Local

Health care decision prompts responses

By JENNIFER DENEVAN, Needles Desert Star Monday, July 2, 2012 5:32 PM PDT

NEEDLES Last Thursdays ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the Patient Protection and Affordable Healthcare Act, often referred to as ObamaCare, has received varied responses.

Jeff Williams, board of hospital trustees president, said its a terrible thing for Needles to have been upheld. It will mean spending more money than will ever be made.

Its a lousy idea, he continued.

He said he thinks doctors will quit because the acts been upheld; and that doctors dont get paid enough as it is but theyll get paid even less under ObamaCare.

(Supreme Court Justice) John Roberts let us down by calling it a tax, Williams said. He got that wrong. Its a penalty.

Williams said he feels calling that portion of the act a tax is opening the door for the federal government to start taxing many items or services. What else can they penalize us for? he asked.

On paper Meaningful Use, the use of electronic paperwork and filing, sounds good, but in practice it really delays the process further, Williams said. For example, a prescription has to go through all the electronic processes before a patient can get the needed medicine, making it take two or three times as long as previously, he continued.

Originally posted here:

Health care decision prompts responses