[kahljorn]

This^ Death panel, which you all denied existed until I showed it to you was not always here. This is a new one. Much different then the insurance companies death panels. why you may ask? because this is now mandated by the government.....with government officials leading it. See the difference?

I see the difference, but its not really relevant.

The Washington commission, called the Health Technology Assessment, is manned by 11 bureaucrats, including a chiropractor and a "naturopath" who focuses on alternative, er, remedies like herbs and massage therapy.

Whenever i rwrite, er, professional articles to convince people of facts i always use terms like ER cause its totally a news story now FACT and probably not just somebodies opinion.

So far, the commission has banned knee arthroscopy for osteoarthritis, discography for chronic back pain, and implantable infusion pumps for pain not related to cancer. This year, it is targeting such frivolous luxuries as knee replacements, spinal cord stimulation, a specialized autism therapy and MRIs of the abdomen, pelvis or breasts for cancer. It will also rule on routine ultrasounds for pregnancy, which have a "high" efficacy but also a "high" cost.

well.. shit guys.. I think I finally see where the coolinator is coming from. I mean its totally worse for these people to have absolutely no coverage then it is for them to have some. It would totally be better and much less death panelish if we just didn't let anybody have health care. Much better than somebody not getting their IMPLANTABLE PAIN PUMPS BECAUSE THEIR LEFT FINGERS HURT SometimeS. How many people really need things like IMPLANTABLE PAIN PUMPS? need them so bad that PILLS, SHOtS, IVS and every other alternative isn't good enough and its deathpanelish to refuse it?
that's like asking HOW COME ONLY CANCER PATIENTS CAN GET CHEMOTHERAPY?

most of the things you listed have alternatives or are things you do as a last resort anyway. Also, pay for your own shit? Jesus, if i go into a hospitol and tey say, "SORRY CANT SAVE YOUR LEg CAUSE YOUR INSURANCE CANT COVER IT" i might just go, "OH HEY PUT IT ON My tAB" since they can't legally refuse treatment.

Again, the COMMITEE doesn't decide whether people live or die it just makes decides if they are going to pay for it or not. Which isn't really so bad because the alternative is that people have to pay for everything.
Furthermore although the state might not cover it, other insurance companies probably will and it should be easier to get coverage from them with this bill.



Oh yea and I recall seeing something about medicaid and social services receiving cuts? Well, now that there will be nationwide medical coverage many programs which were designed to help people with medical costs will no longer be needed.