Rock 'n' Roll 'n' Politics...Fight Government Encroachment into Healthcare! (Ron Paul)
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With a faltering economy, and skyrocketing costs, healthcare continues to be a critical issue for all Americans. Unfortunately government encroachment into the doctor/patient relationship is poised to exacerbate our problems with healthcare. As an OB/GYN with over 30 years of experience in private practice, I understand that one of the foundations of quality healthcare is the patient's confidence that all information shared with his or her healthcare provider will remain private. And yet, the Federal Government plans to undermine this trust with establishment of mandatory electronic medical records collections and "unique health identifier" numbers assigned to all Americans. Funding for this program was among the numerous provisions jammed into the stimulus bill rushed through Congress earlier this year. Electronic medical records that are part of the federal system will only receive the protection granted by the federal "medical privacy rule." This misnamed rule actually protects the ability of government officials and state-favored special interests to view private medical records without patient consent. Aside from those concerns, the government's ability to protect medical records is highly questionable. After all, we are all familiar with cases where third parties obtained access to electronic veteran, tax, and other records because of errors made by federal bureaucrats. We should also consider the abuse of IRS records by administrations of both parties. What would happen if unscrupulous politicians gained the power to access their political enemies' electronic medical records? For these reasons I have introduced the Protect Patients' and Physicians' Privacy Act, HR 2630, which allows patients and physicians to opt out of any federally mandated, created, or funded electronic medical records system. The bill also repeals sections of federal law establishing a "unique health identifier" and requires patient consent before any electronic medical records can be released to a 3rd party. I have also introduced the Coercion is Not Health Care Act, HR 2629. This legislation forbids the federal government from forcing any American to purchase health insurance, or conditioning participation in any federal program on the purchase of health insurance. Forcing Americans to purchase government-approved health insurance is a back door approach to creating a government-controlled healthcare system. Congress would define what policies and coverage requirements satisfy their mandate. Does anyone then doubt that what conditions and treatments are covered would be determined by who has the most effective lobby? Or that Congress would be capable of writing a mandatory insurance policy that fits the unique needs of every individual in the United States? With these conditions in place, I foresee the eventual imposition of price controls and limitations on what procedures and treatments that are covered. This will result in an increasing number of providers turning to "cash only" practices, making it difficult for those relying on the government-mandated insurance to find healthcare - the exact opposite of the desired result! Consider the increasing number of physicians who are already withdrawing from the Medicare program because of the low reimbursement and constant bureaucratic harassment from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Congress should put the American people back in charge of healthcare by expanding healthcare tax credits and deductions, increasing access to Health Savings Accounts, respecting privacy and the doctor/patient relationship. Further politicizing and bureaucratizing of healthcare will only increase costs and reduce quality, as demonstrated by most other countries with socialized medicine.
-Ron Paul-
Comments (19)
While I have a lot of agreeance with Mr. Paul on his Foreign Policy stuff..I part ways in a very big way with him on the health care issue. Notice how he lays into ideas of healthcare for all, but then backs up by saying:
"Further politicizing and bureaucratizing of healthcare will only increase costs and reduce quality, as demonstrated by most other countries with socialized medicine."
What if we came up with a system that mirrored one of the good ones he allows are out there?
Basically, except for rich folks and folks with cadillac plans from work..the government is already heavily subsidizing healthcare..even for folks with insurance.
Medicine should not be profit based! Capitalism is not the answer to every question.
WoW! CodyB, The few countries that have done it half-way right are very small with homogenous populations. Here in the US of A the sheer cost of the beauracracy needed to administer the "health-Care Restructuring" would inevitably lead to rationing in judgemental ways. You can bet the smoker & the drinker will be vilified While the unwed teenage mother with no education, job, or life skills will continue to be glorified & subsidized. You can bet that everyone would have to participate in mandated health-maintainence programs.
Zeig Heil!
CodyB: I think our Gov. treat's it as profit base already.
"Basically, except for rich folks and folks with cadillac plans from work..the government is already heavily subsidizing healthcare..even for folks with insurance."
I think if capitalism was allowed to work as it should you wouldn't have this problem. The gov. is not letting the market regulate itself. You use to not need insurance at one time to see a doctor. Gov regulations inflation, & certain restriction have really affected healthcare. For those who need help there are charity groups that I see being affected in a negative way with more Gov control.
The way it stands, if you can't afford your medical bill tough!
Its interesting to hear RGM take up G.W.Bush's core arguments. I agree with u dude, lol
GM is now bankrupt and the government owns 60% of it
this what i read today
WTF? is going on people
this shit is OUT OF HAND
Obama is getting ready to put us all on the cross....
deadman...: I'd go off on a rant about GWB, but I'll let sleeping dogs lie in this case. We have our hands full with B.O. right now.
;)
...PIMP: Yea, in fact we owned 60% in my opinion. Lets see some return for all of us. Right!...of couse they shouldn't have gotten a bailout in the first place. WTF is right dude!
i own goddamned 60% of GM
i want a new fucking car NOW
hahahahahahahhaha
think i'll stop by a GM dealer tomorrow
LOL! I'll grab me one of those electric ones.
will do Ray
you already paid for it....
The free market theories are just that..theories. What makes this country so different from other countries when it comes to healthcare?
When the free market health care system has a "correction",what happens?
How could we possibly enter into a free market system unless the entire world got on board with us ?
How would rural areas attract doctors?
How would low income city areas attract doctors?
Do I want pharma companies unleashing the power of their advertising budgets even more than they do now?
Will people pay for preventative care?
In my head i can ponder heatlh care going on the open market, but unfettered capitalism is social Darwinism to me. I already have to spend way too much time and effort to get my family's health care straight. I would love to take that worry off my plate, instead of having to shop for it.
People don't always do what's in their best interest. Sometimes by oversight, sometimes by laziness, sometimes by stupidity...When people don't act in their best interest free markets spit them to the curb.
The free market theories are just that..theories. What makes this country so different from other countries when it comes to healthcare?
Well yes that's true, a theory is just a theory, but that's how a lot of things start. You can say that about a lot of opposing view points which I haven't seen work well yet. If anything they have made things worse. I'm not saying that a free market system is perfect, or we should not have laws to protect people. But I think it should be something that occurs naturally, & not controlled artificially by our GOV or any other entity. One thing I think that makes us diffrent from the rest of the world is that we have a very stong ideology of Individualism. It's a pretty new concept compared to others that I see spreading around the world slowly. But seems the stongest here IMO. Plus if you get socialism here in the US, expect some kind of revolt here because of our ideology. I'll say we are all exercising it here on this and many other post. & we don't need the whole world to get on this, we traded with other counties in the past with just a free market here (or close to it). Well doctors would go where there is a need. I don't think you have to force doctors to do so. Most of them have a humanitarian viewpoint.
People don't always do what's in their best interest. Sometimes by oversight, sometimes by laziness, sometimes by stupidity...When people don't act in their best interest free markets spit them to the curb.
Well I never said we should not help those in need. We do have charity groups, plus something like this could be taken care of at a state not federal level IMO. If someone is lazy, well they will have to deal with the outcome of that. I'm not going to include those truely in need. As far as stupidity, that should be a given lol! We have that now a days. You have to understand that the free market is not this big scary Darin monster that is going out for blood. It's a system that is suppose to fall into place for the benefit of everyone in the end. What you pupose screams of toltalitarianism in my book. We don't need big brother. Why should anyone base their life around someone else's presupposition's. People are suppose to make their own choices. Good or bad, that's how we learn. Having a college degree can make someone knowledgeable, but not always smart, or full of wisdom.
I don't think the market is out for blood..it just preys on the lesser angels in our nature.
I hear what your saying,but let any system go out of control & it will do the same. I think pure Communism is a great idea,but that just won't work because of human nature. Christian communisn is a good example of what communisn should be IMO. I just think free market would work best in our society, but it won't be free of problems. You got that human nature thing throwing a wrench into everything.
Christian communism:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_communism
Agreed on that bro..Most every -ism looks good on paper. Now if we could just change human nature:)
Nice to see that Ron Paul continues his virtually perfect record on domestic issues - by bring Wrong Again.
(I might not be able to reply to replies to this for a couple days, as i'm having to use library compiuuters while we're away from home, because Kate has just had to travel to Florida to have Major back surgery that we couldn't posibly have afforded on our own - luckily she has one of those Really Good Insurance Programs - from a government job, oddly enough. if she didn't, she'd have to remain in severe pain, steadily losing function in her right arm.
(In the UK, she'd be able to get it, even if she had to wait a while, even if she were unemployed.)
fairpoint: Sorry to hear about your wife. I hope all goes well with the surgery,& I wish her a speedy recovery . Safe travels to you & your wifes. I look foward to your response.
I don't think our Gov is really doing that well in that dept. I use to be a Gov/City employee b4. The HMO care they offer doesn't really help you if your really ill, & PPO has deductibles that just keep rising. I'm on retirement/disability, & I'll have to say. If it wasn't for charity groups & family helping us out to cover the loose ends on our helthcare bills. It would make things really tough on my wife & I. I'll say we get some help from the Gov, but they are a pain in the butt to deal with. It seems to be a full time job in itself. We get a lot of help from family, & charity groups. Plus if I decided to go back to work, it would be to risky. The Gov puts to many limitations that can really screw us over.
I think in a free market you would have price competions that would make healthcare more affortable for people. People would naturally gravitate toward a lesser expensive good Dr. I know some, & a lot of them are willing to work with patients on cost, but sometimes Gov regulation can cause problems in that area. Especially if they sre in a health care group Plus you have to jump through hoops just to get proper test you need, & to see a specialist.
"(In the UK, she'd be able to get it, even if she had to wait a while, even if she were unemployed.)"