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The Coming Obacalypse
Since National Health Care seems to be the topic of the moment, I thought I would weigh-in. Rae has already posted, her take on health care, so here’s mine.
Like Rae I don’t think National Health care is a Free Thought issue per se mostly because the merits of having a government-mandated/subsidized health care system really comes down to an individual’s opinion of the proper role of government. A value judgment like that is simply beyond the scope of formal scientific skepticism.
I think there is plenty of evidence to support the conclusion that access to affordable health care increases an individual’s overall health and it isn’t much of a stretch to conclude that general access to health care would increase the health of the nation overall. But to take that conclusion and then broadly apply that to “Yes, national healthcare is the right thing to do” goes from evidence to value judgment.
What I want to focus on is a recent chain email (see below for full text) that I have received several times over the last several weeks. The email is supposedly from a Dr. Stephen Fraser an anesthesiologist at St. Vincent’s in Indianapolis. Whether or not this doctor really exists or whether or not he actually sent this is unimportant although this just goes to show that just because you are an expert in one thing it does not make you an expert in anything else.
There’s a couple of housekeeping matters to attend to first.
1) Here’s a link to the actual “Healthcare Bill” H.R. 3200 (PDF). This is so you can verify each and every thing that’s being claimed for yourself. Something Dr. Fraser clearly did not do.
2) Here is a link to, Twenty-six lies about H.R. 3200, repeated in Dr. Fraser’s email, from FactCheck.org.
Before I found the FactCheck.org article, I sat down with H.R. 3200 and began going through each of the items in Dr. Fraser’s email one-by-one. I’ll go through the first 3 and then skip around.
Stephen Fraser’s citation
Page 22 of the HC Bill: Mandates that the Govt will audit books of all employers that self insure!!
What it actually says…
…[the government] shall conduct a study of the large group insured and self-insured employer health care markets. Such study shall examine the following:
(A) The types of employers by key characteristics, including size, that purchase insured
products versus those that self-insure.
(B) The similarities and differences between typical insured and self-insured health plans.
(C) The financial solvency and capital reserve levels of employers that self-insure by employer size.
(D) The risk of self-insured employers not being able to pay obligations or otherwise becoming financially insolvent.
(E) The extent to which rating rules are likely to cause adverse selection in the large group market or to encourage small and mid size employers to self-insure
For brevity I won’t quote the whole page but it basically mandates that within 18 months of the passage of the bill a market analysis to assist the government in determining the impact of the healthcare reform bill must be delivered to the government. I’ll give Dr. Fraser half-credit but his interpretation exceeds what is plausible.
Stephen Fraser’s citation
Page 30 Sec 123 of HC bill – THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get
What it actually says…
There is established a private-public advisory committee which shall be a panel of medical and other experts to be known as the Health Benefits Advisory Committee to recommend covered benefits and essential, enhanced, and premium plans.
This is again a very specious reading of the text. This panel will not decide what you personally will be allowed to have (i.e., assigned to skeptigator) but will be charged with creating benefits packages, just like your private health insurance and/or your employer already does.. Dr. Fraser gets no points for this but I won’t go so far as to call the guy a liar.
Stephen Fraser’s citation
Page 29 lines 4-16 in the HC bill: YOUR HEALTH CARE IS RATIONED!!!
What it actually says…
(A) ANNUAL LIMITATION.—The cost-sharing incurred under the essential benefits package with respect to an individual (or family) for a year does not exceed the applicable level specified in subparagraph (B).
(B) APPLICABLE LEVEL.—The applicable level specified in this subparagraph for Y1 is $5,000 for an individual and $10,000 for a family. Such levels shall be increased (rounded to the nearest $100) for each subsequent year by the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index (United States city average) applicable to such year.
So Dr. Fraser would have us believe that the government would ration healthcare to a family at a limit of $10,000 annually. Does that even sound remotely reasonable. If you have had a hospital stay recently $10,000 will get you about 4 aspirin, a saline IV drip and a phone number to a bankruptcy attorney. This doesn’t even pass the “sniff test”, I’ll assume Stephen Fraser has simply lost his sense of smell.
The other thing that doesn’t pass the sniff test is the fact that so far he’s quoted entire pages or subsections. Here he only quotes lines 4-16 this is the equivalent of biblical proof-texting in which you pick a bible verse that supports your position out of its original context and/or with your own definitions for words.
This section actually establishes a Maximum Out-Of Pocket expense, just like, you guessed it, every private health insurance plan ever invented… ever, srsly. This is such an egregious misinterpretation. Here the good doctor chooses to use his own definition of the term “cost-sharing”. This is outright lying. And yes if Dr. Fraser is real and he really sent this then he is in fact a liar.
The whole email is unfortunate since there may be legitimate concerns in this bill that need to be addressed but the author of the email does so much damage to his/her credibility in the first few line items as to make the remaining endeavor an exercise in futile repetition.
I personally support national health care in general although the specific version going through the House has some points of real concern for me. I have real concerns about the “auto-enrollment” options within the bill. There’s no surprise that Dr. Fraser’s email mentions the same concerns but with much hyperbole and little truth.
Stephen Fraser’s Citation
Page 145 Line 15-17: An Employer MUST auto enroll employees into public option plan. NO CHOICE!
That is in fact not true and once again Dr. Fraser is lying. Well let me clarify, “An employer must auto enroll employees” is true, “into public option plan” is not true and, “NO CHOICE!” hmmmm, we’ll see.
First, note that only 2 lines are quoted, something already smells fishy. Second, the section cited ends with “in accordance with subsection (c)”. Subsection (c) is over two pages dedicated to the issue of employer “auto-enrollment” that is not limited to the Public Option only and includes an entire “Opt-Out” subsection. So much for “NO CHOICE!” You may think this one was really true since the good doctor used ALL CAPS and an Exclamation point which automatically makes everything “truer than truth itself” but you have once again been lied to.
I also find the mandatory 2.5% income tax on those who choose to opt-out or do not get health care to be almost punitive especially for those least likely to be able to afford it. And our good friend in fact gets this one right, although a bit oversimplified.
Stephen Fraser’s Citation
Page 167 Lines 18-23: ANY individual who doesn’t have acceptable [Health Care] according to Govt will be taxed 2.5% of income.
Conclusion
While this specific email continues the trend of egregious misinformation in the National Health care debate albeit with a bit of local flavor, there are many excellent resources for finding out about National Health care programs around the world. Try T.R. Reid’s book, The Healing of America. Here’s a link to his interview, Looking Overseas for “Healing of America”, with NPR about including more information on his book, a Washington Post article on the 5 major national health care plans available in other parts of the world and a link to a 2008 Frontline documentary on national health care in other countries.
FactCheck.org continues to be a wonderful investigative source for the truth behind the partisan spin. Something the author of this email seems to either be a victim of or a participant in.
Here’s another source for debunking common lies about other countries health care system, The Most Outrageous U.S. Lies About Global Health Care.
Full Text of Email
An Indianapolis Doctor’s Letter to Sen. Bayh about the Healthcare Bill
Dr. Fraser is an anesthesiologist at St. Vincent’s in Indianapolis.
Please read, this is unbelievable!!!!!
July 23, 2009
Senator Bayh,
As a practicing physician I have major concerns with the healthcare bill before Congress. I actually have read the bill and am shocked by the brazenness of the government’s proposed involvement in the patient physician relationship. The very idea that the government will dictate and ration patient care is dangerous and certainly not helpful in designing a healthcare system that works for all. Every physician I work with agrees that we need to fix our healthcare system, but the proposed bills currently making their way through congress will be a disaster if passed.
I ask you respectfully and as a patriotic American to look at the following troubling lines that I have read in the bill. You cannot possibly believe that these proposals are in the best interests of the country and our fellow citizens.
Page 22 of the HC Bill: Mandates that the Govt will audit books of all employers that self insure!!
Page 30 Sec 123 of HC bill – THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.
Page 29 lines 4-16 in the HC bill: YOUR HEALTH CARE IS RATIONED!!!
Page 42 of HC Bill: The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your HC Benefits for you. You have no choice!
Page 50 Section 152 in HC bill: HC will be provided to ALL non US citizens, illegal or otherwise
Page 58 HC Bill: Govt will have real-time access to individuals finances & a National ID Healthcard will be issued!
Page 59 HC Bill lines 21-24: Govt will have direct access to your banks accounts for elective funds transfer.
Page 65 Sec 164: is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in Unions & community organizations: (ACORN).
Page 84 Sec 203 HC bill: Govt mandates ALL benefit packages for private HC plans in the Exchange.
Page 85 Line 7 HC Bill: Specifications for of Benefit Levels for Plans = The Govt will ration your Healthcare!
Page 91 Lines 4-7 HC Bill: Govt mandates linguistic appropriate services. Example – Translation: illegal aliens.
Page 95 HC Bill Lines 8-18: The Govt will use groups i.e., ACORN & Americorps to sign up individuals for Govt HC plan.
Page 85 Line 7 HC Bill: Specifications of Benefit Levels for Plans. AARP members – your Health care WILL be rationed.
Page 102 Lines 12-18 HC Bill: Medicaid Eligible Individuals will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. No choice.
Page 124 lines 24-25 HC: No company can sue GOVT on price fixing. No “judicial review” against Govt Monopoly.
Page 127 Lines 1-16 HC Bill: Doctors/ American Medical Association – The Govt will tell YOU what you can make! (salary)
Page 145 Line 15-17: An Employer MUST auto enroll employees into public option plan. NO CHOICE!
Page 126 Lines 22-25: Employers MUST pay for HC for part time employees AND their families.
Page 149 Lines 16-24: ANY Employer with payroll 401k & above who does not provide public option pays 8% tax on all payroll.
Page 150 Lines 9-13: Business’s with payroll btw 251k & 401k who doesn’t provide public option pays 2-6% tax on all payroll.
Page 167 Lines 18-23: ANY individual who doesn’t have acceptable HC according to Govt will be taxed 2.5% of income.
Page 170 Lines 1-3 HC Bill: Any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt from individual taxes. (Americans will pay)
Page 195 HC Bill: Officers & employees of HC Admin (GOVT) will have access to ALL Americans finances /personal records.
Page 203 Line 14-15 HC: “The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax” Yes, it says that!
Page 239 Line 14-24 HC Bill: Govt will reduce physician services for Medicaid Seniors, low income and poor are affected.
Page 241 Line 6-8 HC Bill: Doctors, doesn’t matter what specialty you have, you’ll all be paid the same!
Page 253 Line 10-18: Govt sets value of Doctor’s time, proffession, judgment etc. Literally value of humans.
Page 265 Sec 1131: Govt mandates & controls productivity for private HC industries.
Page 268 Sec 1141: Federal Govt regulates rental & purchase of power driven wheelchairs.
Page 272 SEC. 1145: TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CANCER HOSPITALS – Cancer patients – welcome to rationing!
Page 280 Sec 1151: The Govt will penalize hospitals for whatever Govt deems preventable re-admissions.
Page 298 Lines 9-11: Doctors, treat a patient during initial admission that results in a re-admission -Govt will penalize you.
Page 317 L 13-20: PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. Govt tells Doctors what/how much they can own!
Page 317-318 lines 21-25, 1-3: PROHIBITION on expansion- Govt is mandating hospitals cannot expand.
Page 321 2-13: Hospitals have opportunity to apply for exception BUT community input is required. Can u say ACORN?!!
Page 335 L 16-25 Pg 336-339: Govt mandates establishment of outcome based measures. HC the way they want. Rationing.
Page 341 Lines 3-9: Govt has authority to disqualify Medicare Advance Plans, HMOs, etc. Forcing people into Govt plan.
Page 354 Sec 1177: Govt will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs people! Unbelievable!
Page 379 Sec 1191: Govt creates more bureaucracy – Tele-health Advisory Comittee. Can you say HC by phone?
Page 425 Lines 4-12: Govt mandates Advance Care Planning Consult. Think Senior Citizens end of life patients.
Page 425 Lines 17-19: Govt will instruct & consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney. Mandatory!
Page 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3: Govt provides approved list of end of life resources, guiding you in death. (assisted suicide)
Page 427 Lines 15-24: Govt mandates program for orders for end of life. The Govt has a say in how your life ends.
Page 429 Lines 1-9: An “advanced care planning consultant” will be used frequently as patients health deteriorates.
Page 429 Lines 10-12: “advanced care consultation” may include an ORDER for end of life plans. AN ORDER from GOVT!
Page 429 Lines 13-25: The govt will specify which Doctors can write an end of life order.
Page 430 Lines 11-15: The Govt will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life!
Page 469: Community Based Home Medical Services = Non profit organizations. Hello, ACORN Medical Services here!!?
Page 472 Lines 14-17: PAYMENT TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORIGINATION. 1 monthly payment 2 a community-based organization. Like ACORN?
Page 489 Sec 1308: The Govt will cover Marriage & Family therapy. Which means they will insert Govt into your marriage.
Page 494-498: Govt will cover Mental Health Services including defining, creating, rationing those services.
Senator, I guarantee that I personally will do everything possible to inform patients and my fellow physicians about the dangers of the proposed bills you and your colleagues are debating.
Furthermore, If you vote for a bill that enforces socialized medicine on the country and destroys the doctor/patient relationship, I will do everything in my power to make sure you lose your job in the next election.
Respectfully,
Stephen E Fraser MD
Disclaimer: The views expressed by an individual contributor to this blog are not necessarily shared by all members of FreeThought Fort Wayne. That is what makes this organization so interesting. Commenters on the FreeThought Fort Wayne blog are expected to abide by our comment policy. About the author: Skeptigator is a mystery wrapped in an enigma and served on a bed of lettuce. Read more from this author
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Tags: death panels, doctor, evan bayh, h.r. 3200, indianapolis, national health care, nurse, Obama, rationing, senator, st. vincent, stephen fraser, washington post Discussion
5 comments for “The Coming Obacalypse”
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Thanks, Skeptigator. A very informative post.
At my last appointment, I talked with my doctor for about 20 minutes (instead of his usual “hi, bye, gone in 60 seconds”) because I said I hadn’t heard a doctor’s take on universal health care. After we talked he said “It feels good to get that off my chest!”.
Sometimes it’s not good to get to know your doctor better.
He’s a conservative man to begin with; although that in itself doesn’t bother me. He is still a genuine, caring and smart man. That’s why he’s still my doctor.
He was telling me Canadians come over to the US to seek medical treatment for different problems and for Rx because their healthcare is severely limited and there is a waiting list for treatment, equipment is at a premium.
He said he does believe doctors, insurance companies and the pharmaceutical industry need to fix problems such as cost and coverage, but universal healthcare wasn’t the answer.
I asked why if universal healthcare is so bad, then why do so many leading and successful (like Canada, England, France) nations have it?
He said their systems aren’t as successful as they are touted to be.
After getting a dose of this medicine, I took my real prescription and left to go home and vomit some more.
@skep
A very informative post indeed. Please tell me you sent this out as a “reply-all” to everyone who distributed the “Dr. Fraser” email?
@jake
Don’t you just love those non-specific anecdotes about the hordes of disgruntled Canadians crossing the border to use our vastly superior health care system? I’ve tried to find someone, ANYONE to put a number to that story – all I’ve found so far is that staunchest of liberals Bob Barr, who estimated that 17,500 Canadians have done so from 1/1 through 9/1. Mind you, he didn’t parse those numbers at all (How many trips were paid by the Canadian government? How many were elective treatments/surgeries? How many were wealthy line-jumpers *cough* Steve Jobs *cough*?), and another blogger put the whole thing in much better perspective.
interesting post. i popped over to google to see what they have to say and if he is real. trying varied wording to get some info, this site is always the first thing to show up (smiling, maybe encourage others to check this site out) the only other thing shows he is with st vincents hospital in indy.
there are some c-span hearings on youtube where doctors express opinions and concerns which is interesting. some very for public option, some very anti.
its my understanding the people in canada etc on waiting lists are there based on life-threatening conditions priority level. i wouldnt have a problem waiting based on that. i doubt there is a perfect system anywhere, but i am a firm supporter of removing total optional plan control of all things healthcare from the corporations which happen to make the most profit in america. i know whats in their best interest and it isnt me. funny that the pharm, insurance, and republicans said they support everything except public option..until early august when rumors swirled that dems may drop the public option demand. then suddenly the proposed non-profit co-ops became the new unacceptable mantra..and now is just about leaving them alone to police themselves. LOL!!
This is excellent. Thank you for the information. There is so much crap being sent by my Republican “friends” I will be glad to send them this for a change.
Thank you
This is about power, folks, plain and simple.
The question boils down to this – Do you want more or less government in your life? The framers correctly answered “less”. When a nation turns from God, this is what happens. Create that crisis and Rahm this piece of crap through whether we like it or not. This bill creates far more problems than it solves.
As Dylan said – A hard rains gonna fall