Health Care Issue - Information

Overview - The Obama administration has made reform of the Health Care System a priority.  They point to rising costs, number of uninsured and under-insured growing, people denied insurance coverage, problems with loss of coverage due to change in employment, people using emergency rooms for routine care, etc.

Current Status of Legislation -

ALERT: On November 7, the House passed HR3962 Affordable Health Care for America Act. The US Senate has not yet voted on Health Care Reform, send email to our two Senators to vote NO on all government-run healthcare, government mandates, etc.  (posted 11/8/09)

1. Is it constitutional?  No
The Constitution does not grant the federal government the authority to provide health care to anyone.

2. Is it "affordable"? No
Costs will be significantly more than anticipated.  Both Medicare and Medicaid (run by the federal government) will run out of money in the near future.  In addition, both Medicare and Medicaid are rife with fraud and waste.

3. Will we still have "choices"? No
A government run option would stifle consumer choice, and choke competition.

4. Will it fix the problems listed in the overview? No
The problems will not be solved and many additional problems will be created - shortages in medical services, rationing of health care, denial of services, etc.

5. Is this fascism? Yes
When govenment establishes laws that require private companies to do what they are told or face fines and/or imprisonment, this is fascism.  Various penalties in this plan would be particularly hard on small and medium-size businesses.

6. Will this legislation lead to government rationing of resources? Yes
When the federal government takes over as the single payer for all medical services, and continues its refusal to pay the full cost of those services, the results will be shortages in medical services...followed by rationing of health care and denial of services.

Links to Websites with additional information, reference info, etc.

Conservatives for Patients' Rights - Find information about Health Care Reform

"It may look like a Rube Goldberg device on steroids, but in fact the diagram above is the organizational chart that would govern health care under the $1.6 trillion-plus reform plan that House Democrats unveiled in July. Republican members of Congress' Joint Economic Committee released the chart to underline what they believe is the excessive complexity, cost and bureaucratization of the Democratic proposal." -- Investor's Business Daily.

Over 400 people attended a rally in Washington Park, Ft Collins in August. Patients First collected over 300 signatures. We heard doctors and patients speaking out against nationalized healthcare. AFP (Americans for Prosperity) provided t-shirts,and donuts. Patients First was back in Colorado on October 31.