Action Alert: Push Health Care Reform During the August Recess

From the JFA Moderator:

The following action alert was prepared by AAPD Health Care Policy Intern, Jackie Zamarripa, and Barbara Kornblau with input from a broader coalition of disability leaders. 

The August Recess and Health Care Reform:

The August recess is a critical time for health care reform. Our message as a community is twofold. First we want health care reform to move forward because the current leading bills contain many provisions that will improve access to healthcare for millions of people with disabilities and chronic health conditions.  This alert is focused on that message.  The second message, which has been the focus of most of the information we have sent out on Justice for All, is that we need the final bill to work for people with disabilities including those who are trapped in institutions because of the institutional bias in Medicaid.  Members of Congress will be returning to their home states and need to hear from their constituents who support health care reform and oppose the institutional bias.

If the disability community wants health care reform, we have to be heard!

What You Can DO:
•    Write editorials supporting health care reform for your local newspaper

•    Write your congressman/senators (there are tips for writing letters at http://www.familiesusa.org/august-recess-tool-kit/tools-and-tactics/writing-to-congress.pdf )

•    Visit your congressman/ Senators in their offices use the information here as talking points

•     Call Congress at 1-800-828-0498

•    Write a blog (tips for blogging available at http://www.familiesusa.org/conference/health-action-2009/tool-kit-09/tool-kit-09/best-practices-blogging.pdf)

•    Spread the word on social networking sites

Why the disability community should support health care reform legislation:
•     Insurance companies must cover people with disabilities at the same rate as non-disabled persons regardless of when the disability occurred or how expensive the disability is to cover. They can’t charge more or deny you coverage if you have a pre-existing condition. They can’t cancel your insurance because you have a pre-existing condition.

•    Insurance companies can no longer specify the number of doctor visits a person can make in a year or in a lifetime, and they can only charge so much to a person out of pocket. They can’t put a cap on your benefits.

•    The plan includes a health insurance exchange that will provide low cost insurance to small businesses and the uninsured who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid coverage but cannot afford insurance at today’s rates.

•    Both the House and Senate versions include some form of a public or government-sponsored plan within the exchange. Medicare is an example of a government-sponsored plan so the idea is not new.

•    The bills also include coverage of wheelchairs (both complex and otherwise), walkers, canes and other Durable Medical Equipment.

•    Outpatient therapy (both physical and occupational - habilitative and rehabilitative) and mental health services are also covered.   

•    Medicaid is expanded to cover up to 133% of the poverty level (about $14,400 for an individual, and $29,300 for a family of four) and affordability credits up to 400% of the poverty level ($43,320 per individual and $75,200 for a family of four).

•     The included Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act (CLASS) Act establishes a voluntary national long-term services and supports insurance program  which will ease the load on Medicaid.

Where the bills are at in the process:
The bills titled “Affordable Health Choices Act” in the Senate and “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act” in the House have passed the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee in the Senate and all three committees in the House: the Energy and Commerce Committee, the Ways and Means Committee and the Health and Labor Committee.  The Senate Finance Committee has stalled the process and has given no indication of progress in weeks.  The main hold-up in the Finance Committee is how to pay for the bill and whether there should be a public option. Some want to tax the richest Americans and some don’t want a public option. The bill is ready to go to the floor in September in the House, but the Senate version still has yet to be completed.

For the floor vote, it appears a deal was made between the House Leadership and Conservative “Blue Dog” Democrats to gain their support.  However, 35 liberal Democrats are threatening not to support the bill if measures from the compromise are included in the bill.  By far, the biggest battle lies in how to finance health care reform. There is no agreement, on either side, on how financing will happen.

The other battle is the negative campaigns against health care reform. Some television ads have labeled health care reform as a government takeover of health care. This is simply not true. The government already runs many health programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, the VA system, SCHIP, military health care, Indian health, and the federal government employee health plan that it already pays for. The health care reform bills provide health care through private insurance companies with a public or government plan as one of the options you can chose.

Other scare tactics claim health care reform will increase the wait to see a health care provider. Some ads say the government will be making your health care decisions – not doctors. In reality, health care reform will stop the insurance companies from arbitrarily canceling insurance and denying of needed care.

Remember: Without healthcare reform, costs for health care for the average family are expected to rise $18,000 a year. Increasing health insurance costs for employers raises the cost of hiring employees and many employers are dropping health insurance coverage as a benefit leaving people with disabilities who have pre-existing conditions without affordable insurance coverage. Last year, more than half of Americans postponed medical care or skipped their medications because they could not afford them. The status quo is unacceptable!

Everyone can do something! You can make a difference!

Comments

[Rob Crawford]

Thanks for the summary of issues and clear directions on how to take action. I am sending it out through my contacts and links.

[Lilly Holt]

Thanks for your informative posting. I agree 100% with everything you have shared.
I have one concern that should be important
to the disability community. Abortion is
funded here as well. How many persons with
disabilities, within the womb, will be adversely affected by this component. With
all of the genetic testing we now have, this
is a concern to me. I do not want my tax dollars to be used in this way. With everything else in the bill I am fine.

If an amendment were offered to take that portion off of the table, many other groups might quieten down there tone/rhetoric a bit.

Thanks again for the great summary of issues.

[Carol Sheredos]

I support health care reform, especially to fill in the gaps where there are established needs. BUT, I urge you to read the latest version of "reform" as authored by The Obama Administration and supported by Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid. I think you will see that this bill is not what we want! Here is the link to the 1,018 page document:
http://edlabor.house.gov/documents/111/pdf/publications/AAHCA-BillText-071409.pdf. The underlying method of cutting costs throughout the plan is based on rationing and denying care. Those of us with disabilities, especially we who are aging, are particularly vulnerable to denial of treatments. Do we really want that? In addition, there is no focus on prevention of health care need whatever. Then there is Section 1233 of The ObamaCare Plan, devoted to "Advanced Care Planning." After each American turns 65 years of age, they have to go to a mandated counseling program that is designed to end life sooner. This session is to occur every 5 years unless the person has developed a chronic illness then it must be done every year. The topics in this session will include, "how to decline hydration, nutrition and how to initiate hospice care." Be careful, people - This all sounds like eugenics to me! (READ THE BILL!!!)

[Ric]

Is JFA not reading the bill or are you just forwarding the DNC talking points? You say you don't want the evil insurance companies dictating coverage, but it's OK for some faceless, unaccountable gov't employee to? This is the same gommint that gave us welfare, the IRS and other sterling programs. And as far as end of life issues (euthinasia) how receptive do you think that number cruncher is gonna be when we [non-taxpaying, non-productive people with disabilities] ask for expensive cancer treatment? Read the bill for yourself; your congressman probly won't.

[Kevin S.]

Do people really believe that AAPD and countless other reputable organizations that represent people with disabilities and seniors would support a healthcare reform bill that mandates eugenics and euthanasia? I have read the bill and it contains noting of the sort! It does allow people to consult with a healthcare professional, if they wish, about end of life planning and situations were they are incapacitated and need another trusted individual to articulate their healthcare preferences, something most insurance companies are too cheap to pay for under the current system! Unfortunately, a lot of people are being hoodwinked by the diatribes of right wing ideologues and their astro-turf foot soldiers instead of relying on information from organizations with a proven record of tirelessly advocating for the rights of people with disabilities, like AADP.

[Sherrie F. Eugene, Oregon]

I would have to disagree with this assessment and want! I was born with severe birth defects that are not found within the general populations and can clearly see the opening for confusions, misconstrueings and abuses by and within "general" population systems and programs IF I am simply grouped amongst such! THAT is already being done and THAT is the reason I continue to fall through the cracks of these systems! We can't continue to try forcing a quarter in a dime size hole! WE as disabled citizens must accept that many of our needs differ and are unique in comparison to our general population needs and programs. WE need separate programs that are uniquely designed for us (yes, even Healthcare needs) as disabled citizens, regardless of the conflicts and opinions by those that argue that it would be a form of seclusion. I call it a right of compassion, understanding and a more practical addressment towards our unique needs of such "exclusive" membership systems! The ADA was a good start but that's all it's ever been!

I might add that even our testing machines for the majority do NOT work with any accuracy on my body, there are no found persons with similiar disabilities for comparison and even countertops and toilets for wheelchair accessibility are WAY too high and impossible for me to use! Yet, I am a reasonable human being that would MUCH rather have systems that are separate yet beneficial in regards to my disability related uniqueness; rather than systems that only care that they make certain to include me in benefits to the general population that I have NEVER belonged, nor should I be placed! It's not possible; it's not practical.. and I have only found it to borderline a form of inhumane abuse in continually trying to do so!

I, as a disabled citizen do NOT want to be placed amongst any system designed for the general population that jeaopardizes fairness, treatment and commonsense to one's uniqueness of needs and health! The fact is, I NEED unique programs of "*other" that can and will listen and consider all that is possible and ISN'T possible or practical of my "non-general" being; PLAIN & SIMPLE!

That's the humane way and difference that could be made for me!

[John Smith]

You write that "The government already runs many health programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, the VA system, SCHIP, military health care, Indian health, and the federal government employee health plan that it already pays for."
And we are suposed to think we want things run the same inefficient, slobby way in "reform"?
And you talk about the "employee health plan" the govt payrs for. The government doesn't pay for anything. WE DO! Right out of our pockets. Every red cent. So get it straight-- the bigger the government, the more it costs each one of us out of paychecks. And now they want to add more that the "government will pay for." No, we will pay. And all we will be left with is change, spare change, that is.

[Sherrie F. Eugene, Oregon]

Not quite true John Smith. Leaving out the independent, uncontrolled, price hiking, greedy middleman is much less straining on our pocketbooks as a whole!

[Sherrie F. Eugene, Oregon]

Carol Sheredos where on Earth do you get your information that you supplied with a broken link? Quit trying to scare people with such silliness! There is no such goofiness that you stated in President Obama's Healthcare Reform!

TRUTH and FACTS:
H.R.3200
America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 (Introduced in House) July 14, 2009: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.3200:

BARACK OBAMA AND JOE BIDEN’S PLAN TO LOWER HEALTH CARE COSTS AND ENSURE AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE HEALTH COVERAGE FOR ALL http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/issues/HealthCareFullPlan.pdf

[Sherrie F. Eugene, Oregon]

P.S. - NO SUCH ABSURDITIES IN IT CAROL!

SEC. 1233. ADVANCE CARE PLANNING CONSULTATION.
....
`Advance Care Planning Consultation

`(hhh)(1) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), the term `advance care planning consultation' means a consultation between the individual and a practitioner described in paragraph (2) regarding advance care planning, if, subject to paragraph (3), the individual involved has not had such a consultation within the last 5 years. Such consultation shall include the following:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c111:1:./temp/~c111C6nskr:e469307:

(Too long to list here but NO MANDATES, NO COUNSELING, NO AGE 65 REQUIRED LOL... Nothing but GOOD for the patient IF Advanced Care were NEEDED!)

PLEASE don't spread falsehoods without checking the facts; it damages us as a whole for the good of our people and our needs!

[Jeff McNair]

I think it is foolish that in a government run system in which people will be evaluated for their need for services that will largely come down to fiscal decisions, that persons with disabilities will not be short changed. This is a clear case of putting politics above what is best for the constituency. If a person with down syndrome, for example, is lucky enough to escape abortion under this plan, I am confident that same person will not be valued as a health care consumer.

[Marguerite Arnold]

I have to agree with the reader who asked where you guys are getting your information from, and given the fact that you are an outlet of AARP, your slant is towards older people, not those of us who are younger and who will have to live with the consequences for alot longer. Not to mention have a different perspective about disability in the first place. Like we should be integrated into the workplace as fast as possible.

This bill is going to be a disaster for several reasons, not the least of which is it's going to raise the cost of care for everyone. Not allowing the government bargaining power with domestic pharma companies will destroy a basic benchmark for pharma pricing, and not allowing the government to shop overseas for better bargains is ridiculous, not to mention stupid economically and diplomatically. Not to mention scientifically. The Europeans in particular are far ahead of us in many areas, particularly things like neurology, and have developed much cheaper and more effective treatments. Plus with no price control benchmark, the industry's "commitment" means nothing and will be eaten away by outrageous markups passed both on to the government and to private health insurance.

There's a copy of the "secret" deal memo on my latest blog entry, that now the White House and the pharma lobby are now frantically denying on my website. But the question is, since it was leaked by one of the participants at the meeting, who took the notes and what is so wrong about them. Last time I checked, Harvey the Invisible Rabbit wasn't on the White House Staff. And Obama was definately in the room.

It will also mean, with increased government expenditure on government healthcare plans thanks to increased government spending on them, that cutbacks and thus rationing are inevitable. It's common sense. It's also called econ 101.

While the hysteria about "death panels" is not an issue, (we have them now...you can't pay, you die, tough cookies)the fact is that this deal, whatever the final facts are, is in fact a violation of both the '73 Rehab Act in that it denies equal access to healthcare, the Sunshine Act, and the newly signed UN Treaty on Human Rights for People with Disabilities.

And is just another corporate handout to the pharma industry, grown spoiled with no oversight, expanded patent protection, outrageous markups on products, and protectionism by the government.

Where is the protection for the people? When do WE come first instead of corporate America?

And if Obama is so concerned about our welfare, where is the justice department suing the states who are cutting back our entitlements now, again a violation of the Rehab Act. Instead, DOJ is joining with Bank of America in a lawsuit in California to collect even more government money on top of the billions it got in bailouts, to collect banking fees from people on social security and disability. And in New York, a welfare program for PWDs that is so abusive, corrupt, wasteful and routinely runs afoul of the Rehab Act and New York State and City Human Rights Laws, it's currently being sued by no less than three class actions. Yet it still got bailout money. And quite alot of it. While Bloomberg got an audience at the White House for "his" plan for ending poverty that left out people with disabilities altogether.

In the future, I would suggest to the editors of this site, a little more objectivity than spouting the party line.

I know you want to be diplomatic and get invited to the White House. But they don't care about you, and will treat you like you don't exist. If they did, they'd have hired alot more of us to the White House Staff, and pressured Congressional delegations to do the same, and undertaken massive hiring initiatives to recruit PWDs into at least the ranks of the federal government. Not to mention Obama would have shown up in person to meet with the coalition of disability groups at the White House a couple of months ago. Why didn't he? The only reason he met with the LGBT community is because they shut their checkbooks. That's why I'm suggesting its time to come out swinging, and fight tooth and nail for our rights. Not accept breadcrumbs and say "thanks for the scraps."

That time is over. And never coming back.

As it is, almost every state is cutting back programs for PWDs. The EEOC is backlogged for two years in processing claims.

And I've been threatened by members of Obama's own cabinet, to make that very clear, THE HEADS OF FEDERAL AGENCIES, for complaining to the IG's of their departments about rampant discrimination.

The White House, where I have personal contacts in the legal department, is doing nothing about it. Nor are the IG's.

So I would suggest a little bit more of a skeptical approach. If not a very, very critical one. Obama's already missed one major opportunity to make our lives better. Where was the "minority" designation in the Stim Bill passed earlier this year? Or for that matter any help whatsoever for the community that has suffered the most from the economic crisis, and gotten the least out of the bailout to date.

Not to mention, where are any high ranking PWDs in this administration? Especially those who don't deal with disability issues. One supreme court justice doesn't count. Tokenism, 18 years after the passage of the ADA, doesn't count for crappola. And every government program discriminates against PWDs and redlines us from housing to healthcare to employment and loans. No matter what the disability.

I'd save the champaign popping until real reform is on the table. This ain't it. Not even close. All it is is a boon for another sector of corporate America and a President who's too lazy to fight for what he promised to do.

As it is, this bill is just fancy footwork that doesn't mean anything and is guaranteed to punt the problem to the next administration. When the problems will be even worse and more expensive to fix.

This bill, as it is, wil cost you even more for continually crappy, abusive and wasteful service.

[Paul B.]

Why not FIX medicare first? Why do we need a new gov't heath program? Why not give all Americans EQUAL heath coverage the same as what government employees get and members of congress and the senate get?

There ALREADY is healthcare rationing under medicare for the disabled because I have experienced it first hand MANY TIMES. But this is one of many problems with MEDICARE. I broke my legs 3 times(once both legs) and they wouldn't fix them right because medicare would not JUSTIFY paying for a paraplegic to have his legs fixed correctly (added expense of Surgery). They just slapped a plaster cast on and how ever the hell they heal that is that. Well they needed surgery and that didn't happen because medicare wouldn't pay and now they are crooked and I can not straighten my knee and get into braces and walk anymore. Both my lower legs above the ankle curve forward(you should see it it is gross) and the right knee doesn't bend fully either direction so I can't even do stretching or range of motion exercises.

I've had to use a 50+ pound Everest and jennings piece of crap folding wheelchair for 20+ years and now my shoulders are destroyed because medicare wouldn't pay for a lightweight wheelchair for an active person.

This is rationing of healthcare when you deny the proper care for a person because of a disability and it happens under MEDICARE!!!. I have experienced it for years. FIX and FUND MEDICARE FIRST before taking on grandiose NEW programs.

[Sherrie F. Eugene, Oregon]

Paul B.,
I kind of went through the same thing as I was being passed around being told that I was "fine because I wasn't in a wheelchair". I discovered it wasn't Medicare/Medicaid denying me care at all! It was just the circle-jerking I had been thrown into by the physicians in my area! After 2 yrs. of dragging around a partially paralyzed leg, I headed out of my area to the Portland Unniversity.. {drumroll please}.. They operated on me and fixed it immediately without a hitch! When I asked one of my favorite Dr.'s why I was just being tossed around without anyone caring? He said, "Money. Let's put it this way, you're complicated and take a full hour where usually 4 can be seen." THIS is a part of the fraud, waste and abuse the President Obama has been addressing!

I know the HR 3200 Bill that I've given a linked to above is rather tedious and complicated but I am trying to work my way through it. I have not seen one thing in it that is not including persons with disabilities in it! This bill is for ALL people! As many of us, I have been been a patient to the medical industry since birth due to severe birth defects. All that I am finding is massive savings to enforce ALL Healthcare (including Medicare and Medicaid)to correct such abuses, frauds and wastes that I have personally been experience and a witness of most of my life! We will receive the highly deserved care that we need IF and when we can get such Reform passed! It actually should be called Healthcare Abuse Smackdown... because that is what I am finding as I slowly work my way through the lengthiness and readings of this bill!

I cannot wait until it passes! I completely and fully support President Obama for fighting his way through the enormous forces(which many have no idea and understandings of what it REALLY takes and how to go about it) that have jeopardized our health and well-being for far too long!

I trust this President completely because I have followed him closely (without the falsehoods, misconceptions and twisting added)and have not seen one reason not to.

Thank you Mr. President Obama. Thank you.

[Sherrie F. Eugene, Oregon]

They're working on it! The last paragraph makes me wonder about YOUR situation Paul B.?!

Dozens arrested in Medicare fraud busts across US

MIAMI — Federal authorities arrested more than 30 suspects, including doctors, and were seeking others in a major Medicare fraud bust Wednesday in New York, Louisiana, Boston and Houston, targeting scams such as "arthritis kits" — expensive braces that many patients never used.

More than 200 agents worked on the $16 million bust that included 12 search warrants at health care businesses and homes across the Houston area, where the bulk of the arrests were made.

Houston's other scam involved billing Medicare for thousands of dollars worth of liquid food like Ensure for patients who can't eat solid food. Authorities said clinic owners never distributed the food to patients. In some cases, clinic owners billed patients who were dead when they allegedly received the items.

Clinic owners there would bill Medicare dozens of times for the same wheelchair, while never giving the medical equipment to patients.

http://www.comcast.net/articles/finance/20090729/US.Medicare.Fraud/

[buy soma]

Tough times for now regarding our health care policy but what can we do? We don't have the power and all we have to do is to follow. We are just ordinary people and hoping for a better future for our children's health care system.I hope our president will realize what do we really need and not what their pockets want.

[R Casper]

The folks who wrote this contents obviously are not aware of what a poor job the government has done on every program it has ever put its hands on: Welfare, Medicare, Medicaid, The VA, the Post Office and of course all forms of government-controlled business (motor vehicles, the IRS, etc).
as someone else had mentioned, Is it fair to make 1/4 of the senior population of this country that uses Advantage care to lose their only guarantee to quality healthcare so that "some" other Americans can get healthcare? Should we take the ability for seniors to take care of their health so we can help give the same care to illegal aliens and many times dead-beats instead?
Fix the things that are wrong with healthcare: extremely high insurance rates for doctors due to ridiculous lawsuits; any insurance company turning away people with pre-existing conditions; and put a sealing on the price of drugs by getting the drug companies in line as well. Fix those things first and then WORK DILIGENTLY but SLOWLY at fixing the other problems with our healthcare system, a system that all peoples of means throughout the world come running to for their own healthcare when they're sick: kings, queens and those with money come to America for treatment. Have you asked yourself WHY, if our system is so out of touch? It's time to get real