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
You are singing to the choir. I believe the majority of us do not want this monstrosity to pass. Not only is the economy effected, but the disrespect for the lives of our elderly clients. I do not care for socialized anything, but you do not pull the rug out from under our elderly population to care for the small percentage who are capable of purchasing their own health care, or qualify for programs that they have not bothered to sign up for.
October 23, 2009 1:46 am | #1As an RN, I am able to see what this bill will not only do to the health industry, but to all the citizens of this country. We will be caring for illegals, and going further into debt, and limited health care.
If we were to have health care reform, it should equate more to where we have choices. A better example would be Sweden’s health care system. This administration is lying to the public, and is imitating the health care system of Canada, which is a complete and utter failure in service to the people and economically.
I have written, and called our senators and congress, but to no avail. I too am frustrated because I know what the ultimate conclusion will be with Obama care: Disaster for everyone!
Hopefully, the majority are listening.
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Aside from the fact I generally don’t like expansion of the government, this seems particularly doomed as the Congressional Budget Office is predicting it will actually INCREASE health care costs.
October 23, 2009 1:53 am | #2I would much rather see HR 676 passed myself.
October 23, 2009 2:28 am | #3Yup ..A lot of bloat will have to go ….
October 23, 2009 3:07 am | #4I think you highlight one aspect of this bill’s failings to deliver the health care reform that America wants. We do have one of the world’s best quality health care systems. Affordability is the problem, this is what affects availability, and HR3200 doesn’t target those concerns.
October 23, 2009 3:39 am | #5We had this mess when Bill and Hillary were trying to figure a way to “fix” health care.
October 23, 2009 4:32 am | #6It’s really easy.
If you are going to offer universal health care, you either need to nationalize a portion of the health care system; or we pay for other people’s usage.