The Health Care Bill - Better Hope You're Fixed The First Time

• Pg. 280 - Hospitals will be penalized for not maintaining a proper discharge to readmittance ratio with patients. Aka if you get out, and you need back in, the hospital won't be paid in full for your first stay. "With respect to payment for discharges from an applicable hospital [...] in order to account for excess readmissions in the hospital, the Secretary shall reduce the payments that would otherwise be made to such hospital."


• Pg. 298 - Doctors may be penalized for treating patients who return for re treatment within one week. "The Secretary will consider approaches such as [...] (C) applying a payment reduction for physicians who treat the patient during the initial admission that results in a readmission."

Lolly: The logic behind these sections of the Bill almost makes me laugh. Rather than relying on the professional judgement of doctors and nurses in conjunction with the wishes of the patient... the Government is going to step in like an all-knowing parent with the ability to ground said professionals if their decisions don't pan out. WHAT??! Not only does this undermine the 8-10+ years of education that doctors must go through, but it could result in the denial of care to people with recurring medical problems. What hospital will want to treat a patient that could cost them money due to a reduced reimbursement from the Government plan? In fact, on Pg. 288 Section 7 the Bill anticipates needing to impose sanctions on hospitals that "have taken steps to avoid patients at risk [to reduce] readmissions." Just what we need - more red tape.

Finally, terminally ill patients often request discharge to quality time with family in their last days. This section makes doctors and hospitals choose between respecting the wishes of their patients and being paid for the work that they do.

No surprise that my verdict is SOUR. That is, unless you have the magical ability to heal the first time, every time.

3 facts about the Health Care Bill

Depending on who you talk to and what TV/Radio show you get your information from you may have heard that the new health care plan is either the best or the worst idea. Some say it's 'free health care', which sounds good to just about anyone. Others say it's the 'Government making your health care decisions', I like making my own decisions, thanks though. Behind all the hype and the glamour are the details, allow me to highlight a few facts, you decide from here if it is "Sweet" or "Sour"

Fact: You will be RATIONED $5,000 a year in health care for an individual.

Proof:Page 29, line 4
ANNUAL LIMITATION.—
The cost-sharing incurred under the essential benefits package with respect to an individual (or family) for a year does not exceed the applicable level specified in sub paragraph (B).
(B) APPLICABLE LEVEL.—The applicable level specified in this sub paragraph for Y1 is $5,000 for an individual and $10,000 for a family. Such levels shall be increased (rounded to the nearest $100) for each subsequent year by the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index (United States city average)applicable to such year.

Fact: A committee WILL determine your health care. Not necessarily a team of doctors, a committee appointed by the President and others in office. You and your doctor will not have a say in your treatment.

Proof: Page 30, Section 123:
HEALTH BENEFITS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
ESTABLISHMENT. IN GENERAL.—There is established a private-public advisory committee which shall be a panel of medical and other experts to be known as the Health Benefits Advisory Committee to recommend covered benefits and essential, enhanced,and premium plans.
CHAIR.—The Surgeon General shall be a member and the chair of the Health Benefits Advisory Committee.
MEMBERSHIP.—The Health Benefits Advisory Committee shall be composed of the following members, in addition to the Surgeon General:
9 members who are not Federal employees or officers and who are appointed by the President.
9 members who are not Federal employees or officers and who are appointed by the Comptroller General of the United States in a manner similar to the manner in which the Comptroller General appoints members to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission under section 1805(c) of the Social Security Act.

FACT: Based on how much money you have at the time of an illness will determine the level of treatment you are able to get.

Proof: Page 58 line 5
enable the real-time (or near real time) determination of an individual’s financial responsibility at the point of service and, to the extent possible, prior to service, including whether the individual is eligible for a specific service with a specific physician at a specific facility, which may include utilization of a machine-readable health plan beneficiary identification card;

Frostine: What if I get sick and am at my $5,000 limit? What if I want Alternative Health Care, or to try an new experiential route when I am sick? How does the Government know what my ability to pay for care is? If this is supposed to be universal then why does my checking account balance matter? I understand there is a problem with our current health care plan, but I don't think that overhauling the entire thing is the way to go. When we realized we needed better cars, we didn't make new vehicles, we just improved on what we did well, and addressed the areas that were less effective. Why can't we make adjustments to the areas that are not meeting out needs and increase the effectiveness of the areas that are working?

I'd have to say: