Healthcare Reform - Follow the Money

Whenever a major piece of legislation is being rushed through a legislative body, we are reminded of the immortal words of the Great Philosopher; Deep Throat. "FOLLOW THE MONEY!"

We have already postulated that the Senate and House Healthcare Reform legislation will yield the benefits of revenue enhancement by the government skimming off the top of all the cash flow of 1/6 of our economy, reduce overall costs of Medicare and Medicaide by rationing, and reduce the costs to the Social Security system by hastening the death of unproductive citizens.
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The American Hospital Association announced an agreement with the Obama administration to reduce costs $155 billion over 10 years if congress will pass comprehensive healthcare reform. This begs the questions: Why $155 billion? Why not, oh I don't know, $500 billion? Nobody will audit this number anyway. Why not cut the costs now? WHAT'S IN IT FOR THEM? Follow the money.

The legislation will grant them a government licensed monopoly by "restrictions on physician self-referral to hospitals in which they have an ownership interest". The two page press release is linked here.

So much for the AHA commitment to quality healthcare at lower cost for everyone.

The American Medical Association supports comprehensive healthcare reform. Of course; the AMA represents fewer than 1 in 6 doctors in this country, but don't pay any attention to that. Why would a doctor organization support legislation that will require them to work for the government following procedures dictated by faceless bureaucrats? Follow the money.

In an interview with the Houston Chronicle; James Rohack, President of the AMA said the most pressing need is "Congress fix the 21 percent Medicare cut coming in January 2010" adding "people may find it difficult to find doctors to care for them because many doctors will close their practice to Medicare patients". Link

At this point we suffered an intellectual whiplash from the cognitive dissonance created by the AMA endorsement of legislation that would cut $500 billion in Medicare reimbursements. It seems the doctors have been promised that $250 billion will be added in before the $500 billion is cut. And besides; congress never cuts funding for ANYTHING. (I hate being lied to.)

The American Association of Retired Persons is endorsing comprehensive healtcare reform in spite of overwhelming evidence that this will reduce the number of physicians accepting medicare reimbursement. Why? Follow the money.

AARP sells medigap insurance. People who can afford it will be forced to purchase medigap insurance to guarantee prompt access to healthcare. Of course; medigap insurance may well be considered a cadillac plan and therefore there will be some kind of hidden tax or surcharge in addition to the premium on the insurance that AARP sells.

The Service Employee International Union, United Auto Workers, and other unions are strong proponents of universal health care with the government being the single provider. Why? Follow the money.

Most unions and many large employers are facing HUGE unfunded liabilities with their retiree healthcare plans; therefore they are anxious to dump the liability onto the Federal government. Problem solved.

Dear reader, consider this: Your retirement healthcare fund is bankrupt. I don't care if it is your union, your employer, or Medicare. It is bankrupt so deal with it.

The following two links are two opposing viewpoints of the same fact:

Feel free to read this well researched and footnoted report by the Heritage Foundation or you could join this fellow in Egypt and live along denial.

Either way, the result is the same. Your retirement healthcare is assured only to the point of your personal wealth and the generosity of congress. Good luck with that.

As for me and my house; I will trust the Lord.