By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
On Thursday, Dr. Chad Mathis (R) from Indian Springs (who is running to represent the Sixth Congressional District) announced a list of criticisms pertaining to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (popularly referred to as Obamacare). Mathis titled his list: Top Ten Obamacare Disasters No One is Talking About.
The Indian Springs orthopedist and small businessman said, that while the media is focused on the website issues, he is outraged that the true disasters of this law are not being reported.
According to Dr. Mathis’s analysis, the new omnibus health care law creates the “National Center of Excellence in Depression”. Mathis said in his release, “It looks like all taxpayers will need a NCED consultation after dealing with this law. (Section 10410).”
Mathis also complained that the ACOs (Accountable Care Organizations) are HMOs on steroids. Mathis said HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations) are a way for insurance companies to ration healthcare and that ACOs are the future of healthcare under Obamacare.
Mathis also wrote that during each hospitalization, patient information “deemed necessary by the Secretary of Health and Human Services” about the patient will be submitted to HHS.
Mathis also complained that the so-called ‘cadillac tax’ on what is considered premium insurance provided by the employer means that employers will have fewer insurance options for their employees.
Mathis wrote that the Independent Payment Advisory Board (an unelected board of bureaucrats) will have immense power over healthcare spending and decisions leading to huge bureaucratic hoops to jump through to change any decisions they make.
Mathis warned: the law gives the Secretary of Health and Human Services immense, unchecked power, authorizes the hiring of 16,000 new IRS agents to persecute Americans who run afoul of the new law, limiting Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), forces healthcare plans to offer controversial services like contraceptives and the morning after pill even when employers have religious based objections to such practices, and gives “favored nation status” to Congress, big business, some minority groups, and others who are given special treatment.
Mathis wrote, “We can’t forget the only real winners with Obamacare are the ruling class.”
Dr. Mathis said at his campaign announcement event, “I’ve read every word of Obamacare, and I know it will ruin America’s healthcare system, kill jobs, and drive up costs for Alabamians. We’ve had Obamacare in place for a week now, and it’s already on life support. The citizens of the 6th Congressional district deserve better than broken government websites and empty healthcare promises.”
Dr. Mathis has been practicing medicine for the last decade and helped start the Alabama Bone and Joint Clinic, He also was the founding chairman of the Alabama Coalition for Charter Schools.
On Thursday the co-founder of the Birmingham based Alabama Policy Institute (API), Gary Palmer announced that he also will be running for the rare open congressional seat.
Palmer told Al.com’s Mike Cason, “I’ve been doing this for 24 years. I have a real good idea of what our needs are here in Alabama. I’ve got some ideas that I think will resonate with people in Washington.” Palmer has been the long time President and CEO of API.
State Representative Paul DeMarco (R) from Homewood announced on Sunday that he is running for the same seat.
Mathis, Palmer, and DeMarco are running for the Sixth District Congressional District currently held by Rep. Spencer Bachus (R) from Vestavia. After serving in the seat for 21 years, Rep. Bachus announced that he would not seek re-election when his current term expires.
The Republican Primary will be in June 2014.
