Dx: Fear Rx: The Facts about Health Care Reform – Odds and Ends
by Alta Price, M.D.
(cross posted at Quadsville.com in Dr Dx's Blog)
At the end are all of the left over false claims in the email I referenced for this Series. There are no over-arching themes, so I’ll let you read through them without comment.
I would like to say something about Medicaid. Medicaid is a joint federal and state program providing health care for some of our poorest citizens. However, it is only for poor children and poor adults with dependent children. A poor adult without dependent children will not get help under this program (although some states have a waiver that allows them to enroll some childless adults).
HR 3200 will make Medicaid available to anyone below 133% of the federal poverty level, whether or not they have children under the age of 18. Importantly, it will also reimburse primary care providers taking care of Medicaid patients at the same level as Medicare pays. This is very important, because many providers won’t take care of Medicaid patients in certain states (Illinois being one notable example) because the payments are so low (or even non-existent, at whatever time of the year that state’s plan just runs out of money). This Medicaid expansion and increase in provider payments will be paid for by the federal government, not shifted onto state budgets. I really like the improvements to Medicaid in HR 3200.
Here are the remaining false claims about the House bill, HR 3200 (you can read the full text of the bill here). The Truth comes from Health Care for America Now, one of the lead coalition groups fighting for health care reform.
“Page 102: Those eligible for Medicaid will be automatically enrolled: you have no choice in the matter.”
TRUTH: People who are eligible for Medicaid will not have to face the burdens of paperwork and other bureaucratic struggles. Far from depriving people of choice, this measure will ensure coverage.
“Page 167: Any individual who doesn't' have acceptable healthcare (according to the government) will be taxed 2.5% of income.”
TRUTH: Pages 167-173 detail what “acceptable health care” means (basically, insurance coverage) and also allow for many different kinds of exceptions to this rule.
“Page 203: “The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax.” Yes, it really says that.”
TRUTH: This quote is taken out of context, and is in fact referring to a calculation used in the bill. Full context of quote: “'(4) NOT TREATED AS TAX IMPOSED BY THIS CHAPTER FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES.-The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax imposed by this chapter for purposes of determining the amount of any credit under this chapter or for purposes of section 55.''
“Page 268: Government regulates rental and purchase of power-driven wheelchairs.”
TRUTH: This is simply not true. This slightly amends existing guidelines for payments for medical equipment, in this case power-driven wheelchairs. This section introduces no 'regulations' that are not in the Social Security Act.
“Page 280: Hospitals will be penalized for what the government deems preventable re-admissions.”
TRUTH: This is almost correct. The section is one of the first efforts at targeting excessive readmissions. Excessive readmissions are physically and emotionally damaging to patients, while simultaneously putting them, and the health care system, in far more financial risk than is necessary. The American Hospital Association recommended reduced payments for avoidable readmission in testimony to Congress.
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