Gohmert’s HR3478 waiting for CBO score; 35 GOP healthcare plans ignored

Media and Democrats have accused Republicans of not coming up with healthcare reform alternatives, but fact is, the Republican Study Committee has come up with at least 35. National media have failed to address a single one of these proposals and the current partisan imbalance in Congress impedes consideration. One interesting proposal introduced by Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Tex.) in July is HR 3478, the Patient-Controlled Healthcare Protection Act, 2009. The legislation covers reform for Main Street and offers a viable plan for immigrants who figure heavily into the need for healthcare reform.

Gohmert has a plan that migratory workers could also enroll in, and the taxpayer wouldn’t end up paying for it. [Article continues after photo below.]

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Tex.) talks with Fox News’ Neal Cavuto (left) about healthcare reform.Many government reports address this group of consumers as “foreign-born noncitizens.” Current law requires these consumers to be treated for emergency purposes, but treatments often go beyond that because in America pregnant women from any country are rendered care and the child, if born here, is technically an American citizen. This determination relates to a questionable interpretation of the Constitution by the Supreme Court. Even the Congressional Budget Office finds it difficult to score legislation addressing this consumer group, explaining the challenge in a recent blog post: “Although the best available information is used in that process, the data have substantial limitations, and the estimates described in CBO’s letter are subject to a significant amount of uncertainty.”

Gohmert is the Texas Republican who wanted to use the last $350 billion earmarked for the bailout to benefit U.S. taxpayers. Gohmert wanted to give each taxpayer a holiday from both personal income tax and FICA tax during January and February, 2009. Considering the Stimulus funds that have been spent, it’s obvious Gohmert’s plan was a sound, simple idea that would have benefited all Americans rather than selected groups. 

HR 3478 FOCUSES ON SAVINGS AND CHOICE
Gohmert wrote an analysis of his bill for Human Events [Sept. 21, print], the trademark conservative tabloid that has published for 65 years. The publication is said to have been one of President Ronald Reagan’s favorites.

Gohmert takes a conservative fiscal approach because he said, “The latest full-year numbers show that tax dollars spent in 2007 on Medicare grew to more than $430 billion, alongside almost $330 billion for Medicaid.” For one year alone, both programs cost an average of $9,200 in taxes for every household in the U.S.

For an individual on a private plan, his premiums are theoretically in addition to that $9,200 in taxes, a figure proponents of another public option ignore.

Gohmert’s plan relies on the individual and the free market, thereby eliminating wasted fees for government middle men. The basic structure of HR 3478 is the Health Savings Account, but with choices expanded for all patients. Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP would still be available, but enrollees would also be able to put money into HSA’s if they wanted extra coverage. For instance, Gohmert wrote, “For any household containing one person currently covered by one of the government healthcare programs, that person will receive $2,500 deposited into an individual HSA under their control…”

HR 3478 would utilize a debit card system for payment.

There are a number of sound ideas in Gohmert’s bill; HR 3478 is summarized in a report on the congressman’s website. The report also summarizes the other Republican Study Committee bills. Media have refused to acknowledge Republicans have offered alternatives, a dismissal possibly due to partisanship not only in Congress but also in media.

Like many HSAs already do, funds would draw interest and carry over from year to year. They would also be portable.

SCORED DEM BILLS RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT COSTS
None of the Congressional bills Dems are considering use a logical method to address the issue of insurance for immigrants. At present hospitals must treat a person regardless of immigration status. Gohmert’s bill would require anyone traveling or immigrating to provide proof they will obtain healthcare coverage while they’re in the U.S. HR 3478 would permit coverage “through a sponsoring employer or a resident in whose household the immigrant intends to reside. Otherwise a visa will not be granted.” Employers could also set up their own coverage.

If the issue of immigrants is not addressed, the taxpayer will continue to subsidize care for anyone in the country. Gohmert tells an anecdote about a woman another Congressman met on a plane. She explained that her daughter planned to visit the U.S. shortly before the baby’s due date. Her daughter could then go back to their home country and not have to pay the U.S. a dime. That is a problem many nurses and social workers are aware of.  So far Democrats’ plans do not have a sound solution to address this glaring fiscal issue. The cost is passed on to the taxpayer and to the individual with a private plan.

HR 3478 would also open patient choices by permitting companies to sell policies across state lines.

Gohmert introduced HR 3478 on July 31. Two months later a spokesperson for his office told The US Report by phone Gohmert is still waiting for CBO to score the bill. Asked why there are no other sponsors, the spokesperson said, “He wants the CBO score before he tries to find co-sponsors—he’s been trying for awhile.” --Kay B. Day

Comments

[jacksmith]

ATTENTION!! Congress Has The Votes Needed To Pass A Public Option - TODAY http://bit.ly/TCq7O

Why A Strong Public Option Is Essential - By jacksmith - Working Class

Robert Reich explains the pubic option: http://bit.ly/dDYSJ

Hollywood Supports The Public Option :-) http://bit.ly/3XLwPi

It's not just because more than two thirds of the American people want a single payer health care system. And if they cant have a single payer system 77% of all Americans want a strong government-run public option on day one (86% of democrats, 75% of independents, and 72% republicans). Basically everyone.

It's not just because according to a new AARP POLL: 86 percent of seniors want universal healthcare security for All, including 93% of Democrats, 87% of Independents, and 78% of Republicans. With 79% of seniors supporting creating a new strong Government-run public option plan, available immediately. Including 89% of Democrats, 80% of Independents, and 61% of Republicans, STUNNING!!

It's not just because it will lower cost. Because a strong public option will dramatically lower cost for everyone. And dramatically improved the quality of care everyone receives in America and around the World. Rich, middle class, and poor a like.

It's not just because it will save trillions of dollars and prevent the needless deaths of millions more of YOU, caused by a rush to profit by the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX!

It's not just because every expert in every field, including economist, and Nobel laureates all agree that free market based healthcare systems don't work. Never have and never will. The US has the only truly free market based healthcare system in the World. And as you all know now, IT IS A DISASTER!

It's not just because providing or denying medically necessary care for profit motivations is wrong. Because it is WRONG! It's professionally, ethically, and morally REPUGNANT!, Animalistic, VILE and EVIL.

THE REASON THE PUBLIC OPTION IS ESSENTIAL:

The public option is ESSENTIAL because over 200 million of you are trapped in the forest of the wolves. Which is the forest of the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! With no way out except through needless inhumane suffering, and DEATH. While the wolves tear at your flesh, and rip you limb from lib. Then feast on your lifeless bodies like a dead carcase for transplant parts.

At the most vulnerable times of your lives (when you were sick and hurting), millions of you have had to fight and loose cruel, but heroic battles. Fighting against the big guns of the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! in the forest of the wolves. All because you have no place else to go. You have no other CHOICE!

But the PUBLIC OPTION will give you someplace safe to go. And it will give us someplace safe to take you. The public option will be your refugium (your refuge). Where the wolves cannot get at you when your down, hurting, and vulnerable. Where everyone who needs it can find rest, security, comfort and the care they need. Protected by the BIG GUNS of We The People Of The United States. THE MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE AND COUNTRY ON EARTH.

This is why it is so critical that we do not lead another 50 million vulnerable, uninsured Americans into the forest of the wolves, without the protections of a Strong Government-run public option. We The People Of The United States MUST NOT LET THAT HAPPEN to any more of our fellow Americans. If healthcare reform does not contain a strong public option on day one. YOU MUST! KILL IT. Or you will do far more harm than good. And millions more will die needlessly. Rich, middle class, and poor a like.

To those who would continue to obstruct good and true healthcare reform for the American people, and who seek to trap millions more vulnerable Americans in the forest of the wolves. We will continue to fight you. We are prepared to wage all out war against you, and will eagerly DESTROY! you. Time...is...UP! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! No Co-op's! No Triggers! NO INDIVIDUAL MANDATES! without a Strong public option on day one.

Healthcare reform can be the GREATEST! Accomplishment of our time and century. A time when future generations may say of us, that we were all, AMERICAS GREATEST GENERATIONS.

BUT WE MUST ACT!

I therefore call on all my fellow Americans and the peoples of the World. To join us in this fight so that we may finish becoming the better America that we aspire to be for everyone.

SPREAD THE WORD!

I have been privileged to be witness as many of you fought, and struggled to take your first breath, and your last breath on this earth. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. Life is precious.

Whatever the cost. WE! MUST SUCCEED.

God Bless You My Fellow Human Beings

jacksmith - Working Class

Things You Can Do To Help NOW! http://www.everydaycitizen.com/2009/09/tired_of_watching_people_die_n.html

No Triggers! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-rosenbaum/a-trigger-for-the-public_b_277910.html

Triggers http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/weve-seen-these-triggers_b_283583.html

Krugman on heathcare (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/why-markets-cant-cure-healthcare/)

Senator Bernie Sanders on healthcare (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSM8t_cLZgk&feature=player_embedded)

John Garamendi on the Public Option and the Grassroots: http://bit.ly/TJMty

Howard Dean on the Public Option http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SKfW2dUnow&feature=player_embedded

We're Number 37! in quality of health care http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVgOl3cETb4&feature=player_embedded

Twitter search (#welovethenhs #NHS #hc09 #hcr #healthcar #obama #p2 #topprog #) Check it out.

[Kay B. Day]

Jacksmith, You went to a lot of trouble to try to prove an unprovable. There are two public options already. I don't buy that we are #37 in quality of healthcare, by the way. You trolling for a political advocacy group? If so, kudos on your verve. I didn't read the whole post--you could've summed it up in a sentence, btw.

For my visitors:

Here's a previous column on the 45 million who lack health insurance:
Meet the 45 million

Here's a news blurb from Politico--you don't buy health insurance, under some proposals, you go to jail:
Ensign receives handwritten confirmation

We've covered one plan, HR 3200 extensively.

Bottom line: The healthcare reform you expect is not what you will get. Obviously the enthusiastic Dem named Jacksmith didn't read any of the bills. Oh! I forgot. The bill they're working on now is under a gag order and Dems shot down an amendment requiring it be posted 72 hours prior to vote.