From Think Progress:

Rush Limbaugh was rushed to a hospital in Hawaii last week after he complained of chest pains and had reportedly been taken from his hotel “in serious condition.”

Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu released Limbaugh on Friday, and during a press conference the conservative radio host said his physicians did not know what caused his symptoms. Limbaugh praised the U.S. health care system based on his experience:

“The treatment I received here was the best that the world has to offer,” Limbaugh said. “Based on what happened here to me, I don’t think there’s one thing wrong with the American health care system. It is working just fine, just dandy.”

Of course Rush would probably think any health system is “just dandy,” mainly because he is a multi-millionaire and can afford the best health care wherever he might be. But this is not the case for tens of millions of Americans who are unable to afford care or insurance due to the rising costs of health care in the U.S.

But it’s also odd that Limbaugh would cite his experience in Hawaii as evidence that the U.S. health care system is “fine” seeing that Hawaii has already passed reform measures similar to those that Congress is currently considering as part of comprehensive reform — measures that Limbaugh has constantly been attacking.

As Crooks and Liars points out: It’s so nice that Limbaugh thinks our health care system is just wonderful since he’s never going to have to worry about whether he’ll go bankrupt paying for his medical bills.

Read more at Think Progress.

Politics Daily looks at the effects of the so-called “Cadillac tax” included in the Senate health care bill. Originally intended as a way to finance reform by taxing the type of expensive benefit plans enjoyed by Wall Street executives, studies show it would hit a lot of middle-class Americans — and likely result in drastic cuts to health benefits.

Beth Umland, the research director for the Mercer employee benefits consulting firm which released a widely-read study on this tax last week, says the impact would be felt across the board.

“Plans that trigger the excise tax are not necessarily generous plans,” she said. “Small employers offer significantly less-generous plans than large employers, but just as many small employers are going to trigger the tax.” Plans for workers in dangerous professions, like steelworkers, also have higher-cost plans because they experience more work-related health problems.

Unlike the Senate bill, the plan passed by the House pays for health reform with a surtax on people making more than $500,000, and House Democrats like Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) are determined to remove the Cadillac tax when the legislation goes to conference committee.

A senior Democratic House aide said this week that the choice by the Senate to pay for health care reform with an excise tax that could hit middle-class workers, as opposed to the choice of the House to tax the highest earners, represents a fundamental philosophical difference between the two chambers that could endanger the entire bill if it is a part of the final conference report.

“It would be a mistake to assume that we’re just going to rubber-stamp what the Senate sends us,” Courtney said. “All of us are going to be on the ballot in 2010. It certainly raises a big, red flag for people who are going out be campaigning soon.”

Read the full story.

During recent debate on the Senate floor, Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said he had “not met one” person in his state who supports health care reform. He has now.

Dozens of local citizens gathered at Sen. McConnell’s Louisville office on Friday to deliver a petition with the names of over 1,000 Kentuckians with a simple message for the Obstructionist-in-Chief:

“Hey Mitch McConnell, I’m from Kentucky and I support health reform that gives us quality, affordable health care with the choice of a public health insurance option.”

Watch media coverage below from WDRB (FOX):

WLKY (CBS):

Lovie Morant (right) listens as nurse Suzanne Delaney talks about health care reform. (Henrietta Wildsmith/The Shreveport Times)

Wearing medical scrubs with the slogan, “House Calls for Health Care,” AFSCME nurses took the case for real health care reform directly to the people of Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana, Nebraska, and North Dakota over the weekend.

The nurses went door-to-door to encourage people to contact their senators in support of reform that would lower health care costs, expand coverage and keep the insurance companies honest.

AFSCME nurses have been leading the charge for health care reform this year. In addition to last weekend’s door-to-door effort, nurses also previously visited neighborhoods in Delaware, Maine and Ohio. They also starred in ads highlighting the desperate need nurses see for health care reform, as they serve on the front-lines of the health care crisis each day.

Check out some coverage from this weekend:

Arkansas

Local 965 University Union Voice: AFSCME Nurses Rally for Reform

KNWA News (video): Nurses Uniting for a Common Cause

Louisiana

The Shreveport Times: Shreveporters Sign Health Care Reform Petition

The AFL-CIO has launched a new TV ad that sends a clear message: “Pass Health Care. Don’t Tax Health Benefits.” The ad, which started running in key markets around the country over the weekend, emphasizes that taxing benefits will lead companies to cut benefits and will shift cost burdens to families that can’t afford it. It urges Congress to pass health care reform all Americans can afford.

The Senate’s health care bill would set a tax on health plans worth more than $8,500 per year for individuals and $23,000 per year for families. For workers in high-risk occupations, for retirees 55 or older and for residents in the 17 highest-cost states, the bill would tax plans worth more than $9,850 for individuals and $26,000 for families.

This would amount to an enormous tax on workers’ health care benefits, one that would grow rapidly, as insurers increase premiums by an equivalent amount. It would shift health care costs onto the backs of workers—including many of the most vulnerable workers—without bringing down the cost of health care.

Read more on the AFL-CIO blog.

An independent study released this week finds that the excise tax on higher-cost health plans would adversely impact the middle class by shifting more costs to workers.

Nearly two-thirds of employers say they would make changes to their employees’ health coverage to avoid the so-called “Cadillac tax” included in the Senate bill, taking steps like these:

• 75 percent would raise deductibles or copayments to bring down premium costs.
• 40 percent would add a lower cost health plan as an alternative.
• 19 percent would terminate employer contributions to health or flexible savings accounts.

Another 23 percent of employers say they would maintain current coverage but pass the costs of the tax along to their employees.

Read the complete study on the Kaiser Health News website.

Now that health care reform has passed in the House, it faces a tough challenge in the Senate as opponents of reform try anything to stop it, including scaring seniors with myths and misinformation.

AFSCME Retirees – the union’s organization of nearly a quarter million retired members – has been working hard to dispel these false claims about “death panels,” rationed care, and cuts in Medicare benefits.

The truth is there are no benefit cuts and no rationing of care in these bills, and there certainly are no “death panels” that would deny care to seniors. In fact, reform will strengthen Medicare’s solvency and add new benefits that seniors want and need. These include:

• phasing out Medicare’s big gap in drug coverage (the infamous “doughnut hole”)
• fixing the physician fee schedule, so doctors will always accept Medicare patients
• offering free Medicare preventive services – such as cancer screenings
• and providing more choices in long term care.

AFSCME is trying to promote this message to retiree members as well as to the parents and grandparents of AFSCME’s working members. The Retirees section of AFSCME.org includes health care fact sheets and a new video called “Phony Horror Stories about Health Care Reform.”

The video, which stars AFSCME Pres. Gerald W. McEntee and Barbara Easterling, Pres. of the Alliance for Retired Americans, separates fact from fiction for senior citizens. It also features video remarks from Lynda Johnson Robb, whose father – LBJ – established Medicare as the first step toward affordable health care coverage for all. Watch it here:

In addition, Seniors to Seniors, a coalition that includes AFSCME Retirees, AARP, the Alliance for Retired Americans, and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, is fighting to dispel myths about reform. The coalition site at www.seniorstoseniors.org has informative videos that show fellow seniors telling their personal health care stories and a health care reform Q & A.

AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee praised Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the House of Representatives for passing the historic Affordable Health Care for America Act:

“Saturday’s vote is real progress in the fight for health care reform. The House acted to protect seniors overwhelmed by the cost of prescription drugs and millions of American families unable to afford basic care because of skyrocketing costs. The Senate must act swiftly to pass this bill before the end of the year.

“AFSCME will not forget the members of Congress who chose to side with the middle class instead of the powerful insurance industry lobby. In partnership with Health Care for America Now, AFSCME will thank members of Congress for their courageous vote by running television ads in 20 House districts beginning Tuesday and holding hundreds of grassroots events. We are also partnering with Americans United for Change on thank ads that will run in 10 districts. We intend to do everything we can to guarantee Senate passage of legislation as soon as possible. Quality, affordable health care for all is now within reach. AFSCME will fight to make it happen.”

The TV ads thanking the courageous allies of working families in the House are on the air now. “About More” is sponsored by HCAN and AFSCME — here’s the ad thanking Rep. Kilroy:

View all the “About More” ads on AFSCME.org.

Americans United and AFSCME are airing ads titled “It’s Time” — here’s the ad thanking Rep. Carney:

View all the “It’s Time” ads on AFSCME.org.

The online progressive hub Daily Kos has gone AFSCME green for health care.

If you’ve visited Daily Kos today, you probably noticed the familiar orange color has been updated with a healthy dose of AFSCME green. We’ve taken out a full-page “skin” ad to make sure people call Congress today in support of the health insurance reform bill.

We think the colors work well together, and so do the combined efforts of labor and the netroots community. With a vote on H.R. 3962 coming as soon as Saturday, it really is all hands on deck to make sure this crucial legislation is passed now.

The Affordable Health Care for America Act provides a strong public option, protects working Americans from a tax on their health benefits, and requires large employers to provide insurance for their employees. It deserves the support of every member of Congress — including yours.

So go ahead and check out the new look at Daily Kos, and then make sure you call and tell your Representative to vote YES on the Affordable Health Care for America Act. Let’s make it happen now!

This message comes from Chuck Loveless, AFSCME Director of Legislation.

It all comes down to this.

The House of Representatives finally will vote on health care reform legislation as soon as Saturday. This is a truly historic and defining moment for our nation. Will we meet one of the most important challenges of our generation? With your help — yes we will.

Tell your representative to vote YES for the Affordable Health Care for America Act. Click here now.

You can help us cross the finish line. This is the vote that can put an end to our broken health care system — one that currently allows insurance companies to deny care for pre-existing conditions, has our premiums going through the roof, leaves 47 million Americans uninsured and drags our entire economy down.

AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee recorded a special video message for our members whose actions have helped us come this far.

The Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) represents the real reform that we’ve been fighting for:

• H.R. 3962 pays for reform the right way — by asking the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share and not taxing our health benefits.
• The Affordable Health Care for America Act includes the choice of a public health insurance option, providing competition for private insurance companies to lower costs and improve quality.
• The bill also requires most employers to provide insurance coverage for their workers or pay a meaningful amount into a fund to help low- and moderate-income workers buy their own coverage through the exchange that will be established in every state.

You can bet that Congress is hearing from insurance company lobbyists — that’s why it’s so critical that they hear from you, too.

Your voice will serve as a stark reminder that there is overwhelming public support for real reform — but only if you make the call. So please, go to: www.afscme.org/call

And help us spread the word on Facebook and Twitter.