the arizona strategy
Obama Health Care Mandate Eliminates Patient Rights and Freedoms
Arizona Takes Steps to Protect Individual Choice
(PHOENIX, AZ) – July 23, 2009 –In his remarks to the nation last night, President Obama confirmed the worst fears of millions of Americans who want the freedom to make their own health care decisions. “They’re going to have to give up paying for things that don’t make them healthier,” declared the President in response to a reporter’s question about what Americans will have to give up under his proposed health care plan.
“’Giving up paying for things’” really means taking away our ability to spend our own money for health care services that are completely legal,” commented Dr. Eric Novack, a board certified orthopedic surgeon and Chairman of Arizonans for Health Care Freedom. “How can a group of unelected ‘experts’ decide what things will make individual Americans feel better or benefit their health?” he asked.
To prevent government control of individuals’ health care decisions, the Arizona state legislature recently approved the Health Care Freedom Act. The measure allows voters to approve amending the state constitution to preserve their right to spend their money on any legal health care service they choose, as well as their right to choose not to participate in health care systems or programs of any kind. At least six other states are considering similar efforts aimed at halting federal restrictions on personal choice.
“No one can deny the need for health care reform,” Novack remarked. “But true reform must be based on protecting and preserving the right of people to make their own health care decisions instead of handing control over to lobbyists and bureaucrats,” he added.
In spite of his earlier vocal opposition to a government takeover of the U.S. health care system, President Obama now seems clearly set on this goal. Efforts to severely restrict patient choice are clearly visible in his endorsement of a plan to empower MedPAC, an unelected small panel of “experts” with nearly more power than Congress to determine what health care will be available for Americans. In other words, a ‘federal health board’ whose ultimate aim is to ration health care for all Americans.
This is on top of the President’s already approved plans to force electronic health care records on all Americans that can be viewed by government officials without patient consent, permission or notification as long as they call it research.
As Americans wake up to the false promises in Obama’s vision of health care reform, support for the effort is dwindling rapidly. So far, Arizona is the only state to stand up and say no to government intrusion into people’s health care decisions. For this reason, the Health Care Freedom Act continues to attract national attention and widespread support.
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