The introduction of these government insurance programs in 1967 fundamentally changed the way health care was purchased. As the government began to insert more regulation over the health care market and cover a growing percentage of health care spending, total out-of-pocket expenditures fell. Today, out-of-pocket expenses account for only 1/10 of total health care expenses.

The HMO Act of 1973 provided grants and loans to provide, start, or expand a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO); removed certain state restrictions for federally qualified HMOs; and required employers with 25 or more employees to offer federally certified HMO options. The Act gave HMOs greater access to the employer-based market, providing for the rapid expansion of HMOs and was synergistic with Medicare and Medicaid in decreasing out-of-pocket expenses.

In addition, state regulations have increased and now require health insurance companies to cover a ridiculous range of health care services including but not limited to: acupuncture, breast reduction, contraceptives, dieticians, drug abuse treatment, hair prosthesis, in vitro fertilization, massage therapy, etc. and this has had a profound effect on health care inflation. All these policies have had the net effect of changing the way Americans pay for health care services, by precipitating the change from catastrophic medical insurance to “comprehensive” health care coverage.

Mr. Obama began by depicting a crisis in the entitlement state, noting that “our health-care system is placing an unsustainable burden on taxpayers,” especially Medicare. Unless we find a way to cauterize this fiscal hemorrhage, “we will eventually be spending more on Medicare than every other government program combined. Put simply, our health-care program is our deficit problem. Nothing else even comes close.”

On this score he’s right. Medicare’s unfunded liability—the gap between revenues and promised benefits—is currently some $37 trillion over the next 75 years. Yet the President uses this insolvency as an argument to justify the creation of another health-care entitlement, this time for most everyone under age 65. It’s like a variation on the old Marx Brothers routine: “The soup is terrible and the portions are too small.”

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The chamber groaned and several Republicans looked at Wilson in disgust. Several members of the House and the Senate blasted Wilson after Obama’s speech.

I could point out what Obama did lie about in his speech, but I am going to take the course Joe Wilson did.

I would like to blast the members of Congress who scorned Wilson. While I respect the civility of the chambers and I know its rude to just blurt things out, it is time to stand up for what is right. Obama is standing in front of the entire country lying to them. Take a look at my post on the health-care analysis if you don’t believe me. Anyone who thinks yelling, “You lie.” is actually worse than lying, is just a flat out idiot.

Obama is on a mission to destroy this country under the auspices of trying to take care of the poor. I am sick and tired of this, quite frankly, bullshit argument. Joe Wilson did what was right. He called a spade a spade. There comes a time when enough is enough and being polite MUST take a backseat to securing the freedom and liberty of our country.

Kudos to you, Joe Wilson, for having the balls to stand up for what is right.

By Jennifer Graham (CP) 

SASKATOON — The incoming president of the Canadian Medical Association says this country’s health-care system is sick and doctors need to develop a plan to cure it.

Dr. Anne Doig says patients are getting less than optimal care and she adds that physicians from across the country – who will gather in Saskatoon on Sunday for their annual meeting – recognize that changes must be made.

“We all agree that the system is imploding, we all agree that things are more precarious than perhaps Canadians realize,” Doing said in an interview with The Canadian Press.

“We know that there must be change,” she said. “We’re all running flat out, we’re all just trying to stay ahead of the immediate day-to-day demands.”

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