Action Alerts

NewTAKE ACTION — Stop the National Patient ID

ALERT: As Congress considers year-end funding, the risk of creating a UNIQUE PATIENT IDENTIFIER (UPI) resurfaces. A UPI is a single federal number that would be used to track patients and digitally link all the confidential details of a person’s entire health history and medical record together. URGENT ACTION NEEDED: Please contact the members of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee and your U.S. Senators and ask them to uphold the long-standing BAN on the establishment of and funding for the UPI. CLICK HERE to send a quick message.  

NewHelpful COVID-19 Resources

Three resources for public access and assistance within the Coronavirus "drawer" of the CCHF Patient Toolbox. Use them as a resource on the vaccine, adverse reactions, early treatment options and legal assistance.

NewAsk Your Governor to Ban Vaccine Passports - SAMPLE LETTER

Dear Governor, I am requesting that you ban vaccination passports. On March 12, the Biden administration announced that they would be releasing guidance on implementing a vaccine passport system nationwide. These passports infringe on my rights to freely engage in daily life. . . .  Please use your executive power to protect me and every other citizen in this state from this aggressive federal assault on my human rights and constitutional freedoms. . . .

Amicus Briefs

Texas v. The United States

Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom joins with the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, to ask the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to affirm the invalidation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Matt Sissel v Department of Health and Human Services, et al

Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom joins with the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, and individual physicians to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear Matt Sissel v. Department of Health and Human Servs, et al, a case opposing the delete and replace actions of the US Senate in the creation of the Affordable Care Act. 

Center for Competitive Politics v. Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General of California

Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom joins with 57 non-profit organizations to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear Center for Competitive Politics v. Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General of California, a case opposing the demand by the Attorney General of California that nonprofits file an un-redacted copy of Schedule B to Internal Revenue Service Form 990, thus forcing the groups to disclose the names and addresses of the organizations

Articles/Letters Published

CCHF Sends FOI Request to Office of Civil Rights Regarding Patients Refused Care for Declining to Sign HIPAA Notice

CCHF has submitted a FOIA request to the Office of Civil Rights (OCR). Our request asks for any documentation that OCR has received or sent to physicians and other providers regarding providing care to patients who refuse to sign the HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices. Our goal with this request is to understand any abuses that are happening under the law, as well as to better equip patients to decline to sign the Notice of Privacy Practices.

Commentary: Hesitant parents shouldn’t be pressured to give kids the COVID shot

The decision to give the Covid shot to a child should ultimately begin and end with parents. The CDC recently released a statement urging parents to vaccinate their children 6 months to 5 years against COVID-19. Since the CDC’s recommendation, Politico has reported that “just over 5 million doses” have been delivered around the country. However, the CDC’s goal of 20 million children receiving the shot may be unattainable as most parents are unlikely to inject their children, even if they themselves had the shot.

Read More > > >

PUBLISHED — CCHF's OpEd: Digital driver’s license proposal is a bad idea

ALPHA NEWS, May 12, 2022

Digital driver's licenses give government new powers over the population. They threaten personal privacy, security, and autonomy.

In Jurassic Park, Dr. Ian Malcolm uttered the famous words, “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.”

Thankfully, the Minnesota House of Representatives is not debating whether to bring dinosaurs to life. However, one of its bills would require a report on the feasibility of transitioning to digital driver’s licenses in Minnesota — without stopping to consider whether implementing a digital ID is a good idea.

> Read More

CCHF Analyses of Legislation

Real ID

Letter to the Editor printed in the Minneapolis StarTribune on 5-19-16 written by Twila Brase, CCHF President, regarding Minnesota REAL ID legislation

You Can Still Fly - REAL ID Rule

From the Federal Register January 9, 2008 Rules and Regulations:

"DHS notes that individuals without a REAL ID-compliant document will still be able to enter Federal facilities and board commercial aircraft, and these rules cannot determine what alternative documents are acceptable for those purposes."

 

State to State Data Sharing - The Law

REAL ID Law:  Electronic Access to State Motor Vehicle Databases

 

CCHF Obamacare Briefs

CCHF Statements

NewCCHF Coalition Letter to Stop the National Patient ID

CCHF's letter opposing the creation of a Unique Patient Identifier (aka a national patient ID) was signed by 25 other organizations and sent to key Senators on the Appropriations Committee. This UPI has been prohibited for more than 20 years due to concerns about patient privacy, personal autonomy and the national security risks associated with centralized databases of personal information.  

ALPHA NEWS published CCHF's Commentary: NFL rationing of medical care exposed by 10-player lawsuit

Rationing of medical care is not limited to government programs and health plans. Ten former football players are suing the NFL for failing to recognize their rightful claim to disability benefits.

The players’ affidavit details the NFL’s failure to live up to the organization’s contractual promise to support players with injuries sustained from “investing themselves in the sport.” With an average of 159 concussions per regular season and many additional serious injuries, players depend heavily on the promise of disability benefits. 

 

Big Tech Muzzles Speech

Read Twila Brase's call to fight Big Tech censorship and the fear mongering that has led to lockdowns and mandates (posted in the 1/13/21 eNews).  Click here to subscribe to CCHF's weekly eNews

 

Declaration

Diagrams

Socialized Medicine USA 1942 - 2020

INFOGRAPHIC: "The Socialized Medicine Takeover by HMOs and Health Plans"   The push to socialized medicine has a long history in America.  See where it all started in this detailed diagram, and how employer-sponsored coverage and managed care have been foundational to its advance. NOTE: CCHF's Wedge of Health Freedom provides one escape route (jointhewedge.com).

Real ID Compliant and Non-Compliant States

Alternative Payment Models Diagram - Manatt

Alternative Payment Models (APMs), under the 2010 Obamacare law and the 2015 GOP “Doc Fix” bill (MACRA), are altering physician practice. The goal of government officials and health plan executives is to pay doctors for “value,” not their time or their services. The CMS Innovation Center has initiated most of the APMs listed in the diagram below, including ACOs and bundled payments. Who Defines “Value” of Care?

eNews Commentary

A Win for Genetic Ownership

Who owns your blood, your cells, your genetic material? 
 
Those who have followed the complicated story of Henrietta Lacks since her death in 1951 know that, at its core, the case is about genetic ownership. Ms. Lacks did not provide her consent before her cells were sold and used for medical research over the span of decades...

Biden Promotes Reproductive Agenda — Exposes HIPAA and Defies State Law!

The Biden Administration continues to defy reason and logic…and the law. Recently, President Biden proposed the HIPAA Privacy Rule to Support Reproductive Health Care Privacy to shield the perpetrators of and participants in abortion and gender treatment (generally referred to as “reproductive health care”)...

Obamacare – The End is Coming!

Today is the 13th Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. Passed in 2010 and signed by President Obama 13 years ago, the ACA is designed to end health freedom as we know it. It was designed as a wealth redistribution scheme.  

Read More > > >

Event Notices

NewJoin our Team! Seeking Executive Ass't to the President

CCHF is seeking an Executive Assistant to the President! Would you or someone you know be a good fit for our free-market, privacy-protecting health care policy team?  

2023 Annual Fundraising Gala

There are still a few number of seats available - reserve your spot now!

Join CCHF at our Annual Fundraising Gala Dinner!

Join us on September 15, 2022 for a fantastic evening and to help raise funds for CCHF!  Our Keynote speaker will be US Army Retired Lt. General Michael T. Flynn. 

Tickets are $125/ea (*$150/ea after August 12th).  Sponorship Opportunities available

Federal Laws

HIPAA Harms

REAL ID Act

H.R.1268

Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005
(Enrolled as Agreed to or Passed by Both House and Senate)

TITLE II--IMPROVED SECURITY FOR DRIVERS' LICENSES AND PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION CARDS

Proposed Senate "Obamacare Repeal" Amendment

Today, the U.S. Senate proposes to amend H. R. 3762 to "repeal" additional sections of the Affordable Care Act beyond the sections that the U.S. House proposes to repeal using the budget reconciliation process. The entire law would not be repealed. Budget reconciliation procedures mean the "repeal" is actually a 7-year suspension of various taxes, including the 40% 'Cadillac tax,' zeroing out of the individual and employer mandate penalties (while not repealing the language), ending the risk corridor and reinsurance (corporate welfare/bailout) programs, and phasing out the expansion of Medicaid and taxpayer-funded premium subsidies. If enacted and signed into law, the bill would be a blow to the financial solvency of the law, but would not repeal many ACA provisions which impede on individualized medical decision-making between patients and doctors, such as "value-based" purchasing, Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), the Independent Payment Advisory Board and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. [UPDATED with 20-page Senate amendment on Friday, December 4, 2015]

Federal Reform

20 HIPAA Harms

April is HIPAA Awareness Month  Do you know the truth about HIPAA?  Click the link to view the 20 HIPAA Harms.

CCHF Letter to FDA Seven Reasons NOT to Give Full Approval to Covid-19 Vaccines

ST. PAUL, Minn. — In the past few weeks, Moderna and Pfizer have asked the Food and Drug Administration to give full approval to their investigational mRNA vaccines for COVID-19.

A rush to approval would be dangerous to Americans, wrote the Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF) in a letter to Janet Woodcock, Acting Commissioner of the FDA, dated June 2, 2021.

“Our organization is writing to express our deep concern regarding the recent approval requests from Moderna and Pfizer. Both have asked the FDA to give full approval to their Covid-19 vaccines, which to date only have Emergency Use Authority (EUA),” wrote Twila Brase, RN, PHN, president and co-founder of CCHF. She shared seven reasons the requests should be “promptly and fully denied”:

CCHF Issues Letter to U.S. Senate Leadership Opposing Becerra Confirmation

While awaiting a Senate confirmation vote, Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom issued an urgent plea from Twila Brase to that chamber's leadership speaking out against the nomination of California Attorney General Xavier Becerra for Secretary of Health and Human Services.  Read the original letter HERE.  Read the press release HERE.

Health Freedom Watch

CCHF Makes Waves on Capitol Hill

HEALTH FREEDOM WATCH

Volume 26: Issue 3: 3rd Quarter 2023 

State Legislators are Calling CCHF

HEALTH FREEDOM WATCH

Volume 26: Issue 2: 2nd Quarter 2023 

 

Working Nationwide for Freedom

HEALTH FREEDOM WATCH

Volume 26: Issue 1: 1st Quarter 2023 

 

Info Cards/Brochures

HIPAA Info Wallet Card

Business card containing the HIPAA alert information

Privacy & Health Care Reform - 10 Things Patients & Doctors Need to Know

Informational brochure on the impact of Obamacare on patient privacy.

Spread the Word: CCHC Information Cards

LARGER VIEWS OF CARDS & BROCHURES

Minnesota Documents

REAL ID Votes - MN House 2017

Click on the PDF file to view all the MN HOUSE votes this year on REAL ID. Every 2017 vote of every Minnesota Representative is noted.

Minnesota Exchange Documents

Governor Dayton is building President Obama's health insurance exchange (federal takeover center) without legislative authority. He issued an Executive Order on October 31, 2011 when the 2011 legislature did not pass a law to establish a state-run exchange. This page provides KEY DOCUMENTS from the battle between the legislature and the Governor over implementing Obamacare -- national health care -- in Minnesota.

Minnesota Reports

Let MNCare Provider Tax Expire - THREE PIE CHARTS

The 2% MinnesotaCare provider tax ("sick tax") on all medical services provided in Minnesota is due to sunset on December 31, 2019 (the result of 2011 negotiations with then DFL Governor Mark Dayton and Republicans). Republicans want the tax to expire as scheduled. Democrats want to repeal the expiration and continue to tax the sick. CCHF created THREE DIAGRAMS and a ONE-PAGE OVERVIEW to show how the tax has created a slush fund, with little of the money going to the MNCare program.

MN Legislature is on One-Week Break - Here's What's Happened So Far

We've been busy this session. It's tough keeping track of what legislators are doing that could or will impact your health care freedom! There are lots of bills, unexpected amendments, and procedural surprises.

TEN “HIPAA” HARMS

Why Minnesota Legislature Should NOT Adopt Federal HIPAA No-Consent” Rule for Patient Medical Information 

 

Model Legislation

NewSummary of Five Ideas for a Patient Rights Bill

This is a one-page summary of five pieces of state-based legislation published within our Model State Legislation Library that you could use to create a bill of patients rights under a declared emergency, in the exam room and at the hospital.

Right of Cancer Patients to Protect Their Medical Data

Cancer patients and their families are frequently contacted by researchers and asked for information regarding their treatment or illness. The data collected is then often complied into state registries that may be shared with the federal government or national databases. State legislators should protect the medical privacy of cancer patients and not allow their data to be shared beyond state registries without the patient's permission.

Hospital Price Transparency

Despite a federal law that mandates that hospitals display the costs of their services and treatments to patients, less than 15% of hospitals do so. This legislation provides protections to patients who are unaware of the costs (due to a failure of the hospital to comply with price transparency laws) associated with their treatment costs.

National Reports

NewCCHF Letter to US Senate Opposing National Patient ID

CCHF, along with 25 other individuals and organizations representing American citizens nationwide, sent a letter to Congressional leadership and Members of the Appropriations Committee February 10, 2022, to express strong opposition to ending the longstanding prohibition on funding and development for the controversial, and very troubling, federal Unique Patient Identifier (UPI). See the letter here.

CCHF Sends Letter to Appropriations Committee

CCHF has asked Congress to request The Office of the National Coordinator of Health IT (ONC) publicize their report on creating a Unique Patient Identifier. ONC recently submitted to the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services (Labor-HHS) Appropriations Subcommittee a report on their recommendation regarding funding a Unique Patient Identifier. However, they have not made this report public. CCHF has written to the Chair and Ranking Member of the Labor-HHS subcommittee, and the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, requesting that the report be made public. 

The U.S. CENSUS­: From Enumeration to Intrusion

By April 1, Americans in every household will have received the 2020 U.S. Census form in their mailbox. While enumeration continues to be one portion of the Census, the overall purpose of the Census has shifted as the nation has developed and grown. The U.S. Census and in particular, the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, now collect additional private data on Americans, including information on health status and medical conditions. 

 

Petitions

CITIZEN PETITION - Protect Patient Consent Rights

I hereby petition the Minnesota Legislature and Governor Walz to protect my patient privacy & consent rights.

CLICK HERE to sign the Petition

CITIZEN PETITION - Freedom to NOT CHOOSE Medicare

** Update ** October 3, 2019:

CCHF Applauds POTUS Medicare Executive Order Maximizing Freedom for Patients and Providers

Thank you to everyone who has signed this petition and supported choice for seniors!  When citizens get involved, we can make a difference. CCHF will continue to advocte for changes to secure health freedom.

Click here to view more information on the link between Medicare and Social Security benefits, and how to restore Medicare freedom

I hereby petition the United States Congress and the Administration of President Donald J. Trump to restore freedom and choice to the Medicare and Social Security programs by allowing citizens to claim social security benefits without a requirement to enroll in Medicare.  

 

Policy Briefs

State Emergency Health Powers

On October 23, 2001, less than two months after the 9/11 terrorist attack, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued the proposed Model State Emergency Health Powers Act (MEHPA). The proposal was finalized in December 2001. It authorized state health officials and their designees to take control of people, property, health care, communications and more in a public health emergency. State legislatures debated it in 2002. Nearly 40 introduced it and 20 states passed some version of it. Most of the public is not aware of these police powers..  For more information go to www.governmenthealthpowers.us

HIPAA Action Alert - Refuse to Sign

HIPAA - The Grand Deception

HIPAA does not protect health privacy - use this one-page CCHF document at your clinic and hospital to REFUSE TO SIGN the HIPAA "privacy" form. Contact CCHF for business-card-sized "refuse to sign" forms you can carry in your wallet. For more information, read the CCHF Alert.

MN "Bureaucrats at Bedside" Plan - Q&A

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will designate certain treatment protocols as the MN standard of care. At their own discretion, they will decide which protocols will be called “evidence-based” and approved for use. MDH will collect data on physician adherence to these government-issued protocols and publicly report compliance rates on their website. Physi- cians with low compliance rates may be financially penalized.

Projects

25 HIPAA Harms

The year 2021 is the 25th anniversary of HIPAA, the law that eliminated patient privacy rights. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was signed on August 21, 1996. The so-called “HIPAA privacy rule” went into effect on April 14, 2003. To show how little privacy you have, here are 25 ways HIPAA harms you.

2019 Newborn Retention by State

2019 Newborn Retention

Refuse to Enroll Billboard Campaign

Nationwide Refuse to Enroll Billboard campaign.

Public Comments

Public Comment on Social Determinants of Health in Medicare

Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF) is a national, independent, non-profit, health care policy organization with a mission to protect patient and doctor freedom. Protecting freedom including protecting the freedom of the patient and the doctor to work together for the benefit of the patient affordably, confidentially, and without interference. 

 

 

Public Comment on Covid Vaccine Recommendation

CCHF has written public comments to Rochelle Walensky, the Director of the CDC, requesting that she reject the votes and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices that Covid-19 injections become part of the Vaccines for Children program, and are added to the Child and Adult vaccination schedules. The comments are public.

TSA's Proposed Data Collection Activity With No Public Input

CCHF sent a letter to the Transportation Security Administration questioning how the American people can provide informed comments on a data collection proposal, when the proposal is not available to the public.

 

 

Public Documents

MN Individual Insurance Market Becomes Gov't Program

MNSure, the Obamacare exchange website, has announced the stabilization of premium costs due to the new state reinsurance program. They note “costs are decreasing in most cases.” But the costs are not decreasing. They’re being paid for by taxpayers. As this letter shows federal taxes of more than $1 billion will be used to subsidize the entire MN individual market, which has been put into a new subsidized government program called the Minnesota Premium Security Plan.

CONGRESS CAN: Restore Healthcare Freedom & Affordability

Restore Affordability
The high-cost of insurance and medical delivery today are a result of heavy third-party involvement in every medical decision...and burdensome regs, reporting, measurement
-  TRUE INSURANCE - Expand/Restore major-medical indemnity policies.

and more...

 

Claim an Obamacare Exemption to Avoid Penalty

In 2014, 20 million went without insurance, but only 8 million paid the penalty-tax. The remaining 12 million people claimed one of 9 exemptions (which include 14 hardship waivers). Numbers 13 and 14 are fairly broad in scope. More than 600,000 people have avoided the penalty -- and the high-cost, unaffordable premiums -- by joining a health-sharing ministry (Exemption #2). Check them out. Open Enrollment ends on January 31, 2017.

Speeches

Twila Brase's Remarks to the Senate HELP Committee, October 23, 2019

Stop Obamacare Insurance Exchanges - CCHF Speech

On September 21, CCHF President gave this speech at the Eagle Forum Council in St. Louis Missouri.

Opposing Obamacare in MN

CCHF President, Twila Brase, joins Michael Cannon from the Cato Institute to speak out in opposition to establishing an Obamacare Health Insurance Exchange in Minnesota. The forum, titled, "Perspectives on Health Insurance Exchanges," was hosted by the Republican Health Care Task Force of the MN GOP at the State Capitol on November 3, 2011.

Testimony

NewCCHF Submits Written Testimony Opposing MN HF 1030

CCHF submitted written testimony recently opposing HF 1030, a bill introduced and co-authored by Rep. Tina Liebling of the Minnesota House of Representatives.

CCHF Testimony (MN) regarding HF 1520 – Consent for Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing

CCHF's Legislative and Policy Specialist, Natasha Chernyavsky, Testimony on HF 1520 (Hemmingsen-Jaeger) – Consent for Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing

 

 

CCHF Testifies Against National Medical Database

CCHF Legislative and Policy Manager Ashley Smothers testified on February 18 against a bill before the Minnesota legislature that sought to advance a national database and expand patient data sharing. Her testimony starts around 14:00 into the video.

Transcripts

TRANSCRIPT: Outside, In: Will Population Health Solve What’s Ailing Our Health Care System?

 

Politico Panel Discussion – Partial Transcript by CCHF

NOTE: All emphasis ours. Some comments paraphrased or truncated.

Full descriptions and comments found here.

MN Legislators on Record - NO EHR, NO PENALTY

TRANSCRIPT:
House of Representatives Floor Session
Friday May 8, 2015
House File 1535
Bill Author: Representative Tara Mack

TRANSCRIPT: MN Legislators on Record - NO EHR, NO PENALTY

TRANSCRIPT:
House of Representatives Floor Session
Friday May 8, 2015
House File 1535
Bill Author: Representative Tara Mack