The 16,000-member Christian Medical Association, the nation’s largest faith-based associaation of physicians, today said that the 2,000-page healthcare overhaul bill (HR 3962) introduced in the House of Representatives last week far exceeds the need for targeted reforms, instead injecting massive government intervention that threatens the patient-physician relationship.

CMA CEO Dr. David Stevens, “This legislation is an overdose. With this massive legislation, we are getting much more than is actually needed to fix our healthcare system. What we need is a targeted reformation of areas needing reform, but this legislation is an attempt to totally transform our healthcare system into a government-run system that dictates what healthcare treatment each patient will receive.

“The legislation introduced last week is coming to a vote way too fast. We have one chance to get this right, and leaders in Congress are trying to push a bill through in a few days that will impact one-sixth of our economy. It is bitter medicine that most people don’t want, and taking it fast will not change that.

“The legislation is also ineffective and will increase costs rather than lower costs. It will hurt efficiency and increase bureaucracy. It will interfere with the physician-patient relationship and lead to the delay and denial of healthcare based solely on cost.

“The legislation also has serious side effects. In a radical shift in U.S. policy, under this legislation the government will suddenly be funding abortion on demand. And if abortion advocates prevail, the government ultimately will force health care professionals to participate in abortions.

“Physicians are so upset about this takeover of healthcare that hundreds of thousands have threatened to leave medicine if it passes. Forty-five percent of all physicians polled say they’re ready to leave medicine if healthcare overhaul passes. Ninety-five percent of faith-based healthcare professionals are ready to leave medicine if their conscience rights are weakened. The bottom line for patients under this legislation is that they are much more likely to lose their physician.”

The 16,000-member Christian Medical Association, the nation’s largest faith-based associaation of physicians, today said that the 2,000-page healthcare overhaul bill (HR 3962) introduced in the House of Representatives last week far exceeds the need for targeted reforms, instead injecting massive government intervention that threatens the patient-physician relationship.

My friend, and CMA CEO, David Stevens, MD, said, “This legislation is an overdose. With this massive legislation, we are getting much more than is actually needed to fix our healthcare system.”

I could not agree more.

He goes on to say, “What we need is a targeted reformation of areas needing reform, but this legislation is an attempt to totally transform our healthcare system into a government-run system that dictates what healthcare treatment each patient will receive.”

Furthermore, as Dr. Stevens wisely points out, “The legislation introduced last week is coming to a vote way too fast. We have one chance to get this right, and leaders in Congress are trying to push a bill through in a few days that will impact one-sixth of our economy. It is bitter medicine that most people don’t want, and taking it fast will not change that.”

In addition, according to the CMA, “The legislation is also ineffective and will increase costs rather than lower costs. It will hurt efficiency and increase bureaucracy. It will interfere with the physician-patient relationship and lead to the delay and denial of healthcare based solely on cost.”

I always tell my patients, “When it comes to options, always look at the potential benefits, but also the potential risks and costs. Dr. Stevens does this with the newly proposed bill and states, “The legislation also has serious side effects. In a radical shift in U.S. policy, under this legislation the government will suddenly be funding abortion on demand. And if abortion advocates prevail, the government ultimately will force health care professionals to participate in abortions.”

You can read my thoughts about federally-funded abortions here.

And, I can tell you that many, many physicians are so upset about this takeover of healthcare that hundreds of thousands have threatened to leave medicine if it passes.

In fact, 45% 0f all physicians polled say they’re ready to leave medicine if this type of unwise healthcare overhaul passes.

Furthermore, 95% percent of all faith-based healthcare professionals are ready to leave medicine if their conscience rights are weakened.

Dr. Stephens predicts, “The bottom line for patients under this legislation is that they are much more likely to lose their physician.” Especially if their physician is faith-based.