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Letter to Senator Ben Nelson from a Nebraska citizen

Soapweed

Well-known member
This was e-mailed to me by a friend, and is a letter that a citizen of Grand Island, Nebraska sent to our state senator Ben Nelson.

"We the People" are pissed off and are not going to take it anymore!

I am a Veteran of the US Army, having volunteered after high school in 1964. I am now retired after having spent over 25 years in health care administration, and 15 years in the health insurance and financial services industry working with health care providers, and employees mainly in hospitals and nursing homes, all here in Nebraska. For the record I was the CEO of St. Mary's Hospital in Nebraska City for 9 years and the Chief Financial Officer for 17 years prior to that.

At one time in my life I knew almost every CEO and Finance Director, Nursing Director and many of the employees in every hospital and nursing home in the state. I also knew several of their employees which are all the most dedicated healthcare professionals that you could imagine. So I do know a thing or two about health care. I also know some things about the U.S. Constitution, and the freedom that it provides.

The point of this is to let you know that the health care bill that you in the Senate and House of Representatives are getting ready to jam down our collective throats has nothing to do with "health" and nothing to do with "Care".

Let me be clear. The problem with health care today is the "increasing raising costs", marked by double digit inflation. It's not access.

Anyone that is medically indigent can come to the hospital emergency room for free. Also the under insured receive the same care as you or I would as "Uncompensated care", free gratis by the hospital providers and physicians. Your attempt to insure 40,000 or so uninsured and under insured is no more than a "political scam" to buy future votes, just as the promises made to the elderly to protect Medicare have been used to buy votes by politicians since the inception of the Medicare program.

Now to the problem with the cost of healthcare.

The government has systematically and politically caused this problem by inadequately paying healthcare providers for services to Medicare beneficiaries and by mismanagement of the Medicare Trust fund. For example every Medicare beneficiary that receives service for a hospital stay by a provider receives an EOB (Explanation of Benefits statement) which states that the total charges by the hospital rendered to the beneficiary (except for deductible’s and co-insurance) have been covered and paid to the hospital. This is blatantly false and dishonest. This is at best a “convenient lie” perpetuated by corrupt politicians and made possible by gullible citizens. It is also a slap in the face to the dedicated physicians and healthcare employees that serve us all.

The hospital provider never received the payment for the total charges. In fact the hospital provider through the Governments Medicare Cost reporting system only receives 75% at best of the actual costs of rendering service. These costs as well as the cost of providing for the underinsured and medically indigent are then passed off to the private sector (and insurance companies). Can you name any business in existence today that could operate by collecting only 75% of their actual cost on over 50 -60% of its patrons.

Yes Ben, most hospitals in rural Nebraska are over 65% Medicare. Did you ever wonder how come medical inflation is double or more than the National inflation rate, year after year. It is because of the U.S. Governments woefully inadequate reimbursement to providers via the Medicare and Medicaid Program. These costs of course are then passed on to the private sector.

And now the villains in this scenario are the “Evil Insurance Companies”, as portrayed by a desperate Administration, House and Senate. Amazing – I remember when you, Ben were the Governor of Nebraska, and before that State Director of Insurance. You and your party leaders should know better.

Mismanagement of the Medicare Trust Fund comes into play as well. Any competent individual running a business that has a sense of fiduciary responsibility, would have provided for adequate funding through the years to ensure adequate numbers of physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals , well into the future. Thus allowing the private sector to provide jobs, control costs and assure access to healthcare. Why can’t “we the people” expect the same from government?

We do not expect the same from our government because this is the government that has brought us Chris Dodd (Senate Banking and Finance Committee Chairman), Barney Frank (House of Representatives Banking and Finance Committee Chairman), ACORN, Paulson, Cox , Tax Cheat Gieghner and a whole host of other corrupt political figures both Republican and Democrat which have caused the worst financial collapse since the depression.

Here’s a News Flash.

You Senator Nelson, and both the Democratic and Republican Party which have sponsored the systematic financial failure of our nation, the erosion of our individual freedom, and breach of fiduciary responsibility are now on notice. You work for us. We are the people. This misrepresentation of the voters stops now.

I will sum this up by saying that the Government (our elected officials) has created the very conditions that have led to this health care problem. Now the Government is going to save us all by passing a gigantic program that does not fix anything. There is no tort reform. It adds debt to my grandchildren, and it does nothing to address the actual cost of health care now or in the future. This Merry-Go-Round stops now!

I urge you to get it right. Vote appropriately or find yourself among the 10.2 % unemployed at your next election.
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
I sent him a letter, too. This the reply that I got;

Thank you for contacting me regarding health care reform. I appreciate hearing from you on this critical issue.

As you may know, the greatest long-term economic concern our nation faces is out of control spending on health care. The Government Accountability Office said last year, "If there is one thing that could bankrupt America, it's runaway healthcare costs." Additionally, the Medicare program is predicted to become insolvent in 2017. We must not allow that to happen.

On November 21, 2009, the Senate held a vote, which I supported, on the motion to proceed to the bill currently before the Senate, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. I would like to explain what a vote on the motion to proceed means because there has been a lot of commentary in the media, by special interest groups, and in Congress offering definitions. The motion to proceed is a vote to begin debate, consider amendments, and have an opportunity to make improvements. I anticipate weeks of debate and the consideration of dozens of amendments.

Some seek to define a vote for the motion to proceed as one in favor of or in opposition to the Senate bill; those who do so are either misinformed or intentionally trying to mislead people. Others define the vote as supporting or opposing President Obama and his agenda because they want him to either succeed or fail. And still others define it as the last chance to stop bad legislation because they have a political agenda.

All of this is more of the old Washington political gamesmanship with which Americans are fed up. Congress needs to be working together on a bipartisan basis for the good of the American people, and we need to take the time to craft the right health care bill. So, in reality, the meaning of the motion to proceed is very simple: It is a motion to commence debate, which will give the Senate the opportunity to make changes, and be pro-active on an issue affecting every American.

If the changes I believe must be made to this bill are not possible, I will oppose the second cloture motion to end debate (one which requires 60 votes) and ultimately oppose the final bill. But I will not slam the Senate doors in the face of fellow Nebraskans now. The Senate owes Americans a full and open debate to try to improve our health care system and make sure the changes are the right ones for Nebraskans.

I have posted links to the bill, as well as other resources pertaining to the current health care reform debate, on the Health Reform feature on my website at:

http://bennelson.senate.gov/feature_healthcare.cfm

I hope you find this information useful.

As I continue to scrutinize this legislation and do all I can to make positive changes, I will work to ensure that the final plan provides Americans with reliable and secure health care at all stages of their lives. The final health plan should reduce costs, extend the solvency of Medicare and be one which stresses prevention and wellness and improves quality in the delivery of health care services, while not raising taxes, increasing the deficit, rationing care, or funding abortions. These are some of the basic principles which will remain my guides as Congress works its way through this difficult issue.

I am truly thankful that so many Nebraskans such as yourself have shared their opinions and ideas with me on this crucial matter. Rest assured I will keep them in mind as Congress needs the input of all Americans to solve such an important issue.


Sincerely,

Ben Nelson
U.S. Senator
 

Tam

Well-known member
What needs to be asked is what else does Nebraska want or what will it take to BUY Ben's vote? It cost hundreds of millions for Louisiana vote on the first vote. Ask yourself how much will it cost to buy all 60 Dem. Senators vote now that they know the price tag for Louisiana? This health care bill is going to be one of the most expensive bill in US history and not just it but the cost to get it passed will BANKRUPT generations to come. And on the heals of it you will have the cost to pass Cap and Trade that will bankrupt further generations. :mad:
 
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