Reply From Senator Feinstein

Keep in mind that the bottom line for all Medicare procedures is cost. With Congress getting ready to cut reimbursements to Medicare by $300-500 billion dollars, how do you think costly infusions of IVIG will fare when all is said & done? They will probably change the preferred treatment for CIDP to steroids, as it is so much cheaper. Cam we honestly trust the government to manage our medical care when this country is on the verge of bankruptcy?

Hi Pam H,
Sadly, I do agree. The Healthcare Reform Bill is actually the largest tax bill in history and they call it Healthcare Reform?
We need insurance reform first and foremost.
The bill in Congress is avoiding two issues that could lower insurance premiums. 1. Tort reform. A cap should be put on malpractice laswsuits. We are losing good doctors because of the unreasonably high malpractice premiums.
2. Congress is in charge of the interstate commerce commission. We can buy car insurance across state lines and we should also be able to buy health insurance across state lines which would force insurance premiums to become more competitive and hence more affordable.
Many small businesses which are the heart and soul of our economy will be taxed out of business.
The young and healthy will pay higher premiums and taxes for a lifetime
The older people will see cuts to Medicare benefits and services.
AARP is supporting the bill because AARP stands to make millions if Healthcare Reform passe option if the bill passes.
The bill is bigger than a Thanksgiving Turkey and it is a Turkey that will not make health insurance more affordable for anyone.
We are all going to pay higher taxes, the politicians not doctors will make healthcare decisions, health insurance premiums will skyrocket and so will drug costs if the Reform bill passes.
If the bill passes I think they should put all Congressmen and government retirees on the Public Option.

“Amen to that” Ken

Totally agree with you 100% Ken!

Stepping on my soapbox for a minute….

I think the reason why we don’t have a universal health care system is because politicians are too afraid to tick off the insurance industry – which is where they get most of their campaign money from. I feel by the time politicians are elected into office they have sold their souls at least 100 times. It’s just sad & not at all what I think our founders wanted for our country.

I often wish I lived in Denmark. They have universal health care, the government pays you 95% of your pay, for something like 5 years, if you lose your job, you get paid to go to college & college is FREE. They aren’t involved in 2 wars & aren’t trying to find ways to put people on other planets – that’s why they can afford to take care of their citizens. And yes, I know that taxes are high there but I would rather pay high taxes & know I would be taken care of if I needed it than to pay taxes & have it wasted on things I don’t agree with & know if I needed help that I probably wouldn’t get it.

Stepping off the soapbox now. Rant over…continue on.
Kelly

Amen to that[QUOTE=Ken-L]The Healthcare Legislation approved by the House and what is now in the Senate don’t even come close to what this country shamefully doesn’t have.
We need universal coverage for everyone as they do in Canada and England for example.

The cost is not the issue. We have always “found” the money to do what we “want” to do! Moon landings, space stations, needless wars, and so much more. We must have coverage for everyone. Or do we just let the less fortunate remained paralyzed because they can’t afford specialists or IVIG? How many with GBS were not diagnosed correctly the first, second or even third time they sought help? If you have no health insurance, or your policy doesn’t allow it, how many of us could keep looking for someone that finally figured it out?

But, this is not only about GBS or IVIG, it’s about providing healthcare for anything. How many people have to suffer and die prematurely when access to medical care would have made a difference before we do the right thing?[/QUOTE]