Hey, remember when Nancy Pelosi dismissed concerns about ObamaCare, saying that we’d just have to wait until the bill was passed so we could see how wonderful it is? Well, it’s been passed, and the treats just keep popping up.
For example, remember the purple-clad thugs of the SEIU (Service Employees International Union)? They spent millions and millions supporting Democrats and pushing hard for ObamaCare. Well, they probably should have saved some of their money — they’ve decided to revamp the insurance coverage they offer their members. More specifically, they’re no longer offering coverage for their children.
It ain’t just the kids of SEIU members that are getting hosed by ObamaCare. In a more direct case, a quirk in phrasing in the bill as passed is costing childrens’ hospitals millions for expensive drugs for sick kids.
Finally, remember when Obama promised that everyone would have access to a primary care physician, and “if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor?” Well, quite a few doctors have looked at ObamaCare and are thinking of saying “well, screw that.”
All of ObamaCare is based on a single, concealed, dangerous fact: “controlling costs” means, ultimately, deciding what health care providers can charge for their services. At several levels, that is feasible: you can coerce the corporations involved at various levels to accept such restraints in exchange for other benefits. They will accept ceilings if they are guaranteed floors. Further, there are numerous ways to monkey with the system to get the desired result.
But in the end, there is a point where the corporations and boards and institutions all step aside, and it all boils down to two individuals: the patient and the doctor. And the doctor has the ultimate choice of opting out of the whole deal. Start telling a doctor what he or she can charge, what he or she can or can not do in the name of caring for their patients, and they can just walk away. They can not be compelled to practice medicine. There’s this pesky little thing called the 14th Amendment.
If a doctor decides that he or she simply doesn’t want to take part in ObamaCare, they have many choices. They can go into specialties that are (for now) not covered by ObamaCare. They can leave practice and go into teaching or research. They can retire or find other lines of work. And there’s not a goddamned thing Obama and the Democrats can do.
As Speaker (for a few weeks longer) Pelosi said, they had to pass ObamaCare before we could find out what was in it.
Well, we’re finding out. Hoo boy, are we finding out.
Gosh, I just can’t wait to see the next surprise we get.
