Does Sen Coburn actually support health care reform?

I read it, and I read between the lines. I remember well, being blessed with a middling long life, the same kind of proposals as alternatives to Hillary care. Sort of Hillary care without the Hillary. Once Hillary care was defeated NONE of those alternatives were enacted, or even remembered, near as I could tell. I also see no public option, which I see as the only thing that is going to reduce costs, at least on the insurance end, and many of the things he talks about are already in place in several states, and have proven NOT to reduce health care costs. Same chit, different day, the way I see it. And the same people are shoveling the chit, as they were last time around for their corporate bosses.

I also want to say that after watching his response to the poor woman that asked him whether he would help her, I don't want this a**hole as a neighbor, let alone my Dr. or congressman. Of course, I don't want the a**holes I've already got, either. Roberts, Brownback, and Jenkins, now there's a threesome that will always be together, if there is a God in heaven.....in hell.

Patronizing insincere p*ick.

Aw come on, Ron. Don't beat around the bush. Come right out and say what's on your mind. (grin) Seriously, I agree with you totally. I do not think the Republicans are the slightest bit sincere about health care reform.
The latest bit of weird insanity/inanity: Michael Steele, Chairman of the Republican Party just announced that the GOP is "defending Medicare" against any cuts. This from the political organization that was vehemently against Medicare in the beginning, and has lambasted it ever since as "socialized medicine."
There was a good op-ed piece in the LA Times about it today called:
The party of no, or no sense?

http://www.truthout.org/082609L
Town Hall Democracy or Mob Hysteria? Rethinking the Importance of the Public Sphere

Coburn is a piece of work.

He's a piece of something, alright...

Gary, you can't possibly consider this to be the same/similar to the Democrat plan.

• Encourage increased coordination of federal prevention efforts and bring long‐overdue accountability to these
programs
• Require CDC to undertake a national campaign highlighting science‐based health promotion strategies

Does this have any meaning? really?

• Equip recipients of Supplemental Nutritional Benefits with easily understandable information about nutritious
food options and target the use of food stamps to healthy food choices

"target the use of food stamps to healthy food choices."
looks like the government is going to tell poor people what they can eat.

• Invest $50 million annually for increased vaccine availability and bonus grants to states that achieve 90 percent or greater coverage of CDC‐recommended vaccines

Nice little gift to the Drug Companies


• Provide incentives for states to reduce rates of chronic disease like heart disease and diabetes

It is not government's business, but I guess the states aren't government?

• Creates State Health Insurance Exchanges to give Americans a one‐stop marketplace to compare different
health insurance policies and select the one that meets their unique needs

These will be the same old insurance companies. notice no regulation implied or called for.

• Gives Americans the same standard health benefits as Members of Congress, so all Americans have a wide range
of choices

Same "standard" does not equal same coverage.

• Protects the most vulnerable Americans to ensure that no individual would be turned down by a participating
Exchange insurers based on age or health

No turn down, but no cost limitations. . .

• Creates a non‐profit, independent board to risk adjust among participating insurance companies to penalize
companies that “cherry pick” health patients and reward insurers that encourage prevention/wellness and cover
patients with pre‐existing conditions
Looks like government intervention oh behalf of insurance companies. Do they get a bonus for sending you a don't smoke card.

• Expands coverage through auto‐enrollment at state and medical points of service, for individuals who do not
select a plan at the beginning of the year

Oh this is BIG, Government forcing people to have insurance, from the private companies of course. BIG, BIG, BIG, BUCKS FOR THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.

From the anti government REpublicans, amazingly forthright sell out to insurance companies.

• Gives states the ability to band together in regional pooling arrangements, as well as the creation of robust high
risk pools, reinsurance markets, or risk adjustment mechanisms to cover those deemed ‘uninsurable

Same insurance companies we have now, no mention of cost limitations

Much of the next 2 sections state how tax credits paid directly to the insurance companies will
cover the poor. . . . GIVE ME A BREAK.
Tax me, Pay the insurance Company, Trust the insurance company/hospital/Dr. to provide care.
But the amount of the tax credit is not enough to pay for the insurance.

Finally at the end.
• Creating a Healthcare Services Commission that relies on a public/private partnership to enhance the quality,
appropriateness and effectiveness of health care services through the publication and enforcement of quality
and price information

This smells like rationing/death panels to me.