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February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
July 20, 2009
/ 28 Tamuz 5769
Time to say goodby to AMA for a few dollars they sold out patients
By
Michael Arnold Glueck
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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Can you handle the truth? I Can you bear to read about what Obama has in mind?
SOME OPPRESSIVE MEASURES
Obama promised that you could keep your health planbut the "tri-committee" House bill, "America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009" (H.R. 3200), assures that this will not be possible. Unless your plan can survive without a single new customer.
"Grandfathered health insurance coverage" is not permitted to enroll any individual if the effective date of coverage is on or after the first day of implementation. It is also not allowed to make any changes in terms or conditions.
Plans that are not grandfathered are basically prohibited from following the principles of insurance; that is, they cannot price their coverage according to risk, but must force low-risk individuals to subsidize those of higher risk. Such plans are truly not insurance, but rather a type of welfare benefit. The means of financing is not correctly called a "premium." A mandatory payment is properly called a "tax." For lower-income individuals, the effective tax will be reduced by an income-based subsidy.
"Qualified" benefits will limit cost-sharing and will have to include expensive benefits such as mental health and substance abuse services. Benefits will be "recommended" by a public-private Health Benefits Advisory Committee chaired by the Surgeon General. Any potential profits (but not losses!) will be limited.
A "public health insurance option" (§ 221) will have start-up funding of $2 billion. Payment rates for items and services will be decided by the Secretary, based on Medicare rates (§ 223). Rates, determined by an administrative process, "shall not be set at levels expected to increase overall medical costs" beyond a certain level. The Secretary will have discretion to establish rates so as to provide for more efficient delivery, reduced disparities, or improved health outcomes.
To establish a provider network, "health care providers participating under Medicare are participating providers in the public health insurance option unless they opt out in a process established by the Secretary."
"Innovative" payment methods include bundling and "partial capitation."
Individuals who lack "acceptable health care coverage" at any time during the tax year will face an additional tax not to exceed the applicable national average premium." In other words, they can pay the "premium" and get "coverage"or pay a comparable tax and not get coverage.
Title VI ("program integrity") increases funding for detecting "waste, fraud, and abuse," while "enhancing" penalties and increasing compliance burdens.
Each act, or "false statement, omission, or misstatement of material fact" will carry a penalty of $50,000 (§ 1611-1612). There are also penalties of $15,000 per day for failure to provide "timely access" to records (§ 1613). It is clearly stated that "no proof of specific intent to defraud" is required (§1645).
Providers will have to have a compliance program, including written policies, a compliance officer, a compliance committee, an anonymous mechanism for reporting noncompliance, auditing procedures, and on and on (§ 1635).
To "reduce health disparities," pilot programs are to be set up for improving communication with Medicare beneficiaries who have limited English proficiency.
CONSEQUENCES
The initial cost of $789 billion over 10 years will balloon later, as the program is fully implemented. Note that the CBO's "net cost" of $597 billion assumes that the $789 billion cost estimate will be partly offset by $98 billion in increased tax revenue, $58 billion in savings and increased premium collections, and $36 billion in lower Medicaid and SCHIP spending. According to a Democrat House staffer, the bill would add up to $1.5 trillion in total costs over 10 years, writes Dennis Smith.
While the draft of the House bill that AAPS has seen does not contain the word "abortion," every single pro-life amendment failed in Senate committees (including prohibition of federal funding for abortion, conscience protection for providers, no federal mandate for abortion coverage, and no invalidation of state laws such as parental consent). Concerned Women for America calls it the "biggest power grab by abortion advocates since Roe v. Wade."
Eight million uninsured people would get hit with a huge tax increase, but still have no insurance. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the gap between the subsidies and the cost of "acceptable" coverage is too big to close for 8 million Americans.
The public option will probably cover 12 million illegal aliens. The House Ways and Means Committee nixed on a 26-to-15 straight party-line vote an amendment introduced by Rep. Dean Heller (R-NV) to require database checks to verify citizenship.
The bill provides federal payment for "nurse home visitation services," which could enable federal intrusion into every aspect of family life.
The Lewin Group estimated that 120 million or more Americans would lose group coverage at work, leaving fewer than 50 million customers for private carriers. Health Savings Accounts would probably be finished off altogether (Investors Business Daily 7/15/09).
The House bill establishes a "real time" data system to determine, at the time of service, the individual's financial responsibility and "whether the individual is eligible for a specific service with a specific physician at a specific facility, which may include utilization of a machine-readable health plan beneficiary identification card" (Health Freedom Watch, July 2009). Does this make medical treatment a right, or a privilege?
The cost of 15 million to 20 million new Medicaid beneficiaries would be bankrupting to many stateswhich are not allowed to print moneyespecially when the initial federal subsidy phases out (American Spectator 7/14/09). Gov. Phil Bredeson of Tennessee said he feared Congress was about to bestow "the mother of unfunded mandates".
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
Michael Arnold Glueck, M.D., writes on medical, legal and allied social issues in numerous newspapers, magazines and journals locally, nationally and internationally. He is widely quoted in the media.
Comment by clicking here.
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