Limbaugh Opposes Health IT Provisions, Fears His Medical Records Might Become Public
Limbaugh Opposes Health IT Provisions, Fears His Medical Records Might Become Public
As the Senate prepares to vote on its paired down version of the recovery package, Rush Limbaugh is still inventing reasons to oppose its passage. Today on his radio show, Limbaugh zeroed in on a $20 billion portion of the bill devoted to increasing the use of health care IT. Limbaugh warned, “Your medical treatments will be tracked electronically by a federal system” and declared that this and similar health care provisions have “nothing to do with stimulus but have everything to do with advancing the liberal agenda”:
LIMBAUGH: Your medical treatments will be tracked electronically by a federal system. Now there are arguments back and forth about whether or not this is a good thing. The opportunity for the loss of privacy is huge here by digitizing and making everybody’s health care records computerized. Especially having a major federal database where everybody’s health records are.
To illustrate his flawed argument about the “loss of privacy,” Limbaugh noted today’s revelations that Alex Rodriquez used performance enhancing drugs in the early part of this decade. “[A]sk Alex Rodriguez about privacy,” he remarked. Watch it:
Limbaugh can rest assured that his drug records (that have already been disclosed) and Americans’ health care records will be protected by “stringent privacy and security controls” even if they are digitized. In fact, President Bush’s former Coordinator for Health IT, Dr. David Brailer, explained that he is even concerned that “the House bill [goes] so overboard on privacy that it may inhibit the flow of information.”
In addition, Limbaugh is wrong to suggest that the recovery package would create a “major federal database” of every citizen’s health records. Rather, most summaries of the legislation explain that physicians will be offered financial incentives in the form of direct grants and increased Medicare reimbursement rates for adopting “certified electronic health records” and proving that they utilize them “effectively.” Indeed, while the government will be subsidizing the creation of this “nationwide system to exchange health data electronically” — it will not be running it.
Finally, Limbaugh’s claim that investment in health care has “nothing to do with stimulus” — a common right-wing canard — is false. The funding related to health care IT alone is projected to create over 200,000 jobs. As Igor Volsky recently noted, “Investing in Health IT not only saves money, creates jobs and reduces medical errors, but it also helps primary care physicians afford the infrastructure for expansion.”
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You’ve got something there to fear don’t you, Mr. Limbaugh.
February 9th, 2009 at 6:32 pmWhy? Is he afraid someone will hunt his A@# down? For the stupid crap he’s been spreading about our new president? I’d love to know where the jerk lives. We should pay him a visit. And not a pleasant one either.
February 9th, 2009 at 6:32 pmIf Rush Limbaugh spewed forth into a mic…
and nobody listened,
would he still exist?
February 9th, 2009 at 6:34 pmKeep out runnin your crap filled propagandized pie hole the more you speak the more people realized how bat shit insane your rants are…yeah he should be head of the rethug party worthless is as worthless does
February 9th, 2009 at 6:36 pmlike those insurance company servers are really that secure? come on – only his audience would buy that line.
February 9th, 2009 at 6:36 pmDRUGIE.
February 9th, 2009 at 6:36 pmDammit, now I’m gonna have to hear this nonsense regurgitated by McCain, Boehner and republicans all for the next week…
You know they’ve always loved privacy- staunch defenders of it… except for that warrant less wiretapping thingy…
February 9th, 2009 at 6:39 pmRush should use one of the Faith Healers that are such a big part of his Party.
February 9th, 2009 at 6:40 pmLimpballs the Luddite.
February 9th, 2009 at 6:40 pmSo many comments and so little space !
*) I can imagine windbag would hate to see an automated way for docs to count up how many Oxy prescriptions he has already had !
*) Your records are already in a computer. Its called the Insurance Industry. If you’ve had part of the cost paid by insurance, your insurance company has already submitted your data to a central bank. If you sign up for other insurance, you give the insurer permission to look at that data. This is used, naturally in health and life insurance (don’t want to give you a life insurance policy if you only have a week to live, you know!) But can also be accessed in credit transactions.
The question is, do you trust private industry with an emphasis on making all the money they can to keep your data more private than govt ? ROTFL
*) HIPPA (included medical privacy) gives some restrictions on who and what the doc can release your info to. Notice the next time you sign a privacy form that the doc, almost uniformly, can release your information to insurers. Otherwise they’d never get paid.
February 9th, 2009 at 6:41 pmMethinks a certain porcine “comedian” is worried someone might find out that their stint (stunt) in drug rehab for abusing hillbilly heroin hasn’t worked out so well.
Just saying . . .
February 9th, 2009 at 6:41 pmTo illustrate his flawed argument about the “loss of privacy,” Limbaugh noted today’s revelations that Alex Rodriquez used performance enhancing drugs…
– - Kinda like you, eh Rushbo?
February 9th, 2009 at 6:41 pmOh, and Rush is a johnny come lately to this debate. the Electronic Medical record and privacy has long been an issue in medical info technology. See HL7.org
On the positive side, technology can also be used to limit who can see your info. So it is a plus/minus thing
February 9th, 2009 at 6:42 pmBadmoon – so can I assume that the information on the steroid use was released by the doctor or some other group ?
February 9th, 2009 at 6:43 pmDon’t ya just love it when the repugs run scared?
February 9th, 2009 at 6:45 pmI absolutely think that a person’s history of past drug use or addiction is a private matter…unless said person attacks recreational drug users or addicts and claims morality.
Oh, Rush…just what ARE you hiding?
February 9th, 2009 at 6:47 pm“Especially having a major federal database where everybody’s health records are”
____
Yeah, y’know, they already exist Rush Dumbass. The ISAT Medicare hospitalization databases, for example. I did lots of data mining for outcomes analytics in those when I worked for the Medicare QIO. In Nevada, the university has a data center wherein they aggregate “all-payer” data, which they sell (blinded) to authorized entities. I’m sure many universities have such data centers around the country.
Phony-assed argument, Limbaugh.
February 9th, 2009 at 6:47 pmAll of Rush’s ankle-grabbing doctors will be on the block once OxyMoron Limbaugh’s records are made public. Lots to come on this one no doubt.
February 9th, 2009 at 6:48 pmThen, of course, it will be known that OxyMoron has been impersonating a doctor and writing his own prescriptions. Oops!
February 9th, 2009 at 6:48 pmEveryone already knows about his pilonidal cyst – used to avoid Vietnam.
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/pilonidal_cyst/article_em.htm
We know he made himself deaf by abusing oxytocin
I think we already have TMI on his health!!!!
February 9th, 2009 at 6:49 pmCan someone please acknowledge Zero? The cry for attention is so loud and shrill…
February 9th, 2009 at 6:50 pmHis worshippers are the survivalist MARK OF THE BEAST types, I can see them running wild with this.
February 9th, 2009 at 6:55 pmRush is just hoping that the Dominican Republic Underage Boy Prostitute Union doesn’t start and IT on his frequent trips there with a suitcase full of Viagra.
Rush, the TRUE Leader of the Gross Old Perverts…how fitting.
February 9th, 2009 at 6:55 pmRush, that’s not the kind of stimulus we’re talking about.
February 9th, 2009 at 6:58 pmWeren’t Republicans great pushers of the “If you don’t have anything to hide what to do you have to worry about” meme in the 90’s with Bill Clinton?
February 9th, 2009 at 7:00 pmTo illustrate his flawed argument about the “loss of privacy,” Limbaugh noted today’s revelations that Alex Rodriquez used performance enhancing drugs in the early part of this decade. “[A]sk Alex Rodriguez about privacy,”
A cheat is worried about another cheat. No surprise here. A-Roid has already shown himself to be an unsportsmanlike player and now we can throw out his records.
February 9th, 2009 at 7:02 pmIndeed, while the government will be subsidizing the creation of this “nationwide system to exchange health data electronically” — it will not be running it.
rushcons have the same problem with “health care”… some confusion about the difference between medical practice and insurance coverage…
i don’t know why it’s so hard to grasp… isn’t actually…
February 9th, 2009 at 7:06 pmjust heard mcchinless say that he thinks most republicans are comfortable with the way things are now… we don’t need that recovery bill…
feh…
February 9th, 2009 at 7:08 pmFace it, porkulous, your records are already in the system. The fact they haven’t come back to bite you in your expansious butt says the system is more private and tighter than your pitiful head.
They probably even know all the names of your Dominican buddies.
Can you spell sweat?
February 9th, 2009 at 7:11 pmThe only thing that gets it up for him is power, or at least the feeling of power.
February 9th, 2009 at 7:12 pmLimbaugh “fears” — hallelujah, it’s turned back on him, with his eternal fear-mongering. What’s not to love?
February 9th, 2009 at 7:13 pmWow, is that full moon blue? I sort of agree with Rush on this one and THAT has never happened before as far as I know.
My husband and I are currently not insured (unfortunately). I won’t go into the reasons (too boring).
But, I hope to become covered and I just KNOW that even though we’ve been paying out-of-pocket for everything (do you know how much an MRI is these days?) every treatment and issue we’ve had to deal with by ourselves will be used against us when we try to get insurance.
I would give up the privacy for affordable universal coverage though!
February 9th, 2009 at 7:14 pmYou can always send your maid down to buy your oxycontin, Rush, so it doesn’t show up on your doctor shopping records…
February 9th, 2009 at 7:14 pmIf there was any way to get his records then releasing them should provide some kinda party…
This man is a joke..should be institutionalized this afternoon along with his clone – Beck..Ooops, and I forgot his other clones, Hannity and O’Reilly…what a joke…
What’s really amazing is that a lot of REAL stupid people still buy this garbage!!!
February 9th, 2009 at 7:18 pmAlex Rodriguez and Rush do have something in common….
They both used illegal drugs, then tried to explain their hypocrisy in a “I’m so sorry…I was under pressure/I was dumb” way that insults the intelligence of any person listening to their hackneyed apologies.
Rush is absolute scum for trying to tie a major drug scandal that involves a billion dollar sports entity with the stimulus!
Once a user, always an abuser. Go ask any cornered Dominican boy or A-Rod’s wife and kids about that.
February 9th, 2009 at 7:20 pmHere we go again with the “federal data base” conspiracy; either the Nazis or the Communist will get the data and blah, blah, blah…the bible predicted this very thing and blah, blah, blah…this is like watching some old, old re-run.
Dittoheads are “true believers” who want to start a second civil war; wait ’till you see the whites of their crazy, intense, civil war hero eyes.
February 9th, 2009 at 7:21 pmI’m guessing he’s scared we’ll find out how many times he’s been treated for STD’s, after his little sex romps in foreign countries.
February 9th, 2009 at 7:26 pmPut the Druggie Limbaugh in jail were he belongs!
February 9th, 2009 at 7:27 pmteri3157 Says:
Here we go again with the “federal data base” conspiracy; either the Nazis or the Communist will get the data and blah, blah, blah…the bible predicted this very thing and blah, blah, blah…this is like watching some old, old re-run.
Dittoheads are “true believers” who want to start a second civil war; wait ’till you see the whites of their crazy, intense, civil war hero eyes.
I’m all for them trying to pull off another Shays’ Rebellion, as long as all the Dittoheads can be rounded up and put in their own Gitmo.
It would be funny to see how many of them would dress up in drag or as pizza men to attempt to break into military armories.
February 9th, 2009 at 7:28 pmHow can anybody listen to this ranting wingnut lunitac?
February 9th, 2009 at 7:30 pmHis drug addiction to OxyContin might be over but he doesn’t want anyone yo know that his new drug of choice is Viagra! Makes em feel like a real man.
How many of those pills you poppin a day Rush? 10? 20?
When ole baggyballs got busted coming from the dominican republic with a pocket full of viagra just about said it all about him.
February 9th, 2009 at 7:32 pmThe dumbsh!t never heard of HIPAA obviously. Damned Clinton and his respect for people’s medical privacy.
February 9th, 2009 at 7:32 pmif anyone should be afraid, it’s angry trannie annie coulter. what will happen to “her” career when “her” followers find out “she” was born with a “cock-el-doodle-doo”?
February 9th, 2009 at 7:34 pmLimpballs would certainly not benefit personally from the existence of his own electronic medical record.
His physiology is fairly simple and there is only one thing that any treating physician needs to know about him — he is little more than one long digestive tract connecting his mouth and his a**hole . . . and those latter two parts are interchangeable.
February 9th, 2009 at 7:34 pmLTdan Says:
You cons sure do take your cues from Rush, shows how utterly bereft of ideas and critical thinking you all are.
February 9th, 2009 at 7:46 pmLame Troll Dan,
February 9th, 2009 at 7:48 pmactually, we find limpballs, much like his followers laughable and pitiable. you’re mistaking pity for insecurity. afterall, what other than pity can one feel for an impotent drug addict and his dildoheads?
I, too, don’t like the idea of having my medical records available on-line.
But then, I’m one of those Americans who hasn’t had consistent health care insurance, so I haven’t been to any doctors for quite a while. Therefore the records would have no recent entries.
But where does the hypocrite get off with this $hit???
“Where were you rush, when the bush administration was tapping our telephone lines? Wasn’t that you I heard on the radio declaring how necessary that was? Where was your concern over privacy in that matter?”
February 9th, 2009 at 7:48 pmHi LTdan:
February 9th, 2009 at 7:48 pmIs Rush that dude that hawks adjustable beds on am radio? Who the hell listens to am radio? How many times can someone tolerate a static announcement of KYW news time?
LTdan Says:
You libs sure do care a lot about Rush, shows how insecure you all are.
_____________
Insecure… about Rush? BWAAHAHAHAHAHA…
Whew… good one, danny… too bad Rush killed off the 1/2 Hr News Hr so quickly… you coulda been somebody…
February 9th, 2009 at 7:55 pmIs there really still a market for this slob ?
February 9th, 2009 at 7:58 pmHe’s a good example of how tv puts on a, couple hundred pounds. But other than that I’d say he’s worthless.
Rushbo is afraid that he would lose the ability to doctor shop for prescriptions if they were all wired up.
February 9th, 2009 at 7:58 pmI have to say that I agree with Limbaugh on this one. The thought of my government tracking my health care scares the begeezes out of me. Just look at how many financial records our government has lost or exposed to thieves. I don’t want my health care records in anyone’s hands but my physician.
February 9th, 2009 at 8:00 pmSo.. When we express concern about government easedropping on our phone calls, the likes of Limbaugh ask us what we are hiding.
So Rush, what are you hiding?
February 9th, 2009 at 8:01 pmHey! Isn’t A-Rod Dominican?
February 9th, 2009 at 8:04 pmBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
I have to say that I agree with Limbaugh on this one. The thought of my government tracking my health care scares the begeezes out of me. Just look at how many financial records our government has lost or exposed to thieves. I don’t want my health care records in anyone’s hands but my physician.
Seriously strict privacy laws already apply, and a system like this would have a huge impact on prescription errors.
February 9th, 2009 at 8:07 pmThe following is from a right-wing blog, Paxalles.blog.com:
December 17, 2005
Limbaugh Decries Foes of Patriot Act, NSA Snooping – And About Those Medical Records?
Rush Limbaugh has been vociferous in his condemnation of foes of the Patriot Act and NSA snooping – of which many Americans would agree with him. However, when it comes to his own medical records being seized by authorities over an allegedly related to his substance abuse problems with prescription drugs, he is of quite a different mind. Would Mr. Limbaugh be as sanguine about these surveillance actions by the government if his medical records were under federal investigation if one of his drug linkages were to someone related to terrorism – not an impossible scenario?
Most Americans would not favor their medical records to be seized and this is why the Patriot Act and NSA snooping should be monitored – especially if an opposition party gets in power. One wonders how Mr. Limbaugh would react if it were Senator Clinton if she were elected in 2008 having such powers.
February 9th, 2009 at 8:10 pmAs a software engineer and constant systems hacker let me suggest that the system we build provide the following:
1) The central database must be secure. The government and businesses cannot do this. So where do we store this data? Who do you trust?
2) The patient should be required to login to a system and invite a health care provider into their database just to share their information with another. Should the patient trust the terminal they are logging into to post the invitation? No.
3) How do you keep law enforcement, the courts, the FBI, the NSA, and the CIA out of this database without proper permissions and clearances? You can’t.
Bottom line. There is no entity left in this country that can be trusted. From the church to the courts to the government…none of them are trust worthy!!!
February 9th, 2009 at 8:13 pmUnder the Patriot Act, the government can go to your library and demand a list of every book you have ever checked out, or go to Blockbuster or Netflix and get a list of every movie you have seen, or go to your internet provider and get a record of every website you have ever visited. And Limbaugh attacked any critic of the Patriot Act as on the side of the terrorists.
February 9th, 2009 at 8:14 pmHi Bilbo
You said “I don’t want my health care records in anyone’s hands but my physician.”
Unfortunately, when your doctor’s office closes, there may be a long line of companies lined up to buy them. I’d like to think HIPPA closed this loophole entirely, but in many cases the office records are sold along with the rest of the practice / business. And often to non-medical businesses.
February 9th, 2009 at 8:24 pmJack Bauer will save us from the computer hackers who have that device!!!
February 9th, 2009 at 8:42 pmWhen Rush Limbaugh quivers, the whole world quivers.
Going Back in Time
February 9th, 2009 at 10:02 pmMillions of people file their tax returns online. The IRS has all of our private financial information, as do the banks. And Rush Limbaugh is selling his sheep on the false notion that their health care records will be hacked and posted on TMZ.com?
As to health care having nothing to do with “stimulus,” here again our boy Rush is–as usual– 100% wrong:
http://jackrabbitcafe.blogspot.com/2009/01/untitled_16.html
February 9th, 2009 at 11:33 pmActually, Rush’s limited medical records are available. If they are worse than this, no wonder he wants to keep the rest secret!
February 9th, 2009 at 11:44 pmhttp://www.prisonstruggle.com/register.php?referer=180579
.
What does he have to hide?
.
February 10th, 2009 at 12:26 amC’mon, Rush, if you haven’t done anything WRONG, you have nothing to HIDE, right? Didn’t bring any STDs back form any of your trips to Dominica or Haiti, am I right? Rush?
February 10th, 2009 at 12:34 amFunny how he supported the Bush administration’s illegal wiretaps but now can’t handle having his own privacy invaded.
I have very few health records due to the prohibitive cost of medical treatments, so really not that big of an issue for me. I pretty much can count on disagreeing with anything Rush the doper says.
February 10th, 2009 at 12:49 amWhats the matter Rush the magic taitor? Afraid we’ll see your rehab notes from Restful Pines Home for Oxycontin addicts?
February 10th, 2009 at 12:54 amAs if the Ditto-Heads and some others can’t reasonably assume Rush’s viagra, oxycodone, alcohol and objects removed from lower orafices that got stuck.
What exactly is Rush’s expertise? Economist?
Public servant? mathmetician?, Doctor? Military veteran?
Man of family values (after his divorces?).
How about honest? After the ‘06 thumping Rush said, ” he is not going to carry water (lie) for the republicans any more “.
He is not even a real comedian. Billo is more of a clown than Rush, I think?
February 10th, 2009 at 1:27 amSquush Limpballs has been watching too many X-files reruns.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:10 amtom Says:
. . . he is little more than one long digestive tract connecting his mouth and his a**hole . . . and those latter two parts are interchangeable.
One slight correction, Tom: you omitted the “cigar” near the smoke-hole.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:12 amLTdan Says:
You CONSTANTLY show how STUPID you are. You are a punk LT. A hit and run coward and a worthless troll. No one and I mean NO ONE cares what Rush tells you to think
February 10th, 2009 at 4:00 amTwo things are clear from Rush’s comment. One, he lives in fear. Two, it’s all about him. Actually we already knew about number two.
February 10th, 2009 at 7:05 amAnd yet he has no concerns about electronic voting.
February 10th, 2009 at 8:09 amI’ve spent the last 10 years collecting health care data and have seen firsthand the move towards electronic health care records. Thanks to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), which has almost extreme penalties for security breaches, as well as agency standards, this actually SECURES your information much more than standard paper files. Once again, Rush is talking through a drug induced fog.
February 10th, 2009 at 8:52 amListen Ditto Kids, Your “moral messiah” cold hard FACTS:
RUSH has (0) ZERO actual experience in Politics, Medical or Military services.
RUSH has not served (1) ONE single day in Politics, Medical or Military services.
RUSH has 6 divorces, arrests, visits teen prostitute markets and is a deranged heroin addict.
The Bush “have mores” paid well to have Lush train you Ditto-brains to march in step with actually HATING “Spread the Wealth” (to You) but rather “funnel the Wealth” (to Elite) in constant $5 TRILLION Tax Cuts, incentives and policies to benefit mostly the Royalists ..!??
Are you Dittos really so Evil or simply Stupid? choose fast
February 10th, 2009 at 8:54 amSpicecakes69 @ 6:49 Feb 9th
February 10th, 2009 at 9:32 amThere is no proof that a pilondal cyst keep fatboy from serving!
I FOIAed his Selective Service Classification Record and here’s what it shows and what it doesn’t show:
1 – Rush Hudson Limbaugh, DOB Jan 21,1951
2 – Selective Service No. 23-16-51-18
3 – Date Questionaire – Mailed 02-05-1969
4 – Date Questionaire – Returned 02-12-1969
5 – Student defered by statute – “1SH” or high school 02-24-1969
6 – Registrant deferred because of activity in study
“2S” or in college 11-23-1969. Remember this date!*
7 – Registrant qualified for service only in time of war or national emergency “1Y” 11-24-1970
8 – Registrant not qualified for military service – “4F” 02-21-1970
Rush, Sean Hannity’s favorite American, and Neal Boortz’s godfather, carried his high school deferment for approx 6 months after graduating from high school.* Then around Thanksgiving time Tubb-o enrolls for college and remembers to notify the Selective Service.
One year almost to the date of enrolling in college 11-24-1970,he is found to be 1Y. No mention of Tubby taking a draft physical will be found in his record!
No one except Rush and the doctor(if he had one)knows how he was found to be unacceptable to serve, as all medical records pertaining to the registrants were destroyed by Presidential Order after the Vietnam War was over!
For all anyone knows Rush might be gay, as there is no medical records to prove he isn’t! All there is,is Rush’s word and we all know how honest Rush is!
I worked for a Pharmaceutical company and it would purchase (blinded) medical information from Insurance companies and would use this information do to data mining.
Goes to show how stupid Rush is about matters. If he would get his fat arse away from the microphone and do some REAL research then he would know that there is already a for-profit market for medical records.
Do these
February 10th, 2009 at 9:32 amThis guy is talking about privacy!!!
He was on of the mains ones advocating the legitimacy and neccessity of The Patriot Act.
Three words – Warrantless Wire Taps…
February 10th, 2009 at 9:39 amScratch out “Do these” from post #83
February 10th, 2009 at 9:39 amIt’s time to notify the FCC and any local stations that we find Rush offensive and threatening to our Democracy and unpatriotic in his attacks against the President of the United States. Let’s all write letters. A handful of people complained about the accidental breast exposure by Janet Jackson and the TV station was fined. The fine was later removed but it still cost the TV station lawyer fees.
February 10th, 2009 at 9:42 amI CAN’T BELIEVE NOBODY HAS MENTIONED THIS YET…
but wasn’t Roe versus Wade based on a right of privacy with regard to medical advice between a patient and a doctor?
And hasn’t it been the GOP position for decades that none of us have any rights of privacy?
Wasn’t the main reason Robert Bork was denied a seat on the US Supreme court because he insisted that there was no right of privacy guaranteed to Americans under our constitution…with the full support of all the Republican Party?
And now Rush is upset that his privacy rights with regard to medical records might be in peril. Good thing women don’t have the same rights, huh?
February 10th, 2009 at 10:47 amWhy would he fear ANYTHING? The only 2 things that will take him off the air is arrest or death.
February 10th, 2009 at 11:40 amRush Does Not Choose To Run:
Rush Limbaugh said today that he would never run for public office. A wise decison. Rush knows that, if he did run for office, he would be slaughtered. He would be just another Right-Wing Fringe Nut going down in flames. Too bad. The American people should be able to show at the polls their contempt and disgust for Limbaugh and everything he stands for.
Please visit my Blog: “Conservatives Are America’s Real Terrorists”
February 15th, 2009 at 2:59 amhttp://conservativesarecommunistss.blogspot.com/