ObamaCare: Fact or Fiction?
We knew ObamaCare was bad from the start, but over 2 years later, we see more signs everday of the law’s harmful effects. In January of 2012, the House passed my language to fully repeal ObamaCare, but now the Supreme Court has declared the individual mandate to be Constitutional under Congress's taxing power.
Here you can see the “Facts or Fictions” on what we’ve learned about ObamaCare since the House last acted on full repeal and the Supreme Court announced its decision.
Fact or Fiction?
ObamaCare money has gone to pay for bike paths and grocery stores in Illinois.
Fact: In 2011, $4 million of ObamaCare money went to Cook County, Illinois for bike paths, walking trails, and to promote breastfeeding.
http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/hodgkins/features/x286169064/Cook-County-doles-ouf-4-million-for-obesity-grants
Fact or Fiction?
ObamaCare will limit expensive emergency room visits since it throws millions of Americans onto the Medicaid rolls.
Fiction: While ObamaCare does throw millions of Americans onto the fiscally unsustainable Medicaid system, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) shows that Medicaid patients visit the emergency room nearly twice as much as the uninsured.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus10.pdf
Fact or Fiction?
ObamaCare will reduce the financial burden on cash-strapped state governments.
Fiction: Reports indicate that ObamaCare will increase Medicaid’s unfunded mandate to states by at least $118 billion.
http://energycommerce.house.gov/media/file/PDFs/030111MedicaidReport.pdf
Fact or Fiction?
ObamaCare implementation would continue to move forward even in the case of a government shutdown.
Fact: Because of the unconventional automatic, autopilot appropriations inserted into ObamaCare, even in the case of a funding lapse and government shutdown, implementation of the law would continue to go forward as planned.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52776.html
Fact or Fiction?
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports that President Obama’s own Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) admits that premiums would go up under ObamaCare if implemented as written.
Fact: HHS, when describing its waiver process to the GAO, admitted that waivers were needed because the law, as written, would have led to significant premium increases for the companies who received waivers.
http://thehill.com/images/stories/blogs/healthwatch/gaowaivers.pdf
Fact or Fiction?
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports that there are 47 ways in which the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will be enforcing ObamaCare.
Fact: GAO report summarizes that the “IRS has responsibilities in the implementation of 47 PPACA provisions…”
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d11719.pdf
Fact or Fiction?
Obama’s own Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) admits the costs of its rule for “free” preventative care will be passed on to consumers, causing premiums to increase 1.5%.
Fact: HHS admits that “The Departments estimate that premiums will increase by approximately 1.5 percent on average for enrollees in non-grandfathered plans. This estimate assumes that any changes in insurance benefits will be directly passed on to the consumer in the form of changes in premiums.”
http://www.healthcare.gov/law/resources/regulations/prevention/regs.html
Fact or Fiction?
New York Times and National Journal show that ObamaCare will increase competition among insurers and hospitals, leading to lower costs for consumers.
Fiction: The New York Times actually reports that ObamaCare is likely to prompt a new wave or mergers and consolidations in the health care industry, possibly reducing competition and leading to higher costs. The National Journal indicates that this could increases health care costs by 40%.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/22/us/22health.html?_r=1
http://www.nationaljournal.com/member/magazine/how-the-health-law-could-raise-prices-20120216?mrefid=site_search&page=1
Fact or Fiction?
The Obama Administration is forcing private health insurance companies send letters to their customers touting the benefits of ObamaCare.
Fact: ObamaCare’s Medical-Loss-Ratio (MLR) regulation forces insurers to tout ObamaCare’s benefits to their customers.
http://cciio.cms.gov/resources/factsheets/mlrfinalrule.html
Fact or Fiction?
The vast majority of small businesses say ObamaCare is not affecting their ability to hire new workers.
Fiction: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports that 74% of small businesses say ObamaCare is making it harder for them to hire new workers.
http://www.uschambersmallbusinessnation.com/uploads/Chamber%20Q4_Summary%20Memo_Final%20.pdf
Fact or Fiction?
The millions of Americans who had pre-existing conditions before ObamaCare jumped at the opportunity to enter ObamaCare’s new high-risk pool.
Fiction: Even after dramatically lowering rates, easing eligibility requirements, and hiring agents to recruit for ObamaCare’s high-risk pool, very few have bothered to enrolled.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/72813.html
Fact or Fiction?
Physician surveys indicate that doctors favor ObamaCare by a two-to-one margin.
Fiction: The Physicians Foundation finds that doctors oppose ObamaCare by a two-to-one margin.
http://www.physiciansfoundation.org/uploadedFiles/PF%20Next%20Gen%20Phys%20Survey%20Analysis%20FINAL.pdf
Fact or Fiction?
President Obama kept his promise not to cut secret deals with special interests and lobbyists in order to advance legislation.
Fiction: Emails reveal that the Obama Administration was in constant contact with special interests, wheeling and dealing throughout the entire process to buy off special interests.
http://energycommerce.house.gov/News/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=9526
Fact or Fiction?
ObamaCare’s small business tax credits are very popular and are helping small businesses throughout the country.
Fiction: The Government Accountability Office (GAO) shows that ObamaCare’s small business tax credits are too complex and not big enough for small businesses to benefit.
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-549
“The Facts are clear. ObamaCare must be repealed!”
