Also read: Kaiser, medical center, careers, LGBT care, patients

Since President Barack Obama introduced a new healthcare reform bill, a number of "truths" have surfaced, questioning its viability. How many times have you heard that "death panels will decide who lives or dies" or heard the question "Will senior citizens lose their health insurance?"

DiversityInc has compiled a myth-to-fact comparison of what's really going on. We've also asked health-insurance companies on The 2009 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity^® list if they have a public statement. Click here to see their statements.

Myth 1: Death Panels Would Decide Who Lives

The term "death panels" was coined by Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin in an Aug. 7 Facebook post, which she based on former New York lieutenant governor Betsy McCaughey's comment that "on page 425," "Congress would make it mandatory … that every five years, people in Medicare have a required counseling session that will tell them how to end their life sooner, how to decline nutrition."

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Republican Policy Committee Chairman Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) put out a statement on July 23 that suggested as much.

"Section 1233 of the House-drafted legislation encourages health care providers to provide their Medicare patients with counseling on 'the use of artificially administered nutrition and hydration' and other end of life treatments, and may place seniors in situations where they feel pressured to sign end of life directives they would not otherwise sign," they said. "This provision may start us down a treacherous path toward government-encouraged euthanasia if enacted into law."

Click here to read the statement on House Republican Leader John Boehner's web site.

Fact: This is completely unfounded. There is no panel in any version of the healthcare bills in Congress that judges a person's "level of productivity in society" to determine whether they are "worthy" of healthcare. (Source: PolitFact.com)

Myth 2: Undocumented Immigrants Would Receive Free Health Insurance

Opponents to Obama's healthcare-reform bill claim the bill would grant free health insurance for undocumented immigrants.

Fact: The newly proposed health-insurance bill does not grant those who do not have legal status in the United States free health insurance. In fact, the House bill says that "individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States" would not be allowed to receive subsidies.

According to CNSNEws.com: "Obama intends to enact health-care reform legislation that expressly prohibits giving federal health insurance benefits to illegal aliens. He then intends to enact "comprehensive immigration reform" that would make illegal aliens into legal residents of the United States thus making them eligible for the new federal health insurance benefits created by his health-care reform bill."

Myth 3: The Government Would Control Doctors' Wages

Fact: While the new bill does say that doctors who elect to see patients who have chosen to use the public insurance plan would receive 5 percent more than Medicare currently pays for services, the new bill does not penalize doctors who refuse those patients. (Source: Wharton School of Business)

Myth 4: Senior Citizens Would Lose Coverage

Fact: The savings being proposed from Medicare won't harm patient care. According to a White House web site, the new plan would shrink the coverage gap in Medicare Part D, create a pathway for the approval of generic biologic drugs, provide financial assistance for retirees between 55 and 64 and get rid of copayments for checkups and wellness visits. (Source: whitehouse.gov/realitycheck)

Myth 5: Military Personnel Would Lose TRICARE Coverage

Fact: "TRICARE will continue to be available for all eligible servicemen and women, and their families," according to a White House web site. "The health reform legislation that is being considered would enable those who are covered by TRICARE to meet the shared responsibility requirement for individuals to have insurance, thereby exempting such members of the uniformed services and dependants from being assessed penalties. The Secretary of Defense would continue to maintain sole authority over the system and for enhancing the quality and access for all eligible members of the uniformed services." (Source: whitehouse.gov/realitycheck)

Here's what companies had to say:

AARP, No 37 in the DiversityInc Top 50, issued a statement saying: "Health care proposals pending in Congress would guarantee every American has a choice of affordable, dependable health coverage, close the Medicare doughnut hole, pay doctors in Medicare fairly and take major steps to combat the skyrocketing costs of health care.

"We look forward to working with the Administration in the coming weeks to create a health care system that strengthens Medicare, protects patients and makes insurance fair for everyone."

Click here to read AARP's full statement.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida

No. 32 in the DiversityInc Top 50

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida's Vision of Reform:

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF) believes that the severity of the affordability and uninsured issues require a case for transformational change in today's health care environment. Our vision for reform includes five critical elements:

wellness and prevention; evolution in health care delivery; universal coverage; consistent and equitable funding for safety net programs; and personal responsibility.

BCBSF's Mission is to advance the health and well-being of Florida's citizens and to work toward a system where appropriate health care is available to all. But we certainly can't do it alone.

Any change for which we advocate can only be accomplished when all of those involved in health care delivery, financing, utilization and supply coalesce to agree on a realistic platform for reform. Until all parties recognize that the current model is unsustainable, it is unlikely change would occur proactively. And if the health care industry doesn't come together quickly, a declining economy would drive a political agenda that diminishes the positive impact brought by the private sector in terms of innovation and meaningful competition.

Evolution in Health Care Delivery

BCBSF and other payers need to work with our provider partners to implement critical changes in medical delivery. A system that embraces objective, proven clinical standards as the foundation for reimbursement is the goal.

Physicians should be rewarded for adherence to these standards and for the enhanced value that efficient, integrated and clinically appropriate care brings to patients. Protections from legal liability can be legislated to shield clinicians and eliminate the costs caused by defensive medicine and other consequences of malpractice lawsuits. With the total impact on medical expenditures costing $124 billion each year, removing this cost would pay for virtually any version of comprehensive health care reform.

Universal Coverage

For the insurance industry and medical community to successfully implement system changes that would bring coverage to all Americans, BCBSF envisions the federal government playing a significant role. For those individuals and businesses that do not obtain coverage voluntarily, an enforceable mandate must be created. Policy studies consistently find that a voluntary system cannot produce universal participation.

Our country's compassion has created a safe haven of emergency room treatment for all. The cost of this care is being borne by a diminishing number of insured. The fundamental principle of spreading risk can only be achieved when all of those capable of paying for their own or their employees' coverage are mandated to do so with appropriate incentives. Those who do not have the financial ability should receive a meaningful public subsidy.

Click here to read the full version of this report.

Health Care Service Corp.

No. 22 in the DiversityInc Top 50

HCSC is an advocate for health care reform, and we support:

* The development of a pathway that provides sustainable access to coverage for all Americans;

Also read:

Kaiser, medical center, careers, LGBT care, patients

* Health and wellness initiatives that would minimize the waste of health care dollars on the treatment of preventable conditions;

* Initiatives that promote effective care, treatment, research and information technologies that improve quality and provide value for each health care dollar;

* Reform that requires all Americans to take responsibility for their role in achieving a better future for us and our country; and

* President Obama's call for bipartisan cooperation and an inclusive compromise among all stakeholders.

We believe that the underlying issue for most of the health care system challenges is the cost of health care, which must be addressed both in terms of funding and control. The federal government can lay out the broad parameters for reform, but health care is local and the states should have a role. We believe government should encourage the market to invest in innovative solutions and policymakers should work in collaboration with the private sector leaders to find solutions.²

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