Universal Health Care for America

[Luke_Wilbur]

The Internal Revenue Service this week began mailing postcards to more than four million small businesses and tax-exempt organizations to make them aware of the benefits of the recently enacted small business health care tax credit.

Included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act approved by Congress last month and signed into law by President Obama, the credit is one of the first health care reform provisions to go into effect. The credit, which takes effect this year, is designed to encourage small employers to offer health insurance coverage for the first time or maintain coverage they already have.

 

“We want to make sure small employers across the nation realize that –– effective this tax year –– they may be eligible for a valuable new tax credit. Our postcard mailing –– which is targeted at small employers –– is intended to get the attention of small employers and encourage them to find out more," IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said. “We urge every small employer to take advantage of this credit if they qualify.”

 

In general, the credit is available to small employers that pay at least half the cost of single coverage for their employees in 2010. The credit is specifically targeted to help small businesses and tax-exempt organizations that primarily employ low- and moderate-income workers.

 

For tax years 2010 to 2013, the maximum credit is 35 percent of premiums paid by eligible small business employers and 25 percent of premiums paid by eligible employers that are tax-exempt organizations. The maximum credit goes to smaller employers –– those with 10 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees –– paying annual average wages of $25,000 or less. Because the eligibility rules are based in part on the number of FTEs, not the number of employees, businesses that use part-time help may qualify even if they employ more than 25 individuals. The credit is completely phased out for employers that have 25 FTEs or more or that pay average wages of $50,000 per year or more.

 

Eligible small businesses can claim the credit as part of the general business credit starting with the 2010 income tax return they file in 2011. For tax-exempt organizations, the IRS will provide further information on how to claim the credit.

 

View the postcard.

 

View Information on state-by-state distribution of the postcard.

 

More information about the credit, including a step-by-step guide and answers to frequently asked questions, is available on the IRS Web site, IRS.gov.

 

 

[Guest The Gavel]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQnZaXhwwz4

 

You know the number on the Jewish in WW2, It was a number that was identifiable by an IBM computer system. Thomas J. Watson the CEO of IBM was a member of the Bohemian Grove society along with Hitler.

 

A punch-card system built by the Jewish that was then used to help kill them. IBM today funds Verichip and Applied Digital Solutions the makers of the RFID chip known as 666

 

Today, Andrea Stone of AOL News released a list of some of the top health care myths according to the nonpartisan FactCheck.org that continue to be put forward by opponents of reform:

 

Prepare to have microchips implanted in your body. Unless you are a Muslim, in which case you are exempt. Everyone else — you could soon have one of 16,500 armed IRS agents knocking at your door.

 

Those and other myths are still swirling around the health care law, according to a new report by the nonpartisan FactCheck.org. One month after President Barack Obama signed the legislation, the group said its inbox was full of messages asking whether claims made by some opponents of the legislation are true. In most cases, it said, they are not.

 

“We’ve seldom seen a piece of legislation so widely misrepresented, and misunderstood, as the new health care law,” FactCheck said in an article headlined “More Malarkey About Health Care.”

 

The group said some of the confusion was understandable given various versions of the bill considered by the House and Senate and the “awkward two-step legislative dance” that lawmakers went through before it finally passed March 21. Yet even now that the bill is law, “some opponents persist in making false or exaggerated claims about it,” the organization said.

 

The “false and exaggerated claims” highlighted by FactCheck.org as explained on aol.com:

 

MYTH:

 

“It requires patients be implanted with microchips.”

 

FACT:

 

"This rather paranoid claim,’ in FactCheck’s words, stems from a proposed registry for certain medical devices. It had nothing to do with microchips but, even if it did, it isn’t in the law."

 

MYTH:

 

“It exempts Muslims from the requirement to obtain health insurance.”

 

FACT:

 

“Unlikely. FactCheck says the law was designed to exempt Old Order Amish. Rumors that other religious groups, specifically Muslims, would also be exempt are “likely overblown,” though it says it is still checking. It noted that the Christian Science Church, which restricts health care use, has said it will not opt out of coverage.”

 

MYTH:

 

“It requires 16,500 armed IRS agents to enforce.”

 

FACT:

 

“This claim put forth by Republican lawmakers is ‘a fantasy,’ the group says. Contrary to what Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, has said, armed agents won’t enforce the health care mandate because the law ‘specifically waives any criminal penalties for those who both decline to obtain insurance coverage and refuse to pay the tax enacted to penalize lack of coverage.’”

 

MYTH:

 

“It gives President Obama a Nazi-like ‘private army.’”

 

FACT:

 

“Not even close. Despite Internet rumors, the law sets up a new Ready Reserve Corps of doctors and other health workers who can be called up during public health emergencies.”

 

MYTH:

 

“It cuts benefits for military families and retirees.”

 

FACT:

 

“No. Contrary to a chain e-mail, the military’s TRICARE program will not be affected.

[Doug White]

Nice bumper sticker, even if it is too late.

[Guest Phi Kappa Scappa]

Great but for three things: 1) no encroachment of freedom has occurred (none) 2) gun laws are more permissive than they were two years ago (like in DC) and 3) Obama cut taxes for 95% of working Americans, so there's the money you're keeping but you think you've somehow lost...

Have a nice day.

 

Nice bumper sticker, even if it is too late.

[Guest AlwaysRed]

Obama's Chief Actuary Says 50% of Seniors Will Lose Their Medicare Advantage Plans

 

"If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor. Period. If you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your health care plan. Period. No one will take it away. No matter what." -- President Obama, June 15, 2009

 

Despite President Obama's pledge that all Americans would be able to keep their health insurance plans, the chief actuary of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) concluded that under ObamaCare, half of all seniors who have Medicare Advantage plans will lose their coverage.

 

In a new analysis of ObamaCare, CMS concluded:

 

"We estimate that in 2017, when the MA provisions will be fully phased in, enrollment in MA plans will be lower by about 50 percent (from its projected level of 14.8 million under the prior law to 7.4 million under the new law)." Page 11

 

http://republicans.waysandmeans.house.gov/UploadedFiles/OACT_Memorandum_on_Financial_Impact_of_PPACA_as_Enacted.pdf

[Guest Go Jesus]

With the creation of the registry, every new RFID will be documented and entered into a system which was created solely to keep tabs on it.

 

Revelation 13:16-17

16 He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.

 

VERICHIP has now bought STEEL VAULT and has now changed their name once again to POSITIVE ID and for the FIRST TIME EVER now they will be combining MONEY & IDENTITY with a RFID CHIP!!! WOW!!!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T4P9cEufrU

[Guest Go Jesus]

If you do not have time to watch the discourse. Just watch this commercial and think about what this means.

 

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=Sh_032s6ePQ

 

VeriChip Corporation, headquartered in Delray Beach, Florida, operates two distinct lines of business. Its VeriMed Health Link is the world's first and only FDA-cleared, human-implantable RFID microchip for patient identification. Its VeriGreen Energy Corporation subsidiary was formed to invest in the clean and alternative energy sector.

 

Do they have our best intentions at mind?

Does it matter?

Will you take the chip?

[Guest Go Jesus]

Here is a Google cache link to their page they recently removed.

 

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:ENoU47He-hEJ:www.verichipcorp.com/about_us.html+http://www.verichipcorp.com/about_us.html

 

Just in case they remove the link.

 

VeriChip Corporation, headquartered in Delray Beach, Florida, operates two distinct lines of business. Its VeriMed Health Link is the world's first and only FDA-cleared, human-implantable RFID microchip for patient identification. Its VeriGreen Energy Corporation subsidiary was formed to invest in the clean and alternative energy sector.

VeriChip History

 

The roots of VeriChip trace back to the events of September 11, 2001, when New York firemen were writing their badge ID numbers on their chests in case they were found injured or unconscious. It was evident there was a serious need for personal information in emergency situations.

 

Working closely with Applied Digital Solutions, now Digital Angel Corporation, VeriChip was created as a wholly-owned subsidiary in December 2001 to produce and market an implantable microchip to identify patients in an emergency situation. The company received FDA clearance for the microchip in October 2004 and today, many people around the world have been implanted. In addition, several leading medical centers including Beth Israel Deaconess and Hackensack University, have agreed to use the technology in their emergency departments with other facilities currently in talks with VeriChip.

 

In March 2009, the Company’s new subsidiary, VeriGreen Energy Corporation, was formed to invest in the clean and alternative energy sector to complement its healthcare initiatives.

 

VeriChip Corporation completed its initial public offering in February 2007 and trades on the NASDAQ under the symbol "CHIP."

 

Please check this out. I pray that I am wrong. I see similar articles on your blog.

[Guest GOP 4 Life]

U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, delivered the following remarks today on the House floor regarding a report released last week from the president's own administration, which says that ObamaCare actually raises health care costs:

 

"After months of debate and assurances that their government takeover of health care would actually result in lowering the cost of health care for Americans, the truth landed with a thud last Thursday.

 

"A new report from the Obama Administration's own Medicare agency confirms what we have known all along. The president and Congressional Democrats passed a health care law without any idea how to pay for it.

 

"They promised to lower the cost of health care but instead ObamaCare will send those costs soaring by $311 billion. Again, this is from their own analysts within the administration. The same report says in the same way the Democrats set out to pay for the bill are ‘unsustainable' and some of the methods they use to control costs are ‘negligible.'

 

"The reality is we need to repeal ObamaCare and replace it with the kind of health care reform that will lower the cost of health care without growing the size of government. And House Republicans are determined to be on the side of the American people until we do just that."

[Guest AlwaysRed]

The national health care reform provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended, make far-reaching changes to the health sector, including mandated coverage for most people, required payments by most employers not offering insurance, expanded eligibility for Medicaid, Federal premium and cost-sharing subsidies for many individuals and families, a new system of health benefits Exchanges for facilitating coverage, and a new Federal Insurance program in support of long-term care. Additional provisions will reduce Medicare outlays, make other Medicaid modifications, provide more funding for the CHIP program, add certain benefit enhancements for these programs, and combat fraud and abuse. Federal revenues will be increased through an excise tax on high-cost insurance plans, fees or excise taxes on drugs, devices, and health plans; higher Hospital payroll taxes for high-income taxpayers; a new tax on investment revenues and other unearned income; and other provisions.

 

The Office of the Actuary at CMS has estimated the effects of the non-tax provisions of the PPACA on Federal outlays, overall national health expenditures, and health insurance coverage in the U.S. Our estimates are based on available data sources and what we believe are reasonable assumptions regarding individual employer, and health plan responses to the legislation, together with analyses of the likely changes in the cost and the use of health care services. Our primary estimates for the PPACA are as follows:

 

* The total Federal cost of the national insurance coverage provisions would be about $828 billion during the fiscal years 2010 through 2019.

 

* By 2019, and additional 34 million U.S. citizens and other legal residents would have health insurance coverage meeting the essential-benifit requirements.

 

* Total net savings in 2010 - 2019 from Medicare provisions would offset about $575 billion of the Federal costs for the national coverage provisions. The Medicaid and CHIP provisions, excluding the expansion of Medicaid and increased CHIP funding, would raise costs by $28 billion. Additional Federal revenues would further offset the coverage costs; however, the Office of the Actuary does not have the expertise necessary to estimate all such impacts. The Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation have estimated an overall reduction in the Federal Budget deficit through 2019 under PPACA.

 

* The new Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) insurance program would produce an estimated total net savings of $38 billion through fiscal year 2019. This effect, however is due to the initial 5-year period during which no benefits would be paid. Over the longer term, expenditures would exceed premium receipts, and there is a very serious risk that the program would become unsustainable as a result of adverse selection by participants.

 

* Total national health expenditures in the U.S. during 2010-2019 would increase by about 0.9 percent. The additional demand for health services could be difficult to meet initialy with existing health provider resources and could lead to price increases, cost-shifting, and/or changes in providers' willingness to treat patients with low-reimbursement health coverage.

 

* The mandated reductions in Medicare payment updates for providers, the actions of the Independent Payment Advisory Board, and the excise tax on high-cost employer-sponsored health insurance would have a downward impact on future health care cost growth rates. During 2010 - 2019, however, the effects would be outweighed by the increased costs associated with the expansions of health insurance coverage. Also, the longer-term viability of the Medicare update reductions is doubtful. Other provisions, such as comparative effectiveness research, are estimated to have a relatively small effect on expenditure growth rates.

 

More information can be found here:

 

http://republicans.waysandmeans.house.gov/UploadedFiles/OACT_Memorandum_on_Financial_Impact_of_PPACA_as_Enacted.pdf

[Guest John Boehner]

President Obama promised Congress and the American people his health care reform plan would “immediately offer low-cost coverage” to individuals “who can’t get insurance today because they have preexisting medical conditions.” But at least 18 states have already opted out of ObamaCare’s high-risk pool program, citing the lack of federal resources and the excessive costs and unfunded mandates it will impose on taxpayers in their communities.

 

This stems in part from a recent report by the chief actuary for Medicare and Medicaid warning that that the initial $5 billion investment for ObamaCare’s high-risk pool program would be “exhausted” in two years, resulting in “substantial premium increases” that would “limit further participation.” In other words, states would be left to pick up the rest of the tab. The Washington Post reports:

 

Eighteen states have said they will not administer a stopgap program to provide insurance coverage to people whose preexisting conditions have left them uninsured, forcing the federal government to do the work. The states’ decisions increase the challenge the government faces as it sets out to translate the far-reaching health-care legislation into action, and they hint at the complexities to come… Some governors said they were unwilling to take on the task because it appears that Congress has allocated too little money.

 

Ohio meanwhile, has “expressed interest” in creating a program, according to today’s Columbus Dispatch:

 

On Thursday, Gov. Ted Strickland and Mary Jo Hudson, Ohio's insurance director, sent letters to Sebelius expressing Ohio's interest in creating a state high-risk program…. Based on early estimates from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Ohio would receive $152 million to run the program, if approved.

 

As the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported recently, Ohio’s interest is not new. The state considered creating similar programs in 2005 and 2006, but each time decided against it due to the high cost, and limited number of people the pools would benefit:

 

One study noted that all high-risk pools lose money and need subsidies… By the fifth year of the program, the study said, the monthly shortfall would be $890 per participant. Ohio would have to find $15.3 million to make up that difference.

 

As the Department of Health and Human Services irons out the details of this new program with the Strickland Administration in the coming weeks, many questions remain to be answered. What happens when the federal money runs out? At a time when Ohio faces an estimated $8 billion budget gap, will this new program add to that burden? And given the previous studies, how will Ohio’s new program differ to effectively offer affordable, quality care to those in need?

 

During the health care debate, House Republicans offered a better solution, provided far more funding to establish universal access programs that expand and reform high-risk pools and reinsurance programs to guarantee that all Americans, regardless of pre-existing conditions or past illnesses, have access to affordable care. Unfortunately, Washington Democrats ignored the GOP plan and defied the will of the American people by ramming ObamaCare through Congress.

 

Americans’ top priority is lower health care costs, but ObamaCare is already giving them higher costs, premium increases, and more costly mandates. It’s yet one more reason why Republicans are fighting to repeal ObamaCare and replace it with common-sense reforms that focus first on lowering health care costs for families and small businesses.

[Guest HUMAN]

In Section 9006 of the bill, all American companies are forced to issue 1099 tax forms to any vendor with which they spend more than $600 in one tax year

 

This means that almost every independent handyman in America will be issuing a 1099 to Home Depot. This means that every hot dog cart vendor will be issuing 1099’s to the stores where he buys hot dogs and relish.

 

http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/2010/04/26/costly-irs-mandate-slipped-into-health-bill/

 

This means another hidden tax.

 

Now as times goes on, What else in this "BILL"? 72 hours to digest a "Bill" of this magnitude?

 

Makes you think!

[Guest LEARN FROM HUMAN]

I'm disabled and I don't like this "Bill". Why?

 

44 thousand doctors short is the main reason.

 

Second reason; Cost.

 

The Cost will continue to come out, even though with all the hidden taxes in the "Law Bill" it's still not enough.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Now let’s touch on the main reason. What does 44k really mean?

 

It means alot of doctors cross specializing, and if they don't get the proper training? You will pay for it some how, some way.

 

Pray it's not with your LIFE.

 

DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT JUMPING ON THE DOCTORS ON THIS ONE.

 

The Democrats HAVE pushed this bill which is now LAW "Come hell or high water". Doctors try their best with what resources they got.

 

As a person who IS disabled, This Law Scares the Hell out of me.

 

It's not a well thought out LAW.

[Guest 2 Cents]

This all seems to well orchestrated by powers outside the government to make the us pay for their foolish bets that went sour. I am really scared for my children.

[Guest Ohio's 8th]

Public calls for repeal of ObamaCare are rising – and House and Senate Republicans are offense, calling attention to steadily-mounting evidence that President Obama’s massive health care law is crushing small business job creation at a time when the American economy can least afford it. The uprising against ObamaCare has again forced the White House into defense mode, and will gain further momentum Thursday when the House GOP Health Care Solutions Group holds a public forum on the cost of the health care law to small businesses and families. [A live feed of the forum, which will feature testimony by small business operator Gail Johnson of Rainbow Station, Inc., will be available at http://health.burgess.house.gov; House Republicans will also be live-tweeting the forum at twitter.com/GOP_HCSG as well as twitter.com/RepShimkus, using the hashtag #HCSG.]

 

As Congress prepares to head home for Memorial Day, Congressional Republicans are harnessing the rising public backlash against the president’s law. In the Senate, Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), an orthopedic surgeon, has joined with other Republican colleagues to launch Second Opinion, a effort to sound the alarm about the harmful consequences ObamaCare is having on the American people. The House Republican Conference, led by Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), has launched a similar initiative, dubbed ObamaCare Flatlines. And throughout the Memorial Day break, House Republicans will be doing a town hall blitz in support of America Speaking Out, a project aimed at involving the American people directly in the process of creating a new governing agenda.

 

Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester), who on May 20 stood with small business operators from Ohio outside the U.S. Capitol to discuss ObamaCare’s job-crushing taxes and mandates, today called on the White House to watch the May 27 solutions group forum and address the issues it will raise:

 

I hope President Obama and his aides will respond to Thursday’s forum and offer a legitimate and substantive response to the issues that are raised. If the president and Speaker Pelosi are truly focused on ‘jobs, jobs, jobs’ as they claim to be, then they owe the American people a solution to the roadblocks this new law is placing in the path of America’s small business job creators.

 

Americans from outside the Beltway are joining with Republicans to speak out on the need to repeal this job-killing law and start over with real reforms that will lower health care costs. President Obama has an obligation to listen to the American people, who asked him not to sign this law, and were ignored.

 

As Sen. Barrasso said in a Fox News interview on May 23:

 

Now that this thing has become law, the American people are even more opposed to what was jammed down their throats. The American people are very skeptical. The White House has a whole campaign to try to say what’s good about this bill very early on, but so much of what they’re promising, they’re delivering far less. Even the things that they say are good aren’t working out. As we get into the details of this, when they talk about the tax advantages for small businesses, now small businesses are finding out the way to take advantage of some of these tax breaks is that they need to fire employees and pay them less.

 

Boehner is a former small businessman. The Republican Leader ran a small company in West Chester, Ohio prior to his election to the House of Representatives.

 

Earlier this month, the nation’s leading small business organization, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), announced it has joined a lawsuit by 20 states seeking to overturn the president’s job-crushing health law.

 

During the nearly year-long congressional debate on President Obama’s health care overhaul, House Republicans put forth common-sense alternatives to ObamaCare, which can be seen in detail at GOP.gov.

[Guest American4Progress]

Yesterday, President Obama sought to sell the health overhaul law to skeptical seniors, "launching a defense of his presidency's biggest accomplishment" as the government prepared to release "the first batch of $250 checks to seniors who fall into Medicare's prescription drug coverage gap, known as the 'doughnut hole.'" "Each month, as more seniors hit the doughnut hole, more and more checks will hit the mail, helping more than 4 million seniors by the end of this year," Obama explained. "Now, beginning next year, if you fall into the coverage gap, you'll get a 50 percent discount on the brand-name medicine that you need -- 50 percent. And by 2020 -- it's being phased in, but by 2020 this law will close the doughnut hole completely." The White House's pitch comes in the midst of a renewed Republican effort to discredit reform as a costly and unnecessary government takeover of the system.

 

Yesterday, right-wing pundit Bill Kristol launched a new website, ObamaCareWatch.org, and "28 Republican Representatives, including top GOP House leadership," signed onto an amicus brief "filed in support of Virginia's constitutional challenge to the law." As Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) said in April, "House Republicans will not rest until we repeal Obama care lock, stock and barrel and replace it with health care reform that will lower the cost of health insurance without growing the size of government." But as Obama explained yesterday, he will not allow the country to move backwards on reform. Republicans "would roll back the rebate to help you pay for your medicine, if you fall in the doughnut hole. They'd roll back the free preventive care for Medicare recipients," Obama said. "They would roll back all of the insurance provisions that make sure that insurance companies are not cheating folks who are paying their premiums. ... They'd put insurance companies back in charge." "I refuse to let that happen. We're not going back. We are going to move forward. That's why I was elected."

[Guest The White House]

In this week’s address, President Barack Obama called on Senate Republicans to stop blocking a vote to prevent a 21 percent pay cut for doctors who see Medicare patients – a pay cut that will hurt America’s seniors and their doctors. Since 2003, Congress, under Republican and Democratic leadership, has deferred these cuts in Medicare reimbursements from going into effect. The President is committed to finding a responsible, long term solution to this problem, but it is not acceptable to punish America’s seniors or the physicians who treat them. If Congress does not act, then doctors will start receiving lower Medicare reimbursements next week, which could lead to seniors losing their doctors.

 

Remarks of President Barack Obama

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Weekly Address

Washington, DC

 

More than a decade ago, Congress set up a formula that governs how doctors get paid by the Medicare program. The intent was to slow the growth of Medicare costs, but the result was a formula that has proposed cutting payments for America’s doctors year after year after year. These are cuts that would not only jeopardize our physicians’ pay, but our seniors’ health care.

 

Since 2003, Congress has acted to prevent these pay cuts from going into effect. These votes were largely bipartisan, and they succeeded when Democrats ran Congress and when Republicans ran Congress – which was most of the time.

 

This year, a majority of Congress is willing to prevent a pay cut of 21% -- a pay cut that would undoubtedly force some doctors to stop seeing Medicare patients altogether. But this time, some Senate Republicans may even block a vote on this issue. After years of voting to defer these cuts, the other party is now willing to walk away from the needs of our doctors and our seniors.

 

Now, I realize that simply kicking these cuts down the road another year is not a long-term solution to this problem. For years, I have said that a system where doctors are left to wonder if they’ll get fairly reimbursed makes absolutely no sense. And I am committed to permanently reforming this Medicare formula in a way that balances fiscal responsibility with the responsibility we have to doctors and seniors. In addition, we’re already taking significant steps to slow the growth of Medicare costs through health insurance reform – not by targeting doctors and seniors, but by eliminating 50% of the waste, fraud, and abuse in the system by 2012. This not only strengthens Medicare, it saves taxpayer dollars.

 

I’m absolutely willing to take the difficult steps necessary to lower the cost of Medicare and put our budget on a more fiscally sustainable path. But I’m not willing to do that by punishing hard-working physicians or the millions of Americans who count on Medicare. That’s just wrong. And that’s why in the short-term, Congress must act to prevent this pay cut to doctors.

 

If they don’t act, doctors will see a 21% cut in their Medicare payments this week. This week, doctors will start receiving these lower reimbursements from the Medicare program. That could lead them to stop participating in the Medicare program. And that could lead seniors to lose their doctors.

 

We cannot allow this to happen. We have to fix this problem so that our doctors can get paid for the life-saving services they provide and keep their doors open. We have to fix this problem to keep the promise of Medicare for our seniors so that they get the health care they deserve. So I urge Republicans in the Senate to at least allow a majority of Senators and Congressmen to stop this pay cut. I urge them to stand with America’s seniors and America’s doctors.

 

Thanks.

[Guest Augustine]

Europe is going bankrupt as a result of the very policies The President thinks America should copy. We are being forced into a system like Social Security. Why not give every American the Freedom to Buy into the program and get charged with it in extra taxes.

 

I have the option in my town to pay extra for the Community golf course and gym. Why is this anything different?

 

Is it because there is more senior citizens benefiting from the system and less paying for it?

 

Why not have optional taxes?

[Guest RSC]

Republican Study Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-GA) issued the following statement highlighting a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) which reveals that six organizations involved in the abortion industry received about $1 billion in federal funding from 2002 through 2009. Click here to access the report.

 

"Regardless of where they stand on abortion, most Americans agree it should not be funded by taxpayer subsidies,” said Chairman Price. “Yet this report shows a horrifying amount of federal funding going to the abortion industry. Money is fungible. Giving abortion providers $1 billion for other activities just frees up an equal sum of money to support their abortion practices. U.S. affiliates of Planned Parenthood received $657 million over seven years while conducting more than 300,000 abortions in 2007 alone. In that same year, they reported a mere 4,912 adoption referrals. It’s time to end this sickening taxpayer subsidy of abortions.”

 

 

Summary of GAO Report

 

Selected Organizations Receiving Government Funding:

 

* Advocates for Youth: $8.7 Million (total from 2002-2009)

* Guttmacher Institute: $12.7 Million (total from 2002-2008)

* International Planned Parenthood Federation: $93.8 million (total from 2002-2009)

* Planned Parenthood Federation of America : $657.1 million (total from 2002-2008)

* Population Council of the United States: $284.3 million (total from 2002-2008)

* Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States: $1.6 million (total from 2002-2009)

 

 

Funding for Elective Abortion:

 

* Hyde and Helms: Funding reflected in this report is covered by limitation of funds policies known as the Hyde and Helms Amendments. These two policies are attached to annual appropriations bills and ensure that funds are not used directly for elective abortion. However, by funding the organizations we expand their facilities and influence, and give the taxpayers’ stamp of approval on their abortion agenda.

[Guest Congressman Mike Pence]

The American people have rejected the president's government takeover of health care but Washington Democrats are not listening. This afternoon Democrats rejected a motion by House Republicans to repeal one of the most onerous elements of ObamaCare: the individual mandate that will tax and penalize Americans who do not buy government-approved health insurance.

[Guest Tom Martyn]

Why does the "health care affordability bill" add another layer of cost to small businesses by burdening them with the impossible task of identifying every credit card merchant that they use, getting W9 information and sending them 1099s? What does doing the IRS's dirty work have to do with Health Care?

[Guest PAM]

I think the repukes are getting a little worried about votes this coming election. Yesterday they voted to rescind the 21% cut to Medicare doctors.

[Guest Nancy-Ann DeParle]

While technology has made it easier to search for plane tickets or to find the right apartment, shopping for private health insurance plans has remained difficult for too long. HealthCare.gov takes some of the mystery out of shopping for health insurance.

 

Just answer a few easy questions, and HealthCare.gov will provide all the coverage options that are right for you, including public and private health insurance tailored to your age, location, and health needs. The site also helps Americans make informed decisions about health care coverage by offering easy to understand information about new benefits and protections for individuals, families and employers.

 

The site is easy to use and comprehensive, and it’s only going to get better. Throughout the site, there are places to ask questions and give feedback, and the team at the Department of Health and Human Services will be responding to common questions and updating content based on your feedback. In October, the site will include information on the price of health insurance plans and we’ll be adding other new features like tools to help you stay healthy and a database of hospital quality ratings.

 

The launch of HealthCare.gov is just one of many steps we have taken to strengthen the health care system for all Americans since President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law. Here are a few others:

 

* Parents can now rest a little easier knowing that insurance companies will be prohibited from denying children coverage because of a preexisting condition or putting a cap on the amount of benefits that will be paid in lifetime;

 

* Young adults up to age 26 without insurance will be able to get on their parent’s plan;

 

* Seniors hitting a gap in Medicare prescription drug coverage known as the “donut hole” are getting $250 checks; and

 

* Small businesses are now eligible for tax credits to help them afford coverage for employees.

 

But there is much more to be done. Be sure to check out HealthCare.gov regularly to stay current about benefits available to you and informed about what’s ahead.

[Guest Wesley]

How will public assistance programs such as Husky, Medicaid and Medicare be reformed with the passage of this bill?

 

Will these health care programs be expanded to cover individuals who fall in between the cracks of public and private insurance?

[Guest Organizing for America]

It's been less than four months since President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act -- and, because of reform, about 1 million uninsured Americans are expected to receive coverage by next year. And that's just the start.

 

A new bill of rights for patients is starting to take effect, and the worst abuses of the insurance industry are coming to an end. As the President recently announced, the Patient's Bill of Rights will ban rescission of coverage, stop discrimination against children with pre-existing conditions, and place restrictions on annual limits.

 

There are those who still aren't sure about health reform, but as the law takes effect, we have a new opportunity to convince the skeptics. OFA supporters are the very best communicators and organizers in communities all across the county -- you can bring the debate out of D.C. and into your town, and this information sheet is a great tool we believe will help.

 

The Affordable Care Act works to put consumers back in charge of their health coverage and care. And because of the Patient's Bill of Rights, Americans can know that their insurance will be there when they need it most.

 

The more information sheets we put in visible places, the stronger the message we'll send about our support for health reform and President Obama. Share it with your friends. Mail it to your family members. If you're a medical professional, post it in your office or waiting room. Be creative -- anything you do will be a huge help in making sure Americans understand what the new law does for them.

 

Will you help us make the case for change? Download your information sheet and share the Patient's Bill of Rights with five friends today:

 

http://my.barackobama.com/patientsbillofrights