Obamacare Results: Three Major Catholic Hospitals Closing

Family Research Council

Obama 'Waivers' on Health Care

The President's new health care law is finally resulting in some bipartisanship. According to a new poll, both parties are growing to hate it. Although the numbers for repeal are solidly in the Republican camp (56% want the law overturned), a general dissatisfaction is starting to creep into the President's own party. A shocking one in four Democrats is now in favor of repeal--with 49% of undecided voters piling on. That news is particularly bad for 12 Freshman Democrats, who are taking a crack at a second term in hostile districts. In each one, "a majority of those surveyed said they want the controversial law gone." And that starts with firing the people who put it there.

For Reps. Chris Carney (D-Pa.) and Paul Kanjorski (D-Pa.), their case isn't helped by news coming out of Scranton, Pennsylvania that three major Catholic hospitals are selling off their facilities. Despite being on sound financial ground (owners say they're actually ahead of this year's budget), "the new requirements brought on by the new health care legislation make it hard for [us] to stay in business." When asked about ObamaCare, the CEO said that it "is absolutely playing a role" in their decision to unload three hospitals that have been mainstays in the community for almost one hundred years. Sister Marie Parker talked about how sad they are to let go of a century of service. "Sisters of Mercy are strongly supportive of this decision because we do understand the realities of health care and we think it's best for the community."

By "realities," she's undoubtedly talking about the most despicable part of ObamaCare: taxpayer-funded abortion. Without strict conscience protections in place, medical workers everywhere could be ordered to perform these procedures against their will. So Mercy Health is protecting itself the only way it knows how--by getting out of the business before that business includes abortion. How many others will be forced to do the same? Since the very beginning, there's been a history of faith-based health care in America. Some estimate that as many as one in five patients get their care from hospitals with religious ties. As the government crowds out the groups that meet those needs, where will people go?

And the medical community isn't the only one being crushed under the weight of this law. Businesses--small and large--are feeling the squeeze of the new regulations. McDonald's is just one of the corporations that threatened to cut coverage for employees because of rising premiums. When the chain made its displeasure known, the administration intervened. At least 30 unions and businesses that have made a public stink about the costs have been rewarded with waivers from Health and Human Services. "The big political issue here is the President promised no one would lose the coverage they've got," said Robert Laszewski, a health policy consultant. "Here we are, a month before the election, and these companies represent one million people who would lose the coverage they've got." Unfortunately for the average American, there aren't enough exemptions to go around.