Archive for the ‘Nationalized Health Bill’ Category
Dental Provisions in the Nationalized Health Bill
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009
As Americans brace themselves for what Congress might do to our health care, the country’s leading dental organizations are communicating and lobbying in both houses to make sure that any provisions that may affect dental care are represented. The American Dental Association is taking the lead in the political arena, and surprisingly, their main interest is in reforming the reform bill. The reason this is surprising is that the ADA has become quite liberal in their political activism, but even leftists are now beginning to see through the flaws and deceptions in H.R. 3200.
To begin with, the primary vehicle for government aid in dental care is Medicaid, and according to Dr. John S. Findley, the ADA president, “The whole concept of a public plan remains troubling….and none of the bills enhances Medicaid reimbursement, which translates as no significant improvements for the poor and other vulnerable populations.” Dr. Findley says this, and the ADA has introduced its own Medicaid amendment, H.R. 2220, all because the healthcare bill has clearly stated that it will be funding a half trillion dollars of its costs from reductions in Medicaid and Medicare. The dental provisions in Medicaid are already worthless, but at least the medical benefits from Medicare offer a little hope for the group that needs it the most, the elderly. If H.R. 3200 passes as it is, Medicare and Medicaid will still exist, but only as a means of providing jobs for more government workers. Even AARP, the most liberal senior organization in existence, has made a token complaint on that issue, but I suspect it’s just for appearances, so they won’t lose any more members.
You can see then how the “healthcare” bill will actually become a drastic reduction in care for the elderly, and that’s why they are up in arms at the townhall meetings. All H.R. 3200 will end up providing is pain pills and assisted suicide. Isn’t it amazing how we’re now embracing what was so appalling to us only ten years ago?
Secondly, there is the issue of funding. The ADA and 10 other major U.S. dental organizations formed a coalition to protest the taxes proposed on healthcare services. As we are exposing this bill to the light of day we are finding all sorts of hidden agendas. The new health “reform” bill will tax businesses on their employee health and dental care insurance, a heretofore necessary and legitimate business deduction. I bet you didn’t know that. Together with the public option plan, that will make it virtually impossible for businesses to afford private medical and dental insurance for their employees, thus forcing just about everyone into the government “option”, and bankrupting all but a chosen few of the medical insurance companies. The sections dealing with dental care seem to be an afterthought, with many regulations, but providing no benefits. This plan appears to be more like anti-insurance, preventing people from even accessing the coverage they already have.
This is why the ADA President has issued the surprising statement, “The ADA does not support a single-payer system because we believe it would stifle access and innovation and reduce the quality of patient care.” And the Public Dental Coalition has petitioned the Senate Finance Committee, one of the five committees that will be crafting the healthcare legislation, saying, “The effect of limiting the exclusion from taxation for employer-provided coverage on health care benefits plans could be profound, potentially leading to a marked reduction in the purchase of dental benefit coverage. A reduction in dental coverage will increase the out-of-pocket costs to those who receive dental care, which may serve as a barrier to seeking regular preventive care”. These are some amazing statements coming from organizations that are generally committed to public healthcare.
After robbing Medicare, Congress will still need to come up with two trillion more dollars, a staggering sum. And here’s another thing many people don’t realize. The estimated two trillion is not a one-time cost. We have to cough up that much each and every year, providing they can stay within their budget, which has never happened in the history of this country. It is a mathematical impossibility for us to meet this cost, but rest assured, they will certainly be raising your taxes and doubling your employer’s taxes, in a futile attempt to come up with that much money.
So why and who would want to impose a decidedly inferior dental and medical system on us for an exorbitant cost that will unquestionably bankrupt our country? You won’t like the answers to these questions but I’m going to let you find out for yourselves, because it behooves every American to become educated about the bill, and the background of its authors. And then discover which ‘czars’ are going to be operating outside the legal constraints of our government with all that money, what their political agendas are, and what special interest groups are in line to receive a large portion of our money. Healthcare smellcare! It’s like the convicts are left alone to guard the bank. It’s a ten trillion dollar shakedown, for heaven’s sake! An impartial observer would have to conclude that this healthcare scheme is just a cover for someone who is intentionally trying to bankrupt us for some nefarious reasons, and loot our country in the process. Finally, it is our civic duty to clue in our Congressman about what’s going on, bless their narrow little partisan hearts.
All of us have stories of loved ones that have been able to extend their lives ten or twenty years because of immediate and comprehensive medical treatment, but have you heard any stories like that coming out of other countries with government medical rationing plans? That could be us down the road if we let this thing pass. With all this emotional rhetoric about our right to healthcare, H.R. 3200 would actually be taking away our rights to healthcare. I urge you to write all of our congressman and express your opinions on the subject while you still can.
Dr. Moulton’s article was published in the Desert Valley Times, September 1, 2009
Posted in Nationalized Health Bill | 4 Comments »