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A Physician's Request to Congress by Russell Holmes, MD

Friday, October 16, 2009



Dear Senators and Congressmen:
 
I have been a physician for 31 years specializing in geriatrics and family medicine.  I have grave concerns about the present health care bill and respectfully request your consideration of the following points. This letter is sent on behalf of my patients and the best heath care system in the world.  I fear the changes proposed will hurt my elderly patients and demoralize many physicians into early retirement. 
 
1. If passed, the "reforms" do not even go into effect into until after the 2012 Presidential elections. Therefore the healthcare "holocaust" of excessive deaths bemoaned by Rep. Alan Grayson will go unchecked for four more years under the President's watch. So, what's the rush to vote on something that does not go into effect until 2013?
 
2.  The majority of patients and physicians believe that the monumental changes proposed to the American health care system merit intense scrutiny before the bill comes up for  up for a vote.  We would think that the proponents would be justifiably proud of the details of their crafted bill.   Therefore, it is baffling that the majority party is doing all it can to prevent Americans from vetting their efforts.  A proposal to post the bill on the internet for three days for public and media review was rejected by Sen. Max Baucus and the Democrat majority.  A two week posting actually seems merited to review such a colossal change. It seems obvious that the Democrat party is embarrassed by the details and is trying to force a bill through Congress before the people wake up and kick the rascals out of power.  An intellectually honest politician would say, "Let's slow down and get it right." 
 
3. An independent study by the reputable accounting firm, PriceWaterhouseCooper, released 10/12/2009 found that health insurance premiums will skyrocket under this version of the bill and will crush family's budgets if this bill passes.  The finding suggests that premiums will be significantly higher under Obamacare compared to doing nothing at all.  Estimated premium for family of four in 2019 is $26,000.  This bill is a massive tax increase on the entire country since costs to fund this disaster are buried in surcharges to drug companies, health insurers and device manufacturers which will be passed onto us, the consumers. 
 
4. Different tax rates for people in different states as engineered by Senator Reid should embarrass the Congress, but apparently it does not.  Why should the citizens of 46 states subsidize Harry Reid's Nevada along with Oregon, Rhode Island, and Michigan?  We taxpayers may not wish to cover Harry Reid's political interests with our money.
 
5.  The bill ignores one of the most glaring contributors to medical costs in America: the perpetual threat of litigation.  A health care bill that ignores tort reform is woefully inadequate.  At the very least Congress should have an open dialogue on this critical subject.  
 
It is not too much to craft a clearly written bill and subject it to the cleansing benefits of sunlight.  I encourage my Senators and Congressmen to produce a bill that they are not ashamed to share with the people they serve.  I urge my elected representatives to vote no on the embarrassingly inadequate bill in its present form.  Haste makes waste.
 
Respectfully,
 

Russell Holmes, M.D.
Oceanside CA 92054
  
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