Here's a list of items proposed by the Republicans which must be part of any health care "reform" package" before it is made into law:
PROTECT MEDICARE AND NOT CUT IT IN THE NAME OF HEALTH CARE REFORM:
President Obama and Congressional Democrats are promoting a government-run health care experiment that will cut over $500 billion from Medicare to be used to pay for their plan. Medicare should not be raided to pay for another entitlement.
PROHIBIT GOVERNMENT FROM GETTING BETWEEN SENIORS AND THEIR DOCTORS:
The Democrats' government-run health care experiment will give patients less power to control their own medical decisions, and create government boards that would decide what treatments would or wouldn't be funded. Republicans believe in patient-centered reforms that put the priorities of seniors before government.
PROHIBIT EFFORTS TO RATION HEALTH CARE BASED ON AGE:
The Democrats' government-run health care experiment would set up a "comparative effectiveness research commission" where health care treatment decisions could be limited based on a patient's age. Republicans believe that health care decisions are best left up to seniors and their doctors.
PREVENT GOVERNMENT FROM INTERFERING WITH END-OF-LIFE CARE DISCUSSIONS:
The Democrats' government-run health care experiment would have seniors meet with a doctor to discuss end-of-life care that could mean limiting treatment. Republicans believe that government should not interfere with end-of-life care discussions between a patient and a doctor.
ENSURE SENIORS CAN KEEP THEIR CURRENT COVERAGE:
As Democrats continue to propose steep cuts to Medicare in order to pay for their government-run health care experiment, these cuts threaten millions of seniors with being forced from their current Medicare Advantage plans. Republicans believe that seniors should not be targeted by a government-run health care bill and forced out of their current Medicare coverage.
PROTECT VETERANS BY PRESERVING TRICARE AND OTHER BENEFIT PROGRAMS FOR MILITARY FAMILIES:
Democrats recently proposed raising veterans' costs for the Tricare For Life program that many veterans rely on for treatment. Republicans oppose increasing the burden on our veterans and believe America should honor our promises to them.
I have searched daily for some shred of evidence that the Democratic Party proposed raising the Tricare for Life cost to veterans and have yet to find any. Everything I read cites Option (note the word) 96 on page 175 of a Congressional Budget Office publication "CBO's Budget Options, Volume 1 on Health Care." Personally, even from the most reputable organizations that have raised the spectre of increased Tricare for Life based on this 1 option out of many the CBO presented in this publication (which, by the way, was published before the current health care debate began, are engaging in these scare tactics. The CBO publication is a compilation of just what it says it is, budget options. The publication even includes a disclaimer pointing out that what is contained on its pages are a compendium of options, not to be taken as a whole, but to be considered each on its individual merits to aid in coming up with those options that make the most sense.
ReplyDeleteThere is enough of a frenzy being generated already from every corner about what health care reform will do. It is time to stop the scare tactics and start looking at this issue in a calm and rational manner.
Here's a clue: Obama's Department of Defense was the instigator of the Tricare proposal.
ReplyDelete"....the Administration’s proposal was to increase TRICARE premiums for retirees under age 65 based on the rank of their rank.
According to the proposal, TRICARE Prime Annual Enrollment Fees would increase from $230/$460 in FY 2006 to $325/$650 in FY 2008 for E-6 and below, while E-7 and above would increase from $230/$460 to $475/$950.
The biggest increase would be for Retired officers from $230/$460 currently to $700/$1400 by FY 2008. This plan would include smaller increases for TRICARE Standard."
"Scare tactics", indeed.