Myths about U.S. health-care reform

Document addresses 17 of the most common statements of misinformation circulated by opponents of U.S. health-care reform.

The United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) has prepared a document that addresses some of the most frequent statements of misinformation its staff members have encountered concerning the U.S. debate on health-care reform. The document, “Myths about Health Care Reform,” targets United Methodist concerns specifically, although others may find its analysis useful as well.

‘Myths about Health Care Reform’ targets United Methodists specifically, although others may find its analysis useful.

Seventeen myths are analyzed. These include abortion funding, coverage of undocumented immigrants, affect on Medicare and Medicaid, government interference in the health-care industry and, of course, socialized medicine.

The document analyzes the myths mostly in light of the "Affordable Health Care for America Act" (H.R. 3962) passed by the House of Representatives earlier this month. The Senate voted 60-39 on Saturday to allow debate on its version of health-care reform. The Senate and House bills must be reconciled before any legislation can go to President Obama to be signed into law.

Many of the issues addressed in GBCS's myths document related to H.R. 3962 are applicable to the Senate debate as well.

The document was developed by GBCS’s work area on Alcohol, Other Addictions & Health Care. Staff members gathered the most frequent questions or critiques of health-care efforts that have come into the agency via phone calls, e-mail or “Letters to the Editor” prompted by Faith in Action articles.

Responses to these “myths” were developed with two criteria in mind: factual inaccuracies, and misunderstanding of United Methodist official positions, which are set by General Conference, the highest policy-making body of the denomination.

A variety of sources were consulted to rebut the myths. These sources include H.R. 3962; Congressional Budget Office reports; and the U.S. Constitution.

The United Methodist Social Principles and 2008 Book of Resolutions are also cited throughout in response to the misinformation perpetrated by opponents to health-care reform.

Download Myths of Health Care Reform (PDF format, requires Adobe Acriobat).

For more information, contact the Rev. Cynthia Abrams, director of Alcohol, Other Addictions & Health Care, (202) 488-5636.

Health & Wholeness

For more on health care-related topics, visit the “Health & Wholeness” page on the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) website: Health & Wholeness.

Health & Wholeness Action Network

The Rev. Cynthia Abrams supervises a Health & Wholeness Action Network that provides legislative updates, educational resources and identifies opportunities to act on issues such as access to health care, Medicare, Medicaid, mental health access and parity. She issues “action alerts” periodically through e-mail.

Joining the Health & Wholeness Action Network is free: go to umpower.org or click on My GBCS on the General Board of Church and Society Web site, www.umc-gbcs.org. You can also contact Donna Brandyberry, (202) 488-5641.

Cynthia Abrams can be reached at (202) 488-5636.