Michael Steele warns of government "Health Police" under a public health plan

[marmar]

:scared:



from ThinkProgress:



Steele fearmongers on health care reform, warns of ‘health police’ who will enforce yearly physicals.

This morning, RNC Chairman Michael Steele hosted Bill Bennett’s radio show. When a caller, who identified himself as a doctor, asked how President Obama would “mandate” preventive care, Steele declared that the government would impose a “national ID system” that would contain every American’s health information “on a grid.” He warned that this system — completely fabricated by Steele — would result in the “health police” enforcing everyone’s yearly check-up:

STEELE: Well you’ll get issued, Doc, you’re gonna issue, to your patients, a health care card that’s gonna be part of a national ID system that, you know, every time I charge something or use that card, it’s going to show up on a grid what I’ve done and what I have failed to do, according to the government plan. So the government will know whether or not I’ve had my physical at the appropriate time and then probably some health police will come knocking on my door telling me I’m now costing the system money because I haven’t, you know, gone and done my preventive care.

Listen to it: http://thinkprogress.org/2009/06/19/steele-health-police/


Needless to say, no one is proposing the creation of a “health police.” Steele’s fearmongering is his latest effort to block meaningful health care reform from passing this year.


http://thinkprogress.org/2009/06/19/steele-health-police/

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Anti-abortion laws ARE using "health police" in their directives.

[sui generis]

2. what an amazing crystal ball. Has he won the lottery yet?

Actually it's a numbers game. The vast majority number of people who take advantage of preventative healthcare far outweigh the acute care costs of the three paranoid republican idiots who refuse to see a doctor to determine why their lard ass bloated hearts aren't ticking right.

[ck4829]

3. I think the real goal here is to demonize a better approach to preventive care

Do we want "health police"? Certainly not.

But a better focus on preventive care would save Americans lots of money, as well as save many lives.

But preventive care would also hurt the bank accounts of health insurance companies as preventive care would mean more people wouldn't even end up in the hospital in the first place.

[global1]

7. Currently My Health Insurance Provider Has No Provision For Preventative Care.......

one would think that they would require me to get yearly physicals. One would think that they would offer me discounts on my health insurance if I didn't smoke (much like with Auto Insurance when you get a discount for seatbelts, no accidents, alarm systems, etc) - but they don't.

If I'm living a healthy lifestyle - they would have less payouts for me and technically they should make more money. I just can't understand why they are content with paying out when a person has neglected themselves, don't see MD's and then get hit with a serious illness that could have been prevented.

I would support a government plan that would require yearly physicals and other wellness initiatives. Those who don't subject themselves to yearly physicals and take care of themselves should be penalized in some fashion.

I know a lady that weighs in excess of 300 lbs. She has diabetes, asthma, has all kinds of cardiac problems, can't walk up stairs, is on continuous oxygen and winds up in the hospital every couple of months. She constantly eats and doesn't realize that if she was able to diet and lose weight - she would have a better quality of life. Instead she becomes a burden on the system. And we all keep paying for these types of people.

Preventative Medicine - Health & Wellness - need to be cornerstones of any new healthcare reform.

[rocktivity]

4. We have corporate health police now, which is the root of the health care crisis.

With government health police, and least any income they generate would end up in the public coffers instead of a CEO's or stockholder's pocket. If only someone would say that on national television. But of course that might cause the broadcaster advertisers.

:headbang:
rocknation

[eShirl]

5. Republican pulls straw man out of his ass; film at 11. n/t

[Tansy_Gold]

6. He's makin' this shit up.

And as for "health police," we already have 'em, only they aren't makin' us do what we SHOULD do. They're keeping us from doing it.

Most of the time we call 'em insurance companies, but they're really health police, serving and protecting the insurance companies' botto lines. They evict people from hospital rooms even though they need care; there's a limit, you know, on how much sick people ought to be treated like, well, like they were sick. No more of this 4-day hospital stay after delivering a baby. Women should be more like Pearl Buck's Chinese peasants: deliver and go home. Same with mastectomies. In and out, quit takin' up space.

WHY OH WHY isn't someone doing commercials about that?


Harry (looking out front door): It looks like John across the street is already home from the hospital.

Louise (coming up to stand beside him): Oh, it can't be. He just had that triple bypass a week ago.

Harry: Well it sure looks like him in that wheelchair. Nancy's pushin' him up to the porch.

Louise: How is she going to get that wheelchair up the steps?

Harry: Beats me. The ambulance has already left, so they aren't going to be helping her.

Louise: Well, we'd better go over and help. She can't get up him those steps by herself.

Harry: Looks like he's getting up out of the wheelchair. I think he's gonna try to climb the steps.

Louise: Oh, that can't be right Harry!

Harry: Well, you know how it is these days. The doctors don't call the shots any more, the way it used to be. Now it's all about what the insurance company says. They got a bunch of guys there who say most bypass patients only need a week in the hospital, so I guess that means everybody gets a week, and not a minute more whether they need it or not.

Louise: But what if you're sicker than average, or there are complications or your doctor says you're not ready to go home?

Harry (reaching for flannel shirt on hook on the wall): I guess doctors' opinions don't count for much any more. (Walks out door while pulling on flannel shirt)



Tansy Gold

[madrchsod]

8. does he mean the "medicare police"?

"......keep digging a little deeper in the well, well, well...." mike.