Health Care Tea Party

I attended the Health Care Tea Party held Saturday at the Huntsville Hospital Medical Mall, along with 700 doctors, nurses, technicians, politicians, and concerned citizens.  A dozen sad-looking counter-protesters  (were they lonely?) were across the street.  Note to the Tea Party organizers – be sure to make convenient arrangements for the TV trucks – they have a lot of equipment to haul.

In addition to experiencing the great turnout and hearing some impassioned speeches, I got to talk with CJ Grisham in person for a few minutes, which I really appreciated.  He was quite popular with the local politicians.

Thanks to Dr. John Fanning, one of the organizers of the Tea Party, here are some thoughts on Health Care:

It is important for people to understand that there seems to be a disconnect between what Congress says they are going to do and what is in the legislation they propose.

Harry Reid says “Now is the time to make sure all Americans have access to affordable healthcare”, but his bill spends $2.5 trillion over the next 15 years, and insures 94% of America, not 100%. That leaves 19.8 million people uninsured. That number, when you calculate for an increase in population, is actually higher than the “un-insurable” we currently have. So this idea of all Americans will have access is absurd.

Second, just because you have a card that says you have insurance, does not mean you will have a doctor to see. There is no provision for increasing the number of doctors. It is like giving everyone a free bus ticket and only having 5 buses.

Thirdly, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama say this is a crisis. We must do something now, we have to pass this bill now. They have been saying this since July. However the House bill does not take effect until 2013, the Senate until 2014!! If there is such a crisis, why not start it right away. The reason is simple. They want to collect taxes and fees for 3-4 years which makes the bill budget neutral since the benefits do not start until 2013-2014. It also interestingly does not start until the 2012 Presidential election. When calculations are made extended to 10 years after implementation, the costs are $2.5 trillion.

Forth, if there was any doubt this a take over of medicine, HR 3962 has a clause to regulate vending machines. Government intrusion into our daily lives.

Fifth, page 122 of the Senate bill requires all insured Americans to pay a monthly fee that to fund abortions.

So what can be done. Republicans have several bills proposed in the House and Senate (contrary to Harry Reid’s comment) HR 3400 proposed by Tom Price, MD (available at his website) has free market solutions to many of the issues covered in just over 200 pages. Instead of the bi-partisan, all-inclusive promises that Obama made in the campaign, we have a few Senate and House Democrats behind not only closed doors but locked doors (the Dems actually changed the locks to keep the Republicans out!) writing policies with no input from practicing physicians or anyone else except Rahm Emanuel.