The following, Health Law Myths: Outside The Realm Of Reality is from NPR and thank you NPR for calling out these ridiculous myths. I’ve been following/blogging about health care reform for little over a year and I was surprised by some of these fabrications. I think my favorite myth is the following;

1. The law requires people who want public health insurance to be implanted with a microchip.

Timothy Jost, a professor at Virginia’s Washington and Lee University School of Law, clearly states the origin of the rumor and dispels it. But basically, the US government never intended to do this in the first place and does not have the finances to provide this kind of “service” to millions of Americans. Another favorite myth;

6. The law requires hospitals to fire obese employees.

Because I’m not politically correct, I laughed out loud at this one. One CEO sent out 1,800 letters stating that, “Hospitals will be denied Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, in whole or in part, if more than five percent of hospital employees are 25 percent heavier than the generally accepted height and weight guidelines.” three days later the administrator recanted his letter as “misinformation.”

My question is; Who would believe such a thing? I guess the same people who think President Obama is a Muslim, or a socialist or Hawaiian. Why can’t Americans think for themselves instead of jumping on every half-witted claim that comes from the opposition of health care reform. Millions of Americans need health care, not the lies that have been unleashed by the opposition. That is why I’m thankful for NPR and others who have taken the stance of telling both sides of the story and dispelling myths, rumors and fabrications of health care reform.

Thanks for reading.

The following is from Courage Campaign, an online progressive organization. They have teamed up with Wendall Potter (See previous post “Who’s Wendall Potter”) in trying to stop Anthem from blocking new health care laws in California.

The bill that is under scrutiny is AB2578. It would require insurance companies to justify their rates and seek approval from the Department of Managed Health Care or Department of Insurance whenever they attempt to increase premiums, co-payments, deductibles or other charges. This bill is crucial to curbing the outrageous tactics of Insurance corporations and how they justify their rate increases. Please read the following; there is a letter to the new president of Anthem, please add your name once you’ve read it. Don’t let Anthem continue their status quo of rolling over hard working Californians.

Thanks for reading!

Stop Anthem: Sign the letter demanding they stop blocking implementation of health care reform in California

Anthem Blue Cross made headlines earlier this year when they proposed a whopping 39% rate increase for their health insurance policies. Now they’re trying to stop the implementation of the federal health care law here in California.

Anthem Blue Cross is going all-out to fight the implementation of the federal health care reform law here in California. While the public’s attention is elsewhere, Anthem is fighting to kill the bills that would set up the state-based “exchanges” that are the heart of the health care law.

If Anthem gets their way, they’ll make it difficult for you to get affordable health insurance. They’re counting on you to stay silent as they once again destroy reform.

We’re not going to let that happen. That’s why the Courage Campaign is joining with Wendell Potter to deliver a letter to the new president of Anthem Blue Cross, Pam Kehaly, to demand that she and her company stop trying to undermine the health care reform law in California. Will you add your name to the letter now?

Dear Ms. Kehaly,

We’re paying attention. We’re not going to let you get away with your efforts to undermine the federal health care reform law.

We demand that you and Anthem Blue Cross drop your opposition to AB 1602 and SB 900, the bills that set up the state-based health insurance exchange that is at the heart of the new law. We want the state of California to manage these exchanges, negotiate for affordable rates, and provide Californians with the affordable health care that the federal law offers.

We are not going to rest until every Californian has affordable health care. And that begins with passing these bills to implement the federal law.

Courage Campaign | Stop Anthem: Sign the letter demanding they stop blocking implementation of the health care law.

July 31, 2010, marked the forty fifth anniversary of the passage of Medicare, hailing praise from almost every Democratic politico, and rightly so.  An article from The Nation, On the Anniversary of Medicare Comes a Renewed Call for ‘Medicare for All’. shows the path from President Roosevelt to President Obama and their battles to provide health care to all Americans. What has been the biggest hurdle for these Presidents and other administrations? The Republican party. For over 60 years the Republican party has stood in the way of  Americans and their right to comprehensive health care.

And just what was and is the Republican “strategery” in opposing health care? President Truman stated it best, “If you can’t convince ‘em, confuse ‘em.” Which unfortunately has worked on the American public for decades.

With all the information that we now have access to (ok maybe too much information at times) I find it hard to believe that Americans still buy into the scare tactics that the Republican party is known for. What is at the core of the battle for comprehensive health care?? MONEY, and a lot of it. Senator Bernie Sanders sums up our current state of health care in this country. “One of the reasons our current health care system is so expensive, so wasteful, so bureaucratic, so inefficient is that it is heavily dominated by private health insurance companies whose only goal in life is to make as much money as they can.” His words ring true and if you don’t believe me or Senator Sanders try a simple google search with the words “profits” and “any name of insurance corporation” the numbers are staggering.

Senator Sanders is not alone in his quest for comprehensive health care, he is joined by Congressman Dennis Kucinich and Congressman John Conyers. Will three politicians be enough to take on the Republican party in finishing or adding to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act? One can only hope because Americans can not wait another 45 years for legislation that will control costs and stop the gouging of 300 million Americans in their quest for health care.

Thanks for reading.

HCAN!California

Call Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner and tell him to stand up for strong regulations!

The above six laws are some of what we fought for. I know these laws are not enough, however it’s a bold move to take on the corporate greed that still holds 300 million Americans captive. More importantly it’s a start in the right direction, hopefully paving the way for more reform until comprehensive health care is available to every American. Please read the above carefully and know what your rights are!

Thanks for reading!

YouTube – William Schallert for California OneCare.

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