Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace

By Cheryl Bryantbruce, M.D.

On November 22, 2009 60 votes carried the healthcare reform debate forward. On
November 21, 2009, all over the country physicians and healthcare workers donned
their scrubs and white coats to take a stand against the current healthcare reform
bill being proposed by participating in their own versions of the TEA Parties and
“Town Hall Meetings”, the Million Med March. Although turnouts were good
throughout the country, still more needs to be done to raise the awareness of the
medical community and the public it serves. The medical community cannot afford
to repeat the apathy of 1989 that allowed managed care, HMO’s to get a foothold in
medicine. The medical community has to be active and pro-active in dealing with
this healthcare reform debate to make sure that any reform that occurs serves the
best interest of both the patients and the medical establishment that provides their
care as opposed to serving the interest of the parasites, including the government,
that stands to gain from the current reforms being proposed.

At the Million Med March which I attended in Houston, Texas, a number of parties
spoke out, including physicians (both primary care and specialists), concerned
citizens, a medical device salesman, and even a politician. They came identifying
problems with the current healthcare reform proposals. They didn’t just come
throwing rocks however; they came proposing potential solutions.

Dr. Thomas Parr, an orthopedist from Foundation Surgical Hospital and a former
army medical officer was the keynote speaker. One of the main points that he
drove home was that the clause that allows medical providers to “opt out” of the
“government option” is a farce. Once the government artificially lowers the cost of
insurance, they create a monopoly, because private insurers will not be able to
compete. An uninformed public buys into the idea of the public option, because
they see it as low cost healthcare, not understanding that it is being paid for by
both cutting the payout to providers that are already getting paid rates that they
haven’t seen since 2001, in spite of exponentially rising inflationary cost, and by
increased taxation, which will end up costing the public more in the long run as a
whole than just paying for the private insurance or paying the bill themselves would
have costed. The other cost to them will be sub-optimal care when millions of
people are dumped onto a care system that is already over-burdened to the
breaking point. There will be little hope of attracting new care providers as
physicians start opting out of healthcare in a mass exodus as this government
monopoly develops. Dr. Parr pointed out that just as we saw happen with managed
care, there will be no real “option” for medical providers. He stated, “Once
government has a monopoly, you can ‘opt out’ all you want, you just won’t be able
to get paid until you decide to opt in!” This point was seconded by one of the
Houston Med March organizers, Dr. Kathy Hansen, a family physician. She stated,
“Nobody is representing the common physician on the ground. The AMA no longer
represents us. Government run health care takes away choice.”

David Paulus, a medical device salesman, stated, “The rug’s getting ready to be
pulled out from under you [sic doctors] and so many of you don’t even see what’s
going on. He focused on the tax component of the healthcare reform. He pointed
out that these reforms would affect the public and the medical community alike.
The senate is proposing 20 million dollars in taxes on class II and class III medical
devices. Research and development for these devices depends substantially on
venture capital, which will be dramatically eroded by these heavy taxations, with a
disproportionate amount affecting the small R&D companies. Paulus contends,
“Medical device manufacturing will be forced to move offshore when the new taxes
are put into place.” This would create a trickle down effect, including the loss of a
substantial number of jobs in the U.S. Patients and physicians alike will pay a
higher price for necessary equipment. Mr. Paulus also pointed out that the current
presumption is that 30 million illegal aliens would have immunity from the taxation,
but would continue to burden the system.

Dr. Joseph Christie, a doctor of chiropractic medicine and a technology expert, who
happens to be running for Houston City Council as an independent at large was
strong in his position. He stated, “Coverage is about money! This problem is about
money! This [sic healthcare reform] is not about caring for patients!” I personally
am inclined to strongly concur with this statement!

Starr Pendergraft, wife of California chiropractor Dr. David Pendergraft, journeyed

all the way from her Redondo Beach home in a van decorated with political slogans
to support this cause, which she feels so strongly about. She stated, “The
government is already competing with physicians.” She astutely pointed out that
the government got the H1N1 immunizations before private physicians could, then
decided who would be given the supply to provide at sites of the government’s
determination.

John Bentley, organizer of the Clearlake TEA Party in Clearlake, Texas re-
emphasized the financial aspects of the healthcare reform. He and his wife passed
bumperstickers that said, “Take Back America.” Bentley stressed that it is
important that Americans understand what the acronym “T.E.A.” in the TEA Parties
stands for, which is “Taxed Enough Already!” He encouraged all fellow Americans,
the public and the medical establishment in particular to become educated about
and involved in the healthcare reform process before it is too late.

In terms of suggestions for needed reforms, Dr. Parr was adamant in his position
that we must “get rid of pre-existing condition clauses.” A Victoria, Texas family
practitioner, Dr. Shirley Pigott had the following recommendations, which were
vocally supported by Dr. Stanley Jones and Dr. Jose Rodriguez, also orthopedist from
Foundation Surgical Hospital, along with many others:

1. “Insurance portability across state lines to make rates competitive

2. Insurance companies should be subject to the same anti-trust laws as
physicians
3. Same tax credits for small businesses as large corporations get
4. Elected government officials should get the same healthcare plans as
everyone else.”

Dr. Spigott’s last recommendation brought shouts and an uproar of applause.

The bottom line to all of the discussion at the Million Med marches throughout the
country though really boils down to the fact that we are currently in a major crisis in
this country in general and in our healthcare system in particular. There is a call for
the medical community, especially physicians and nurses to galvanize to represent
the best interest of the public, our patients and the medical community that serves
them. There is a call for the medical community to get involved, educating
themselves and their patients, so that they too can get involved and take an
informed position standing for their own best interest. This healthcare debate
needs more input from physicians and other health professionals. We must take a
stand. We must speak now or forever hold our peace!

Are you ready to become involved in this fight? Will you educate yourself on the
issues instead of responding emotionally to hearsay and propaganda? Will you
write to your senator? Will you support the next TEA Party or march? The two signs
below said it best:

“A SICK GOVERNMENT CAN”T RUN HEALTHCARE”

And
 “AMERICA SPEAK UP NOW!

BEFORE YOUR VOICES ARE HEARD NO MORE!”

For more information go to:

http://www.Docs4PatientCare.org

http://www.MillionMedMarch.org

http://www.doctorstakebackmedicine.com