Analyzing The Health Care Bill HR3200

by Joel Hendon⁽¹⁷⁰⁾ Red Star

http://hebronics.org/index.html

I’ve been asked by some, just what I objected to about the present “Healthcare Reform Bill”. So let’s just look at some things. Now when it comes to health care, a subject that is critical and crucial to most of us, the wording of the bill should be plain and detailed. It is inadequate that it just doesn’t say something outright. But if it has ambiguous language in critical portions, it needs to be clarified in no uncertain terms.

The main reason which bothers me concerns the sanctity of life and also the choice of treatment for pain or illness, that they be clear and not left open to various interpretations. Example # 1:

(Page 230, lines 8 thru 19) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall analyze payments for non-therapy ancillary services under a future skilled nursing facility classification system to ensure the accuracy of payment for non-therapy ancillary services. Such analysis shall consider use of appropriate indicators which may include age, physical and mental status, ability to perform activities of daily living, prior nursing home stay, broad RUG category, and a proxy for length of stay.

Interpretation: The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall have the right to say whether or not payments will be made for any secondary treatments, not for the main illness. (Obama’s white grandmother is a perfect example. She opted for hip surgery to alleviate severe pain after falling an breaking her hip, while having been diagnosed to have only a few months to live. Obama questioned the wisdom of that). The Secretary would have the authority to deny that surgery, or any treatment. The language leaves broad openings there. Then it says this analysis (his decision) will take into consideration of whether you are old and worthless, mentally or physically handicapped, or able to carry on daily living activities. If you have already been in a nursing home, broad RUG category (Resources Unified Groups) which I don’t know what that might infer but it is along with the other items listed. Proxy for length of stay can only mean that you could be taken out of a nursing home at their bidding.

(Page 767, Lines 21-24 and next page 768 lines 1-5) The term ‘nurse home visitation services’ means home visits by trained nurses to families with a first-time pregnant woman, or a child (under 2 years of age) who is eligible for medical assistance under this title…to the extent determined by the Secretary based upon evidence, that such services are effective in one or more of the following: ‘‘(1) Improving maternal or child health and pregnancy outcomes or increasing birth intervals between pregnancies.”

Interpretation: This is self explanatory and good information until the last sentence in quotation marks. The last part of that “pregnancy outcomes” plural means birth or abortions (determined by the Secretary) “Or increasing birth intervals between pregnancies.” Again leaving the door open to choose abortion as determined by the Secretary.

(Another item on page 783, beginning with line 7) The term ‘freestanding birth center services’ means services furnished to an individual at a freestanding birth center (as defined in subparagraph (B)), including by a licensed birth attendant (as defined in subparagraph (C)) at such center.

‘‘(B) The term ‘freestanding birth center’ means a health facility— ‘‘(i) that is not a hospital; and ‘‘(ii) where childbirth is planned to occur away from the pregnant woman’s residence...(C) The term ‘licensed birth attendant’ means an individual who is licensed or registered by the State involved to provide health care at childbirth and who provides such care within the scope of practice under which the individual is legally authorized to perform such care under State law (or the State regulatory mechanism provided by State law), regardless of whether the individual is under the supervision of, or associated with, a physician or other health care provider

Interpretation: This item is not even veiled, it has reference to such centers as abortion clinics and even includes the scope of practice legally authorized bto perform such care under State law.

These are only some of the many highly questionable portions of this bill which leaves far too many things to the discretion of “The Secretary”.

Article submitted Wednesday, August 12, 2009 & read 351 times.

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» left by Teresa Ortiz (2 years 278 days ago.)

Hi Joel, excellent information You allow the material speak for itself. I am all for healthcare reform. Something must be done, but these issues need to be addressed and made absolutely clear and better in my opinion. Lord help us all! Thanks for a well-written article. Blessings to you! Teresa

» left by Anonymous (2 years 52 days ago.)

I'd think a "freestanding birth center", a place where "childbirth is planned to occur", would be different from a place where the premature death of an infant would occur?

» left by Joel (2 years 52 days ago.)

Then you would think wrong. It is precisely those places that handle prenatal care OR those who preform abortions. Why would there have been so much wrangling and deal making in order for this tp remain in the bill?

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