Universal Health Care in California
They have voted out of the Assembly SB 900 and AB 1602 and they are now on their way to the Senate in California and we need to stop it!
This Bill is like the Public Option on the Federal side. With California sinking into bankruptcy this is the height of arrogance and fiscal irresponsibility.
Call your California Senators!
California State Senate-
REPUBLICANS
Sam Aenastad-Phone: (916) 651-4004,Fax: (916) 445-7750
Jeff Denham-Phone: (916) 651-4012,Fax: (916) 445-0773
Abel Maldonado-Phone: (916) 651-4015,Fax: (916) 445-8081
George Runner-Phone: (916) 651-4017,Fax: (916) 445-4662
Roy Ashburn-Phone: (916) 651-4018,Fax: (916) 322-3304
Tony Strickland-Phone: (916) 651-4019,Fax: (916) 324-7544
Alex Padilla-Phone: 916-651-4020,Fax: 916-324-6645
Bob Huff-Phone: (916) 651-4029,Fax: (916) 324-0922
Robert Dutton-Phone: (916) 651-4031,Fax: (916) 327-2272
Mimi Walters-Phone: (916) 651-4033,Fax: (916) 445-9754
Tom Harman-Phone: (916) 651-4035,Fax: (916) 445-9263
Dennis Hollingsworth-Phone: (916) 651-4036,Fax: (916) 447-9008
John Benoit-Phone: (916) 651-4037,Fax: (916) 327-2187
Mark Wyland-Phone: (916) 651-4038 ,Fax: (916) 446-7382
DEMOCRATS
Elaine Alquist-(916) 651-4013,(916) 324-0283 (Fax)
Ron Calderon- Phone: (916) 651-4030,Fax: (916) 327-8755
Gilbert Cedillo-Phone: (916) 651-4022, Fax: (916) 327-8817
Dave Cogdill- Phone: (916) 651-4014, Fax: (916) 327-3523
Ellen Corbett- Phone:(916) 651-4010, Fax: (916) 327-2433
Lou Correa- (916) 651-4034
Mark DeSaulnier-Phone: (916) 651-4007, Fax: (916) 445-2527
Denise Ducheny-Moreno (916) 651-4040, (916) 327-3522 fax
Dean Florez-Phone: (916) 651-4016,Fax: (916) 327-5989
Loni Hancock-Phone: (916) 651-4009, Fax: (916) 327-1997
Christine Kehoe-Phone: (916) 651-4039 Fax: (916) 327-2188
Mark Leno-Phone: (916) 651-4003, Fax: (916) 445-4722
Carol Liu-Phone: (916) 651-4021, Fax: (916) 324-7543
Allen S. Lowenthal-Phone: (916) 651-4027, Fax: (916) 327-9113
Gloria Negrete-McLeod-Phone: (916) 651-4032, Fax: (916) 445-0128
Jenny Oropeza-Phone: (916) 651-4028, Fax: (916) 323-6056
Alex Padilla-Phone: 916-651-4020, Fax: 916-324-6645
Fran Pavley-(916) 651-4023, Fax: (916) 324-4823
Curren Price-Phone: (916) 651-4026, Fax: (916) 445-8899
Gloria Romero-Phone: (916) 651-4024, Fax: (916) 445-0485
Joe Simitian-Phone: (916) 651-4011, Fax: (916) 323-4529
Darrell Steinberg-Phone: (916) 651-4006, Fax: (916) 323-2263
Patricia Wiggins-Phone: (916) 651-4002, Fax: (916) 323-6958
Lois Wolk-Phone: (916) 651-4005, Fax: (916) 323-2304
Roderick Wright- (916) 651-4025, Fax: (916) 445-3712
Leland Yee-Phone: (916) 651-4008, Fax: (916) 327-2186
August 23,2010
HR 5808 SUMMARY: Public Health Option
Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: $2 billion dollars
No CBO Cost yet
Beginning in 2014 the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary will offer insurance through exchanges that ensure choice, competition and stability throughout the US.
HHS will create low-cost plans without compromising quality or access to health care. They will offer bronze, silver and gold plans and maybe platinum plans
HHS may enter into contracts to perform administrative functions for this Public Health Insurance Option (PHIO)
It will establish an Ombudsman Office like the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman office
HHS will collect data to establish premium and payment rates for Public Health Insurance option
HHS will establish geographically adjusted premium rates for Public Health Care Option at a level sufficient to fully finance costs of health benefits by PHIO and administrative costs related to the operating of PHIO.
Treasury will set up an account for receipts ad disbursements attributable to separation of the PHIO including start up funding.
Payments of 5% higher than current rates established to give incentive for providers to participate in PHIO. If they providers don’t currently participate in Medicare they can participate in PHIO at the higher rate.
2017 HHS will administratively set up rates in order to promote payment accuracy. Providers are automatically put into the PHIO unless they opt –out.
No administrative or judicial review of the payment rates or methodology will be permitted under this Act.
HHS can vary payments based on different payment structures, (such as medical homes, etc)
TOWN HALLS 2010: HEALTH CARE
Questions:
We’ve included some sample questions that you can ask at your town hall meeting on some of those hot topics above. Feel free to use them however you like. *If you are asking multiple questions at one time, be sure to first say, “I have a couple of questions and would like to ask a follow-up question depending on your answer.”
Health Care Legislation:
A. PREFACE: It turns out, to the surprise of many in Congress, that due to the new health care law, businesses will soon be forced to file hundreds or thousands of new forms (the 1099k) with the IRS for every good that costs $600 or more that is purchased from another business. This provision was included only to raise revenue to implement the new health care law. It is well known that large corporations will be able to cope with this new burdensome regulation, but that small businesses will suffer greatly from this and either cut back on staff to deal with the extra costs, or shrink their businesses in other ways. Recently some Democrats have supported repealing this part, but they want to raise taxes on bigger businesses to pay for the lost revenue if this provision is repealed.
QUESTIONS: Why did you support a health care bill that makes it harder for small businesses to succeed, especially in these trying economic times and why is the cost of this bill being shouldered in part by small businesses? Will you pledge right now to repeal that portion of the health care bill without raising any taxes on any section of society to make up for the lost revenue?
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/07/29/obama-pumps-small-business-plan-while-obamacare-threatens-their-survival/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyWzMD1cQDQ&feature=player_embedded
B. PREFACE: All across the country small health insurance companies are sending out letters and notices to their clients, telling them that they will be shutting their doors due to the mandates, taxes, and costs associated with the new health care law, and many employers (including large corporations) have made it known that they may drop their current insurance plans as well, paying the fine instead. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid now estimate that about 9 million Americans will lose their current health insurance, and 14 to 35 million will lose their employer coverage by 2019, due to the new law.
QUESTIONS: When President Obama, VP Biden, and others claimed “If you like your insurance, you can keep it,” were you deliberately lying, or did you just not understand (or read) the bill and its ramifications on businesses because so few of them have ever run a business or worked in private industry? What is your strategy - specifically, with details - in dealing with Americans being forced off of the plans they prefer because of legislation you passed, despite your promises that they could keep it?
Congressional Budget Office: hr4872.pdf and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: index.cfm
C. PREFACE: Currently, insurers charge six to seven times as much to older customers than younger customers due to older folks using health services that much more often. Under the new law, insurance companies are only allowed to charge older customers three times as much, due to the new age-rating requirement. This means that in order to make up the difference, younger people will be charged more, and according to a study reported by the Associated Press, that increase in their premiums is likely to be anywhere between 17% and 50%.
QUESTION: Did you understand the bill well enough to know this was going to happen? If so, why didn’t you warn young people they would be paying so much
more for their health insurance? If not, what do you plan to do about those
increased premiums for younger people when President Obama promised that the new health care law would make health insurance more affordable for everyone? Lastly, what are your plans to handle the anticipated surge in young people foregoing insurance and paying the penalty instead, to avoid the higher premiums?
http://blog.heritage.org/2010/03/30/side-effects-young-to-pay-higher-health-insurance-premiums/
D. PREFACE: Proponents of the new health care law claimed that it would boost the economy and create jobs. However, Gov. Patrick of Massachusetts is now complaining that the new tax on medical devices included in the new law may end up costing thousands of jobs because the companies will move overseas to avoid the new taxes. If they don’t move, then the devices will most certainly be more expensive and that will put many new and innovative devices out of reach for middle class Americans, including our returning Veterans. Drug companies will also face harsh new taxes, possibly making research and development too costly to support discoveries of new life-saving drugs.
QUESTIONS: Did you realize that there was a tax on medical devices and did you approve of this tax in order to pay for portions of the new law? What is going to happen to the thousands of Americans that may now lose their jobs because of this provision; what are your plans for confronting this potentially devastating outcome? Lastly, how will our Veterans be assured that their access to vital medical devices will not be compromised due the increased costs associated with this new tax?
http://blog.heritage.org/2010/03/30/side-effects-medical-devices-tax-will-costs-jobs/
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/care-245680-health-companies.html
E. PREFACE: Nancy Pelosi said “we have pass the bill so we can find out what is in it” and now we’re finding out about all sorts of mistakes, which is why we were so adamant about having a chance to read the bill before it passed, but the Democrat leadership laughed us off and accused of being obstructionists. We found out in March that the new law failed to ensure immediate coverage for kids with pre-existing conditions - something Obamacare supporters had constantly promised was part of the bill. Legislation is supposed to be scrubbed of shortcomings such as this before it’s brought to the floor for a vote. In response lawmakers said their “intent” had been for children to be covered immediately so private companies should do it anyway.
QUESTIONS: Will you admit that the new health care bill was too long, too obtuse, and that the so-called “debate” was much too short now that we have found out about mistakes like this? Will you pledge right now to post all bills online for 7 days prior to voting on them? Do you think it is appropriate for lawmakers and regulators to coerce the private sector into doing what they simply declare to be their “intent,” rather than what is actually written in the law?
http://blog.heritage.org/2010/04/01/side-effects-laws-no-longer-mean-what-they-say/
F. PREFACE: In recent years, the US has faced a growing shortage of physicians. Experts predict a 40,000 shortfall in doctors over the next decade. A recent study by Medicus Firm found 29% of 1200 doctors surveyed would leave the medical profession or retire early if Obamacare goes into effect and 63% said they would not recommend their profession now due to the new law. Since the new law creates massive new demand for more physicians while simultaneously cutting program reimbursement rates for doctors, the new law is basically asking doctors to work more for less money.
QUESTIONS: When there are less doctors and more patients, what do you think is the most likely outcome when distributing care? (Answer: Rationing) As more and more Americans have access to fewer and fewer doctors, do you have any plans to tackle this looming, potentially deadly problem? Finally, explain the difference between health “insurance” and health “care” and how, in light of the inevitable loss of doctors, you think that the new law increases the quality and quantity of both.
http://blog.heritage.org/2010/04/09/side-effects-doctor-participation-may-vary/
**These are sample questions that you are free to use. If you write your own, try to create questions that force the Representative or Senator to answer in a meaningful way - not just a yes or no for instance. Keep them on target so if they try to avoid answering your hard questions, stay on them for an answer. And remember to video tape everything!**
Other Resources & Materials
We’ve listed resources and materials that you can read through in order to create your own questions and comments.
Health Care Legislation:
*http://blog.heritage.org/tag/side-effects/
*http://www.scribd.com/doc/34997090/Obamacare-Chart
*http://gopleader.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=200121
*http://csteventucker.wordpress.com/2010/03/21/how-bad-is-the-democrats-health-care-reform-bill-really/
Other Points to Raise
• From the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT): The new law redistributes nearly $800 billion from some Americans to other Americans.
• From the Congressional Budget Office (CBO): People who buy coverage on their own will see their premiums increase by 10-13%, or $2100 per year.
• From the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): The new law bends the federal spending curve upward by a net total of $251 billion over the next decade. It increases national health care spending by $311 billion during calendar years 2010-2019.
• From the Congressional Research Service (CRS): The new law allows for federally-funded abortions, despite Democrats' claims to the contrary. According to the CRS, the abortion restrictions contained in the new law "would not appear to apply specifically to the funds made available for high risk pools by section 1101."
• Businesses will now be taxed on subsidy they were given to provide prescription drug coverage for retirees.
• States will be required to enroll every resident in Medicaid who has income of 133% of the poverty level, even though Medicaid and states are broke, and Medicare (i.e. gov’t) is the leading denier of health care, far worse than any private insurance company.
• American citizens must buy expensive, comprehensive health insurance approved by bureaucrats, or pay a penalty of $695 annually. However, illegal aliens are not required to buy health insurance and will still be able to receive care at hospital emergency rooms.
• Low-income American citizens will be forced onto Medicaid, but low-income legal immigrants/residents will be given a subsidy to buy the insurance of their choice on the federally-regulated state exchange system.
• There are 12 new insurance mandates that will be imposed on health insurance plans, which will increase the cost of insurance for everyone who pays for it, and these 12 mandates go into affect on September 23, 2010.
Obesity Rating for Every American Must Be Included in Stimulus-Mandated Electronic Health Records, Says HHS
By Matt Cover, CNSNews.com, 7/15/10
(CNSNews.com) New federal regulations issued this week stipulate that the electronic health records--that all Americans are supposed to have by 2014 under the terms of the stimulus law that President Barack Obama signed last year--must record not only the traditional measures of height and weight, but also the Body Mass Index: a measure of obesity.
The obesity-rating regulation states that every American's electronic health record must: Calculate body mass index. Automatically calculate and display body mass index (BMI) based on a patients height and weight.
The law also requires that these electronic health records be available--with appropriate security measures--on a national exchange.
The new regulations are one of the first steps towards the governments goal of universal adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) by 2014, as outlined in the 2009 economic stimulus law. Specifically, the regulations issued on Tuesday by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Dr. David Blumenthal, the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, define the "meaningful use" of electronic records. Under the stimulus law, health care providers--including doctors and hospitals--must establish "meaningful use" of EHRs by 2014 in order to qualify for federal subsidies. After that, they will be subjected to penalties in the form of diminished Medicare and Medicaid payments for not establishing "meaningful use" of EHRs.
Section 3001 of the stimulus law says: "The National Coordinator shall, in consultation with other appropriate Federal agencies (including the National Institute of Standards and Technology), update the Federal Health IT Strategic Plan (developed as of June 3, 2008) to include specific objectives, milestones, and metrics with respect to the following: (i) The electronic exchange and use of health information and the enterprise integration of such information.(ii) The utilization of an electronic health record for each person in the United States by 2014."
http://capoliticalnews.com/blog_post/show/5698
Wounded Warriors Face New Tax This Independence Day
From John Kartch and Ryan Ellis on Friday, July 2, 2010 12:51 PM
[Printable PDF Version]
As the nation prepares to celebrate Independence Day with parades and barbecues, America’s veterans face a new tax on prosthetic limbs and other vital medical devices.
The health care overhaul passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama earlier this year contains a new tax on medical devices such as prosthetic limbs, pacemakers, and wheelchairs. This tax, which its proponents claim will raise $20 billion over the next ten years, contains no exemption for the nation’s 22 million veterans. In fact, Senate Democrats specifically refused to exempt veterans from the tax.
On March 24 2010, Senate Democrats rejected an amendment offered by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) to the healthcare bill. This amendment (SA 3644) would have prevented the medical device tax from hitting veterans covered by the Veterans Healthcare Program or TRICARE for Life. This amendment was rejected by a vote of 44-54. All but five Democrat senators voted in favor of retaining the tax for veterans.
The medical device tax was one of over twenty new or higher taxes in President Barack Obama’s healthcare overhaul. This permanent new tax is being collected now.
Read more: http://www.atr.org/index.php#ixzz0sYXVFJ46
CBO ups health care cost projections
Congressional Budget Office estimates released Tuesday predict the health care overhaul will likely cost about $115 billion more in discretionary spending over ten years than the original cost projections.
The additional spending — if approved over the years by Congress — would bring the total estimated cost of the overhaul to over $1 trillion.
Republicans pounced on the news, which they called another sign that the Obama administration makes promises it cannot deliver.
“The American people wanted one thing above all from health care reform: lower costs, which Washington Democrats promised, but they did not deliver,” said House Minority Leader John A Boehner (R-Ohio). “It was clearly irresponsible for Washington Democrats to force this legislation through Congress without being truthful about its full impact on the nation’s finances. Republicans are fighting to repeal this job-killing health care law and replace it with reforms focused first on lowering costs and protecting American jobs.”
But a Democratic leadership aide on Capitol Hill said the Congress will have to stay within the budget.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/37081.html#ixzz0njbu2url
This Friday Senate Bill 3217, also known as the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010, introduced by Democrat Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut, is scheduled to hit the floor of the US Senate where it must wait 72 hours before it comes up for a full vote. CLICK HERE to read the actual 1,421 page bill.
The vast majority of Tea Party Patriots' Local Coordinators from all over the country agreed on our most recent weekly conference call that this is a bad bill and we oppose it.
In short it grants permanent, unlimited bailout authority to the Federal Reserve. It's like TARP forever without the nasty, unpopular debates and votes in Congress. Beyond that it gives the Fed the power to takeover vaguely defined "nonbank financial companies". And the Fed has the power to decide what constitutes a "nonbank financial company" on a case by case basis.
Here are some links to a few articles that give a bit more insight into this very, very bad piece of legislation which must be stopped:
How To Create Bailouts Forever
Hidden Danger in Dodd Financial "Reform" Bill
Dodd Bill Creates Permanent TARP and You Can Quote That
Connecting the Dots: Does Wall St. Want Dodd Bill?
Obama: Read My Lips, No More Bailouts (But Let's Keep $50 Billion Around Just in Case)
So, what are we asking you to do?
Four things:
1.) Please contact your own Senators first and voice your opposition to this bill. If possible, physically go in person to the local home offices of your two Senators and speak to someone there who will take note of your opinion and pass it on. If you're not able to go in person, please call, email, and fax the offices of both Senators from your state. (Find Your Senators by State on the Senate Website)
2.) Call, email, and fax these 8 Republican Senators who are not yet 100% opposed to this bill:
Bob Bennett of Utah (202) 224-5444
http://bennett.senate.gov/public/
Susan Collins of Maine (202) 224-2523
http://collins.senate.gov/public/
Christopher Bond of Missouri (202) 224-5721
http://bond.senate.gov/public/
Saxby Chambliss of Georgia (202) 224-3521
http://chambliss.senate.gov/public/index.cfm
Bob Corker of Tennessee (202) 224-3344
http://corker.senate.gov/public/
John McCain of Arizona (202) 224-2235
http://mccain.senate.gov/public/
Olympia Snowe of Maine (202) 224-5344
http://snowe.senate.gov/public/
Scott Brown of Massachusetts (202) 224-4543
http://scottbrown.senate.gov/public/
3.) Write Letters about this issue to your local paper for publication on or before Sunday. Also leave comments on as many news blogs and websites related to this subject as you can find.
4.) Forward this message to as many people as you can and ask them to take these same 4 steps as soon as possible. Use the full power of your circle of influence to move others (at least 1 more person) to take action.
.