Senior’s Health Care Bill of Rights Issued by Republican National Committee

News organizations are analyzing the health reform challenges ahead for the President and suggesting direction change after vacation 

Aug. 24, 2009 – Having found a strong group of voters that can be roused to action, the Republican National Committee is making the battle over health care reform just a little bit uglier with publication of what it calls "The Senior’s Health Care Bill of Rights,” which Democrats say continues frighten senior citizens with statements that fail to tell to truth about the health care reform proposals.

"In their latest assault on President Obama's health care plans, Republicans are aiming for a vulnerable spot -- the fears of seniors that their care will get worse or more costly," the Boston Globe reports  on its Political Intelligence blog.

The Republican National Committee on Monday unveiled the "bill of rights for seniors, [which] includes protecting Medicare from major cuts, preserving the doctor-patient relationship, banning any rationing of care or interference in end-of-life decisions, guaranteeing that seniors can keep their current coverage, and protecting current veterans' health care programs" (Rhee, 8/24).

(See the complete bill of rights statement from GOP in sidebar on right.)

	Related Stories
	Many Yelling at Town Halls are Senior Citizens Worried Health Reform Will Hurt Instead Of Help Democrats have a senior citizen problem, reports Politico; also fighting full-blown myths - attacks claiming reform would create government 'death panels' authorizing euthanasia Aug. 12, 2009 Senior Citizens Must Stand Up to Lies that Health Reform Bill Will Allow Government to Kill Them Right-wing stoops to new low in attacks on health reform to protect profits of insurance companies By Tucker Sutherland, editor & publisher, SeniorJournal.com Read more on > Politics for Senior Citizens > Medicare > Medicare Drug Program

"The Obama administration has insisted repeatedly that it doesn't want to shrink Medicare benefits, ration care or reduce the role of doctors," the Associated Press reports.

"But polls have shown that Americans, and older Americans in particular, still have significant concerns about Democratic health care proposals" (8/24).

ABC News: The seniors' bill of rights is part of a "weeklong push on Medicare" in which "Republicans are going on the offensive and taking on the Democrats' health care plan." 

The GOP is "targeting seniors in their push to oppose"the reform proposals backed by the White House and Congressional Democrats. Seniors have turned up in town halls held by lawmakers to oppose what they believe might be more government intervention" (Khan, 8/24).

Republican National Committee’s Seniors’ Health Care Bill Of Rights Monday, August 24, 2009 America’s senior citizens deserve access to quality health care and coverage that will not bankrupt them. Republicans believe that reforms to America’s health care system are necessary, but that reform should first do no harm, especially to our seniors. That’s why Republicans are calling for a Seniors’ Health Care Bill Of Rights that will:    ● PROTECT MEDICARE AND NOT CUT IT IN THE NAME OF HEALTH CARE REFORM: President Obama and Congressional Democrats are promoting a government-run health care experiment that will cut over $500 billion from Medicare to be used to pay for their plan.  Medicare should not be raided to pay for another entitlement.    ● PROHIBIT GOVERNMENT FROM GETTING BETWEEN SENIORS AND THEIR DOCTORS: The Democrats’ government-run health care experiment will give patients less power to control their own medical decisions, and create government boards that would decide what treatments would or wouldn’t be funded. Republicans believe in patient-centered reforms that put the priorities of seniors before government.    ● PROHIBIT EFFORTS TO RATION HEALTH CARE BASED ON AGE: The Democrats’ government-run health care experiment would set up a “comparative effectiveness research commission” where health care treatment decisions could be limited based on a patient’s age. Republicans believe that health care decisions are best left up to seniors and their doctors.    ● PREVENT GOVERNMENT FROM INTERFERING WITH END-OF-LIFE CARE DISCUSSIONS: The Democrats’ government-run health care experiment would have seniors meet with a doctor to discuss end-of-life care that could mean limiting treatment. Republicans believe that government should not interfere with end-of-life care discussions between a patient and a doctor.    ● ENSURE SENIORS CAN KEEP THEIR CURRENT COVERAGE: As Democrats continue to propose steep cuts to Medicare in order to pay for their government-run health care experiment, these cuts threaten millions of seniors with being forced from their current Medicare Advantage plans.  Republicans believe that seniors should not be targeted by a government-run health care bill and forced out of their current Medicare coverage.    ● PROTECT VETERANS BY PRESERVING TRICARE AND OTHER BENEFIT PROGRAMS FOR MILITARY FAMILIES: Democrats recently proposed raising veterans’ costs for the Tricare For Life program that many veterans rely on for treatment. Republicans oppose increasing the burden on our veterans and believe America should honor our promises to them.

The Democratic National Committee snapped back quickly, referring to the Republican's proposal a scare tactic.

The New York Times includes the following written statement by DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse: "It should be no surprise that the Republican Party — which whipped many Americans into a frenzy at town hall meetings on health care this month by spreading one lie about reform after another — has now taken to scaring seniors who have nothing to fear and much to gain from reform. 

“But what's really incredible is that this feigned interest in Medicare and the plight of seniors is coming from the Republican Party — the very Party which opposed Social Security and only four years ago tried to dismantle it — and the very Republican Party which opposed the creation of Medicare to begin with" (8/24).

  ● “Protecting Our Seniors: GOP Principles for Health Care,” By Michael S. Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee
      Washington Post, Monday, August 24, 2009

After Vacation, Obama Could Shift Health Reform Tactics

A vacationing President Obama will probably need to switch tactics on passing health care reform when he returns, The Associated Press reports.

"Barely eight months in office, Obama is trapped between the jaws of a tightening vise. On one side, Republicans refuse to countenance further government involvement in health care; on the other, liberal Democrats insist Obama keep his campaign pledge to make sure the estimated 50 million Americans who are without coverage can afford health insurance."

And Obama's poll numbers continue to slip. "A Washington Post-ABC News survey found that fewer than half of Americans — 49 percent — say they believe the president will make the right decisions for the country. That's down from 60 percent at the 100-day mark in his presidency."

"Leaving the specifics to Congress has allowed debate to drag on, with three potential bills heading this fall to the House floor. In the Senate, the finance committee has been trying to write a bill but has left the negotiating to six members — three Republicans and three Democrats. In today's highly charged and deeply partisan climate, there is little chance Obama will get what he wants from the Senate process" (Hurst, 8/24).

The left has proven an unlikely barrier to Obama's try at reform, The Washington Post reports: "The immediate cause for the rebellion is growing concern among Obama's progressive allies that he is prepared to deal away the public insurance option to win passage of a health-care bill.

Obama insists that he still prefers the public option as part of any legislative package, but some friends on the left now clearly doubt his resolve.

Andrew Kohut, who directs the Pew Research Center, said it is difficult to know whether the changes in support simply reflect that liberal Democrats are catching up with other Americans in their perceptions of Obama or whether the uproar over the public plan marks a genuine change in attitudes" (Balz, 8/23).

But The Hill reports that Obama's push could benefit from his vacation to Martha's Vineyard. "Given that the president's push hasn't significantly shifted public sentiment, Jennifer Duffy, a senior editor at The Cook Political Report, said the time off could actually help by lowering the decibel level of the debate. 'The question of momentum is a complicated one since momentum here is clearly in the eyes of the beholder,' Duffy said.

'But, a less toxic environment could make it easier for the White House and the Democratic leadership in Congress to get some work done on the issue'" (Rushing, 8/23).

In his Saturday address, recorded before leaving for vacation, Obama addressed "willful misrepresentations and outright distortions" of the reform plans, Politico reports.

"He ticked through a series of issues, saying that the proposal will not call for health care for illegal immigrants, will not provide coverage for abortions, and does not include any provision for so-called 'death panels.' 'These are phony claims meant to divide us,' the president said" (Javers, 8/23).

The Truth About Death Panel in Health Care Reform Bill ABC's Kate Snow takes a close look at end of life proposal - Click here to view at ABC

The Wall Street Journal: "Mr. Obama also again waded into the controversy over the proposal's public-insurance option. The president favors such an option, but his recent comments indicating a willingness to compromise on the matter have spurred concerns among some liberals. … Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) delivered the Republican response in a radio address that called for scrapping the Democrats' health-care overhaul plan in favor of a 'patient-centered' approach, though Republicans have not laid out a proposal in detail" (Williamson, 8/23).

The Christian Science Monitor: Price "called the nation's current healthcare system 'clearly unacceptable.' The challenge, he said, 'is providing Americans more accessible and affordable care without impairing the quality, innovation, and choices that define American medicine'" (Feldmann, 8/22).

In the meantime, the group Conservatives For Patients' Rights "made an ad called 'Surfs Up,' mocking Obama’s leisurely beachside vacation," Politico reports in a second story. "'The beach is nice this time of year, but while President Obama vacations, concerns mount about his health care plan,' the ad says. 'Mr. President, when you go back to D.C., drop your government-run health care plan'" (Henderson, 8/23).

 

Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby boomers