Health care reform debate raises questions with few answers

Our Senators Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold and Congressman Dave Obey were virtually missing in action this August. I have some unanswered questions.

If the administration's plan for health care is as successful as they say it will be, there will be a lot of money involved. Who is going to administer this fund? The original purpose for Social Security was noble. Then legislators tapped into those funds and diverted them from their original purpose. Now that fund is almost depleted. If the health care fund is robust, what assurance do we have that the government will not divert health care funds to unintended purposes?

Medicare pays 30 cents on the dollar to health care facilities. That means if the cost of a procedure is $100, the health facility will be paid $30. The health facility has to recoup those costs elsewhere. That is one of the reasons health care costs are so high for those of us not on Medicare. If the government follows this fee schedule with its universal health care plan, what will that do to the health care providers? And if providers like hospitals fail under this fee schedule will the government be inclined to seize control of our clinics and hospitals as part of a bail out? If the government adopts such an unreasonable fee schedule, what will that do to the cost of health care for those not covered by the government's plan?

When the Patriot Act was enacted, several in Congress complained that it was too invasive into citizen's private lives. In the current stimulus package, Congress has already enacted a law where medical facilities must transfer medical records into electronic format and send those records to a national data bank. Why does the government want our private information? Are you comfortable with the government collecting, dispersing and analyzing sensitive data about you?

Some small businesses are struggling just to make payroll. If the government forces them to offer health insurance to their employees, will the government subsidize the cost? If not, how will employees feel when they have to forgo pay raises because the employer cannot give them a raise plus pay for their health insurance?

Middle-class union workers receive health insurance as a benefit. These benefits may exceed the government's plan. Is this what the government considers a 'Cadillac' plan that they plan to tax?

We are told that the government-run health care program will be self-funded, that it will not cost us a penny and will not add one dime to the deficit. The vice president stated earlier this year that the administration had miscalculated the state of the economy. Just two weeks ago the administration admitted they miscalculated the amount of the deficit by $2 trillion. How can we really be sure that their calculations regarding the cost of their health care plan are correct?

If the government does not respect the sanctity of life on one end of the spectrum, what guarantee do we have that they will respect the sanctity of life on the other end?

We are told that the proposed government plan will not pay for abortions. Will that be a clearly written restriction from coverage? It is my understanding that according to health insurance laws, if a procedure is not identified as not being covered, a doctor can cite "medical necessity" and the procedure has to be covered.

We have also been told the new policy will not cover illegal aliens. Who is responsible to verify citizenship - the registrar at an emergency room? Or will the patient have to submit verification to the government? And will the health facility not be paid after-the-fact for care if it turns out the patient is not a citizen?

Affordable housing was a noble idea that turned sour. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were almost in ruin in the process along with the housing market and banking industry. Affordable health care is also a noble idea. Without further study, thought and options, how are we certain that this idea will not also sour and wreak havoc with our economy?

We are told by the administration that partial funding for the new government plan will come from savings in Medicare fraud and wasteful spending. They say they can save a half a trillion dollars. Why are we not saving this money now?

Adding an influx of 47 million newly insured individuals to the health care market will flood it. How does the administration plan to supply medical staff to service these new consumers?

So many questions. So few answers...

Sandy Johnson is a resident of Lake Nebagamon.