Roundup: Debunking Health Care Myths

Aug 6, 2009, 11:04am

Emily Douglas

Read this first: CBS and Salon debunk health care myths; Dr. LeRoy Carhart plans to open Kansas abortion clinic; Esquire profiles Dr. Warren Hern.

Read This First: CBS and Salon Debunk Health Care Myths
CBS News
offers a critically important debunking of ten health care reform
myths, including that the "House health care bill mandates or
encourages euthanasia" and that "health care legislation mandates
taxpayer dollars pay for abortions." Instead, CBS explains,

In fact, the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday adopted an amendment,
proposed by Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.), that would prohibit taxpayer
dollars from funding abortions. The amendment would not allow the
federal government to either require or prohibit abortion coverage by
private insurers. It requires at least one plan from the federal health
insurance exchange in each region of the country to cover abortion, and
at least one of the plans to not cover abortion.

"Private health care providers are free to cover abortion, but not with federal funds," reports
Dan Gilgoff of U.S. News and World Report. "The public plan would cover
abortion, but not with federal funds; a Capitol Hill aide tells me
money for abortions would come from what participants pay into the
public plan."

On euthanasia, CBS explains,

There is nothing in any health care reform bill before Congress that
would require people to "decide how they wish to die." Conservative
talking points from activists and legislators, however, would suggest
otherwise…In fact, section 1233 of the House bill
would allow Medicare for the first time to cover patient-doctor
consultations about end-of-life planning, including discussions about
drawing up a living will or planning hospice treatment. Patients would,
of course, seek out such advice on their own — they would not be
required to. The provision would limit Medicare coverage to one
consultation every five years.

Salon offers
its own list of health care myths, and again, explains that on coverage
for abortion,

Pro-choice lawmakers are trying to craft a compromise
that would
require insurance companies to pay for abortions out of premiums paid
by patients, not out of tax dollars. Pro-choice Rep. Lois Capps,
D-Calif., amended the House version of the legislation to state that abortion is not part of an "essential benefits package"
that all insurance plans must provide — meaning someone could offer a
special "pro-life health insurance" plan that doesn’t cover abortions,
even under the reforms.

Dr. LeRoy Carhart Plans to Open Open Kansas Clinic
The Wichita Eagle
reports that Dr. LeRoy Carhart, and women’s health and abortion
provider, plans to open a "late-term abortion practice" in Wichita, the
home of late Dr. George Tiller’s clinic. Carhart’s plans aren’t
without controversy: "The anti-abortion group Operation Rescue this
week announced a "Keep It
Closed" campaign targeting Carhart. The group said it would protest at
his Nebraska clinic Aug. 28-29."

Esquire Profiles Dr. Warren Hern
Esquire profiles Boulder-based women’s health and abortion provider Dr. Warren Hern. A brief excerpt:

The patients can be upsetting too. They’re under terrible stress, of
course, but sometimes they come in very angry. One had conjoined twins
and would have died giving birth, but she exploded when he told her she
couldn’t smoke in the office. And some treat him with contempt and disgust, usually
the ones who have been directly involved in antiabortion activities.
They hate all abortion except for their special case. One even said
they should all be killed. Only fourteen, she came with her mother.
What brings you here? he asked. I have to have an abortion. Why? I’m not old enough to have a baby. But you told the counselor we should all be killed? Yes, you should all be killed. Why? Because you do abortions.Yes, you should be killed too. Do you want me killed before or after I do your abortion? Before.