What Do You Think Of Hr3200 Bill?
Recently the United States House of Representatives introduced HR 3200, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009. There are a number of things that disturb me about this bill but the one thing that causes the most concern is that it calls for a STAGGERING $44.9 billion in cuts to Medicare payments to skilled nursing facilities such as The Tillers! By the way, this is in addition to the $16 billion in regulatory cuts already imposed by the centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) effective August 1, 2009.
As an owner and administrator of a skilled nursing facilities with 37 years of experience, let me explain what this means. If these cuts to the Medicare program become reality it will be a devastating blow to our nation’s skilled nursing facilities and to the older adults we serve. I predict that some facilities may have to close their doors because they cannot remain financially viable. The best case scenario is that skilled nursing facilities would have to reduce staff and cut back on services, not just a little, but substantially. Ten of thousands of jobs would be eliminated and the quality of care would go out the window. Our industry is far from perfect, but any positive gains we have made in recent years would be wiped out. The consumer would be the biggest loser. This bill in its current form is a slap in the face to millions of individuals who depend upon the services provided by our nation’s skilled nursing facilities under the Medicare program. It is a form of indirect taxation on any adult who is Medicare eligible.
It is ironic that HR 3200 is titled “Americas Affordable Health Choices Acts of 2009.” There nothing “affordable” about this bill, especially if it means almost $45 billion in Medicare cuts. Health care reform that takes dollars away from one group to give to another is not really health care reform at all. Bills like HR 3200 lack common sense and good judgment. Many people think health care reform is needed, but at whose expense? Our elderly population is the “backbone” of America, they are the HISTORY and FOUNDATION and this bill (if passed) will put them out into the streets along with hundreds of thousands of Healthcare workers – have you seen the staggering numbers of the unemployed? In Illinois it is a little over 12% – that is astronomical. Now I believe in REFORM, but charity begins at home and that is where the American Heart Is, at home, take care of the USA prior to sending billions and trillions of foreign aid, do we get aid from other countries? NO, we allow immigration to our country, our doors are open, our schools are open and it’s time to stop this, I have been trying to get assistance to continue my own education and I cannot even get assistance because I am a woman, living in the USA, divorced, single and living paycheck to paycheck without any government assistance. Sometimes I lay awake at night wondering if I’ll be able to eat or get to work, etc…………..there comes a time when you have to say NO, but passing this bill will be and will have a devastating effect on the ECONOMY FOR THE WORSE.
Donna A. Reavis
Healthcare Social Worker