In the summer of 2009, town hall meetings erupted as people voiced fears about greater government control over health care decisions. The fears were sparked by a small provision in an early version of the health bill involving end-of-life care.People sensed a potential conflict of interest if the federal government was paying doctors for end-of-life counseling and also paying for end-of-life care. … [Read more...] about On the Road to Rationing
Archives for January 2011
America Comes First
Pollster Frank Luntz interviewed about 20 newly elected House Republicans on Fox News Tuesday night. These are the men and women who put themselves forward in 2010 to run for office, get elected, and produce the strong majority in the 112th Congress that has given Rep. John Boehner the speakership.A telling moment came when Sean Hannity asked the members whether they were Republicans first or … [Read more...] about America Comes First
A doctor is a doctor is a nurse
A recent Institute of Medicine (IOM) report calls for expanding the authority of nurses to practice medicine and for increasing their pay. Besides helping a loyal unionized constituency, the report claims that allowing nurses to do more can alleviate the physician shortage. In reality this will likely have the exact opposite effect by disincentivizing individuals from becoming medical doctors in … [Read more...] about A doctor is a doctor is a nurse
Pro & Con: Is health care reform a ‘government takeover’? YES: The law gives government the power to determine ‘essential’ services.
PolitiFact.com, the online oracle of all things true and untrue in America's political debate, is wrong in saying it is the "lie of the year" to call "Obamacare" a government takeover of health care.The proclamation shows that its editors need a Truth-O-Meter of their own. Obamacare is a uniquely American government takeover of health care. Its 2,801 pages of legislation and insidious regulatory … [Read more...] about Pro & Con: Is health care reform a ‘government takeover’? YES: The law gives government the power to determine ‘essential’ services.