President Obama's Health Care Reform Speech

Last night I watched the President's address to the joint session of Congress. I was hoping for more substance and was disappointed. In truth, I wish he would present his own bill to Congress and let the debate start with one solid piece of proposed legislation, rather than waste so much time with the bits and pieces coming out of the various committees.

That being said, a few of his statements have me concerned. I do not believe this administration, or any administration for that matter, will ever be able to effectively and efficiently police and wipe out the fraud against Medicare and Medicaid. It has not been done in forty years, why should it start now?

Still harboring many doubts I sent the following letter my senators and a similar one to the President. Please feel free to use all or any part in writing to your representatives and the President. Health Reform is needed, but the Washington gang has to do it right so we don't pay for it forever.

Its Common Sense!


Dear Senator,
Please see the quote below.

House Democrats offered a bill that the Congressional Budget Office said would add $220 billion to the deficit over 10 years. But Democrats and Obama administration officials claimed the bill actually was deficit-neutral. They said they simply didn't have to count $245 billion of it — the cost of adjusting Medicare reimbursement rates so physicians don't face big annual pay cuts.
Their reasoning was that they already had decided to exempt this "doc fix" from congressional rules that require new programs to be paid for. In other words, it doesn't have to be paid for because they decided it doesn't have to be paid for.
The administration also said that since Obama already had included the doctor payment in his 10-year budget proposal, it didn't have to be counted again.

Is this true? How can you not count the $245 billion? When will you in Washington deal with real money like the rest of us?

Once again I want to state that I think the first thing Congress should do is prove that they can actually control Medicare and Medicaid abuse and show the American public the actual, real savings. Once Congress proves they can not only save, but also prosecute the abusers of Medicare and Medicaid, then will be the time to push forward the rest of the Health Care Reform agenda.

The American public has heard enough rhetoric. We are tired of building an unmanageable debt for our grandchildren and becoming a stooge for the Chinese.

Show us you can control what you have before asking for more. We do not need more bureaucracy. We need the bureaucracies already in place to function efficiently, effectively, and within their budgets.

No more new agencies until the old ones start performing according to their Statutes.

Put up or shut up. No more money until you prove you can not only control the budget but make it break even.

Thank you.

National Health Care Reform

Yesterday I spoke on my fears about committing billions of dollars to a national health care program. After thinking about it, I realized that venting on the blog was not enough, so I sent a letter to the President, my senators and my Congressman. The letter follows.
Feel free to use all or part in writing to your own representatives. We need to let Washington know that we will not stand for them to continue spending money we do not have for programs they cannot control.
Enough is enough. We have to let Washington know what we think and take control.

Its Common Sense!!


Dear (Varied depending on Recipient)

National Health Care is the big issue, especially since it appears that Judge Sotomayor will be confirmed to the US Supreme Court with no problem.

I agree that health care needs to be available and affordable for all of us here in the United States. However, I believe that before the Federal Government undertakes the task of establishing an equitable health care system, where the patient will have true options for health coverage and premium payments that the government first needs to take control of the two health programs it already runs.

I am speaking of Medicare and Medicaid. Currently both programs are mismanaged, have no accountability and are costing taxpayers millions of dollars every year due to fraud, the inability to negotiate provider services, and because many doctors do not want to participate due to antiquated payment and accounting procedures.

Before Congress commits billions to yet another new program that we the taxpayers cannot afford, why not show us how a well run health program should work?
I think your first objective should be to revamp Medicare and Medicaid, get rid of the waste, permit negotiation for provider services, prosecute those defrauding the system and do away with the overspending, so that seniors on Medicare do not need to have their Part B premiums raised every year, and that the percentage of the cost of services paid by Medicare does not keep decreasing.

As for Medicaid, the system needs an entire overhaul, in every state, and citizens should no longer feel they have a right to free health care just because of their financial situation. Medicaid is a health care assistance program, not a do all program.
Within their means, everyone needs to assist in the payment of health care. Those working and already paying health care premiums and deductibles should not have to take on the additional burden and tax of paying for those not working or having coverage.
This country needs to get away from the welfare state mentality, where some pay for all, and enforce a mentality of individual responsibility. If we accept our own responsibilities, then we can create a collective responsibility.

Please, no new national health care programs until the current two are actually running smoothly and debt free. We the people cannot assume any more debt or deficit. It is time for all of us to live within our means, and that includes all government spending.
Thank you.

Michael Wolfe