Research Briefing

Louisianans Urging You To Stand Strong, Slow Down On Dems’ Health Care Experiment

LOUISIANANS OPPOSE DEMS’ HEALTH CARE EXPERIMENT

Over Three Out Of Every Five Louisianans Oppose Obama’s Health Care Experiment. “Thirty-six percent (36%) of Louisiana voters favor the health care reform proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. Sixty-one percent (61%) are opposed.” (“Election 2010: Louisiana Senate,” Rasmussen Reports, 10/7/09)

• “Sixty percent (60%) believe passage of the bill will make the quality of care get worse while 58% say it will drive the costs up. Sixty-seven percent (67%) believe the plan would increase the deficit and 83% believe it would lead to a hike in middle class taxes.” (“Election 2010: Louisiana Senate,” Rasmussen Reports, 10/7/09)

Louisiana State Medical Society Against Insurance Mandates On Businesses. “The LSMS recognizes employer provided insurance as one of the important options for financing health care coverage but it should not be mandated.” (Louisiana State Medical Society, “National Health System Reform,” Press Release, Accessed 12/8/09)

President-Elect Of Louisiana Medical Association Says Medicare Buy-In Compromise Would Hurt Doctors, Who Would Be Forced Pass Costs On To Patients. “Dr. Patrick Breaux … president-elect of the Louisiana Medical Association, said … he would have a major objection to expanding Medicare -- mainly because it covers only about 80 percent of costs … it’s likely that the kind of expansion being considered by the Senate would force providers and insurance companies to pass on the shortfalls in reimbursements to privately covered plans and patients, meaning bigger increases for people who already have coverage.” (Bruce Alpert, “Medicare Expansion Proposed In Senate Draws Opposition From Louisiana Doctors,” The Times-Picayune, 12/10/09)

President Of New Orleans Hospital Council Says Medicare Buy-In Compromise “Would Cause A Big Financial Hit.” “Paul Salles, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Hospital Council of New Orleans, said an expansion of Medicare would cause a big financial hit for his 17-member hospitals because of the reimbursement rates.” (Bruce Alpert, “Medicare Expansion Proposed In Senate Draws Opposition From Louisiana Doctors,” The Times-Picayune, 12/10/09)

SEN. LANDRIEU, WILL YOU STAND STRONG AND OPPOSE THIS $1 TRILLION GAMBLE?

Landrieu: “[I]’m Not For A Government-Run, National, Taxpayer-Subsidized Plan, And Never Will Be.” (Charles Babington, “Key Senators May Rebuff Obama On Health Care,” The Associated Press, 10/22/09)

• In October, Sen. Landrieu Said She’s “Not A Big Fan Of Public Option.” “I am not a big fan of public option… We already have two public options that most people in America understand, Medicaid and Medicare. Both have very, very serious problems. One is going to be bankrupt in seven years, and the other one doctors don’t want to participate.” (Huma Khan, “Health Care Reform Would Entail Major Changes For Americans,” ABC News, 10/22/09)

Landrieu Has Not Approved The New Compromise: “There’s No Specific Compromise. There Were Discussions.” (Jeffrey Young, "Landrieu, Lincoln: No ‘Compromise’ Made On Health Bill," The Hill, 12/9/09)

• Landrieu Concerned Compromise Will Cost Too Much. “Centrist Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and other senators emphasized they are withholding any promises until they hear from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) about the cost of the new proposals.” (Jeffrey Young, “Not So Fast, Say Senators On Health Bill As They Anticipate Price Tag,” The Hill, 12/9/09)

Landrieu Said Fixing Medicare And Medicaid Should Be A Priority, Not Creating A New Entitlement Program. “Describing the public option as a ‘government-run, taxpayer subsidized, national insurance plan,’ Landrieu said it would likely replicate the problems faced by Medicare and Medicaid. ‘Why don’t we fix the two public options we have now instead of creating a third one…’” (Eric Zimmerman, “Landrieu Blasts Public Option,” The Hill’s “Briefing Room” Blog, 10/22/09)