Friday August 21, 2009 at 11:47
“Five myths about health reform
Setting the Record Straight on Health Reform
Myth #1: Health reform will ration health care.
Fact: Health reform actually increases patients’ access to high-quality care and gives patients and their families more choices for coverage. Right now, big insurance companies decide whether to cover a patient, what doctor that patient can see, and whether a particular procedure is covered. Insurance companies are rationing care. The proposed health reform legislation removes financial barriers to purchasing health insurance, eliminates co-payments for preventive care services and ends the discriminatory practices of private insurance companies.
Myth #2: Health reform will cut Medicare benefits to senior citizens.
Fact: Health care reform plans will not reduce Medicare benefits. Health reform improves Medicare by decreasing the cost of prescription drugs by closing the “doughnut hole” in drug coverage. The proposed health reform bill also includes investments in Chronic Disease Management and Care Coordination — which is exactly the type of care most seniors need. Reform includes savings from Medicare that cut billions of dollars in overpayments to private insurance companies and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse.
Myth #3: Health reform will promote euthanasia.Fact: These accusations—of “death panels” and forced euthanasia—are simply lies. Health reform allows Medicare to reimburse physicians if they spend time counseling their patients about care options for older Americans—important discussions that happen anyway like creating a living will or advance directives to make sure patient’s wishes are honored.
Myth #4: Health reform will bankrupt America.
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Fact: Health reform is fully paid for over 10 years and does not add to the deficit. Currently, half of all individual bankruptcies are because of medical expenses. Our broken health care system, not health reform, is already bankrupting America. Health reform will also decrease the cost of health care over time — so it is expected that these changes will actually save money in the long run.
Myth #5: Health reform can’t cover everyone because there will not be enough doctors
Fact: Health reform makes major investments in the medical workforce to make sure there are enough doctors by training more primary care physicians, increase payments for primary care physicians, and increase loan forgiveness for doctors (any type of doctor) for practicing in a rural and underserved area. There will also be an expansion of the National Health Service Corps.
— http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/08/where_are_the_doctors.php
