Health Care, in Today's News 01.12.10

Heath Care. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement today which contains the following quote:

"Provisions against abortion and in favor of conscience protection, affordability, and immigrants' access to health care must be part of a fair and just health care reform bill, or the final bill must be opposed."

Is the reader therefore to take it that if these subjects are included the final bill it can be supported? That certainly is the implication. And that certainly is wrong, wrong, wrong.

Fully more than half the country is opposed to this awful legislation. Their opposition for the most part is against a costly bill that will institute a bureaucratic, government controlled, cost-control, rationing, protocol-laden method of medical care in place of the existing (although feebly) system of compassionate health care. The health care that Americans are used to and which was originally inspired by the thought of Jesus himself is directly endangered by this legislation.

The new system is designed to carry out the wishes of the cryptocracy to drastically cut the societal costs of health care. That means a whole new world of health care where cost restraint predominates resulting in a rationing of health care.

If passed the average person will be faced with a system where profiles dominate. That is, medical care is dispensed to those who fit the profile for the particular health care method. If one doesn't fit the profile, for age or weight or whatever reason, then he or she will have to pay extra for the care. Similarly, doctors who don't follow the profiles will be punished. The profiles will be dictated by faceless bureaucrats in the medicare establishment or from insurance companies. The decisions will be compassionless and extremely difficult to fight or appeal.

The bishops have been at working on the health care legislation for many months now, and still they can not see the most fundamental problem with the bill, a problem that is abundantly obvious to the average American. They are so anxious to be 'good guys' and 'to play the game' without rocking the boat, that they are on the verge of seeing the destruction of the system of medical care that was originally started by the Church itself, implementing the compassionate thoughts of Jesus.

The headline on an article describing the bishop efforts is "US Bishops Launch Massive Effort To Keep Abortion Out of Health Legislation." And just what is their massive effort? They propose that everyone send a letter to their congressman and senator!!!

One is compelled to wonder if they are kidding. Letter-writing is their last minute effort? These bishops couldn't lead the way down the street if they had to. Perhaps they might consider a national campaign of the rosary and prayer to appeal to God for help in stopping this terrible legislation. There are millions of American Catholics, and perhaps their political weight ought to be brought to bear on the situation. How?Through public manifestations of the faithfuls' heartfelt feelings. Through the direct lobbying efforts of every Catholic.  

In short, turn the creative energy of the faithful loose. Make clear to them that this legislation must not pass, and let them develop means to stop it.

Such efforts, of course, appear to be completely beyond the bishops' imaginative powers or their backbone. Whether they will ultimately support a legislation that overturns Catholic-inspired health care remains to be seen. The one good thing going in the situation is that the bishops' desired provisions most certainly will not appear in the legislation. So, in spite of themselves, the bishops may end up opposing the legislation. It would be for the wrong reasons, but at least they might oppose it.

 

Health Care, in Today's News 10.19.09

Health Care. As the health care legislation moves toward adoption, "expert panels" remain a part of the package intended for vote.

"Expert panels" will provide 'guidelines' for doctors on what procedures to perform on a patient. The recommendations of these panels will inevitably be seen as 'best practices,' and would therefore be adopted as blueprints for which procedures health insurance should cover. A doctor who does not follow the guidelines could face reductions in their insurance and medicare payments. The goal of all this, of course, is to reduce costs. 

If adopted, expert panels will become a third party in every doctor-patient consultation. The third party will be the expert-panel guidelines, from which there can be no deviation without penalty. Thus, this third party is not an equal participant. The third party is the one with veto power, and moreover there is no appeal from the third party determinations.

More than anything else in the proposed legislation, expert panels signify a fundamental turning point in health care. Compassionate health care, the contribution of the Church to humanity, will be replaced with government control operating on a cost-cutting basis.

The proposed system is only good for the cryptocracy who will see a greater share of societal wealth go from health care to their pockets. Everyone else will suffer. Patients will be saddled with a blueprint plan for health recovery, and it will be extremely difficult to obtain alternate care. Doctors will be hamstrung by best practices which may or may not fit a particular problem. Doctors actually become like robots; all they have to do is identify a problem and the regulations take over. Any attempt to do something different would be punished. Society as a whole will find itself weighted down by yet another impersonal, inhuman massive bureaucracy attempting to control citizens' lives.

The change is not in the interest of anyone. Yet, there is no outcry against the expert-panel outrage. Every now and then someone will speak out, as in the Wall Street Journal today on the commentary page, "'Expert Panels' Won't Improve Health Care."  But where are the associations and organizations that represent professionals and patients? Their presence is noticeable by their absence.

And most outrageous of all is the silence of the leaders of the Church and Catholic organizations. Nothing has crossed the desk here presenting Catholic commentary on expert panels. We now face the likely possibility that one of the great legacies of the Church is set to slip into oblivion because no leader saw fit to oppose it. 

The Church leaders have the capability to stop the expert panels. The faithful are a large percentage of the public. If the faithful were motivated to take action against the expert panels, the cryptocracy and legislators would sit up and take notice. Even just a nation-wide campaign of prayer would shake the rafters.

Yet, the Church leaders don't even seem to recognize the problem. The change to expert panels is the central issue of the health care legislation. The Bishops, however, are concentrating on a number of other issues, all important. They seem to miss entirely that the compassionate care of the needy that Jesus' teaching brought about is under unprecedented challenge.

Moreover, the Bishops seem to be positioning themselves to approve the legislation if they receive a few crumbs from the legislators. If they do approve legislation that contains expert panels, it will be one of the greater disgraces in the history of the Church.

Health Care, in Today's News 10.15.09

Health Care. The Church Bishops have released another statement on the proposed Obama health care legislation. The Bishops commendably expressed their disappointment that the Senate Finance Committee passed its version of health reform legislation without resolving problems related to abortion funding, conscience rights, affordability and legal immigrants. The Bishops say they will oppose the law if it stands as written now.

One can only applaud the Bishops if they oppose the legislation, no matter what the reason. Let us hope they have the backbone to carry through. 

Health Care, in Today's News 10.08.09

Health Care. The Catholic News Agency reports that the US bishops sent an open letter today to Congress stating that they will "vigorously oppose" the health care bills unless they prevent taxpayer funds form paying for abortion, make care available for everyone and ensure that immigrants have access to the health system.

One can only applaud the long-overdue pledge to do something about the health care legislation. And the three objects of their resolution are worthy. And if the bishops were to prevail on Congress, the victory might effect changes in other parts of the legislation.

It is necessary to point out, however, that the bishops entirely miss the point of the present drive to reform health care. Obama and both parties are intent on transforming medical care from a compassionate basis to a cost-cutting, government-controlled basis. Such a change will be great for those who own the wealth of the country, but disastrous for everyone else.

No where do the bishops refer to this transcendent issue. Not only do they ignore it, they have given the impression over and over again that they would support the legislation if their three concerns are met. (By the way, the bishops did not include the right to conscience for medical workers in their central issues of concern in their open letter. Previous statements always included it. This omission is surely a step in the wrong direction.)

Here are two matters in the legislation that call out for the Church leaders to say something:

1). The proposed legislation calls for levying a fine on those who do not procure health care insurance coverage. The proposed fine may be as much as $3,000 per person!!! It doesn't take any imagination at all to see that this provision would affect the poorest, least advantaged people in the country. And surely, a good percentage of these are found among the faithful. Do the bishops have anything at all to say about this? Shouldn't they be shouting from the rooftops? They might say that their concern for affordable coverage for all covers the question of fines. Maybe so, but it is a little strained. The point is that the Congressional leaders are serious about imposing fines. And therefore the Church leaders should be serious about vigorously and expliciitly opposing the fines.

2). A number of proposals have been made for the legislation that involve evaluating doctors on their performance, on how many tests they order, etc. Those receiving the least rating would have their medicare payments reduced. Such provisions will encourage doctors to avoid seriously ill patients and other situations that may put them in a bad light. Again it is simple to see that the victims of this proposed provision will be found among the faithful, especially the elderly and those with chronic illnesses. Is it not reasonable that the faithful would expect their Church leaders to take a stand on this key issue? What is involved here is the beginning of the abolition of compassionate health care, the great contribution and legacy of the Catholic Church. It is a disgrace that the leaders are silent on something like this.

In general the Church leaders stance on the health care legislation has been off. They seem to frame everything in a stance of support to what they see as a "much-needed" reform of health care. The object seems to be that they can attain their goals by cooperating with the framers of the legislation. It won't work. These legislative leaders are carrying out their orders and they are nothing but intent; repeat intent. If the legislators get their way, the health care of Americans, including the faithful, will sharply decline. Such a reality ought to induce the Church leaders and bishops to oppose the thrust of the proposed legislation. Perhaps their open letter is a step in this direction. Let us hope.

Health Care, in Today's News 09.07.09

Health Care. More bishops of the Church are speaking up on the health care situation. The public and the faithful would have been better off if the bishops had maintained their previous silence. Here's a roundup:

1. The bishops of Camden and Trenton, New Jersey issued a letter, dated August 26 but not reported until September 5. Their contribution urged that New Jersey's congressmen should work to prohibit funding of abortion and to uphold conscience protections. The bishops said that health care reform is needed.

COMMENTARY: Note that the bishops took the stand of urging congressmen to work to do things. How's that for militancy. They can't even bring themselves to oppose something that violates their beliefs. Their idea of politics is to cravenly plead with their representatives not to do something bad. 

In the craven vein, the bishops stated that health care reform is needed!! This puts them at odds with the great bulk of the public who made it very clear in the 'town hall' meetings that they wanted nothing to do with health reform that includes death panels, government-prioritized treatment options, and ton of debt.

2. Two Kansas City bishops have chimed in. They issued a joint pastoral statement which discusses apparent flaws in health care and points to how Catholic social teaching can bear on the topic. They credited US leaders like Obama and those of both political parties for trying to address flaws in health care. They advocate some 'proper moral principles.' And they too emphasized the necessity of excluding abortion and of protecting conscience rights.

COMMENTARY: All one really needs to know about these bishops is that they gave credit to Obama and both parties (!) for trying to improve health care. This orientation shows that they have no understanding of what is going on the world. As usual, they cannot recognize an attack when it occurs. Obama and the others are quite simply endeavoring to radically revolutionize health care from a compassionate basis to a government-directed cost-cutting basis. This effort is a major turning point in American history, and all these bishops can do is compliment the enemy and hope that bad things are not included in the legislation. 

Of course, it is useful to call for no funding to abortion and for protection of conscience rights. But, they entirely miss the point by zero-ing in on those issues when the legislative package as a whole should be completely unacceptable to those who are supposed to defend the legacy of the Church. And the legacy of compassionate health care is one of the Church's great contributions to humanity. 

3. The bishop in Tucson, Arizona spoke out after a meeting with US Representative Giffords of Arizona. His contribution was that the 'complexity of the proposals' for health care reform has caused 'a great deal of misunderstanding and fear.' He urged the Representative to fight [!] to 'simplify and clarity' the issues.

COMMENTARY: Could a bishop be more out of touch with the sentiments of the American people than this? The public is fearful because this legislation is fearful and represents an attempt to drastically alter their standard of living and quality of life. That fear has nothing whatsoever to do with the 'complexity of the proposals.' To the public it is very simple: the legislation seeks to transform health care to an de-humanizing government-directing cost cutting basis. Is that so difficult for the bishop to understand? Apparently.

Incidentally, this bishop doesn't even recognize when he is being used. The public uproar has sent the proponents of the legislation scurrying for authoritative support. And so, Representative Giffords called together 20 southern Arizona faith leaders (Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, and Jewish) for a private meeting. And lo and behold what happened as a result: the bishop's 'simplify and clarify' riff just happens to coincide with Giffords' desire 'to talk more concretely and be sure people understand.' Well, they can simplify and talk more concretely all they want, but it will have very little effect on the perception of the public that they are in great danger.

4. The bishop of Charleston, South Carolina issued a letter. He is quoted as saying, "Our representatives and senators need to hear our voice and we have a voice that is credible because it...is a moral voice and one that has centuries of experience in health care."

COMMENTARY: He came oh so close to getting it right. If he would have elaborated on his statement, it would have been a tremendous contribution to the public discussion. He might have pointed out that it was the Church who first championed universal health care regardless of circumstance. He might also have emphasized that it was the Church who first invented hospitals. And he might have underlined that the Church's legacy on health care flows very concretely from the teachings of Jesus. He might have added that Jesus never said anything about cost-effectiveness.

5. The bishops who chair the US Conference of Catholic Bishops committees on Domestic Justice and Human Development and on Pro-life Activities issued letters. Their approach is to outline what a health care system ought to look like.

COMMENTARY: It seems pathetic to have to say that the problem is not to draw a picture of what a health care system ought to look like. The problem, which a big percentage of the American people understand, is to defeat this terrifying legislation that threatens to change lives forever! Ivory tower statements only divert attention from the very immediate task at hand. When this attack is defeated, then we can talk about health reform should look like.

6. The archbishop and three officials of Archdiocese of Cincinnati issued a statement. They said the present moment offers 'an opportunity that should not be buried by partisan politics or misleading exaggerations of what the emerging legislation does or does not include.' 'We hope that civil dialogue will produce an affordable method that provides ready access to quality, comprehensive and affordable health care for every person living in the United States.'

COMMENTARY: This statement represents a new low point in the intervention of the bishops. They actually in effect attack the outrage of the public over the legislation. Who else but the public can be making 'misleading exaggerations?' Can the call for 'civil dialogue' be anything but an attack on the well-deserved rowdy-ness of the public meetings?

Need it be said that these bishops should be on the other side of the divide? Their stance is yet another instance of craven subservience to those who are out to completely change health care.

By the way, what is this bit about 'access to...health care?' Is it so hard to say the public should have health care, not just access?

7. Cardinal O'Malley of Boston reported that he had told Obama that the US bishops "are anxious to support a plan of universal health care, but we will not support a plan that will include a provision for abortion or could open the way to abortions in the future."

COMMENTARY: Surprisingly O'Malley's statement is not horrendous. He actually used the words 'will not support' (why not 'oppose'?), a series of words that seems to be anathema to the bishops. It is also useful that he told Obama that abortion is a deal-breaker. But, once again, the focus is too narrow. He has nothing to say about what is actually occurring: an attempt to totally change the nature of health care.

8. The bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota said health care reform "is not just a task facing the government" but is also related to "our need to take personal responsibility for our health."

COMMENTARY: If this doesn't beat all!!! At a time when the American people are facing a historic set back, this bishop chooses to lecture them on taking care of themselves. What can one say about such stupidity?

CONCLUSIONS:

**The bishops give no indication of comprehending that an unprecedented attack is occurring.

**In fact, the bishops come down on the wrong side of the divide with their apparent stance of giving critical support to the legislation if a couple of conditions are met.

**The bishops mention nothing on the legacy of the Church on health care and do not quote Jesus as the basis for 

compassionate health care.

**The bishops are supposed to be sheperds of the faithful.  

Instead they are cozying up to the politicians.

**Taking a principled stand and fighting for it seems 

completely alien to the bishops. Where is the spirit of Joan of Arc?

**Surprisingly the bishops have nothing to say about the 

death panels in the legislation, even though the Church 

characterizes the nation as the culture of death.

**If the legislation is defeated it will be no thanks to the 

bishops.

**Heaven help us!!!!