OT: Government-Run Health Care????? | Arthritis Information

 

FROM FACTCHECK.ORG:

A group called Conservatives for Patients' Rights began airing a television ad this week that criticizes government-run health care and falsely suggests Congress wants a British-style system here in the U.S.:

The ad neglects to mention that President Obama hasn't proposed a government-run plan and, in fact, has rejected the idea.

 It claims that a research council created by the stimulus bill is "the first step in government control over your health care choices." The legislation actually says the council isn't permitted to "mandate coverage, reimbursement, or other policies."

The ad quotes a Canadian doctor who has been critical of his country's system, but leaves out the fact that the doctor has praised other government-funded systems, such as those in Austria and France.

Conservatives for Patients’ Rights is, as its name indicates, a conservative group, and it’s also quite obviously not a proponent of government-run health care. Its minute-long ad was launched April 27 with what the group said was a month-long million buy. (We've seen it on CNN several times this week.) CPR was launched this year and is led by Rick Scott, former head of Columbia/Hospital Corporation of America.

The ad states that government-run health care systems, in particular those in Britain and Canada, take control away from patients and ration health care. CPR is certainly entitled to state its own view. But the ad implies that the U.S. Congress wants to implement a health system like those in Britain and Canada. That's contrary to what President Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress have said.

For rest of analysis see:

http://www.factcheck.org/politics/government-run_health_care.html












Hi Joie

[QUOTE=Joie]
FROM FACTCHECK.ORG:


A group called Conservatives for Patients' Rights began airing a television ad this week that criticizes government-run health care and falsely suggests Congress wants a British-style system here in the U.S.:

The ad neglects to mention that President Obama hasn't proposed a government-run plan and, in fact, has rejected the idea.

 It claims that a research council created by the stimulus bill is "the first step in government control over your health care choices." The legislation actually says the council isn't permitted to "mandate coverage, reimbursement, or other policies."

The ad quotes a Canadian doctor who has been critical of his country's system, but leaves out the fact that the doctor has praised other government-funded systems, such as those in Austria and France.

Conservatives for Patients’ Rights is, as its name indicates, a conservative group, and it’s also quite obviously not a proponent of government-run health care. Its minute-long ad was launched April 27 with what the group said was a month-long million buy. (We've seen it on CNN several times this week.) CPR was launched this year and is led by Rick Scott, former head of Columbia/Hospital Corporation of America.

The ad states that government-run health care systems, in particular those in Britain and Canada, take control away from patients and ration health care. CPR is certainly entitled to state its own view. But the ad implies that the U.S. Congress wants to implement a health system like those in Britain and Canada. That's contrary to what President Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress have said.

For rest of analysis see:

http://www.factcheck.org/politics/government-run_health_care.html

Obama also said he would not any bills with Earmarks......we know how that went










[/QUOTE]

6t5, Heh....

Rick Scott is the head/spokesperson for the group "Conservatives for Patient's Rights."  Just who is he?

Rick Scott was forced to resign as CEO of Columbia/HCA Healthcare, the largest hospital chain, amidst an FBI investigation for defrauding the US government. 

From 2000 Forbes article:

". . .  the nation's largest hospital chain, known until recently as Columbia/HCA Healthcare (nyse: HCA - news - people), pleaded guilty to a variety of fraud charges. It admitted to bilking various government programs and agreed to pay a total of 0 million in fines and penalties. The fraud settlement is the largest in U.S. history . . . parts of the investigation into the company's practices remain unsettled.

The guilty plea follows a seven-year federal investigation that resulted in charges being filed in five different federal courts in Florida, Texas, Georgia and Tennessee, where HCA is headquartered. The fraud revealed by that investigation ran deep within HCA's way of doing business. Speaking at a news conference yesterday, U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno said about the plea deal, "It's a simple message--if you overbill the U.S. taxpayer, we're going to make you pay it back, and then some."

The company admitted to systematically overcharging the government by claiming marketing costs as reimbursable, by striking illegal deals with home care agencies, and by filing false data about how hospital space was being used.

The company increased Medicare billings by exaggerating the seriousness of the illnesses they were treating. It also granted doctors partnerships in company hospitals as a kickback for the doctors referring patients to HCA. In addition, it gave doctors "loans" that were never expected to be paid back, free rent, free office furniture, and free drugs from hospital pharmacies. "

http://www.forbes.com/2000/12/15/1215disaster.html


FROM DEPT. OF JUSTICE PRESS RELEASE:

"For a number of years, the Department, working with private whistleblower-plaintiffs and their attorneys, has been in litigation with HCA (the former Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation) concerning its billing practices and conduct with respect to its charging of Medicare, Medicaid and other federally funded health care programs.   This litigation has included allegations of overcharging the government on HCA's cost reports, payment of kickbacks and other improper remuneration to physicians in exchange for referral of patients, and overcharging in connection with the company's agreements for management of its wound care facilities. During this time we have had discussions with HCA about resolving this civil litigation. The staff assigned to this matter has now reached a tentative understanding with HCA for a settlement of 1 million. If formally approved, this settlement would resolve the litigation as well as HCA's administrative liability to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for an additional 0 million, but would be conditioned on a number of future events. Any formal agreement must be authorized by appropriate Department officials in consultation with the affected agencies.

When added to the prior civil and criminal settlements reached in 2000, this settlement would bring the government's total recoveries from HCA to approximately .7 billion.

http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2002/December/02_civ_731.htm

FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES:

". . . Columbia has been vilified by doctors, labor unions, consumer groups and state attorneys general who contend that these for-profit health care conglomerates are placing profits ahead of quality medical care.

They also complain that Columbia has reduced charitable and community services--traditional roles of nonprofit hospitals--after it has acquired them.

Already, several states have moved to slow the rush toward for-profit hospitals. Health care analysts say the Columbia scandals will accelerate a reassessment of the free-market approach to medicine.

http://articles.latimes.com/1997/jul/26/news/mn-16535

HEALTHBEATBLOG.COM - WHO IS RICHARD SCOTT?

http://www.healthbeatblog.com/2009/03/who-is-richard-scott-and-why-is-he-saying-these-things-about-healthcare-reform.html

Copyright ArthritisInsight.com