It’s time for GOP to accept reality of ObamaCare
Last spring, conservatives were certain that the U.S. Supreme Court would rule ObamaCare unconstitutional. It did not. Earlier this month, U.S. voters likewise refused to toss out the law’s prime architect, re-electing President Obama to another four-year term. Neither ObamaCare nor its namesake is going anywhere.
So now what?
While some Republicans acknowledge the fact that ObamaCare is now permanent, other GOP politicians seem intent on trying to sabotage the law through inaction even if they lack the support to repeal it. Last week, for example, Gov. Nathan Deal signed onto the strategy of passive resistance against the law when he announced that Georgia would refuse to exercise its authority under ObamaCare to create and operate its own insurance exchange.
The decision means that come 2014, Georgians who try to purchase private health insurance using federal subsidies will be required to compare and buy policies on a federally designed exchange, instead of an exchange that was specially tailored to and operated by Georgia. In short, Deal has chosen to view any cooperation in implementing ObamaCare as a form of collaboration with the enemy.
(UPDATE: The AJC’s Misty Williams has a piece in today’s paper explaining how a decision to reject the expansion of Medicaid also could devastate Georgia hospitals, such as Grady Memorial, that serve a poorer clientele.)
On the narrow question of creating a state version of the health insurance exchange, Deal might have made the right decision for the wrong reasons. While Georgia politicians were playing a delaying game, hoping that ObamaCare would be killed by the courts or the voters, other states that intend to launch their own exchanges have been working on the programs for months if not years. Trying to play catch-up at this point might very well not be worth Georgia’s investment of time, energy and political capital, particularly with a federal exchange as an backup option.
However, the larger and by far more consequential question involves Georgia’s participation in an expanded Medicaid program offered through ObamaCare beginning in 2014. If Georgia ultimately decides to take part, Medicaid coverage would be extended to an additional 600,000 lower-income Georgians. (For a family of four, households with an income of roughly $32,000 and below would be eligible for coverage.) Those Georgians would get covered at very little cost to state taxpayers.
Under ObamaCare, from 2014 to 2016 the federal government will pay 100 percent of the costs for insuring those additional Georgians. In later years, the share covered by the federal government will drop slightly — Uncle Sam will cover 95 percent of the cost in 2017, 94 percent in 2018, 93 percent in 2019 and then 90 percent from 2020 on out. (For comparison’s sake, Georgia pays a little over a third of the cost for current Medicaid recipients.)
Nonetheless, Deal announced at the Republican National Convention in August that Georgia would refuse to take advantage of the expanded Medicaid program. Even with the federal government paying all or most of the cost, Deal said, the state simply couldn’t afford the additional expense.
That’s a foolish decision, especially given that Georgia has the fifth highest rate of uninsured in the country. In effect, Deal would be denying health insurance coverage to some 600,000 Georgia citizens just to make a partisan political point. It also means turning away billions of federal dollars — an estimated $14.5 billion over the first six years — that would flow into the state’s health-care delivery system. That’s a benefit of particular importance to rural Georgia, where the health-care infrastructure is skeletal at best because so many residents are uninsured and have few resources from which to pay medical bills.
(UPDATE: The AJC’s Misty Williams has a piece in today’s paper explaining how a decision to reject the expansion of Medicaid also could devastate Georgia hospitals, such as Grady Memorial, that serve a poorer clientele.)
Deal’s explanation notwithstanding, it’s not a question of whether Georgia can afford it. It’s a question of political priorities. As Tim Sweeney of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute points out, Georgia’s spending per Medicaid recipient in 2009 was already the second lowest in the country, which says a lot. It says that ObamaCare aside, the health of Georgia citizens simply isn’t important to those elected to lead this state, and if they have to deny health insurance to hundreds of thousands to prove it, harming the state economy in the process, they’re willing to do so.
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658 comments Add your comment
Doggone/GA
November 21st, 2012
11:02 am
“I am not sure that doctors would agree with that. ”
Mine would.
JamVet
November 21st, 2012
11:03 am
I guess this latest crushing defeat for the Bush-led neocons was inevitable.
When the two giants of right wing intellectual thought, and the very stalwarts of their entire ideology, are Joseph McCarthy and Jim Crow, things were bound to get REAL ugly for them.
And here is to more ugly!
Speaking of which, anyone seen rags lately?
And whatever happened to “Obama is over”?
VERY tough times for right wing sock puppets, huh?
Peadawg
November 21st, 2012
11:03 am
Keep Up the Good Fight!, sweatie, run away and keep spinning all you want. Obamacare hasn’t done a damn thing to curb insurance cost since it was signed into law. That is a fact. Contrary to what Obama promised.
I did vote for him and gave him another chance…let’s hope he focusing more on jobs and the debt in his second term.
Doggone/GA
November 21st, 2012
11:03 am
“doggone- got proof?”
Yep. Me.
Jay
November 21st, 2012
11:04 am
Moderate, the most recent stats I can find say that Massachusetts has the highest number of physicians per capita in the country.
Halftrack
November 21st, 2012
11:04 am
The article in the AJC on Grady is a good example of Obummercare. Why duplicate expenses on the taxpayer when the Feds said they would do it if the State didn’t. If good journalist all over the Nation had reported about Obummercare adequately just maybe ? ? ? Ya see, we have to pass bills before we know what’s in them. The fiscal cliff is upon us.
Pass the Cheesy Grits Please
November 21st, 2012
11:05 am
That makes absolutely no sense. So it’s going to keep going up…just not as much as it would have ?
I would say making sense of things isn’t your strong suit.
Pass the Cheesy Grits Please
November 21st, 2012
11:06 am
If good journalist all over the Nation had reported about Obummercare adequately just maybe ? ? ?
Is that English ? Can anyone translate this ?
JamVet
November 21st, 2012
11:06 am
http://aidwatchers.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/fattest-states-2010-obesity-map.gif
John Forbes
November 21st, 2012
11:06 am
Having the Feds setup and run the exchange here in Georgia may be the best way to go. If Deal were to get involved would surely result in a less than efficient system, if only because of his crony appointment policy. For you Luddites out there I hope the cost of your insurance policies continue to rise at 10% per year. How long will you put up with that?
you can't fix stupid or Democrats
November 21st, 2012
11:06 am
To accept such a bad law is unthinkable. I hope they fight it until it is so watered down to get flushed.
Doggone/GA
November 21st, 2012
11:07 am
“Ya see, we have to pass bills before we know what’s in them”
When you have to lie to make your point, you have no point.
Loves Me Some Obama Kool-Aid
November 21st, 2012
11:08 am
This Just In: Under Obamacare, Aspirin will be taxed at a higher rate than other drugs. No reason was given other than it’s White and it Works
alex
November 21st, 2012
11:08 am
@Stevei10:53, It’s called the dismal science, as I have said(tongue in cheek), I follow the school of Schumpeter and his troup of viennese “tarts”
@ jay, who was the senator who said”a billion here and a billion there and soon you’ve got real money” or aomehting like that…Wait, I just found TWO BILLION in my pocket,” I got it”…
getalife
November 21st, 2012
11:08 am
The only change I have seen is electronic medical records.
Scary.
JKL2
November 21st, 2012
11:08 am
doggone- Don’t bet on it. “When you owe the bank $100, the bank owns you. When you owe the bank $100,000,000, you own the bank
Which bank do you use? I luvs me some free money…
They BOTH suck
November 21st, 2012
11:08 am
“Keep Hopelessness Alive!”
too funny
Nunna Yobinnes
November 21st, 2012
11:09 am
John Forbes – we have no choice but to put up with it unless we want to gamble that we will not experience some ultra-expensive treatment for illness or injury.
Nunna Yobinnes
November 21st, 2012
11:10 am
Kool Aid – funny.
alex
November 21st, 2012
11:10 am
Electronic medical records=regression to the mean,you should be scared, bad medicine (except at Mayo)
saywhat?
November 21st, 2012
11:11 am
Nunna Yobinnes
November 21st, 2012
10:31 am
Jay – individual coverage is expensive. My employer doesn’t offer health care. I guess I could cancel my policy and try to get another carrier, but then assuming I could get coverage, I would have to go another year without filing any claims on pre-existing conditions.
_________________________________________________________
Or, you could assume more personal responsibility, pull yourself up by your bootstraps and get a better job, one that provides insurance. Stop blaming Obama and liberals for YOUR poor choices.
Doggone/GA
November 21st, 2012
11:11 am
“Which bank do you use? I luvs me some free money…”
How hard do you have to work to misunderstand when people say?
getalife
November 21st, 2012
11:12 am
alex,
I know, it lists all my meds, the reason for the visit and doctors orders.
Freaked me out mon.
DannyX
November 21st, 2012
11:12 am
“…Wait, I just found TWO BILLION in my pocket,” I got it”…”
Well quick, go and spend it on a useless war! Healthcare for poor Americans is an abomination!
stands for decibels
November 21st, 2012
11:13 am
At the risk of Stating the Obvious about the GOP:
a decision to reject the expansion of Medicaid also could devastate Georgia hospitals, such as Grady Memorial, that serve a poorer clientele.
Jay, I see no reason to assume that this devastation of which Ms. Williams speaks would be anything but a feature, rather than a bug, in the program, given the way these out-and-proud psychopaths have behaved up to now. However, I would be delighted to be proven wrong.
middle of the road
November 21st, 2012
11:14 am
“Premiums for employer-provided family coverage rose $3,065 — 24% — from 2008 to 2012, the Kaiser survey found. Even if you start counting in 2009, premiums have climbed $2,370.
What’s more, premiums climbed faster in Obama’s four years than they did in the previous four under President Bush, the survey data show.”
Peadawg – I researched your numbers and you are right about the first but your second claim is cherry-picking. Here are the calculations:
2000- $6438
2004 – $9950
2008 – $12680
2012 – $15745
So the increase from 2000-2004 (Bush) was $3512 which was a 55% increase, from 2004-2008 was $2730, a 27% increase, and from 2008-2012 was $3065, a 24% increase.
So there was LESS increase in the past for years than with either Bush terms.
td
November 21st, 2012
11:14 am
Jay,
FYI: Total state funds for Medicaid are $2.71 billion.
http://dch.georgia.gov/sites/dch.georgia.gov/files/related_files/document/AFY13_and_FY14_August_23_Board_Presentation.pdf
Now where is the additional money for the expansion going to come from?
Nunna Yobinnes
November 21st, 2012
11:15 am
saywhat? – I never blamed Obama, I just gave the opinion that there is no end in sight for rising health care costs. Also, in case you weren’t aware, jobs are hard to come by these days.
Liberals chiding others about personal responsibility. Too funny. Don’t you know, “it takes a village.”
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
November 21st, 2012
11:15 am
OK, OK, it’s time to fess up. It ain’t that we can’t afford Obamacare. We’re already paying for the medical care of the poor. We pay taxes that go for Medicaid. We pay higher health insurance premiums to cover the cost of people that don’t pay when they go to a hospitle or doctor for treatment. Obamacare would just put the cost out in the open.
Nope, it ain’t the cost. I guess nobody else will come out and say it, so I will. We hate Obamacare because it would give Those People and other shiftless bums health insurance on our dime. And we don’t want them to be as good as us, with health insurance and all that stuff. Long as we don’t see them getting the medical care, we don’t mind paying taxes to fund it and higher health insurance premiums to cover the cost. We can go on railing about the guvmint putting their hands in our wallets and stealing and wasting our money and how we need to starve guvmint till its small enough to drown in a bathtub. But if you want to bring Obamacare right out in the open, we can see that we’re paying the health costs of Those People and the other lazy bums. And we don’t want that.
So there. If nobody else will say it I will. And have a good Hump Day everybody.
Welcome to the Occupation
November 21st, 2012
11:15 am
Stevie Ray: “Nobody on this blog (i hope i’m mistaken) has a clue as to which is correct…economics has become so politicized”
Economics has ALWAYS been politicized, perhaps as no other field is. It’s just that we’re now once again waking up to just how much the case that is.
DannyX
November 21st, 2012
11:16 am
“Which bank do you use? I luvs me some free money…”
Try the bank that gave Chip Rogers(R) and Tom Graves (R) their “We could never pay it back” 2 million dollar no-collateral loan.
stands for decibels
November 21st, 2012
11:16 am
You guys who keep going on about “free money”?
You … DO realize that we haven’t been on a gold standard since 1971.
Yes?
And that money is worth, basically, what we collectively determine it is worth?
Just wondering.
getalife
November 21st, 2012
11:16 am
Keep fighting it until we get single payer cons.
You are doing the right thing.
Discount DoubleDawg
November 21st, 2012
11:16 am
Obamacare will hurt our country by hurting many small businesses… We will see less jobs created and it will actually hurt the quality of healthcare for many.
Here is how:
The bill outlaws what are called carve-out programs, so a company that could provide insurance to one group of employees but not another will no longer be able to do that so they will have to send all of their employees to the govt exchange. The penalty will be $2000 per year per employee, most small businesses will not be able to afford this new tax. Therefore, they will have to cut expenses to cover this, which means less employees. Since, about 55% of Americans work for small businesses, this won’t be good (and small businesses have been responsible for 65% of all new jobs created over the last 17 years). If a company falls on hard times and does provide health insurance and need to cut expenses they will have a choice….provide health insurance at an average costs of $8000 per employee per year or pay the $2000 fine. They will choose the fine, so more and more people end up on the govt plan. Clearly this will become a complete govt system and they will dictate what doctors and hospitals can charge. Good…except if you are a bright young student who can pick any field you want and the govt just lowered how much you can make as a doctor you will choose something else. You will also lower what companies make who supply goods and services to hospitals, lowering the amount of money available for R&D. Plus, when healthcare is free, everyone will run to the doctor every time they have the sniffles, so more people with less doctors…not a good formula.
Now, the country is already bankrupt, so how do you pay for this? The notion that you will cover half the costs from cutting wasteful spending in Medicaid/medicare is crazy. Find one govt agency that has successfully done that (hint- you can’t). So the short fall will fall on the federal budget. It will drive us further in debt at a time when we must be getting out of debt.
Please tell me how this is a good plan?
M Neuren
November 21st, 2012
11:16 am
Mary Elizabeth, ALEC was founded in 1973 by Paul Weyrich, conservtive guru. You can find much of the available information about their activities and sources of funding at http://www.alecexposed.org, set up by the Center for Media and Democracy, http://www.prwatch.org/cmd.
A great history of the plans of a handful of oligarchs, going back to the 1930s, to preserve their profit margins, can be found in “Invisible Hands: The Making of the Conservative Movement from the New Deal to Reagan” by Kim Phillips-Fein. Also, the works of Matt Taibbi and Thomas Franks.
Erwin's cat
November 21st, 2012
11:16 am
so a small increase compared to large increase…is now a “decrease”…or is it a decreased increase??
Happy Democrat
November 21st, 2012
11:17 am
Amazing how Jay and Jay’s education partner in crime, Maureen Downey, work. On Obamacare, tell everyone to accept its reality. (I have supported Obamacare and think its biggest problem is that it doesn’t go far enough). But on the issue of the recent charter amendment, because it was supported by mostly Republicans in the General Assembly (though an overwhelming number of Democrat supporters supported it on November 6th) it has been demonized as the education antichrist from day one. Even today, Maureen Downey continues her tirade against what is reality.
Ok Jay. Ok Maureen, time to do as you say. Please have a headline which states “It’s time for the AJC editorial board to accept the realities of a state charter commission”
I would put this in Maureen’s blog, but she censors me and I am unable to post on her blog.
Does Maureen’s censorship of me and others make her an authitarian fascist?
DannyX
November 21st, 2012
11:17 am
“FYI: Total state funds for Medicaid are $2.71 billion.”
Are you sure you a right about that, td? After all, you are wrong… A lot.
RW-(the original)
November 21st, 2012
11:20 am
I wonder if Misty Williams wrote anything in the paper today. I just can’t seem to find any updates.
Oscar
November 21st, 2012
11:21 am
Please tell me how this is a good plan?
______
The tax is less than the cost of maintaining health insurance for employees. That means more companies will drop health insurance and pay the tax.
That saves money for the company, and gets employers out of the health insurance business.
And that’s a good thing.
stands for decibels
November 21st, 2012
11:21 am
I would put this in Maureen’s blog, but she censors me and I am unable to post on her blog.
So you’re taking a dump in Jay’s backyard instead? Real class act you are.
Scrivener
November 21st, 2012
11:21 am
A 2700-page law that nobody fully read before they voted for it, that was rammed in with questionable tactics with not a single vote from the other side, yep, that’s something you should be proud of, Jay. Doctors will be leaving in droves in the next few years, and there is projected to be a huge doctor shortage in years to come. But, hey, it’s what you liberals wanted, so you own it.
And Mary Elizabeth, you come on these blogs not to engage in discussion but to pontificate. You cite hyper-partisans like Krugman and Alter, but when challenged about reading articles from other more conservative writers, you clearly stated you “didn’t have the time.” Right. You have time to write for your own blog, which you frequently link to, you have time to write paragraph after paragraph on these blogs, but you don’t have time to read differing points of view. That’s why I and others have no respect for your opinions.
stands for decibels
November 21st, 2012
11:22 am
2700-page law
yeah, I’m reading past that.
Go stare at the debt clock. There’s a good lad.
Moderate Line
November 21st, 2012
11:22 am
Jay
November 21st, 2012
11:04 am
Moderate, the most recent stats I can find say that Massachusetts has the highest number of physicians per capita in the country.
++++
Perhaps the best known example of this approach has been Massachusetts, which since 2006 has mandated that every resident obtain health insurance and those that are below the federal poverty level gain free access to health care. But although the state has the second-highest ratio of primary care physicians to population of any state, they are struggling with access to primary care physicians.
“Who is going to care for these people?” he said. “We are going to have problems just like Massachusetts. [They] are struggling with access problems; it takes one year to get into a primary care physician. Coverage does not equal access.
Some have already proposed solutions to this looming problem. One suggestion is that non-physician medical professionals, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, can pick up the slack. Doctors, however, said his may not be enough to fill the gap.
“It would take 10 nurse practitioners to equal one primary care graduate, based on volume,” Wexler said.
I cited this article before which stated that Massachusetts has the second highest number of physicians so I am not sure whether what difference whether they have the second or first matters. However, as ABCNews article explains there is still a shortage of primary care doctors in Massachusetts.
Magically, med schools are going start producing more doctors. Magically, students more people will become smart enough to become doctors and magically more people will decide to become primary care doctors instead of practicing other forms of medicine and magically they will pick to be doctors instead of other professions.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/doctor-shortage-health-care-crash/story?id=17708473#.UKz8todfCSo
I am actually for universal health care but I can not deny the basics of economics.
Oscar
November 21st, 2012
11:24 am
One of the amendments to the HCA would be to reduce the tax companies will have to pay. That should ease the burden on small companies.
I would repeal the requirement that they do either, but would be hard to get that past the senate and the pres.
Oscar
November 21st, 2012
11:25 am
A 2700-page law that nobody fully read before they voted for it
___
People read it. I read it. Those pages were mostly triple space with large type and very short lines.
Not all that hard to read.
tiredofIT
November 21st, 2012
11:26 am
Redcoat
November 21st, 2012
9:51 am
Can the Dems accept that they own it?
++
Dude, your life must suck. The sun will come up tomorrow.
saywhat?
November 21st, 2012
11:27 am
nunna yobinnnes- I was just channeling my inner conservative/libertarian. It surprisingly fun to be a self-righteous douche. I can see why so many are attracted to these otherwise useless philosophies.
Now about jobs being hard to come by- only lazy people can’t find work. If you had made good life choices like I did, you would already HAVE a job that provided insurance, like I do. So stop whining about costs and find those boot straps.
middle of the road
November 21st, 2012
11:28 am
“Ah yes, socialized medicine. “You have strep throat. We will spray your throat with Cepacol. Go home and do not come to us again about this issue.”
And you have this first-hand experience where? Were you in Canada? In England? In France?
My son lives in France and he LOVES their “socialized” medicine! He gets sick, he goes to the doctor, he gets good care. Money is never mentioned.
stands for decibels
November 21st, 2012
11:29 am
there is still a shortage of primary care doctors in Massachusetts.
While I’m all for heading off future problems at the pass when such things are merited, Moderate, I have to ask–how much of this projected shortage is a direct result of the means by which the profession rations the number of individuals admitted to med school and licensed?
How do we differ from other nations on that score?
I honestly don’t know, but I suspect the answer to this particular problem might lie in the answers to those questions. (For what it’s worth, I did read the article you linked, and there was nothing in amongst the proposed solutions that address the issue of how we bring docs into the system in the first place.)
Matti
November 21st, 2012
11:29 am
Governor Shady just doesn’t love us the way Governor Christie loves the citizens of New Jersey. He’d laugh while we die grotesque, horrible, preventable deaths before he’d embrace any help or compassion from the President of the United States.
Know your place, people. To your governor, some people matter, and some people don’t. Guess which group you’re in?
Jack ®
November 21st, 2012
11:29 am
Since the 600K new beneficiaries of Medicaid will be supported by Federal largesse, I don’t suppose we have anything to worry about. How silly of us that thought we’d be paying for it as taxpayers. How silly of us that didn’t know that Obama could wave a magic wand and produce manna.
jj
November 21st, 2012
11:29 am
By refusing to establish a state exchange the $2000 penalty per employee is voided per some very poorly written legislation. This saves every Georgia employer with over 30 employees $2000 per head if they do not offer health insurance.
Lastly NO one has ever been denied emergency health coverage in the United States as all hospitals were mandated to not turn away patients. So defacto everyone already had some type of health coverage. Not always what they wanted but what do you expect for free.
Oscar
November 21st, 2012
11:31 am
Saywhat —- Half the people are below average in IQ. Everyone can’t finish first like you.
If the jobs are not there. the top tier gets work, and the rest don’t.
saywhat?
November 21st, 2012
11:31 am
Oscar- recalibrate your sarcasm meter.
SBinf
November 21st, 2012
11:32 am
“The majority of Americans did NOT vote for Barry Soetero.”
Obama won a majority of the popular vote, silly goose.
Welcome to the Occupation
November 21st, 2012
11:32 am
middle of the road: “My son lives in France and he LOVES their “socialized” medicine! He gets sick, he goes to the doctor, he gets good care. Money is never mentioned.”
NOBODY in these countries who have universal health care — and I mean NOBODY — doesn’t love their health care. And anyone who you hear claiming they do is a lying filthy propagandist put up to it by the elites of those countries who largely despise the impossible popularity of those systems and are – like the Tories and Lib Dems in Britain today – are looking for any excuse to try to undercut it.
Oscar
November 21st, 2012
11:32 am
Lastly NO one has ever been denied emergency health coverage in the United States as all hospitals were mandated to not turn away patients.
_____
That rule only applys to hospitals that have emergency rooms. That’s why a lot of hospitals are dropping their emergency rooms.
Emergency rooms lose money and are a drain on overhead.
DannyX
November 21st, 2012
11:33 am
“Now about jobs being hard to come by- only lazy people can’t find work. If you had made good life choices like I did, you would already HAVE a job that provided insurance, like I do. So stop whining about costs and find those boot straps.”
So for those working their way up the ladder, at what point do you think they deserve health insurance? What jobs are classified as too lazy for insurance?
And for all the good Christians out there, who would Jesus insure?
middle of the road
November 21st, 2012
11:34 am
” I never blamed Obama, I just gave the opinion that there is no end in sight for rising health care costs. Also, in case you weren’t aware, jobs are hard to come by these days”
You sure sounded like you were blaming Obamacare – you said your insurance said they were going up 19% because of the no-previous-condition clause.
You will be glad of that clause if you go to change insurance companies to get a cheaper policy and you have a previous condition.
You will also be glad of other Obamacare provisions if you got real sick and you insurance decided to “recission” you, leaving you without ANY insurance after you paid them those premiums all those years.
Previously, most people could not decide to retire early because they could not afford the insurance to bridge them between leaving their job and Medicare – perhaps with the new rules, they will be able to retire.
alex
November 21st, 2012
11:34 am
@getalife, hell a NP could do that where’s the reasoning…aww, the reasoning, there’s a concept…mon. You should keep your own list of meds in your wallet….Do it , now…
@ DannyX, good to throw in war, never know, gotta estimate that calculation,since we are talking about GEORGIA numbers….sheesh. But it’s a good rabble rowser. Happy? Informed? Sorry, but you don’t get any of the 2 billion……(Merry Christmas; Scrooge and Marley, circa 1854)
saywhat?
November 21st, 2012
11:34 am
dannyX- see note to oscar.
Oscar
November 21st, 2012
11:35 am
Oscar- recalibrate your sarcasm meter.
______
I usually miss sarcasm on the boards. Meter must be broken. Must call a technician to get it checked.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
November 21st, 2012
11:35 am
““Ah yes, socialized medicine. “You have strep throat. We will spray your throat with Cepacol. Go home and do not come to us again about this issue.””
not intended to be a factual statement.*
Georgia
November 21st, 2012
11:35 am
Obamacare is just one of the fossils being carbon dated as Fox constitutional curators try to dredge up a new GOP. New faces are appearing with possible course corrections to woo an electorate with the attention span of a voter. If women’s bodies shut down Trickle Down then only women’s bodies can recycle it.
The GOP is forming new language, but the Tea Party can’t rally around it anymore. So I’m forming language for my new Rabble Party….. Manifesto: We are secesh when it comes to union. We are gynecologists when it comes to Obama’s birth certificate. We’re special ed when it comes to Obama’s grades. We are K9 drug sniffers when it comes to Obama’s passport. We’re Dust Bowl when it comes to entitlements. We are big on guns, small on government, (smallpox on government blankets is our healthcare plan). If we are allowed to secede, then we will gamble five million dollars in the Indian Casino of Obama’s choice…….
(I know. It stinks).
nobodyyouknow
November 21st, 2012
11:35 am
We will not know the full effects of the new healthcare bill for 2 or more years. I just can’t understand why one cannot look at the past history of ANY government program that is not over spent and BROKE. JAY knowing you are well read and informed on such matters, as I asked before (and got no reply) will you please tell me what if any govt. program has not gone BROKE?
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
November 21st, 2012
11:36 am
“Obama won a majority of the popular vote, silly goose.”
TWICE
Discount DoubleDawg
November 21st, 2012
11:36 am
Oscar- You actually believe the government will do a better job?
Keep this in mind, the exchange will basically become a govt run insurance program with private insurers having to compete with govt’s exchange which is expected to be the state funded Medicaid portion. (which is what the supreme court ruled is unconstitutional…forcing the states to fund this). No private insurer will be able to compete with the govt and it limits the amount any insurer can profit at 20%. Sounds good in theory but if they can only make 20% this year then next year when they have losses of 50%, they cannot recoup that money. You will have less and less private insurers in this market…thus more people on the govt program.
Then the gov’t exchange will start dictating what they charge (it will happen). The govt program will negotiate with hospitals just like private insurers do now for what can be charged for every procedure. Medicaid and Medicare do this now. That is how Obama is claiming to have cut $716 Billion in Medicare/Medicaid….he simply lowered what they would pay hospitals and in return several facilities stopped accepting it. What do you think will happen when Medicare/Medicaid is the behemoth it will become with most Americans on it, it will have compete negotiating power. I didn’t pull that out of thin air, it is simply business and the Obama administration did it this year. I just don’t see how this is a good thing. It will hurt job creation and hurt the overall quality of healthcare. Sad but true.
Regnad Kcin
November 21st, 2012
11:37 am
“By refusing to establish a state exchange the $2000 penalty per employee is voided per some very poorly written legislation. This saves every Georgia employer with over 30 employees $2000 per head if they do not offer health insurance.’
Call back when that bizarre intrepretation is backed up by the court.
middle of the road
November 21st, 2012
11:37 am
“Lastly NO one has ever been denied emergency health coverage in the United States as all hospitals were mandated to not turn away patients. So defacto everyone already had some type of health coverage.”
JJ – and who PAYS for that coverage (very EXPENSIVE ER medicine) – YOU AND I DO THROUGH OUR CURRENT INSURANCE PLANS. I would RATHER see them FORCED to obtain their own coverage.
stands for decibels
November 21st, 2012
11:37 am
I just can’t understand why one cannot look at the past history of ANY government program that is not over spent and BROKE
The US government is not like a private business that is unable to get financing.
When you can grasp that concept, come back and join the discussion.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
November 21st, 2012
11:39 am
“Lastly NO one has ever been denied emergency health coverage in the United States as all hospitals were mandated to not turn away patients. So defacto everyone already had some type of health coverage”
ohfercryingoutloud … and if you have MS and can’t afford to purchase beta seron or one of the other meds to treat it, you’re supposed to go to the Emergency Room every other day??? If you have kidney problems, you can rock up to get dialysis whenever you need it???
sheesh THINK people … healthcare is more about emergency services.
DannyX
November 21st, 2012
11:39 am
“So defacto everyone already had some type of health coverage. Not always what they wanted but what do you expect for free.”
Right, because anyone can walk into an emergency room and say, “Hey doc, give me a pint of Chemo.”
(Sarcasm)
Peadawg
November 21st, 2012
11:39 am
““Obama won a majority of the popular vote, silly goose.”
TWICE”
Only b/c the GOP couldn’t provide a competent option imo. I reluctantly voted for Obama a few weeks ago. It was a case of voting for the devil you know or the devil you don’t know.
Moderate Line
November 21st, 2012
11:39 am
stands for decibels
November 21st, 2012
11:29 am
there is still a shortage of primary care doctors in Massachusetts.
While I’m all for heading off future problems at the pass when such things are merited, Moderate, I have to ask–how much of this projected shortage is a direct result of the means by which the profession rations the number of individuals admitted to med school and licensed?
How do we differ from other nations on that score?
I honestly don’t know, but I suspect the answer to this particular problem might lie in the answers to those questions. (For what it’s worth, I did read the article you linked, and there was nothing in amongst the proposed solutions that address the issue of how we bring docs into the system in the first place.)
+++++
I think every point you make is a good one. The only thing I would add is that none of things you questions address the problem of doctors choosing something other than primary care. Although I think that problem would be solved if your other questions were resolved.
https://www.aamc.org/download/100598/data/recentworkforcestudies.pdf
Doggone/GA
November 21st, 2012
11:40 am
“will you please tell me what if any govt. program has not gone BROKE?”
None. ALL government programs go “broke” – because government is not a business and does not generate a profit. Forever, and always, WE the taxpayers have to pay the bills of the government.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
November 21st, 2012
11:40 am
” I would RATHER see them FORCED to obtain their own coverage.”
I would rather see a single payer system … but, hey … this is a good first step
barking frog
November 21st, 2012
11:41 am
And for all the good Christians out there, who would Jesus insure?
…………………………………………………..
Jesus is the Republican healthcare plan for the poor.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
November 21st, 2012
11:41 am
“Only b/c the GOP couldn’t provide a competent option imo. ”
he won the delegate vote – so, it was the PEOPLE who made him the candidate, not the Republican Party
DannyX
November 21st, 2012
11:42 am
“I just can’t understand why one cannot look at the past history of ANY government program that is not over spent and BROKE”
The Republicans socialist Medicare Part D drug program has come in way under initial projections.
The socialist Georgia Bulldog football program makes a ton of money.
alex
November 21st, 2012
11:42 am
@middle..: France, see the article in “economist” this week, see recent bond rating adjustment.. That being said, “money is never mentioned, so it’s free….??Come on man..”to the barricades, they’re trying to charge us to see a doctor…”
Oscar, I know of no hospital that has closed their E.R. recently
Regnad Kcin
November 21st, 2012
11:42 am
“JJ – and who PAYS for that coverage (very EXPENSIVE ER medicine) – YOU AND I DO THROUGH OUR CURRENT INSURANCE PLANS. I would RATHER see them FORCED to obtain their own coverage”
Conservatives HATE personal responsibility – they want to make sure those ER visits are paid for by the TAXPAYER, dang it!
barking frog
November 21st, 2012
11:43 am
When we get single payer we can offer become a doctor for free.
Nunna Yobinnes
November 21st, 2012
11:44 am
Saywhat – “Now about jobs being hard to come by- only lazy people can’t find work. If you had made good life choices like I did, you would already HAVE a job that provided insurance, like I do. So stop whining about costs and find those boot straps.”
If only lazy people don’t have jobs with health coverage, then why are you so gung ho on providing heatlhcare coverage for lazy people? Seems to me you just shot yourself in the foot.
Peadawg
November 21st, 2012
11:44 am
USinUK – not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
November 21st, 2012
11:41 am
The GOP handed the 2012 election to Obama on a silver platter by selecting Romney.
tea
November 21st, 2012
11:45 am
WHY DO POOR WHITE PEOPLE VOTE AGAINST THEMSELVES..THE RICH WHITE PEOPLE WILL NOT SHARE ANY OF THEIR WEALTH WITH YOU BUT YOU CONTINUE TO VOTE FOR THEM..IF YOU ARE SOUTH OF HENRY, NORTH OF MARIETTA HEALTH INSURANCE IS SCARCE..BUT I AM SURE YOU VOTE AGAIN FOR NATHAN DEAL TO TELL YOU HE WILL NOT BE TAKING ADDITIONAL FUNDING OR PROGRAMS FOR THE DISADVANTAGED IN GA …JUST PLAIN STUPID IF YOU ASK ME
GT/MIT
November 21st, 2012
11:45 am
I’ve read with interest the conjectural comments posted here by Bookman and his followers and find some laughable, some tragic, and of course some ridiculous. I say conjectural because as was previously written, we, not any one of us, has any clue what is in that voluminous legislation as it now stands. The only sensible comment I’ve read is that we’ll learn as we go along. Not a very smart way to go about the business of governing, but the way it is now being done. Those of you, and obviously there are many, that believe this is the way to go, shall surely get exactly what you asked for.
As for the system of socialized medicine you are touting, speaking from a very limited measure of experience with the Canadian system, you ain’t gonna like it!
stands for decibels
November 21st, 2012
11:46 am
the problem of doctors choosing something other than primary care.
It would seem to me that managing the fees paid for particular types of care needs to be massaged so that people have more of an incentive to go into primary care, if in fact those are the docs we need. Of course that’s what is a big part of the planned for Medicare savings, the infamous 700 billion “cuts” we heard about during the general election, if memory serves.
Regnad Kcin
November 21st, 2012
11:46 am
“If only lazy people don’t have jobs with health coverage, then why are you so gung ho on providing heatlhcare coverage for lazy people? Seems to me you just shot yourself in the foot.”
Saywhat – I think you might need a “sarcasm” emoticon, or something…
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
November 21st, 2012
11:46 am
“The GOP handed the 2012 election to Obama on a silver platter by selecting Romney.”
and again … the GOP didn’t pick him … the PEOPLE voted for him in the primary season. They had a whole field of people to choose from and they picked him.
They BOTH suck
November 21st, 2012
11:46 am
barking frog @ 11:41
Good one
Doggone/GA
November 21st, 2012
11:47 am
“The GOP handed the 2012 election to Obama on a silver platter by selecting Romney.”
Pity Elmer Fudd didn’t run for the nomination. We have it on good word that he would have won hands down.
Erwin's cat
November 21st, 2012
11:48 am
And for all the good Christians out there, who would Jesus insure?
—————————————————-
dunno…who would Darwin insure?
DannyX
November 21st, 2012
11:48 am
“Jesus is the Republican healthcare plan for the poor.”
Not anymore. Have you seen the Republican plan to privatize Jesus when he returns? There are big bucks to be earned. Here is a price list.
Giving sight to the blind…$1,000,000.00
Curing a cripple…$1,000,000.00
Raising the dead…$1,000,000,000.00
Jesus Inc will accept payment from major insurance companies only. No Medicare/Medicaid/Peachcare for Kids.
Welcome to the Occupation
November 21st, 2012
11:48 am
I just can’t understand why one cannot look at the past history of ANY government program that is not over spent and BROKE
Social Security.
Next.
RB from Gwinnett
November 21st, 2012
11:48 am
Are all you libs ready to accept the hammering this bill is going to put on your beloved “less fortunate”? Between the price icreases to cover added expenses, the outright job cuts, the hours reduced to 30 to get under the “full time” rules, and the lack of a pay increase to hold expenses, they’re going to get HAMMERED by this thing.
The truly sad thing is, when it happens and they fall further behind, you’re never going to own up to being responsible for it. It’s gonna be ugly, libs, but it’s what you demanded. And every day you whine about it, I’m going to remind you it’s EXACTLY what I told you was going to happen.
Regnad Kcin
November 21st, 2012
11:48 am
“The only sensible comment I’ve read is that we’ll learn as we go along. Not a very smart way to go about the business of governing, but the way it is now being done. ”
That’s what our founding fathers thought, too, and that worked out okay…
Peadawg
November 21st, 2012
11:50 am
“And for all the good Christians out there, who would Jesus insure?”
Jesus wouldn’t let a doctor do it…Jesus would just do it himself.
tea
November 21st, 2012
11:50 am
Doggone/GA – ACTUALLY OBAMA BEAT ROMNEY AND THE REPUBLICANS AT THEIR OWN GAME..ITS ALL NUMBERS IF YOU KNOW THE POINT SPREAD DEMS ONLY HAVE TO GET 100 ELECTORAL VOTES THEY START OFF AHEAD 170…SO YOU GUYS CAN KEEP THE CONFEDERATE STATES AND THOSE SMALL STATES LIKE WYOMING ETC…HE WONE FAIR AND SQUARE LOL
KellyCA
November 21st, 2012
11:50 am
Why should they accept this disaster of a bill? Why? Just imagine if the shoe were on the other foot the Dems would never ever give up! Obamacare is only for us serfs: Congress has exempted themselves from this most historic bill they held so high. But not meant for Fancy Nancy & Company – no no no! Federal employees can shop nationwide, have excellent coverage including long term care & those of us forced to drop our plans pay for their gilded coverage. So ultimately after all consumer driven plans ie HSA’s and FSA’s are gone, after employers dump their employees into the rationed & pricey DMV-styled exchanges, we have only the Obama& the Dems to blame since they are incompetent ideological leftists with their iron boots strapped on tight. Obamaland: I’ve Seen You Future& It Doesn’t Work. Read the book by a British citizen. We are doomed. But the Masterminds on the Left have it all under control.