Fellow Doves:

There appears to be some confusion now concerning the “micro-chip” being in or not in the health care bill.

The information that was reported about the “chip” in the bill was based upon the original bill HR 3200. The bill that was passed two weeks ago was HR 3590. It has been word searched and it appears there is a cat-n-mouse game underfoot because you cannot find it.

What most people are unaware of is that this bill and like others is often modified once published and final details are not always evident until the bills are codified meaning regulations written to specific details.

There is ample evidence that the “micro-chip” is being brought in under Electronic Health Records (EHR) via an entirely different avenue. Pay close attention as this is extremely important.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed back in February a rule that would lead to the creating and sharing of electronic health records for a majority of Americans without their consent. The rule would require doctors to submit data for a majority of their patients – not just those on Medicare and Medicaid. Hearings were held last month. These rules do not require congressional voting. They become law by fiat and not legislation.

The CMS estimates that 624,000 physicians, hospitals, and other providers such as chiropractors, dentists, optometrists, and podiatrists would be affected by the Electronic Health Records. Physicians who want to qualify as “meaningful users” would be required to purchase “certified” EHRs and they would have to collect and submit demographic and medical data, in addition to “quality measures,” the number of which would be increased in later years.

While the rule would take effect in October of 2010 as an incentive program, Medicare physicians who don’t create and share EHR data after 2015 would face financial penalties. The CMS notes that under the rule, “The investment needed to meet the meaningful standards and obtain incentive funding are voluntary and hence not “mandates” within the meaning of the statute. However, the potential reductions in Medicare reimbursement after FY 2015 are effectively mandates.

The CMS estimates that each physician and provider would spend about $54,000 to purchase “certified” EHR technology and approximately $10,000 a year for maintenance. Hospitals are projected to spend about $5-million each to establish “certified” EHRs and approximately $1-million for maintenance.

Medicare physicians (and other qualifying providers) could receive up to a total of $41,000 over the five years for complying with the rule. The payments would be as follows (beginning October 1, 2010):

Year 1 – $15,000 ($18,000) if the first payment is in first or second year of program)

Year 2 – $12,000

Year 3 – $8,000

Year 4 – $4,000

Year 5 – $2,000

The incentive payments would end in 2014. Then penalties or reductions in Medicare payments would be imposed beginning in 2015 for those who do not comply.

So while there might not be anything specific in HR 3590 (Obama signed bill) about “microchipping” this information from the government’s own CMS, it is most certainly in the cards for an electronic protocol for identity purposes.

The government is, for all intent and purpose, subsidizing the physician 80% of the cost of complying with the new Health [Hell] Care Reform Bill. As I read the complete CMS document, there is no misunderstanding that everyone will be given an electronic protocol (device) implanted beneath the skin, and it will be required three years from March 23, 2010. – March 23, 2013!

The bottom line is the government will use the proverbial “carrot and stock” measure as the means of obtaining compliance from physicians. The government will sweeten the pot by paying 80% of the cost for the technology, and fine the doctors that do not voluntarily comply by withholding or reducing payment for services rendered and penalties of fine and incarceration. If you were a doctor what would you do? To not comply could cost a physician his/her accreditation with Medicare/Medicaid and potentially lose his or her medical license.

While the government may call it strictly “voluntary” participation, no reasonably intelligent person has any doubts as to the meaning and implications of reduced payments, penalties, fines or incarceration for failure to voluntarily comply!