National Health Systems

CCHC Analysis of Massachusetts "Universal Coverage" Bill

Massachusetts' “universal coverage” legislation with the "Connector" mimics the government bureaucracy and bureaucratic controls of the 1993 Clinton Health Security Act and the 2011 so-called Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

EBM: How Technocrats are Taking Over the Practice of Medicine

Looming on the visible horizon of American health care is  new attempt to control the practice of medicine and limit—indeed ration—patient access to health care services. While doctors often refer to it as "cookbook medicine," this quickly advancing strategy is best known by the name "evidence-based medicine" (EBM).

Right to Health Care

Senator Edward Kennedy says he will support Ballot Question 5 in Massachusetts to mandate universal health care coverage and limit the independent decisions and operations of health plans. According to the Boston Globe (11/1/00), "Kennedy, considered by many to be the nation's leading liberal health-care lawmaker, said Question 5 fits with his lifetime political mission of establishing universal health care. He said a yes vote here may spur other states to adopt similar policies."

Health Care Around the World

Sending American Health Care Dollars to Mexico? According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,"The United States and Mexico have reached a formal agreement to establish the U.S. - Mexico Border Health Commission (BHC)...The Commission will serve as a forum to discuss shared health concerns and find ways to improve the health status of people living along the border." Secretary Shalala signed the agreement on July 14, 2000.

Physician Groups Declare"Right" to Health Care an Issue for 2000

According to a U.S. Newswire Report, the American Medical Association, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, and American College of Surgeons, have seperately and collectively decided to pursue universal health insurance.

Government: A Wedge Between Patient and Doctor

The answer to fear and conflict lies in this principle: "He who holds the gold makes the rules." Until patients regain individual control and management of their health care dollars, outside administrative decisions and financial conflicts of interest will threaten medical judgment.

Testimony on Unique Patient Identifiers

We cannot support the implementation of standardized government-issued unique patient identifiers for individuals. Despite the fact that Congress passed the HIPAA law, this enumeration and surveillance system will clearly be detrimental to the liberty, privacy, and security of every United States citizen. Not only will this surveillance system allow government officials to use doctors to track citizens at their most vulnerable times when they have no where else to go...