Obama Administration Censorship on Healthcare

Okay, I mentioned in my earlier article today that two bits of information from this morning’s news popped my eyes open. The second thing didn’t make my feet hit the floor like the first one did, but certainly raised my blood pressure. It’s the old double-standard…. which I abhor… that is so alive and well in the Obama administration. For instance, the left claiming that any attempt to silence them is a violation of freedom of speech, while they (now that they are in control) are trying to do just that to their opposition.

Recently, private insurer Humana Inc. sent out a letter to its senior customers who were enrolled in the company’s Medicare Advantage plan. In essence, this letter was advising them that under Senator Max Baucus’ Plan, which includes billions in cut to Medicare and Medicaid, their benefits could be in danger of being eliminated if this legislation passed. When Baucus got wind of this letter, whiney-baby Baucus got the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to try to keep Humana from sending these out letters to its customers.

The CMS in essence issued a gag order and instructed Humana to stop expressing “certain opinions” about healthcare reform. From a letter from the CMS to Humana on this matter: “Please be advised that we take this matter very seriously and, based upon the findings of our investigation, will pursue compliance and enforcement actions….” CMS has also prohibited any other private insurers from corresponding in like manner with their customers. However, AARP, which sponsors a Medicare Advantage program in addition to its Medigap policies, was somehow (mysteriously) exempted. (Remember there was some “nuzzling” between AARP and the White House a short time ago which resulted in a “Kumbaya moment” between them! Something about an endorsement, only it wasn’t an endorsement when people started tearing up their AARP membership cards and cancelling their memberships! Hmmm.)

Following the letter from CMS to Humana, the secretary of Health and Human Services began an investigation of Humana with the sole purpose of intimidating the company. They further ordered Humana “to end immediately all such mailings to beneficiaries and to remove any related materials directed to Medicare enrollees from your website”.

Here you go! Another example of Chicago-style politics and strong-arm tactics! Dirty politics at its worst! The Obama administration is apparently continuing with its strategy of thuggary by attacking the first amendment rights of anyone or any organization who disagrees with his policies, in particular Obamacare. It just so happens that Humana is one of the latest of the Obama Administration’s victims.

Talk about the AUDACITY of one individual, or that individual’s machine, to try to strip the rights of a company to fully inform their customers of possible changes in their benefits. Baucus’ bill already has over 500 amendments. No one knows where these cuts will come from, but many sources have said that billions will be cut from Medicare and Medicaid, and in particular Medicare Advantage, including the Congressional Budget Office. So, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility for Humana’s senior customers to lose some of their benefits.

This kind of censorship, this violation of one of our basic liberties, has got to stop. Americans believe in their freedom to express their opinions, whether as an individual or a private corporation. That freedom is still in existence – at least for now!