OK, what is in the health care bill?

[TheFarseer]

You can't get a good answer from the internet because there have been so many proposals batted around, you don't know what they are currently debating. If they pass the bill in reconciliation, what will that mean for the American people?

[babylonsister]

1. There is no final bill yet, so that's impossible to answer. nt

[ChiciB1]

2. Are There Any REAL Facts Posted About Medicare Cuts?? Where Are The Cuts

going to come from. Will it affect ALL Medicare, or just advantage Programs? Our Medicare comes from an employer based policy, a PPO but as time goes by we've been seeing that more doctors are UNWILLING to take patients with Medicare because they don't get paid a re-reimbursement that's worth it!

I already have one doctor who won't take ANY health care policies because of the what has been going on. He especially "hates" Medicare and what it's done to his practice. I only go to him for prescription refills and he charges $90.00 per visit and then I submit my own paperwork to Humana!

Living in Florida I don't think many here are going to like what's coming down the pike!! Will this FINALLY start a Revolution?? The ELDERLY do vote! While I'm on Disability because of back injuries due to accidents, I was REQUIRED to go on Medicare because of the laws on the books. I have been fortunate in that we have our policy through a Union, but if I can't find a "good" doctor to get "good" care, what's the use??

Both my daughter AND her husband are in health care and some of the stories they tell me are VERY SCARY! And they aren't just receptionists, they actually have degrees and work as care givers who treat patients!

This sounds like just MORE BAD NEWS!!

[laughingliberal]

5. $177 billion of the $500 billion in cuts to Medicare are from MA

The rest they propose to find in waste, fraud, and abuse and instituting best practices. It's not looking good for Medicare right now.

[ChiciB1]

14. Thanks For The Info... Not Sure I Feel Better Though.. As My Stomach Churns!! n/t

[dkf]

3. Kinda feels like we ARE back to square one, doesn't it?

Yup, I have no idea what is in it or not. I'm not even sure exactly what the changes were between the Pre-Christmas Senate Bill and the After Christmas Senate Bill. And now it looks like we are dropping the Nebraska deal and who knows what else.

It does seem like Obama is willing to add things like Tort reform if need be and I LIKE McCain's idea about getting rid of special deals unless it preserves a states own better system.

But in terms of what we are currently being asked to express an opinion on I'm lost.

[RKP5637]

7. I feel the same. It's been all over the place for so long. Now I feel we're at

the point of just pass anything. Frankly, I think it's all been a damn mess and could have been done much better. And I wish democrats worked together better in congress.

[laughingliberal]

4. Here's a resource that includes a pdf of the entire text of the bill

http://dpc.senate.gov/dpcdoc-sen_health_care_bill.cfm

As it stands now, the House is being asked to pass this bill which the Senate passed on Christmas Eve as is with a promise of some 'fixes' under reconciliation. The President also posted an outline of his proposal on the White House website last week. Neither the Senate bill nor the President's outline contain a public option. Word is the President will be outlining a proposal on a way forward this week, probably Wednesday.

[dkf]

8. Please don't make us read the 2404 page bill :(

Amendment to this line, change this percent to that percent, extend this law, blah blah blah. Yikes.

Here is the summary:

http://dpc.senate.gov/healthreformbill/healthbill45.pdf

But then there is also the amendment:

http://dpc.senate.gov/healthreformbill/healthbill43.pdf

I'm not happy with the provisions for oversight of denial of claims being left to the states. The States have obviously been responsible this whole time to do this and yet the problems exist. States already have whatever powers they need under McArran Ferguson.

[laughingliberal]

9. I have read it several times, now, but I don't expect others to do that

It is, however, the way to find those little gems they don't tell you about in the summaries. The loopholes are not, generally, included in the summaries, for instance. I don't think there's all the fixing in the world to get the poison pills out of this bill. It's overwhelming.

On edit: the link I provided also provides summaries and other information, not just the text of the bill.

[dkf]

10. Yes, that is how I saw the summaries from your links.

I tried reading it first though, but it referred to other bills that need to be researched also (really there should be LINKS so you can see what they are referring to).

I was trying to find summaries from people I trust, but I think they wrote up their opinions on the first batch of bills, then kind of gave up doing it for the later incarnations realizing that things would land up changing again.

[laughingliberal]

12. It is a real slog getting through it all and I kept hoping some group would post it

with links to the other bills but none did. So, I slogged through it several times and I've no doubt there is still poison there I have not noticed, yet. Several of the major talking points in favor of the bill are cancelled out by loopholes you don't see in the summaries, though. People who are supporting this bill are going to be in for some nasty surprises down the road when they find the insurance companies engaging in the same practices they think will be outlawed by the bill.

[dhpgetsit]

6. I think we are at a point where the House can either sign off on the Senate bill

and leave any further changes up to the Senate Parliamentarian in the reconciliation process,
Or to force further amendments and kick it back to Senate again.

[SlingBlade]

11. In a nut shell.... Bull Shit !

[ChiciB1]

13. Yeah! Those TWO WORDS... Sums It Up Just Fine!! Oh, What A Tangled Web

etc., etc., etc.! May as well throw it up against the wall and see what sticks! The pasta is in the pot, but what's gonna stick may just as well STINK to high heaven!

I WANT OUT!!! But I think we're ALL gonna get screwed one way or another!!

Well, if it doesn't take effect until 2013-14-15 or WHENEVER, I suggest we ALL try to get as much pre-testing done before this, so we might be able to nip "something" disastrous in the bud!

HOWEVER, that only takes care of those of us who at this point in time have a relatively good insurance that we can at least afford in some way!

I become more livid by the day!

[SlingBlade]

15. The Democratic Party Suicide Prevention Thread ... HERE

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7814462

[ChiciB1]

16. Thanks... Been Signing, Calling, Writing... All The Usual Stuff... Still

I'm not sure it's going to mean a thing. THEY just aren't listening, and worse yet... don't even seem to care!

It's worse than worrisome, it's a real charade too! If only we could REALLY, REALLY rise up and get their attention, but I'm afraid my "faith" in the process is on it's last legs!

In the past 8 or 9 months I've seen more than I can stand and know too many people who are being squeezed and abused because we simply don't seem to have a voice anymore!

Just talked to a friend of mine today who is an Independent, but leaned right... she's so FED UP with the Repukes and the whole process, and much as I am with the Democrats and THEIR PROCESS!

The only thing we can do is make noise, still I would prefer using a bat to hit them over the head with! I NEVER thought it could get this bad, and I've been an activist since we MARCHED during Viet Nam!

[SlingBlade]

17. Thanks ChiciB1, It's DUers like you that keep me here

And thanks for your activism during Nam. Those were the day's weren't they.