'Impossible' to know number of agencies, commissions created by health care law
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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
A sprawling bureaucratic giant - nobody knows how big it will be. That seems to be the result of President Obama's new health care law.
According to Politico, a recent report says it's "impossible" to estimate the number of agencies, boards and commissions created by the new law.
The Congressional Research Service report points to many reasons for this. First off, the parts of the law that create new bodies vary drastically. In some cases – the law gives lots of details... in other cases, barely a mention.
Also, the law authorizes some new entities... without saying who will do the appointing, or when it will happen.
And all this means some agencies could wait indefinitely for staff and funding... while others could multiply... creating quote "an indeterminate number of new organizations."
So far this is shaping up to be exactly what the critics were afraid it would be.
For example, there's one provision in the health care law that requires six separate agencies - six - within Health and Human Services to each establish an Office of Minority Health.
One Alaska health task force was supposed to meet by May 7... it held its first meeting July 16. Another committee on breast cancer was supposed to be set up by May 22. It's August 3 and it's still reviewing nominations for committee members.
There are also questions about the ability of Congress to carry out oversight of this sprawling mess. And there are concerns about the the number of appointments the General Accounting Office gets to make - at least 83 new members to six new boards.
Here’s my question to you: How will the government manage our health care if it's "impossible" to know the number of agencies, boards and commissions created by the new health care law?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
David in Alexandria, Virginia writes:
From the people who can't manage the 93 intelligence agencies and the Medicare/Social Security mess they have now comes Obama Care. The only thing that will be more mysterious will be the dozens of new financial control agencies. This is not big government, it is morbidly obese government. And, like the obese person sitting next to you on the plane, it will flow freely into every nook and cranny of your space.
John in Pennsylvania writes:
Health care reform. Wow, what a good idea. Before retiring in April, I paid $194 per month for my wife and myself. Now it's $1,100 per month for the same coverage because I have COBRA and live in Penn. If I could shop in other states, I could get the same for $484 per month. If I did not take COBRA, I would be paying $2,100 per month. Thanks, Mr. Obama.
Bob in Kansas City writes:
They won't, as you say, "manage" it. Before long, it will be a cesspool of corruption and fraud, ala Medicare. And it won't reduce the cost one cent.
Chris in the Bronx, New York writes:
Jack, The law is about 3 months old. PLEASE! The real impact of the bill won't be felt until 2014 when the exchanges are up and running. Stop trying to simplify and dumb down a complex idea, and subject, that is the healthcare system.
Greg in Tennessee writes:
The solution is a Health Care Oversight Czar heading a Commission which will undoubtedly recommend an Oversight Department and probably an Oversight Inspector General. That way they'll be able to determine the number of agencies, boards, and commissions created by the new health care law.
Dennis writes:
Jack, Did you honestly think this would magically happen immediately? Something of this magnitude will take time to work out.
Julie in Louisiana writes:
No surprise, Jack. They will call it job creation.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
The new health care law (aka health insurance company welfare act) is horrible. What we need is one agency: Medicare. Open it up to everyone and pay for it via taxes.
It's impossible because it is a work in progress. We didn't have an FBI until we needed one. We didn't have a CIA until we needed one and that eventually branched out to include the NSA. We don't know because it hasn't been fully implemented yet. But of course, let's go ahead and alarm everybody to sell commericals Jack...
Health care, like all bureaucracies, is bloated and redundant. It's time for some budget Czar to be appointed and slash the pork and waste from all government agencies. I nominate Ebeneezer Scrooge!
Jack:
When government would use the word, say "impossible" to do something or other it is good news for them because it is then unaccountable. So, by draining the swamp, routhing out phenomenal corruption and incompetencies and "saving" billions of dollars, this will then be more than offset by those new agencies, bureaucracies, health care czars and finally consultants who when they realize they are ineffectual minions, will then become lobbyists or media consultants. And that is how it will be managed.
This is our government at its best. Fiscal responsiblity, accountability not to mention competant management is out of the grasp of our elected "officials"
They won't be able to manage Health Care be cause it will be impossible to do. But nothing will change, people will complain and the only time these unnecessary healthcare agencies will be mention is when some politician running for election, says he or she will change things if elected. But we all know that will never happen. This gov't will continue to waste money until the day comes there is no more money available to waste.
the gov could not run a two car parade right with this bill nobody will ever know how can any politican put their name on something like this vote all them crooks out
Sounds like another "make work" project by the federal government. Apparently the government is trying to surpass the quagmire over at the intelligence agencies. It's starting to look like all the money to finance health care reform will go for salaries. What country.
It won't. It's designed that way so that the sickness industries will make mega profits. We're so totally doomed.
i guess just like everything else that the government does, this will be done badly and in the most inefficient way. the only way that politicians seem to know how to solve problems is to layer more beaurecracy on top of what is already in place. if this is what it means to simplify the process, then maybe we should think about going back to the 'broken' system we had. it seems that instead of dealing with one or two pencil pushers sitting behind a desk, we can look forward to 3,4, 5, or more times this number. there may not be 'death panels' in this new system, but if people have to go through so much more just to get treatment, they may very well end up dying while waiting.
NC
You're missing the point. The whole idea is that it will not be able to manage our health care. The purpose is the creation of another do-nothing mega bureaucracy, like DHS, to match the do-nothing Congress. It will be staffed by political hacks and serve no other purpose. We already know that the so-called health care reform bill did nothing for us and everything for the industry. It appears that Obama is trying to out-Bush Bush. Unfortunately, he is succeeding all too well. How long did you say it was until 2012?
Jack,
They will manage it like they do every other government agency..... With incompetancy, waste and fraud.... This is why it needs to be repealed as soon as possible....
Government will mismanage health care, just as one would expect. It was nonsensical to think that "reform" and larger government would do anything but complicate matters. Of course, very few of the elected clowns wanted to listen.
Ron Paul told you it would happen. Ron Paul in 2012...
The Government will not be able to manage this. When you get too many agencies within one umbrella agency all they do is point fingers. We are going to be in a big, big mess. That's why the Republicans warned everybody that this is going to be a nightmare and very expensive.. Sen McCain, even though I didn't vote for him, had a good Health Plan with his platform. His plan provided tax credit to pay for each individual's plans. Because of Palin nobody paid much attention to his plan. His plan did not require half a million federal bureaucrats to run it.
That is why Obama's plan is going to be more expensive than our current private plans. I don't think the main stream media did a great job exposing the Democrat spin.
Obama is pretty smart that's why this plan is not going to become a law until 2014?????? He'll be gone or secured another therm by then.
Goernment regulated Freddie and Fannie so well. So, the attacked Wall St. to throw us off. You know, watch my right hand, so you don't see what the left hand is taking from your pocket. Then there's the UPS and Amtrak. They couldn't handle the regulations on deep water drilling. So, when it blew up, blame BP, another diversion. The Bail Out was so great, yet obscene bonuses were paid out. They've taken over banks and GM and Chrysler. Great, but where's the jobs. I understand that ths list of agencies will come with more and more regulations. So, the jobs must be coming from the writers they'll have to hire.
We are not surprised.....kooks put together the Health Care Bill !
It's primarily a boondoogle for Ins Companies.
We should of helped those who truly need help such as disabled, etc., preexisting conditions should of been included as well (but not for those who can sign up when they find out they have an issue and then cancel a litlte later as they can do now). The cost would of been $3-4 Billion Dollars.
If there ever was a law to be repealed – this is it Jack. When you overreach you fall over the cliff.
Take a look at what England is doing now – they are decentralizing or defederalizing Healthcare due to the multiple layers of wasted depts, money and incompetence.
Joan
Mn
we will have to consult our computer.
This is nothing compared to the number of agencies created for intelligence and surveillance during the Bush administration. It seems that the creation of agencies is the best means of jobs creation for the last ten years. But at least healthcare has some beneficial purpose for the public. Has anything good come out of overlapping layers of agencies spying on our fellow Americans? NO!
Maybe we can pay for these new healthcare agencies by defunding all those spy agencies. I would rather have health than a wiretap.
Better to have it than not. Time to stop capitulating to the insurance companies.
Jack, my guess is that ultimately the majority of American taxpayers will be required to contribute to the cost of health care administration by an increase in taxes on all and sundry items they already consume. Government health care is not free but not as expensive as your current system is on the average citizen. I think they will find it a welcome benefit.
tampa, fl the formula for finding out how many positions will be created is simple. take the number of lobbyists x's the number of relatives of politicians. add the number of friends and cash donors then multiply by 5 if it is done on a tuesday when the moon is full.
they count illegal aliens the same way.
A camel is a horse designed by a committee.
So how is the health insurance reform bill any different than any other bill that comes out of Congress, written by hundreds of people, each trying to put their fingerprints on it and help the special interests who give them money?
Here's a homework assignment for you, Jack, should you choose to accept it: what percentage of bills that come out of Congress for Presidential signature consist of more than, say, 50 pages? 100 pages? 1000 pages?
The government will manage health care the same way they manage everything else, poorly, very poorly. But only if there is any management at all.
Wow, Jack, I'm surprised. The president said this was simplifying things. Could it be we've been snookered again? More "change" we can believe in. God help us! The answer to the question – the government will not manage this, more muddled mess. But just maybe, this is the solution to the unemployment problem.
Chatham, VA
They can't manage it. It would have been more merciful if they would have let everyone buy into medicare at levels of care.
It is not "impossible" to know, it just requires somebody to read the whole law and take notes. Like many laws, I'm sure some popular parts will be energetically implemented while others will wither and die without personnel or funding. Congress will probably also conduct selective oversight. Fear not, Jack, human nature is always predictable.
Who cares ...............if the people are paying the tab ??
Unlimited bureaucracies...................unlimited expenses.........................unlimited deception.
UNLIMITED GOVERNMENT.
Welcome to Obama Land.
Jack, why do you even assume this bill had anything to do with heatlhcare? It is just to create more dependence on the government and create another giant organization to suck more taxpayer dollars out of the few of us still stupid enough to work for a living. I am still waiting to see how this massive beast is going to make heatlcare cheaper. I guess, maybe the cost of some procedures and drugs may, and I say "may" loosely, but factor in all the new taxes and we will all be worse off.
Jack. Are you implying by omission that our current nightmare of private healthcare plans is efficient? Give me a break. We now have hundreds of money-hungry private insurance companies that combine the greed of cutthroat capitalism with a stultifying Soviet-era bureaucracy that would make Stalin weep with joy. The current system is choking America to death while lining the pockets of the few...the talking points you quote here have only one purpose: to protect the greed of those few.
This thing is a GIANT mess... When all is said and done this is going to be far more expensive then our current system and the quality will fall drastically... yes... everyone will have access... but nobody will want it. The rich will go to specialists that are self employed and don't work for insurance... and the rest of us will be in line for whatever is left. There is a 14 month wait for an MRI in Canada and 10 Months for an oncologist... you might be crippled for life or dead by the time you get treatment... and all that wait for doctors that aren't good because they can't make anything... so the bright people will become lawyers and sue the bad doctors... this is not going to be good. My neighbor just got a new job and was devistated to hear that his company will offer health care as is the law... he has to pay 40% of his premium which is mandatory.... at a rate of 700 dollars per month... for a single 26 year old non-smoking male. Tell my how this is cheaper? He does have the option to turn down the coverage in writting.... or not take the job. This is going to be a huge mess
Its fine if we don't know who's in charge of what. We can always just pass another stimulus bill to figure it out.
the gov't will manage health care just as they do other huge agencies. Give the system an opportunity 2 work before you throw in all of those "how can they do it" and "what if's"..Since this is such a huge undertaking let's throw in the Public Option...We need it...Let's really give those states trying to sue the federal gov't a reason to fight against the american people...we want to know who they are.
Just like everything else they have "mishandled" so far. For one, I do not trust them and want them to keep their hands off the health care insurance I now have. Why should the rest of the country suffer because of the ones that do not have or waiting for someone else to pay for their health insurance? The majority of the country does not want Obama's so-called health care.
Simple Jack, just look at other countries' socialized health care systems, driving personal tax rates to over 50% to pay for the administration of the policies. Forget about the cost of health care, the buracuracies will consume all available funds. Meanwhile, funds for programs that are already struggling to survive, like Medicare, will be fair game for cuts in the mix; as bureaucrats build their pyrimids.
At best, the new healt care bill will provide green jobs for thousands of administrators and bureaucrats at the same time;cities are laying off providers of essential services, schools are laying off teachers and cutting programs. We should fix what is broken first, before taking on new debt . Repeal the new health care bill, beofre it's too late.
Simple Jack, just look at other countries' socialized health care systems, driving personal tax rates to over 50% to pay for the administration of the policies. Forget about the cost of health care, the buracuracies will consume all available funds.
That's the whole idea Jack. This bill is not about health care, it's about control. Big government control. Control by the executive branch of our once great republic. A sham, a scam and a fraud was perpetrated on the American people. Many were opposed because they saw the truth, and those who were in favor were simply too stubborn to admit their mistake and refused to oppose Obama. We, and our decedents will pay dearly for this ploy.
Jack, this Health Care Monstrosity that was rammed down our throats is nothing but a giant Octopus with a thousand arms that will make you wish you had a witch doctor to care for you by the time you get through running this gauntlet of government goons and their agencies who are only interested in strangling real health care services and promoting the "image" of health care for all!
This is where the Republicans could have improved this bill: By streamlining it, making pricing more transparent and delivering healthcare more efficiently. Instead, they chose to "just say NO" and spread lies about the proposed reforms. The Democrats claim victory, the Republicans win political points, and we all lose.
The Fed government will manage this the same way it manages everything else – poorly. I'm sure we can't afford this disaster. I had a stroke this year and thank God it happened before the government took over our healthcare – I think I would be dead if I had to depend on the fed goverment to do what I needed to survive.
Jack, you can always leave it to the worthless jerks in Washington to screw it up, They are the only ones I know of that could totally destroy a Chinese firedrill. Then again we have got to have high paying jobs for all of the lobbyist relatives.
Let them first get over with the 2 wars and the economic mess only than can they concentrate on health care
We don't really know when that big earthquake will hit. We really don't know when that big hurricane hits and where. But we do know that the new health care law is a disaster that will strike on time. How will the gov't manage our health care? They can't !!
I am just going to seize this oppritunity to talk about the topic of health care to say this, government run halth care has no good intentions. Government should just back its damn nose out of the private sector, and let citizens direct, work, and decide for themselves. Government is like an over-protective mom that wants to control everything you do. Back off mom (the government) and let your kids (the citizens) live and decide on their own.
One would suspect, the Government will manage it much in the same fashion as it did with Social Security; Medicare; Medicaid; VA Hospitals, etc
When it comes to all of our health, we are in trouble!!!
Sounds vaguely familiar to the mega-department Bush created after 9/11. You remember, something called the Department of Homeland Security and that it was supposed to ensure all the "intelligence" agencies communicated with each other so another 9/11 wouldn't happen? Didn't we just hear that there are now so many "intelligence" departments within the DHS that no one knows for sure how many there are and there is tons of duplications and only a very small fraction of a percent of them actually communicate with each other? Why are you picking on President Obama's health plan? Shouldn't you be more worried about the so-called "security" of the United States?
It won't. If the ineffective government we have doesn't know what how much of a bureaucracy they just created there is little hope that it can be manhandled into an effective process. Wasn't the goal to reduce costs and increase efficiency? Seems we may have missed.
No surprise, Jack. They will call it job creation....
So the impossible takes a little longer. A uniform, national approach to health care would cure this and help individuals understand what they are paying for..
Are you just catching on Jack? It was a jobs program in disguise.
That easy, being from Chicago here how it will work .Frist you must have a Chinaman, that someone with clout. Your Chinaman could be the brother,sister, mother,father or next door neighbor of a somebody. The highter up the food chain this Chinaman is will determine the job you will get. Now here is the best part if you know anything and are able to work you will move up the ladder.
I wish someone would thoroughly research where the money is coming from for the so-called Islamic Center that is scheduled to be built blocks from ground zero. I suspect that if we fully understood the "money trail" there might be even stronger opposition to this project. I recommend everyone read Aayan Hirsi Ali's 3 books about how women are completely repressed in Islamic culture and get a sense of the dire state of human rights in the extreme wing of this group. I wonder if women/girls will me allowed to participate in sports in this proposed "moderate" community center. I'm very suspicious.
Let's relax, take a deep breath and stop being afraid of numbers until we actually get to implement the reform to improve healthcare in the country!
We'll All Just Have To Wait And See Jack, With President Obama In Charge Anything Is Possible! Re-Elect President Obama 2012!
Scott Stodden (Freeport,Illinois)
They can't Jack. From the people who can't manage the 93 intelligence agencies and the medicare/SSA mess they have now, comes Obama Care (Big, expensive to taxpayers, unguided, politically loaded.) The only thing that will be more mysterious will be the dozens of new fincial control agencies. This is not big government, it is morbidly obese government. And, like the obese person sitting next to you on the plane, it will flow freely into every nook and cranny of your space.
To mix my military metapohores, This will be a clusterbomb.
The agencies that are eventually formed will manage health insurance reform, not the government. Until then, its going to be a circus, so sit back and enjoy it. The benefits to the people who now have no health insurance are well worth the struggle.
They will manage exactly as planned. Government grows in size thereby needing more funding and more bueaucrats for added government intervention in our lives while the health care system is left in the hands of corporate executives with the opportunity to grossly increase their profits while the nations health continues its decline.
This is exactly what they wanted it to do. Anyone who thinks this bill was passed because they care about our health is an idiot. It was all about growing the government. If they cared about our health, why didn't congress give the same health care plan they are on?
they will need also an agency to do surgery on ingrown toenails, another for some other non emergency procedure that will not be cost effective and create another program that could be eliminated. why not co-ordinate under one office many procedures that would eliminate this problem . i dont see it happenening in my lifetime.
"You are now looking at the bones, of Barack Obama's Health Scare Bill."
I think this just beggs the question of why we needed this government mandated health care bill to begin with. Government continues to score low in mangement, spending and enforcement of exsisting laws and entitlements. I think the answer or a closer look at the bill shows that this is another example of this admistration running and opertating with very little accountablility or the will of the majority of the american people. Most all americans know this not as popular as the Democrats anticipated and may be costly in the November elections.
Let's use the British system... no campaigning until two months before the election (I include news coverage as part of this proposal)
If it hadn't been for the corrupt, bought-and-paid for legislators who fought tooth & nail against reform Jack, we could have done it without creating a single new agency. All we had to do was remove the words "over 65" from Medicare eligibility and make it the "Public Option" we all wanted...........and didn't get. Think of that and thank the Republicans in November when you vote.
It's easy to determine the number. Have a study that gives an estimate how many will be needed. Next step is to double that number and then double it again. Next every 5 years double again. Simple.
I have to laugh Jack when you mention managed health care because before our government & politicians can learn to manage or oversee anything well, don't you think they first need to learn how to actually lead.
Geri, Mead, OK
Jobs Jack jobs. Everyone is complaining we don't have them then they complain when we do have a source. It's not a matter that you can't please them all you can't please any of them these days. Two and a half months to review nominations for a committee - Congress can't get through the sentence structure of procedures to review a nomination of any kind in two and a half months – just look at all the departmental and judge appointments that have waited almost two years for confirmation simply delayed for political reasons. If you throw in Congressional oversight Jack the system will be what it will be before they even figure out who will be on the committee. If we got rid of the self justifying Congressional oversights on so many unnecessary things, they would have time to work together to make this reform work for everyone.
Jack, WAKE UP!! The law was designed this way! You won't know what the law does, until the cost hits you in the wallet. Phased in over the next 4 years, by the time you recognize how badly Obamacare screws the working taxpayers of this country it will be too late. The law will be a new, entrenched, entitlement for the POOR, NON-WORKING welfare community and beyond the reach of the taxpayers or Congress.
Jack I think the term "IMPOSSIBLE" is a misnomer and not very accurate. Of course there will be a reckoning once things are established and in place. The true question that bears asking is, "What will the myriad of agencies, boards, and commissions do to make sure that health care is made accessible and affordable to all Americans!"
They won't as you say "manage" it, before long it will be a cesspool of corruption and fraud ala Medicare....and it won't reduce the cost one cent.
Jack, the law is about 3 months old........PLEASE!!!! The real impact of the bill won't be felt until 2014 when the exchanges are up and running.
Stop trying to simplify and dumb down a complex idea, and subject, that is the healthcare system, and our health. Regulators, and tax collectors, will accompany this new act. So what!! The health industry is gigantic, and yes a just as big regulator, had to be put over the industry.
I just went to the doctors' office yesterday. Nothing big and uncomfortable has happened since this law was passed. Stop trying to kill the baby before it can get out it's crib.
Jack,
We just have to pass the law to know what's in it!
This is going to be a total disaster, just like I believed. This is
the most naive country to really believe that gov't should be in charge
of your health care. The people just want everything free and they
will regret they ever voted for Obama, thats for sure!
Health CareReform. WOW what a good idea. Before retiring in April i paid $194 per month for wife and self. Now $1100 per month for same coverage because i have COBRA and live in PA. If i could shop other states, i could get same for $484 per month. If i did not take COBRA i would be paying $2100 per month.
Thanks MR. Obama.
does it make a bit of difference if one mother with breast cancer and 3 kids or father with paralysis is managed by medical providers and they can continue to support their kids instead of some welfare custodian? don't you get it?
Jack, this law was never about improving health care costs and making it accessible to all Americans.
It was always a government take-over. Your article just proves the point.
Thanks
Minesh Baxi, Troy, MI
Am I the only American old enough to remember that 25 years ago you could get health insurance for the whole family for maybe $10 a month if you worked for a big company? Health insurance needs to be fixed. In my dreams, Republicans and Democrats in Congress work together as hard as they can to make sure health care reform succeeds, as the Tea Party of No fades into the Alaskan sunset.
They will borrow more money from China. Then they will retire before the national debt makes the economy explode. Duh.
We have never had a health care program, will you please be patient?
We need it very badly so slow down and smell the roses.
Some are getting in a bind for no reason at all.
If you didn't have any healthcare then you would be Praying for it.
It is scary to need medical help and are turned down because you have no up front money before they will see you.
Believe me we waited 8 years for the last president to get things done and never seen any results for the middle/lower class. The Rich got it all.
It will be no different than any other government plan that has come down the pike in recent years. Hastily and poorly conceived with no real plan of action to ensure its success. Nothing done by this Congress is done or has been done for any reason other than political gain of their party or themselves. Examples being Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, the Corporate bailout and the anti American Cap and Trade Act. Until politics is removed form the equations, nothing will be successful nor will it actually benefit working Americans. What should have been a great and monumental change for the working class of America will once again become a burden on them and benefit Corporate America. "Managing" was not part of the "plan.".
Thom Richer
Negaunee, MI
We are utterly, irreversibly, and terminally doomed. Time to dump out the baby with the bathwater and start over with a NEW government. No incumbents need apply!
Congress nor anyone else will ever have a handle on this because it was ill conceived. They created this monster that no one understands or can control. It was pushed through in too much of a hurry so Obama will get credit for passing the first health care plan. I hope it gets repealed and a good,workable health care plan instituted. This one is a mess.
Health Care Made Simple:
[1] Expand Social Security to cover temporary disability.
[2] Expand Medicare to cover all Americans.
[3] Shut down the insurance industry, we don’t need them any more.
A single system would be easier to monitor and would eliminate the constant bickering about who gets the “Cadillac” treatment.
Funding:
[1] Increase Social Security & Medicare payroll deduction.
[2] A Federal Sales Tax on all purchases.
[3] A combination of items [1] & [2].
They'll do the same thing they always do: use a magic eight ball!
The national government will handle the new healthcare system the same way they handle everything else, play it by ear as time goes on. The debate and eventual passing of the bill was nothing more than an in depth conversation about what this process actually entails, it will be a trial and error for years to come to see how it is actually going to work.
The real question here, Jack, is why should we believe Politico? I heard they get their information via faxes from the Cheneys.
Why is this so difficult and complicated? GREED maybe? If it was all streamlined, get rid of big insurance, or even just regulate them. As it stands, they have too much control. This is the PROBLEM! Also, why is it that countries that we send aid to, can have free medical care for all? Think about that one for a minute. Our taxes pay for foriegn countries health care in a round about way, but yet we cannot afford to cover everyone here. A NATIONAL TRAGEDY!
The problem is not so much the number of agencies required to administer Health Care Reform, as the immediate problem: how do businesses, small, medium and large, signup for health insurance this fall when there is zero specific information from the "Government" given to insurance carriers, brokers, or businesses? There is now a legal requirement to notify employees concerning their health insurance coverage 60 days prior to January 1, 2011. At this point, none of us have a clue. And yes boys-and-girls in Congress, November 1, 2010 is just around the corner.
Thats why you have to go in with both feet or not at all. Cut the insurance companies out all together to realize the savings. Don't make a duplication of services.
Sounds like the new health care law has the potential to create more jobs than the stimulus package. All these new agencies have to have some people sitting behind desks pushing papers from one side to the other. And there will be phones to answer. Of course, someone will get some construction work. These new agencies must have new offices. Yeah, nothing like job creation.
Just wait until our security people add their share to our health care.
Jim, Craig, CO
The solution is a Health Care Oversight Czar heading a Commission which will undoubtedly recommend an Oversight Department and probably an Oversight IG. That way they'll be able to determine the number of agencies, boards, and commissions created by the new health care law.
Outsource the problem to China so they can outsource it to Vietnam. After it goes to a committee, then we'll know - in about 10 years.
Joe in Delray Beach, FL
This healthcare issue is just one big mess. Obama and his group like to tear down laws for being unconstitutional then he creates this "existance tax".
Now we get to see how our president's lack of foresight has caused yet another mess that real Americans have to clean up......Though, after the Bush years we should be used to this I guess.
Jack...did you honestly think this would magically happen immediatly.Something of this magnitude will take time to work out .
Exactly Jack....how? Considering the amount of energy it has and will take to "set the american people up" with this law, I'm very hopeful the people working on this have faith the healthcare providers will be able to resuscitate them.
Government can't manage much of anything, so why should we expect it to be able to manage anything as complex as health care? And, since the people creating the mess will never have their own health care to worry about, what the hell do they care?
Jack..just thinking about this makes me sick. I wonder how many of Obama fans will love him when they have to start paying taxes on their health benifits in 2011.
This is what I said from the very beginning. Being a Canadian who also lived in California 10 years, I've seen both. In Canada we're ok with what we have, but in the US with 10 times the population there is no way the government can handle managing healthcare. I like it free here, and I'd pay it again there.
The system was in place with Medicare. It would have been simple to expand it along with Social Security with a few modifications. I am sure President Obama would have preferred Universal health care insurance. Congress wanted to keep the Insurance Industry Lobbyists. We are governed by corporations for corporations. We pay the price.
Jacqueline. CA
Ask the Canadians . They know how to run a medical system for millions of people. I know, I lived there. No co-pay, no deductable, no out-of pocket. I had two children born there and never received a bill. I got top-notch care too. My husband had elective surgery (yes, elective) and we didn't wait any longer than we would have here.
I've asked Canadian friends if the right-wingers are correct that the
Canadians are buying private insurance because it's better. They said they only need it if the come to the US!!
News flash. It's not about health care. It's about power. We are becoming slaves to our government.
As an RN and wife of a primary care doctor, I can tell you this is the beginning of a devestating mess. We are already receiving notices from Medicare regarding more regulation and decrease of benefits to the elderly. Many of our colleagues are retiring early or can no longer afford to accept Medicare patients. May not exactly be "death panels", but rationing and less access to doctors is the result. Read the headlines about what is happening in Great Britain, see what's on the way.
Jack – I can't and it won't.
Jack Dude, wake up there is no Healthcare reform in the Healthcare reform bill. The Healthcare reform bill gave healthcare to 10-30 million illegal aliens. It had nothing to do with reforming our healthcare system.
The government cant take care of all our problems, we need to decide for ourselves what is out of line. The FDA and Medical Association need a serious wake up call.
I'm an American living in Canada, and as a permanent resident, am able to take advantage of their health care system. I can state unequivocally that Americans would absolutely benefit from a system like what's in place here. Each province has their own health insurance provider that, for an affordable premium, provides your coverage should anything happen to you. It is portable and viable from province to province, just as any other insurance plan would be. In BC, this plan is called MSP, or Medical Services Plan. You are issued a unique number under which all your medical information is recorded. Each province has its own single entity responsible for overseeing it all, not some crazy, unfathomable number. This coverage is mandated by law, however, if you are low-income, there are subsidies you can apply for, and in many cases, such as for some seniors and extremely poor people, it will be free. I pay, for myself, my husband, and my 6 month old daughter, $120/month. One hundred twenty, not a misprint.
Canada handles it all at a provincial level, and reports back to the Federal Government. Perhaps it could be dealt with more efficiently at the state level, with immediate Federal assistance.
Jack, to be honest, the media is not helping America and Americans. There's just very many negativity rising up in the air and polluting the whole political and social landscape. As far as I am concerned, its the end that justifies the means. We all need to work as diligently as we can to get America back to the way it used to be and not cut up and down every government decision and plan. We have a national economic crisis
and like we come together during wars, we all need to put aside our partisanship and negativity, to confront this monster and restore our nation to its old glory and keep the dreams alive. Big government, small government. It does not matter. Scare and fear are our worst enemies for recovery.