the arizona strategy
SonoranNews.com
Dr Eric Novack
On June 22, the Arizona legislature voted to place the Health Care Freedom Act on the 2010 ballot. In doing so, legislators said plainly to the citizens of Arizona and to elected officials in Washington: health care reform cannot come at the expense of the rights and values that built this country.
The hysterical claims of the opponents of the Health Care Freedom Act only serve to expose their real goals for ‘health care reform’: the complete transfer of decision making power over health and health care away from patients and families and into the hands of government.
The referendum will place two rights into our state constitution:
The right to always be able to spend your own money for lawful health care services.
The right to choose to not participate in a government-run or sanctioned health care system – including the ability to keep your personal health care information private.
No government bureaucrat or panel of experts should have the ultimate authority to determine whether you or your loved ones should be condemned to suffer.
The rights are so basic and fundamental that many will wonder why this is even necessary, for no Congress or President would ever promote legislation that would aim to control our most personal possession, our health, to such a degree. Unfortunately, some of the so-called reforms that have already passed Congress and others that are being considered aim to destroy them.
The stimulus bill was used as a tool to vastly expand the federal health care bureaucracy.
By the end of 2014, every American will be forced to have an accessible electronic health record that can be viewed by government officials without consent, permission, or notification.
The stimulus bill created the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research – whose ultimate function will be to become a federal health care rationing board for all Americans, starting with seniors. As Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said during her confirmation testimony “Congress did not impose any limits on it.”
In the proposed “public plan option,” the rules for those who join the plan, in whatever version it will exist, will absolutely contain severe restrictions on being able to spend our own money for care that is not authorized. Legislators will, of course, not be so transparent as to put it that way. Rather, they will merely threaten health care providers with imprisonment for providing the care.
The protections found within The Health Care Freedom Act have never been more needed. Congress is proposing to force every American into a health care plan – or suffer tax penalties, wage garnishing, or another penalty. In spite of his vocal opposition to this during the presidential primaries, President Obama now appears to find this a good idea. It appears that the so-called individual mandate and employer mandate is “on the table” to win the support of private health insurers and pharmaceutical companies who envision millions of new forced customers.
The problems are several: first, once you are forced into a plan, public or private, the health care you can seek out will be completely restricted by the rules and terms of the plan. This may include restricting access to non-traditional or individualized care, even though we know that future health care advances are likely to come from recognizing that we are not made “one-size-fits-all.” Second, through increased taxes and withholding, there is good evidence workers of all incomes will suffer under the weight of higher taxes and fewer jobs.
And, when it comes to reducing health care spending, the mandate for health insurance in Massachusetts, since it debuted in 2006, has resulted in longer wait times for doctor visits, no decrease in emergency room visits, and an even higher rate of health care cost inflation.
The Health Care Freedom Act will protect our rights and steer health care reform along a more sustainable and effective path. The health care safety net is protected, as are Medicare beneficiaries and those with workers’ compensation injuries.
The cynics who shout that we cannot have health care reform without government intruding into our most personal decisions are false prophets offering a false choice.
The Health Care Freedom Act puts patients first and deserves the support of all Arizonans, regardless of party affiliation. Our health, and that of our loved ones, is too important.
<- Go Back
Donate - Right Rail
Please consider giving generously to Arizonans For Health care Freedom campaign.
