"Health Care For Clunkers"

Dr. Helen writes that the many failings of the Obama administration’s “Cash for Clunkers” program can tell us quite a bit about what to expect from ObamaCare:

I was at the gym this morning and saw a car dealer on Fox News talking with Megan Kelly about the Cash for Clunkers program. He had sold 181 cars and been reimbursed for 6 of them thus far. Asked if he would use the program again, he said “yes, but I hope they’ll pay next time. There was also too much bureaucracy.”

Good luck with that and welcome to how the government takes its own sweet time getting money to providers of services. The auto dealers are just getting a little taste of what health care providers have been dealing with for years. Those of us who are health care providers are used to filling out forms over and over, stalling, lack of reimbursements and often, cuts in reimbursement without warning. I can’t tell you how many times I have filled out forms, made phone calls and begged for payment for Medicare reimbursements. It’s just not worth it.

Imagine what will happen if the government takes over all of health care. Cash for Clunkers, Health care for Clunkers, call it what you want, actual cash will be hard to come by and take outrageous amounts of time and energy to collect. Cash for Clunkers should serve as a warning sign to providers and patients alike that more government interference into health care will result in more bureaucracy and less time for providers to spend with patients. After all, filling out paperwork and begging for cash can be time consuming.

Inside the Pajamas portal, George Leef writes that just as President Obama worried, his socialized health care program could indeed become his Waterloo — particularly if it passes.

Which is why you may not want to leave home without this card in your pocket.