GOP Lays Booby Trap in Health Care Debate

By GottaLaff

Another day, another Conservative steaming pile of misinformation. This time it's all about how the Big Bad Government is going to ration your health care... again. See, now they're going to force women to ignore preventive breast health care and their own common sense.

Know what this really is? Another attempt to divert attention from the battle over politicizing the battle. Shiny keys! See 'em?

Since anti-abortion lawmakers are eager to wipe out a choice that truly matters for women, mammogram-gate conveniently diverts women's attention to health care option that isn't actually under threat. And all the chest-thumping polemics on Capitol Hill end up turning public attention away from what's really making us ill: the politicization of our health.

Now let's take a look at that thing we like to call "truth":

On mammograms, here's what the Task Force actually said:

The USPSTF recommends against routine screening mammography in women aged 40 to 49 years. The decision to start regular, biennial screening mammography before the age of 50 years should be an individual one and take into account patient context, including the patient's values regarding specific benefits and harms.

In other words, recommendations and... choice:

Currently, there's no evidence that the government or the insurance industry will try to curtail coverage for mammograms simply based on the Task Force's recommendations. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius noted as much earlier this week, stating that the Task Force's recommendations don't determine government policy.

But we know how Conservatives hate choice, so all we hear about is how "Obamacare" is gonna get us!

Once again, they plant a poisonous seed and it takes hold. The press needs to wake up and start reporting facts, not talking points.

H/t: Greg Skilling