And So Begins the WAR on DOCTORS

TUCSON, Ariz., Nov. 2, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — According to the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS), on Nov 1, 2012, vascular surgeon John Natale, M.D., 63, of Arlington, Ill., reported to the federal Bureau of Prisons to serve a 10-month sentence. According to a U.S. Department of Justice press release, he was convicted on two counts of making false statements in connection with surgeries performed between August 2002 and October 2004, and acquitted on two counts of Medicare fraud.

Dr. Natale had saved the lives of five seriously ill patients, average age 78, by complicated repairs of abdominal aortic aneurysms. He was, however, accused of describing the procedures as more complex than they actually were, supposedly in order to collect more payment.

According to the transcript of the sentencing proceedings, U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Singh Bhachu emphasized that “The need for deterrence is very strong in a case like this…. A message needs to be sent out to doctors.” The government aimed not just to end a distinguished medical career but to imprison the doctor for as long as possible.

“The message doctors will receive,” stated Dr. Jane Orient, executive director of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, “is that the government has declared war on doctors. Making a mistake in two of 2,400 operative reports is apparently now a federal crime, even though the doctor’s total charges were much less than he could have lawfully billed.” (emphasis added).

For full article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49665134/ns/business-press_releases/t/surgeon-reports-prison-government-sends-message-states-aaps/

From An Obama Advisor: ObamaCare– Well, Not Exactly Death Panels, But…..

Well, maybe not death panels, exactly, but unless we start allocating health
care resources more prudently — rationing, by its proper name — the exploding
cost of Medicare will swamp the federal budget”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/17/opinion/health-care-reform-beyond-obamacare.html?_r=1

ObamaCareTax: One of the 1st TAX INCREASES will directly Affect The Average Worker

The first affect of ObamaCare on the average worker will begin January 1st with an increase in their Medicare payroll tax.

Presently, the tax is 2.9%, split equally between the employee and the employer (1.45% each).

Beginning January 1st, there will be a 0.9% increase in the tax to 3.8%….. the entire 0.9% being paid by the employee (Now that’s a surprise).

So on a $500.00 gross check, the employee’s Medicare tax will go from $7.25 to 11.75 per week. That is an additional $234 per year.

And that is just ONE of the tax increases.

Obama Sends a Warning to the Supreme Court: Don’t Mess with My ObamaCare!!

from Brietbart:

The Obama administration warned the Supreme Court this week via papers filed with the Court that if Obamacare is struck down, there will be an “extraordinary disruption” in Medicare. Medicare was not discussed during the Supreme Court arguments, since it was not a Constitutional issue. This is a practical argument, not a legal one; it’s the Obama administration applying pressure to the Supremes.

 

 

But that’s what the Obama administration does – they focus on the politics of the situation rather than on the legalities. If they can’t win on the law, they figure, they’ll push the Court to act via “empathy,” President Obama’s favorite legal standard. And if they lose, they’ll blame the Court for destroying Medicare.

 

 

It’s a win-win for the Obama administration: if the Court strikes down Obamacare, Obama will blame the Court for harming Medicare. If the Court upholds Obamacare to prevent an “extraordinary disruption” in Medicare, Obama gets what he wants.

 

 

The simple fact is that the “disruption in Medicare” argument could have been made during oral arguments (particularly the section on severability). It wasn’t. Instead, the Obama administration waits until now to “quietly” inform the Supremes, according to the Associated Press. This is politics, pure and simple.

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/05/04/Obama-to-Supremes-Dont-You-Dare

Physician Private Practices Going Broke

Industry watchers say the trend is worrisome. Half of all doctors in the nation operate a private practice. So if a cash crunch forces the death of an independent practice, it robs a community of a vital health care resource.

“A lot of independent practices are starting to see serious financial issues,” said Marc Lion, CEO of Lion & Company CPAs, LLC, which advises independent doctor practices about their finances.

Doctors list shrinking insurance reimbursements, changing regulations, rising business and drug costs among the factors preventing them from keeping their practices afloat. But some experts counter that doctors’ lack of business acumen is also to blame.

http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/05/smallbusiness/doctors_broke/index.htm?hpt=hp_t3&hpt=hp_c1

Rep. Allen West Tells DNC Chair Wasserman Schultz that She is “No Lady”

      After Rep. Lt. Col. Allen West spoke in the House about the debt ceiling crisis, and left the hall, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (also the DNC Chair) took to bashing the freshman Congressman, a Tea Party favorite. Angered that she did not challenge him in person, West sent the Congresswoman, and the leadership of both parties, the following scathing email:

From: Z112 West, Allen
Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2011 04:48 PM
To: Wasserman Schultz, Debbie
Cc: McCarthy, Kevin; Blyth, Jonathan; Pelosi, Nancy; Cantor, Eric
Subject: Unprofessional and Inappropriate Sophomoric Behavior from Wasserman-Schultz

Look, Debbie, I understand that after I departed the House floor you directed your floor speech comments directly towards me. Let me make myself perfectly clear, you want a personal fight, I am happy to oblige. You are the most vile, unprofessional ,and despicable member of the US House of Representatives. If you have something to say to me, stop being a coward and say it to my face, otherwise, shut the heck up. Focus on your own congressional district!

I am bringing your actions today to our Majority Leader and Majority Whip and from this time forward, understand that I shall defend myself forthright against your heinous characterless behavior……which dates back to the disgusting protest you ordered at my campaign hqs, October 2010 in Deerfield Beach.

You have proven repeatedly that you are not a Lady, therefore, shall not be afforded due respect from me!

Steadfast and Loyal

Congressman Allen B West (R-FL)

for the full article:
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0711/Allen_West_tirade_WassermanSchultz_viledespicablenot_a_Lady.html

Ryan Challenges Sebellius over Seniors Controlling Their Own HealthCare Decisions

Rep. Paul Ryan to DHS Sec’y Sebellius: We Cannot Micromanage Medicare

ObamaCare Glitch Would Put Many into Medicaid

Paul Ryan

The AP reports (
http://ow.ly/5n28j
) that the new health care law would force couples making up to $64,000 into Medicaid – a program designed for society’s most vulnerable. Medicaid already struggles to deliver quality care for those it serves now. Rather than force millions more into it, we need to save & strengthen Medicaid. Here’s our plan to do just that:
http://ow.ly/5n9sK

AP: Glitch in Obamacare would place couples earning up to $64,000 in Medicaid | Philip Klein | Beltw

washingtonexaminer.com

With every passing day, we keep discovering more and more problems with President Obama’s national health care law. The Associated Press points out the latest glitch:

 

http://www.facebook.com/reppaulryan/posts/193021924081612

@Politico: Gingrich Calls Paul Ryan; Apologizes

from Politico.com:

Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich apologized in a telephone call to House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) on Tuesday afternoon for his remarks on “Meet the Press,” where the presidential candidate referred to Ryan’s Medicare proposal as “radical change.”

“Newt apologized,” said Rick Tyler, his press secretary and longtime aide. “The call went very well.”

Read more:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/55171.html#ixzz1Mew4Zqms