insurance companies.
There are precedents for such “open to interpretation” language leading to abortion funding.
** I want language that prevents any misinterpretation AND does not require health care professionals who object to perform abortions under threat of job loss.
How true!!! so many people have been used!! family and friends and peers – some of them just don’t understand the facts. The points you rais above a spot on. I will be sending a link to this to all of my contacts (a few thousand), and will be posting it on my blogs. Thanks for the insight!
Thank you, Trish.
It always amazes me at how easily the American public can be swayed to vote against its own best interests and in favor of wealthy corporate bureaucratic interests.
This is one reason why I will never back coops. Public opinion is swayed too easily and the cooperative groups probably will not be large enough, individually, to bargain down prices, and even if they were, business has a way of offering perks to the guys at the top to ’see things their way’.
Just the fact that the majority of bankruptcies are caused by health problems and the majority of those so affected are middle class, work, and have health insurance – should give us a clue that the current organizations are not working out for us. I’m for a single payer system.
Because single payer would dump so many people who are employed by insurance companies onto unemployment lines in these hard times, I will go for a public option, but never a co-op.
I think this attempt may just fizzle out. I guess when the current system sees someone seriously ill in almost every family with no aid for them and only the wealthy getting medical treatment, maybe the public will be in a different frame of mind and not so easily swayed by false propaganda.
Some of us can see the writing on the wall and unfortunately we are going to have to suffer along with the sheep who will make this decision for us.
I now have great medical care and no intention of dropping it, but I can envision a scenario in which that could end. I like the thought of a public option to fall back on because health is just not a topic to play political games with for me. There are already too many Americans who have become destitute due to health expenses. If it takes a few more dollars out of my paycheck (we have been told it would not) to me it would be worth it to protect these people and myself, too, if I should need it.