America’s Affordable Health Choices Act
Implementation Timeline

Greg Jones' B4B NOTE: It had been anticipated that Congress would vote on the Democrats' health care legislation on Saturday Nov. 7 at 6pm. We are now hearing that the vote may be postponed until this Sunday while some report that the vote may be held up until the end of next week. Below is the complete time-line of when the various phases of this health reform plan will be implemented. As you see, in this plan their version of public option will begin in 2013.

2010
INSURANCE MARKET REFORMS
ENDS HEALTH INSURANCE RESCISSIONS: Prohibits abusive practices whereby health insurance companies rescind existing health insurance policies when a person gets sick as a way of avoiding covering the costs of enrollees’ health care needs.

NEW LIMITS ON PRE-EXISTING CONDITION EXCLUSIONS: Prior to the bill’s complete prohibition on pre-existing condition exclusions beginning in 2013, reduces the window that plans can look back for pre-existing conditions from 6 months to 30 days and shortens the period that plans may exclude coverage of certain benefits. It also prohibits insurers from limiting or denying coverage based on acts stemming from domestic violence.

BAN ON LIFETIME LIMITS: Prohibits insurance companies from placing lifetime caps on coverage.

IMMEDIATE SUNSHINE AGAINST INSURER PRICE GOUGING (RATE REVIEW): Discourages excessive price increases by insurance companies through review and disclosure of insurance rate increases.

ENACTS ADMINISTRATIVE SIMPLIFICATION: Begins adopting and implementing administrative simplification requirements to reduce paperwork, standardize transactions, and greatly diminish the administrative burdens and associated costs in today’s health care system.

ENSURING VALUE (MEDICAL LOSS RATIO): Specifies that health plans spend a minimum of 85 percent of premium dollars on medical care, while making sure that such a change doesn’t further destabilize the current individual health insurance market.

INCREASE DEPENDENT AGE FOR POLICIES THROUGH AGE 26: Allows those through age 26 not otherwise covered to remain on their parents’ policies at their parents’ discretion.
COBRA EXTENSION: Allows individuals to keep their COBRA coverage until the Exchange is up and running. [NOTE: This is separate from the Recovery Act provisions that provide premium assistance for selected groups.]

ENSURING RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY FOR CHILDREN: Requires plans to pay for reconstructive surgery for children with deformities.

LIMITATION ON POST-RETIREMENT REDUCTIONS OF RETIREE HEALTH BENEFITS: Prohibits employers from reducing retirees’ health benefits after those retirees have retired, unless the reduction is also made to benefits for active participants.

GRANTS TO STATES FOR IMMEDIATE HEALTH REFORM INITITATIVES: Builds on an existing grant program to enhance incentives for states to move forward with a variety of health reform initiatives prior to 2013.

IMPROVED BENEFITS

CREATES REINSURANCE FOR EARLY RETIREES: Creates a new temporary reinsurance program to help offset the cost of coverage for companies that provide early retiree health benefits for those ages 55-64.

IMMEDIATE HELP FOR THE UNINSURED (INTERIM HIGH-RISK POOL): Creates a $5 billion fund, modeled after the President’s plan, to finance an immediate, temporary insurance program for those who are uninsurable because of pre-existing conditions.

NEW LONG-TERM CARE PROGRAM (CLASS ACT): Creates a new, voluntary, public long-term care insurance program to help purchase services and supports for people who have functional limitations. Benefits are a daily or weekly cash benefit to help people with functional limitations purchase the services and supports needed to maintain personal and financial independence. CLASS would supplement, not supplant, traditional payers of long-term care (e.g. Medicaid and/or private long term care insurance).

ESTABLISHES THE HEALTH BENEFITS ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Establishes within 60 days of enactment the Health Benefits Advisory Committee—led by the Surgeon General and made up of health care experts, health care providers and patients—provides recommendations on the essential benefits package to the Secretary of HHS for approval.

PUBLIC HEALTH IMPROVEMENTS

INCREASES FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS: Provides increased funding for community health centers that will allow them to double the number of patients served over the next five years.

IMPLEMENTS NEW PREVENTIVE HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM IN COMMUNITIES: Provides immediate funding for preventive services at the community and local level to address public health problems such as obesity, tobacco use, and diabetes.

EXPANDS PRIMARY CARE, NURSING AND PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE: Increases access to primary care by sustaining the current efforts to increase the size of the National Health Service Corps. Primary care and nurse training programs are also immediately expanded to increase the size of the primary care and nursing workforce. Ensures that public health challenges are adequately addressed.

EMPLOYER WELLNESS PROGRAMS: Establishes a grant program for employers to promote healthy behaviors among their employees.

MEDICARE AND MEDICAID IMPROVEMENTS

BEGINS TO FILL IN THE MEDICARE PART D DRUG DONUT HOLE: Provides for a 50% discount on brand-name drugs in the Part D donut hole, and immediately shrinks the size of the donut hole by $500 in 2010. The donut hole continues to be narrowed over the coming years until it is fully eliminated by 2019.

IMPROVES PREVENTIVE HEALTH COVERAGE IN MEDICARE & MEDICAID: Eliminates cost sharing for preventive services to encourage wider use of preventive care for Medicare beneficiaries. Requires State Medicaid programs to cover preventive services recommended to the Secretary of HHS based on evidence, such as tobacco cessation counseling for pregnant women.

ALLOWS STATES TO COVER LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS WITH HIV: Gives States the option of extending Medicaid coverage to HIV-positive individuals and provides enhanced federal matching payments for the costs of care.

INCREASES REIMBURSEMENT FOR PRIMARY CARE IN MEDICAID: Brings reimbursement for primary care services in Medicaid up to Medicare levels with 100% federal funding (phased in over several years).

PROVIDES FOR 12-MONTH CONTINUOUS ELIGIBILITY IN CHIP: Provides continuity of care for children by requiring that states provide 12-month continuous eligibility for children in the CHIP program

CREATES MEDICARE ACCOUNTABLE CARE ORGANIZATIONS AND MEDICAL HOME PILOT PROGRAMS: Requires the Secretary to set specific benchmarks for expansion of these programs and to test them in a variety of settings and geographic regions. If the initial pilots prove successful, the Secretary is directed to continue expanding them on a large-scale basis.

2011
ELIMINATES BARRIERS TO ENROLLMENT IN MEDICARE LOW-INCOME SUBSIDY FOR PART D DRUG PROGRAM: Eases burdens on enrollment so more low-income beneficiaries can get the financial help they need to make health care affordable.

NEW PROTECTIONS IN MEDICARE ADVANTAGE: Limits cost-sharing for services in Medicare Advantage plans to no more than cost-sharing in traditional Medicare, and provides for bonus payments to high-quality plans.

ESSENTIAL BENEFITS: In preparation for reform, the Health Benefits Advisory Committee reports their recommended essential benefits package to the Secretary of HHS for adoption.
Additional federal funds to states with high unemployment. Assists States in maintaining access to
Medicaid services during the recession by extending the current Recovery Act increase in federal Medicaid payments to states with high unemployment rates.

2012
IMPROVES LOW-INCOME PROTECTIONS IN MEDICARE: Increases the assets test limits in the Part D drug program and Medicare Savings Programs to ensure that more low-income beneficiaries get the financial help they need to make their health care affordable.

EXTENDS MONTHS OF COVERAGE OF IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE DRUGS FOR KIDNEY TRANSPLANT PATIENTS: Lifts the current 36-month limitation on Medicare coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant patients who would otherwise lose this coverage on or after January 1, 2012.

2013
HEALTH INSURANCE REFORMS: Implements comprehensive health insurance reforms that prohibit insurance companies from engaging in discriminatory practices that enable them to refuse to sell or renew policies due to an individual’s health status. In addition, insurance companies can no longer exclude coverage for treatments based on pre-existing health conditions. The legislation also limits their ability to charge higher rates due to health status, gender, or other factors, and permits premiums to vary only by age (no more than 2:1), geography and family size.

HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE: Opens the Health Insurance Exchange to individuals without other coverage and to small employers with 25 or fewer employees. This new venue will enable people to comparison shop for standardized health packages. It facilitates enrollment and administers affordability credits so that people of all incomes can obtain affordable coverage.

PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE OPTION: Creates a new public health insurance plan option that is available only within the Health Insurance Exchange. It competes on a level playing field against private health plans and will inject competition into the many parts of our country without a competitive health insurance market. Because it doesn’t operate at the behest of investors, it will be able to offer stiff competition to private insurers—forcing them to compete on cost and quality for the first time.

AFFORDABILITY CREDITS: Makes Health Insurance Affordability Credits available through the Exchange to ensure people can obtain affordable coverage. Credits are available for people with incomes above Medicaid eligibility and below 400% of poverty who are not eligible for or offered other acceptable coverage. They apply to both premiums and cost sharing to ensure that no families face bankruptcy due to medical expenses.

INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY: Requires individuals to obtain acceptable health insurance coverage or pay a penalty of 2.5% of their income that is capped at the cost of the average cost of qualified coverage.

EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITY: Employers are required to offer coverage to their workers and their workers’ families with minimum contributions and meet standards for that coverage or pay a penalty of 8% of their payroll to help offset the cost of their workers obtaining coverage through the Exchange. Employers have a grace period and are not required to meet the benefit standards until 2018.

PROTECTS SMALL BUSINESS: Small businesses with annual payrolls below $500,000 are exempt from requirements to offer or contribute to coverage, including the 8% payroll contribution for failure to provide health benefits to their workers. The 8% requirement is phased in for small businesses with an annual payroll between $500,000 and $750,000.

SMALL BUSINESS TAX CREDITS: Provides certain lower-wage small businesses that choose to provide health coverage with a new tax credit worth up to 50% of the amount paid by a small employer for employee health coverage. The credits are available on a rolling basis for the first two years that an employer offers qualified coverage.

EXPANDS MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY: Expands Medicaid to 150% of poverty to ensure that people obtain affordable health care in the most efficient and appropriate manner. The expansion is fully federally funded in 2013 and 2014; thereafter states pay 9% and the federal government pays 91%.

PROTECTS THE HEALTH OF NEWBORN BABIES: Provides temporary Medicaid coverage for up to 60 days for babies who are born without proof of other health coverage.

2014
INITIATES AN AFFORDABILITY TEST FOR EMPLOYER-SPONSORED COVERAGE: Opens the Health Insurance Exchange to individuals who have an offer of employer-sponsored coverage, but for whom that coverage would be unaffordable because the premium would absorb more than 12% of their family income. People who meet this test will be able to enter the Exchange and are eligible for affordability credits based on their incomes.

HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE EXPANDS: Opens the Health Insurance Exchange to small businesses with 50 or fewer employees.

ENSURING VALUE IN MEDICARE ADVANTAGE (MEDICAL LOSS RATIO): Requires Medicare Advantage plans to spend a minimum of 85 percent of premium dollars on medical care.

2015
EXPANDS HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE: Opens the Health Insurance Exchange to small businesses with 100 or fewer employees and provides the Health Choices Commissioner the authority, from 2015 forward, to continue expanding the Exchange to larger employers as the system is ready to handle increased capacity.

2018
EMPLOYERS OUTSIDE THE EXCHANGE ARE REQUIRED TO MEET ESSENTIAL BENEFITS PACKAGE: The grace period ends for employer-sponsored plans to meet the health insurance standards. All employer-sponsored coverage and health insurance offered within the Exchange is required to meet benefit and contribution standards.

Prepared by the Committees on Ways & Means, Energy & Commerce, and Education & Labor
October 29, 2009

Knowledge Is POWER...Pass It On !!!

B4B

WATCH:
President Obama Remarks
On Ft. Hood Rampage

Read More: 12 Dead, 31 Wounded

We Send Our Thoughts and Prayers.

CLICK HERE if video does not appear through email server

B4B

Civil Rights Groups Open

K Street Office

in Final Health Care Push

By Krissah Thompson Washington Post

After some small-scale, disjointed efforts to push for health care reform, civil rights groups are renting temporary office space on K Street and combining their efforts to run an operations center with the sole goal of lobbying on health care policy.

The office will be run by staffers from the National Urban League, the NAACP and the Black Leadership Forum. Over the next two weeks, they will coordinate rallies in 10 cities, run a phone bank where volunteers will pepper members of Congress with calls and keep up with the latest developments in the debate.

The groups are calling the effort a "war room" and plan to staff it long hours each day, creating a central hub for the civil rights groups to share ideas and staff resources. The voices of minorities, who are disproportionately represented among the poor and uninsured and could benefit the most from reform -- and who also are more likely than others to have chronic illnesses such as diabetes -- have been a small part of the contentious health care debate.

Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League, said the groups have been working behind the scenes but are trying to push to the front in the final stretch.
(Read more of article)

The Time is Now...
To Call...Fight...DEMAND
The RIGHT To Health Care for ALL !

B4B

Congressional Health Care Bill
All 1990 Pages
READ IT HERE !

By Greg Jones

Blacks4Barack

Last week Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the 1990-page House Democrats' health reform plan. The plan includes a version of the public option; mandates everyone to buy health insurance, bans insurance companies from denying health care coverage to people with pre-existing conditions and more. Make some coffee, sit back and read and read and read....then read a bit more. The first pages are the table of contents so you can start there, find what you're most interested in, then scroll down to those sections. Very much worth the time.

Knowledge is POWER !

Click Here to read entire bill...
then share.

B4B

Congressional Health Care Plan
Could Be Disastrous
For the 46 Million Uncovered !

By Greg Jones
Blacks4Barack

The primary reason for the need for health care reform was always to furnish access to much needed health care to the 46 million hard working uninsured Americans who currently struggle through life without the basic right to adequate health care. With an average of 44,000 deaths per year due to the lack of health care coverage, the uninsured await in hopeful anticipation that our politicians will do the right thing, enabling the millions to no longer be forced to visit make-shift free clinics originally designed to serve in third world countries (attached pics). Unfortunately though, our politicians are heading down a health reform course which is getting farther and farther away from it's intent.

In fact, a quick review of the Congressional Health Care Bill recently presented exposes the fact that the millions currently in need could actually end up in worse shape than they are now if this bill was to pass. Although the bill does expand the number of individuals eligible for Medicaid to the 150% poverty level -which is approximately $16,200 for a single individual, for all who earn above that dollar limit the plan will force or mandate that every American buys insurance on their own (if it is not furnished by their employer) or be penalized. The penalty will be in the form of a tax penalty equal to 2.5% of their annual income. In other words, the very people who health reform is supposed to help will be fined for being too poor to afford this great health care coverage ! It's like a penalty for being poor. And they still won't have coverage.


For months we've been hearing about how health reform will become so 'affordable' through the creation of a strong, robust public option. But now as we review the Congressional Plan we see that they have turned away from the robust plan to a much weaker plan guaranteed to have higher premium costs, some warn even possibly a cost higher than the current private insurers. The 46 million hard working Americans are living without coverage for one basic reason: they can't afford it. If they could they would have it. So now, the bright idea from Congress is to create a new high priced, unaffordable form of coverage, but this time CHARGE people a fine who can't afford to buy it. THIS IS PATHETIC ! Even sadder, the plan as it sits now is actually budgeting or planning on millions of Americans to NOT be able to afford it, resorting to paying the fines/penalties, which is evident by the Congressional Plan already counting on $167 billion dollars being generated IN FINES which they boast when applied to the total 10 year cost of the plan, these fines/penalties will help keep the total costs under $884 Billion.

So our brilliant politicians are banking on generating billions in penalty money from the very millions of people that health reform is supposed to help. Not making sure they are covered and have the right to health care, but using the plan's unaffordability combined with the mandate as a way to make money! What ? So under this brilliant, unaffordable plan we will end up with millions who are still unable to receive needed health care, who will now be considered 'lawbreakers' who will then be forced to pay a penalty that will go toward making coverage more affordable for the more affluent who CAN afford the high premiums. THIS IS PATHETIC and evident that our politicians are coming up with every scheme possible to serve the insurance cartel while telling the Americans in need to 'kiss off'.


If our politicians were sincere about making health care accessible to all they would first of all, demand a strong, robust public option (actually single-payer is the best as we all know but they'll never do that) so that the rates would TRULY be affordable. Then they would make the rate that the 46 million pay for premiums be on a sliding scale. To say that a person earning $16,200 is in poverty therefore eligible for Medicaid, but a person earning $16,250 CAN afford the high premiums and when they don't we'll penalize/charge them, is absolutely anti-American, asinine and in no way can call itself health care reform. Under this plan it would actually be better if no reform was done at all !

We're hearing in the media about how a surtax will be paid by individuals earning $500,000 per year or 1 million per couple to contribute to this health plan's cost, but it is disgusting how neither the media nor our great politicians are exposing how this plan will actually tax the poor-the very people in need of health care reform-by way of penalties for being too poor to afford the coverage !

While the politicians brag about history in the making, make certain that we all know exactly what they're bragging about. As they say, the devil is in the details. And for those who say things like 'this plan is a step in the right direction' or 'progress takes time'...you obviously HAVE coverage and are NOT one of the 46 million struggling each day to NOT become one of the 44,000 who DIE each year; the very group that reform is SUPPOSED to be FOR...not PENALIZE !

Please Share The Truth...
Then Fight...Call...DEMAND !!!
TRUE Health Care For ALL !!!

Coming: The Truth About These 'Subsidies'

B4B

Photos:
Halloween With THE OBAMAS !

Christine Simmons (AP)

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama on Saturday doled out presidential M&Ms and dried fruit mixes to more than 2,000 trick-or-treaters, marking their Halloween at a White House event partly aimed at honoring military families.


Dressed as superheroes, pirates, fairies and skeletons, the kids came in with their parents from Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C., lining up at the orange lit White House.

The Obamas smiled, chatted and passed out cellophane goody bags that were also filled with a sweet dough butter cookie made by White House pastry chef Bill Yosses and a National Park Foundation Ranger activity book. Mrs. Obama wore furry cat ears and a leopard-patterned top.

It's A New Day !

B4B

B4B NOTE: Hate to say it but...

The Public Option In Congress is Now

A SHAM !

Article By Miles Mogulescu

HuffPo

The so-called "public option" -- as it remains in the bills being proposed in the House and Senate -- is a fraud and a sham. It bears no resemblance to the "robust" public option originally sold by its supporters as the most pragmatic, "uniquely American" multipayer way of achieving affordable universal health care, instead of importing successful single payer models from other democratic capitalist countries which provide better health to its citizens at considerably lower costs.

The pygmy public option now being proposed in the House and Senate will not be a viable competitor to mandated private insurance.

• It will not put any meaningful pressure on private insurance companies to moderate their premiums.

• It will not have the market power to pay lower fees to doctors and hospitals than private insurance and will thus not be less expensive than private insurance.

• It will not even be available to most Americans.

• Since it will be unable to effectively compete with private insurance, it will end up with few, if any customers.

At this point, it really doesn't matter whether or not a final health reform bill includes this type of public option in name only. The public option, as it's now being proposed in the House and Senate, will have no meaningful impact. If Joe Lieberman or other corporate Democrats kill this meaningless public option, it will make no difference in the lives of most Americans. With or without a fraudulent public option, millions of Americans who will be required to buy insurance or pay a fine will see their premiums skyrocket as there will be no effective limits placed on how much private insurers can charge the customers whom the federal government will make buy their product.

The final nail in the public option's coffin came when House Democrats (with no help from President Obama to twist Blue Dog arms) fell 10 or 12 votes short of including a requirement that the public option pay providers Medicare rates plus 5% and instead will be required to negotiate rates with each doctor and hospital in America. This all but guarantees that the public option will end up paying more to doctors, hospitals and drug companies than private insurance.

It's like a brand new Mom and Pop store trying to compete with WalMart.

Here's why, without a tie to Medicare rates, the public option will end up paying more to providers than private insurance: The largest private insurers in each market already have tens or hundreds of thousands of members. When they negotiate rates with providers, they get volume discounts of as much as 30%-40% off "retail rates," just as WalMart gets volume discounts because of its market clout. (Because of its even greater bargaining power, Medicare often pays providers 15%-20% less than private insurance).

But without the ability to tie pricing to Medicare rates, the public option will have no ability to negotiate volume discounts. It will start out with no subscribers. It will then have to go to each hospital, doctor and drug company to negotiate rates. Without any subscribers at the outset, these providers will have no incentive to give volume discounts to the public option, which will end up paying more than large private insurers. This in turn will make the public option more expensive than private insurance. As a result, it will sign up few subscribers. With few subscribers, it will be continue to be unable to negotiate volume discounts. Even if the public option were allowed to pay Medicare plus 5% rates, unless it already had a large number of subscribers in a particular market, providers would simply refuse to accept public option patients at these reduced rates, prefering to treat patients from higher-paying private insurers. So it's a chicken and egg situation. Few subscribers will lead to higher costs. Higher costs will lead to few subscribers. This is a public option designed to fail.

As a result, when the Congressional Budget Office first evaluated the Senate negotiated-rate public option plan, the CBO concluded that it would end up with no subscribers. Perhaps with a little pressure from Congress, the CBO is now projecting that by 2019, approximately 6 million Americans would be enrolled in the negotiated-rate House public plan. The CBO also projects that "a public plan paying negotiated rates would...typically have premiums that are somewhat higher than the average premiums for private plans." The CBO notes that this public plan would attract a "less healthy pool of enrollees" than private plans. With a less healthy pool of enrolees who require more services than private plans, the cost of the public plan would continue to escalate beyond the cost of private insurance, further reducing the number of people who sign up, and further reducing its negotiating clout, leading to a vicious circle of increasing costs and unaffordability that would do little or nothing to put pressure on private insurers to lower their premiums.

As Kip Sullivan, a long-time fighter of universal health care, has argued articulately, the devolution of the public option from a robust proposal projected to cover over 129 million Americans and lower insurance costs to a sham public option that will at best cover 6 million Americans in 10 years and have no impact on lowering insurance costs is a case of "bait and switch".

The "public option" was initially proposed by Yale political scientist Jacob Hacker and Campaign for America's Future leader Roger Hickey as a more politically "pragmatic" alternative to the long-time progressive goal of establishing universal single payer health care (as though insurance companies and their paid-for Congressional allies wouldn't fight against a robust public option as hard as they would fight against Medicare for All).

Hacker and Hickey laid out 5 criteria that, they argued, were essential to the success of the public option.

1. The PO had to be pre-populated with tens of millions of people by shifting all or most uninsured people, as well as Medicaid and SCHIP enrollees, into the PO, so like Medicare, it would represent a huge pool of enrollees on day one.

2. Only enrollees in the PO, not in private insurance, would be eligible for government subsidies.

3. The PO and its subsidies would be available to all nonelderly Americans (not just the uninsured and employees of small businesses).

4. The PO would pay Medicare reimbursement rates.

5. The insurance industry had to offer the same minimum level of benefits that the PO offered.

If these criteria were met, the Lewin Group (a subsidiary of health insurance giant United Health) projected that the public option would enroll 129 million Americans, have overhead of 3%, pay hospitals 26% less and doctors 17% less than the private insurance industry, and have premiums 23% below the private insurance industry average.

That was the "bait." Now came the "switch." The puny public option proposals that are still on the table in the House and Senate meet only the 5th of the 5 criteria for an effective public option and eliminate the first 4 criteria. They are not pre-populated; subsidies go to both the public option and private insurance; large employers are barred from buying into the public option; and the public option is not allowed to use Medicare rates but must instead negotiate rates on a provider-by-provider basis.

The result is that instead of enrolling 129 million Americans and decreasing insurance premiums, the sham public option being proposed in the House and Senate will enroll between 0 and 6 million Americans and will cost more than private insurance.

It's time that organizations which supported a "robust" public option tell their supporters the truth: that the public option in the House and Senate bills bears no relationship to the public option they have been fighting for. (Instead, the Health Care for American Now blog praises the public option in the House bill as "a strong competitor to private insurance, keeping prices down and attracting customers.") Its time that "progressives" in Congress like Anthony Weiner, Alan Grayson, Jan Schakowsky, Raul Grijalva and Lynn Woolsey admit to their constituents that, with no help from President Obama, they've lost the battle for a "robust" public option. Media figures like Keith Obermann and Rachel Maddow, who've been vocally talking up the public option, should be reporting the truth about the pitiful public option that's left on the table.

As it stands now, the sham public option in the House and Senate bills serves only one purpose. It gives political cover to progressives and liberals in the House and Senate to vote for mandates that will use the power of the federal government to force uninsured individuals to buy inferior and over-priced private insurance or be fined by the IRS by being able to say, "Well, at least the bill contains something called a public option," even if it's a public option in name only. Better that Joe Lieberman's filibuster threat forces Congress to drop this sham public option from the bill. At least, then, progressives and liberals will have to squarely face up to the implications of their vote and decide if this type of "health care reform" is really in the interests of the American people, or indeed, in the interests of the Democratic Party.

As the final bill takes shape, it's going to be a close call whether this type of mandated "health insurance reform" with no price controls on premiums is better than no reform at all. (Thanks HuffPo)

Share The Facts...

Then Fight...Call...DEMAND !

STRONG Public Option ONLY !

B4B

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/miles-mogulescu/the-public-option-in-cong_b_340501.html

B4B Pic Of The Week
President Makes Surprise Visit

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. — Standing in the pre-dawn darkness, President Barack Obama saw the real cost of the war in Afghanistan: The Americans who return in flag-covered cases while much of the nation sleeps in peace.

In a midnight dash to this Delaware base, where U.S. forces killed overseas come home, Obama honored the return of 18 fallen Americans Thursday. All were killed in Afghanistan this week, a brutal stretch that turned October into the most deadly month for U.S. troops since the war began.

The dramatic image of a president on the tarmac was a portrait not witnessed in years. Former President George W. Bush spent lots of time with grieving military families but never went to Dover to meet the remains coming off the cargo plane. (HuffPo)

B4B

Free Make-Shift Health Care Clinic: Houston, Texas

Harry Reid:
Chooses Public Option with Opt-Out
The Good and MOSTLY BAD of Opt-Out !

By Greg Jones
Blacks4Barack

Well, this is good news and bad news (but mostly bad). In answer to millions of pro-strong public option phone calls and emails Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has announced that there will in fact be a public option in the Senate version of the bill he will bring to the floor, a move that Reid feels will pacify his constituents in Nevada who are overwhelmingly in favor of a strong public option. That's the so called 'good news'. The bad news is his plan will include the 'opt-out' clause which means that the public option plan would start out as a national, all-inclusive plan but will give all individual states the option to opt-out of the strong public option plan resorting to the status quo system with no option at all.

Some say that Reid's opt-out decision is a move that could garner enough support to actually pass in the Senate with the hope that each state would be 'too embarrassed' to opt-out, therefore would remain in the strong public option plan. But the fact is, the states in which the insurance cartel currently have near monopolies would be at greatest risk of being 'shameless' enough to opt-out with a desire to squash any type of competition that could hurt their pockets. And if you think the lobbying is bad in D.C. just wait and see the cartel in action on a per-state basis.

Bottom line, this is a major crap shoot. If states do remain in the public option plan then that will give residents access to much needed affordable health care coverage. But each state that DOES excercise their right to opt-out will create an absolute disaster for every uninsured resident of those states. Combine the lack of an affordable public option with the anticipated mandate (forcing all Americans to have/buy health care insurance or be PENALIZED) and it is easy to see the nightmare that may lie ahead.

The benefits of the strong public option derive from it's negotiating powers and leverage due to the plan's mass, national number of participants/members, enabling the public option to demand better rates which are passed on to each member. But if states can constantly opt-out of the public option, there can never be a concrete number of members to base true discounts/leverage on. There would be much greater discounts if 50 states are in the plan than if, say 42 states are in. Or what about when 4 or 7 states per year opt out; public option rates for members would have to keep going up accordingly, creating constant inconsistency, and a prime recipe for failure.

Although this watered down plan may have the ability to get the votes necessary to pass in the Senate, since the majority of the Democrat and Republican Senators really DON'T want true, affordable reform thanks to the millions in lobby/bribe money they have taken from the insurance cartel, this plan really does not securely address the health care reform needs of We The People. With 47 million Americans having no health care coverage at all and an average of 44,000 Americans dying each year due to no access to quality health care, the idea of fulfilling the health care needs of the 47 million on a per state basis is at best sad and barbaric. This 'great health care reform' with a potential end result that your life could have been saved if only you had lived in the right state simply means that we could become a bunch of third world countries right here in the un-United States of America.

Will struggling, uninsured Americans be forced to relocate to states that DO have the strong public option ? After they move, will Americans then have to hope and pray that their new state doesn't decide to opt-out one day, forcing yet another out of state move ? Are we to literally play musical states for the simple right to quality health care in order to stay alive ?

Now, the millions of supporters of strong public option are expected to be thankful that this public option will be in the Senate plan while simultaneously holding their breaths in fear that their individual state may opt-out, leaving them still uncovered due to the unaffordability, while becoming lawbreakers thanks to the new mandate. Our politicians may need to include some kind of mental anguish coverage in this plan because if it does pass it could be stressful enough to make one literally lose their mind. On the bright side, with the passing of this plan the politicians will be able to brag that they did give us
"A public option" and some will feel that this is better than absolutely nothing, the original goal of our well bribed politicians.

Many are familiar with the old traditional Indian rain dance. Looks like now we'll be forced to do the American Shame Dance in hopes that we can shame our state politicians to do the right thing for the health care needs of Americans by not opting-out. Something tells me there's going to be a lot of dancing ahead, or, if nothing else, a lot of future business for UHaul.

Shame Them NOW...

Say NO To Opt-Opt
Strong Public Option ONLY !!!
MAKE THE CALLS !

Related Article:
Shows which Red states most likely to opt-out
By: Jane Hamsher FireDogLake


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The OFFICIAL
1st Family Portrait

It's A NEW DAY !
We are very proud of our 1st Family !

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WATCH:
1st Lady Michelle Obama
Addresses Health Care Reform for Women

In some states, maternity care is not covered because pregnancy can be seen as a pre-existing condition. Its even legal in some states to deny a woman coverage because shes been a victim of domestic violence. First Lady Michelle Obama looks at where health care policy and people's lives intersect. Two-time cancer survivor Roxi Griffin and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius join her to discuss how the current system doesn't work for women and their families and why health insurance reform is so needed.

CLICK HERE if video does not appear through server

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Greg Jones B4B NOTE:
Here it comes folks...the start of THE " let's water-down strong public option the way we were lobbied (bribed) to do so so that the health insurance companies can continue to Rape America"...CON GAME !

Article by Sam Stein (HuffPo)

Baucus: There May Be 60 Votes for

" Less Pure' Public Option

Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.) insisted on Monday that a public option for insurance coverage was very much "alive" as he and two other Democratic senators merged together disparate health care bills.

But in what will surely be a disappointment for progressives, the Montana Democrat hinted strongly that the provision would be watered down.

"This issue is alive and we are looking at it to see what makes the most sense," the senator declared on a conference call with reporters. "The major overall goal here though is to get health care reform that passes the Senate, gets 60 votes, and I just don't know if there is 60 votes for the most pure kinds of the public option. There may be 60 votes for the less pure kinds."

The less pure kinds, Baucus explained, were co-ops, a public plan triggered by economic conditions and an insurance structure that allowed states to opt in or out of a public option. He seemed to find the last option the most intriguing.

"It is new and it is interesting," said Baucus. "Senators are trying to think it through, its effect, what it will do? We don't know yet."

CLICK HERE To Read Rest of Article

CLICK HERE To Read Related Article By Greg Jones:
"Not All Public Options Are Alike...or GOOD !"

Time To FIGHT...Time To DEMAND...
STRONG PUBLIC OPTION ONLY !

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Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/19/baucus-there-may-be-60-vo_n_326197.html

WATCH:
President Obama's Weekly Address
Battling The Insurance Companies
Down The Stretch

As the health insurance reform debate enters into its final stages in Congress, the President denounces the desperate and deceptive last-ditch efforts of the health insurance companies to derail it.

Greg Jones' B4B NOTE: Since all signs show that the health reform bill IS going to include a mandate (law that every citizen must have or buy coverage or be penalized) then it is extremely important that a strong public option be included in the bill to create a lower cost plan for the 47 million hard working Americans who are currently uninsured because they can not afford coverage. If they could afford it they'd have it and not be standing in make-shift free clinic lines for much needed health care like a third world country. If there ends up being a mandate, but still unaffordable plans that Americans are FORCED to buy, then we will simply end up with 47 million uninsured lawbreakers, which totally defeats the purpose of Health Care Reform, all to the benefit of the insurance cartel. It is absolutely PATHETIC that our politicians are using cost as the excuse (health care reform is anticipated to cost $889 billion over 10 years) to continue to allow 46 thousand Americans to DIE each year due to the lack of medical care/coverage, while simultaneously (and quietly I might add) approving the spending of $683 BILLION for WAR (majority went to defense contractors)...with the expectation to need more funding NEXT YEAR !

The key to a strong, competitive public option being in the bill is Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. We Must vigorously contact Reid to DEMAND a Strong Public Option as if our lives depended on it....because one day...it just might !

CONTACT Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid at;
DC: 202-224-3542; Vegas: 702-388-5020; Carson: 775-882-7343;
Reno: 775-686-5750
email: http://reid.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

Yes We WILL...
Yes We MUST !!!

CLICK HERE if video does not appear through email server

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All 'Public Options' Aren't Alike...
Or GOOD !
A Quick Look at the DIFFERENT
' Public Options '

By Greg Jones
Blacks4Barack

As I watch the debate over health care reform I can't help but notice the caution in the verbiage being used by the proponents of public option. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has declared that " no bill will get through the House without a public option ". Rep. Anthony Weiner has emphasized that it will be difficult to get a bill passed without a public option. When we hear statements of this nature with such conviction we naturally are invigorated with the feeling of " Yes ! "

But there's one seemingly small, but very important problem with this strategic rhetoric that no one is bringing to the attention of We The People, not the Democrats, not the Republicans, and certainly not the media. The problem lies in the harmonious phrasing carefully used by all public option advocates, and that phrase is ...."A" public option.

To see through this one must first analyze exactly what the title ' public option ' means. It simply means ANY health insurance plan available to the PUBLIC as an alternative to the current private health insurance system which would be another choice or OPTION to what exists now. But there are multiple versions all calling themselves public options that vary tremendously in how they will effect health care reform and/or make health care more accessible for all. Keep in mind that the one thing that is certain to be included in the final bill will be a MANDATE or new law forcing ALL Americans to have or buy health care insurance or they will be PENALIZED. So here's a quick look at the different plans all calling themselves
"A" Public Option.

PUBLIC OPTION: (The plan President Obama spoke of throughout the campaign) First, there's the true, strong, competitive public option which is basically a health insurance plan put together by the government to compete against existing private insurers. This would be a national plan designed to generate so many members or participants nationally that the sheer numbers will give this plan the leverage or negotiating power to offer reduced, very competitive rates. This public option would have lower administrative costs since it would not be designed to make a profit and will not have an advertising budget. These savings will help this plan be even lower in cost and more affordable for all. The key to the success of this national plan is the great number of participants.

CO-OPS: Next, there is the co-ops, aka " co-operatives " which will be setup and initially funded by government funds, then turned over to individual non-profits, which will work similarly to the public option mentioned above except instead of being one strong, national program, the co-op plan would be individual statewide plans like 50 'baby public options'. The insurance cartel prefers this plan because it is a much weaker plan since the number of participants and therefore negotiating power would be based on a much lower total number of participants in each particular state resulting, most say, in being non-competitive. The cartel also favors this plan because as co-ops have been tried over the past decade they have basically failed because of being unable to compete effectively. Lastly, in order for a co-op to even get started in a state it would need a minimum of 500,000 participants, a feat insurmountable for a number of states which means those states would not have this 'public option' at all. Bottom line, the co-op plan just won't work (see video below of Robert Reich explaining public option vs. co-ops).

OPT-IN: Then, in a non-stop attempt by our great politicians to come up with whatever means possible to water down competition against the insurance cartel, another brilliant idea has been proposed called OPT-IN. This plan is basically one step weaker than a co-op in that it gives each state the option to offer the public option plan in their state or not...If the state likes it they can OPT-IN...if not, everyone in that state is stuck with the status quo while still being forced by law to pay the current high rates of the insurance cartel....or be PENALIZED !

OPT-OUT: This seems to be the plan that is picking up the most steam lately. In fact, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), one of the fiercest advocates for public option recently stated as reported by HuffPo that he " left open the possibility that reform would include (and he himself would support) an opt-out clause that allowed states to set up co-operatives in place of the public plan." So Opt-Out means that each state would start out as part of the national, good, strong, competitive public option but would have the right to stop participating in the good plan resorting to the weaker, non-competitive co-op plan. Some politicians feel that this opt-out plan would be successful because state officials would be 'embarrassed' to switch/opt-out from the good public option to the weaker, higher costing co-op. Fact is, the opt-out idea will simply benefit the cartel in states where they have monopolies as in Alabama where 1 insurer has 89% of the entire insurance market. A major concern is that politicians in monopoly states will cowtow to the lobbyists (take bribes/campaign funds,etc.) not caring what they 'look like', to opt-out of the national, robust/strong plan...switching to a state co-op plan which would be pleasingly non-competitive to the cartel...would be of no true benefit to residents of the state...just back to status quo. (and don't forget the mandate)

TRIGGER: Finally, there's this super-brainstorm of a plan which simply says let's just keep things the way they are now, trust the insurance companies to do the right thing and make their prices more affordable on their own, and if things don't get better in like 6, 8 or 10 years from now, THEN we'll start (trigger) the public option. The saddest thing about this plan is that they (our politicians) are actually serious. Pathetic !


WATCH: Robert Reich Explains
Strong Public Option Vs. Co-Ops




So when our Servants of the People say, "....you'll have A public option ", make sure you know exactly what they mean. No Co-ops, no opt-in or opt-out and definitely no trigger. Unfortunately, many of our politicians are more dedicated to aiding and abetting the insurance cartel than they are delivering true, accessible, quality health care for ALL. And if they think that shame is an effective tool, then NOW is the time to

Make Calls...Make Demands...SHAME THEM NOW
To Pass A STRONG,
Competitive Public Option ONLY !

CLICK HERE if video does not appear through email server

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WATCH:
Labor Unions FIGHTING for Strong Public Option
Richard Trumka AFL-CIO Pres. Speaks Out...
"...anyone who blocks it will pay the price "

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

The Time Is NOW...To FIGHT
for the RIGHT to Quality
Health Care For ALL !
(WITH Strong Public Option)

CLICK HERE if video did not appear through email server

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Seeing Through The Democrat's
Health Care CON GAME !

By Greg Jones
Blacks4Barack

" I Can Not Support A Public Option" ! That is the main message that Senator Olympia Snowe has made certain to get across during every one of her barrage of interviews which have taken over the cable news airwaves. Yesterday, Snowe was the lone Republican vote in the 14-9 decision to pass the Senate Finance Committee's version of so-called health care reform. Although this senate plan is actually the very worst out of the five different versions drafted, it is being touted in the media and by various politicians as a great triumphant achievement...as if the passing of the other 4 were absolutely meaningless.

Fact is, if the Senate plan was to actually pass as it is, Americans would be in WORSE shape than we are now. NO Public Option combined with a mandate, guarantees that this Senate Finance Bill will be of great benefit to the insurance industry while simultaneous slapping We The People, the supposed purpose of health care reform...in the face. So why is the worst of the plans garnering such accolades ? Because we are being strategically played like ill-informed fiddles by BOTH the Republican AND Democratic leaders. Just one look at the amounts of money ( legalized bribes) both the top Democrats and Republicans have received from the health industry lobbyists shows exactly who they are loyal to...and it's NOT We The People.

Thanks to the power of the lobbyists, leadership on neither side of the isle really wants any type of TRUE reform that would effect the pockets of the insurance industry (their bribers), but they do want to APPEAR as if they are working so diligently for the much needed health reform (of which 77% of Americans want a strong Public Option). And did I mention the sad truth that the Democrats have received more payoff money than the Republicans ?

So here's their game. The Democrats have enlisted Olympia Snowe to side with them (a move that makes Snowe look good to her constituents who want reform in Maine), knowing, as she has announced maybe 42 times today in her numerous interviews, that she adamantly opposes any type of a strong public option which would create competition for the insurance bandits, although it is the ONLY way to assure accessible, quality health care for all. Now that Snowe has voted for the bill, which would have passed 13-10 without her, the Democrats (along with the aid of the media) are ACTING like they HAVE TO cater to what Snowe wants or the Dems will lose her support. So, as all 5 bills are merged toward one final bill and strong advocates like Senator Sherrod Brown (Ohio) submits his amendment for a STRONG public option, the Democrats will knock it down stating that the inclusion would cause Snowe (and possibly Susan Collins if she signs on...she needs to look good in Maine too) to defect. (NOTE: Currently, there is NOT a STRONG (competitive) Public Option in ANY of the 5 bills. Many erroneously believe the Senate HELP Committee plan contains a strong public option which it does not. Actually, it is more on the co-op side. CLICK HERE for more info on Senate HELP Plan)

In other words, the Dems are lining Snowe up to be their EXCUSE to end up with a final bill that caters to the insurance industry, and against The People ! In fact, Majority Leader Harry Reid is already on TV today saying that "...legislation is the art of compromise..." or in other words...we have to do what THEY want. PATHETIC ! Keep in mind, Democratic supporters across America worked hard volunteering, making calls, door knocking and WON a filibuster proof 60 Democrat Majority in the Senate. 60 votes is all that's needed to pass ANY bill including health care reform with a strong public option. So it's not the Republicans that are the problem, it's the Democrats who won't vote for what the party promised...true health care reform. In fact, if the Democrats REALLY want to pass health care reform with a strong public option than they can just do so with what is known as a 51 person Reconciliation vote...they don't even need 60 ! It is the responsibility and job of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to LEAD his fellow Democratic senators to get on board and do what is right for America. Olympia Snowe ? That's a JOKE !

It is time NOW for Harry Reid to put the health care needs of We The People FIRST...not the insurance companies...not the appeasement of other politicians ! It is pathetic that 47 million Americans are struggling with NO health care coverage at all with millions more who are under-covered. It is absolutely pitiful that 45,000 Americans DIE every year due to the lack of needed medical care. The Democrats must STOP PLAYING THESE CON GAMES ! And Harry Reid is THE KEY !

Contact Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s offices...
all of them – and tell him...

" As Majority Leader We Expect You To LEAD our Senate Majority to PASS a STRONG PUBLIC OPTION BILL...NOTHING ELSE WILL DO...We're counting on (and watching) YOU."

Not a co-op...not opt-in or opt-out...not a trigger (which are all being labeled as Public Options but ALL benefit the insurance companies !)

CALL SENATOR REID TODAY !

DC: 202-224-3542; Vegas: 702-388-5020; Carson: 775-882-7343; Reno: 775-686-5750

Or email: http://reid.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

Health Care Reform is a matter of Life or DEATH !

We Will NOT Be ROBBED (or fooled) of Our Right
To Quality Health Care For ALL !

Related article: Top House Progressive: Catering To Snowe "A Waste of Time"

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Hoodwink Alert !

Media/Politicians Tout Passing of Senate Finance Committee Bill As GREAT Accomplishment
With NO Strong Public Option;
Actually WORSE Than What We Have NOW !
(WATCH: Video Below)

By Greg Jones
Blacks4Barack

So today, the Senate Finance Committee passed their version of so-called health care reform 14-9 in what is being touted a great positive step toward health care reform for America, even bragging about being able to attract a yes vote from Republican Olympia Snowe. But the FACT is, if this particular bill was to end up passing as the final bill, Americans would be in WORSE shape than we are now.

One reason, there is NO Public Option of any significance in this 'wonderful' bill, the only means of creating competition against the current gauging of Americans by health insurance companies. NO Public Option means NO way to create truly affordable coverage for the 47 million Americans struggling to survive without health coverage as if this was a third world country, forced to stand in long lines at make-shift free clinics by the thousands for much needed health care. To top things off, this 'great' bill contains a MANDATE, meaning that it will become THE LAW that EVERY (whether you can afford it or not) American MUST buy health insurance or be PENALIZED ! But with NO Public Option, the insurance will still be unaffordable for the 47 million who would have coverage NOW if they could afford it, so this 'incredible' Senate plan will only create 47 million UNINSURED LAWBREAKERS !

Up until now, the uninsured could at least go to the emergency room if their illness got extreme. But under this 'milestone' Senate plan the 47 million uninsured lawbreakers would now be AFRAID to go to emergency, regardless of the severity of their illness, because they'll be afraid of getting CAUGHT without insurance !

This 'historic' Senate Plan is an absolute insult to We The People and the true purpose of Health Care Reform. The ONLY group that this plan helps is the insurance companies who have spent millions lobbying (bribing) our politicians to get what they want. And they certainly are, under this 'super' Senate plan. The bottom line is, if the Senate Plan becomes law we will be in WORSE shape than if they had done no health care reform at all !

Below is a message from former health insurance CEO Wendell Potter whose conscience lead him to become a whistleblower against the corruption of the health insurance industry. Potter explains that any bill that does not include a strong, competitive Public Option is simply A GIFT TO THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY and would be detrimental to the health care needs of We The People.

Don't Be Hoodwinked or Bamboozled !

Our ONLY safety net is a STRONG PUBLIC OPTION. Not just any kind of public option...not co-ops...not opt-in or opt-out...not triggers...those are all WEAK versions of so-called public options frankly designed to benefit the insurance industry ! Only STRONG Public Option will do !!! Please keep in mind that a truly strong Public Option is NOT in ANY version of the bill (which will merge or consolidate during the next few weeks) therefore, someone will have to add it as an amendment in order for a strong, competitive Public Option to even GET IN the bill for consideration.

Unfortunately, due to the absolute greed of our politicians both Democrat and Republican we still have a LONG way to go. And to those who think " President Obama will fix it "...sorry, it just doesn't work that way....which is why he has stated, since day one that he will need OUR HELP ! To All Warriors...Please Help Spread THE FACTS....as if your life depended on it. One Day...It Just Might !

Watch: Wendell Potter




Encourage ALL to FIGHT !
MAKE THOSE CALLS...
MAKE THOSE DEMANDS !!!
Call your Senator...Congressman...TODAY !

CLICK HERE if video does not appear through email server

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