Walter Reed: A clear warning on Hillary Care
By JT Thompson (03/30/07)
The recent problems at Walter Reed put a spotlight on government run health care.
Congress wants to hold hearings, and investigate what happened, while fearing that Walter Reed is just the tip of the iceberg of problems with "the nation's ability to care for the thousands of soldiers gravely wounded from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan."
If there are serious failures in the government-administered health care system in the military, can you imagine the chaos government run health care would be like with over 300 million people?
Yet, Hillary can’t wait to reignite her failed universal health care plan that was overwhelming rejected in 1994, “her number one issue”.The plan introduced in 1993, was over 1,000 pages, yet buried in those pages were restrictions and aspects of the plan which were truly troubling.
The plan aimed to cut the number of doctors (called "cost centers" ) by one quarter in order to cut demand by limiting supply. It also aimed to cut costs by cutting the number of specialists in half.
The following fines were also prescribed under the plan:$5,000 for refusing to join the government mandated health plan.
$5,000 for failing to pay premiums on time.
15 years to doctors who receive “anything of value” in exchange for helping patients short-circuit the bureaucracy.
$50,000 for unauthorized patient treatment.
$100,000 a day for drug companies that improperly filed federal claims.
So, what exactly would this universal health care plan really be like if it ever returns and becomes mandated?
The average wait time for treatment, would dramatically increase. In Canada for instance, the average wait time if you go to an emergency room , depending on urgency is anywhere between 8-10 hours for a doctor to see you.
The Fraser Institute’s annual waiting list survey found that Canada-wide waiting time for surgical and other therapeutic treatments increased in 2006. The total waiting time between referral from a general practioner and treatment increased from 17.7 weeks in 2005, to 17.8 weeks in 2006. Some surgeries have up to a one year wait time.
http://www.fraserinstitute.ca/admin/books/chapterfiles/wyt2006.pdf
Throughout Canada, the total number of procedures for which patients are waiting for surgeries in 2006 is 770,641. Many patients die while waiting to have surgeries.
Recently in Canada, a patient complained to his doctor that he had headaches, and was having seizures. His doctor determined that he possibly had a brain tumor, and an MRI was needed to be sure. He was then told his wait time to have an MRI was 4 months. Frustrated by this, he went to New York, and within days had an MRI. He returned to Canada with the results from his MRI, showing he did have a brain tumor.
He was told that he would have to wait 8 months for surgery. He ended up having surgery in the U.S., and he now is trying to sue the Canadian government because they refused to reimburse him for the surgery. (Link to story & video):
http://www.onthefencefilms.com/video/brainsurgery.html
So, why is the wait time so long in Canada? Many doctors are leaving Canada because of the long time it takes for them to be paid by the government. Many doctors from Canada, come to the United States so they can be paid faster. Canada’s shortage of physicians arose to government intervention.
http://www.fraserinstitute.ca/admin/books/files/Physician%20shortage.pdf
With the United States population fast approaching 300 million people, one can only wonder what the wait time would be for surgeries here in the United States since Canada’s population is less than half. Under the 1993 plan, the number of doctors would be reduced by one quarter, and the number of specialists to be cut in half.
But they say that universal health care will be free to all. Is it really? No. You’ll pay for it in taxes.
While health care costs are rising in the United States, we must remember that the U.S. has some of the finest doctors, hospitals, and facilities in the world. Many doctors from all over the world come to the U.S. to practice medicine because it has the best hospitals and health care systems.
With Canada’s universal health care system failing, and the recent problems at Walter Reed, is there any doubt that free-market health care offers the finest in medical care?
Hillary recently stated, “we need to try to have a health care system like Canada’s?” Really?.. somehow I don’t think universal health care is worth dying for.
Submitted by JT Thompson, Authored by Kathy Miller
Original: http://www.hillaryproject.com/index.php?/sg_distro/comments/walter_reed_a_clear_warning_on_hillary_care/
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