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ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES

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The elections are both good news and bad news. We don’t have to do a rundown of the results here; we’ll just acknowledge that elections have consequences. One consequence of the Democrats taking control of the House is that any more whittling away at Obamacare probably will not happen. This election indicates that most Americans want government-run healthcare. This is bad. I would even say this is very, very bad.
Bruce Frohnen, in Crisis Magazine, explains why:
A majority of Americans are more attracted by the idea of government funded healthcare than they are to job creation, local liberties, and the traditional American commitment to voluntary action. This is troubling, not because affordable healthcare is not important, but because societies that seek to provide it for free through government programs undermine crucial religious values. Government programs like healthcare crowd out more local, subsidiary institutions and associations (charity hospitals, for example—a high percentage of which were once run by Catholic organizations). They make us look to the government instead of to one another in our local institutions for help in time of need. They also bankrupt the nation, and in the process devalue human life. Whether in Great Britain, the Netherlands, or Canada, government-run health services have brought the rationing of care, followed by grisly death panels that decide who should be given treatment and who should be allowed to die, and, all too soon, euthanasia. (“No Blue Wave, Yet Troubles Are Ahead,” Crisis Magazine, November 7, 2018.)
Judie Brown, President of American Life League and a member of the HALO Advisory Board, laments, “Sadly, folks do not see that the more government controls the lives of the vulnerable, the less valuable each individual human being becomes.”
HALO has a lot of work ahead and our job just got tougher.
Julie Grimstad, President
HALO Board of Directors

OPPOSE SENATE BILL 693 NOW, BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!

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By Lucy Karen Clay
Let’s get rid of the fraud and waste and abuse in the Medicare system and in the federal hospice program before we put …good money after bad.
–Joni Eareckson Tada
Months ago, when I read the ALERT about Senate Bill 693—the Palliative Care and Hospice Education Training Act—from Ron Panzer (President of Hospice Patients Alliance) and Nancy Valko (a spokesperson for the National Association of Prolife Nurses), my immediate reaction was to look the other way. It was too much…too heavy…too impossible. The weight of it was far beyond anything my mind could comprehend. I do not have the expertise to begin to understand the ramifications of it all, yet my spirit was and still is screaming that this bill is potentially one of the worst threats to the lives of medically vulnerable patients that our country has faced to date.
I found it even more challenging that those whom I assumed would be willing to speak out about it were nowhere to be found! AT LAST, Joni Eareckson Tada (Founder and CEO of Joni and Friends International Disability Center) stepped out to plead for immediate OPPOSITION while this bill, which already has been passed by the House, is still in the hands of the 23 Senators who sit on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
Joni points out that S. 693 will do two things.
  • Pour a massive amount of taxpayer dollars into hospice programs.
  • Fund new and much more liberal palliative care and hospice education.
Opposition to this bill is not opposition to good pain management and care provided by reputable, life-affirming healthcare professionals. However, palliative care and hospice programs often are not as advertised.
Most existing hospice programs are plagued by tremendous fraud, a gross waste of taxpayer dollars, poor quality care, rampant abuse and, according to many reports, even murder. Furthermore, this bill is supported by Compassion & Choices, an organization whose mission is to legalize assisted suicide. We definitely do not want C&C and its allies to be involved in designing the curriculum for palliative care and hospice education.
Time is running out to stop S. 693. Write to all the members of the Senate HELP Committee (https://www.help.senate.gov/about/members) as well as your state senators (https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm).
Urge them to VOTE NO on S. 693. A sample letter to senators is available at https://www.thesimplicityproject.org/thesimplicityproject/sample-letter-for-senators-to-oppose-senate-bill-693/ Scroll down to find the letter.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT S. 693
Concerns:
  • S. 693 does not define what palliative care or hospice are and what they are not.
  • S. 693 does not define what abuse of palliative care or hospice is and what penalties will be applied when it occurs.
  • S. 693 does not prohibit medical killing (i.e., “medical aid in dying,” “physician-assisted suicide,” “terminal sedation” and/or dehydration to cause death, etc.).
  • S. 693 does not set penalties for violations of the law.
Additional messages confirming that this is a dangerous bill:


About the author: Lucy Karen Clay is the founder of The Simplicity Project Wellness Initiative (www.TheSimplicityProject.org) and the newest member of the HALO Board of Advisors. Among her many titles and talents, Lucy is a life advocate, educator, speaker, event coordinator and author who provides awareness of end-of-life issues.

WELCOME TO HALO

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By Mary Merritt

It is likely that many of you have “stepped outside the box” sometime in your life. If so, it probably was neither an easy nor a comfortable experience. However, when embarking on a new venture, having a goal keeps a person focused, trusting and persevering, especially when it involves the work of God’s Kingdom.

Last month, a group of us stepped out in faith, forming the Healthcare Advocacy and Leadership Organization (HALO). The HALO board officers are people whose names many of you will recognize: Julie Grimstad, President; Jo Tolck, Vice President; Mary Merritt, Secretary (as well as Executive Director); and Ann Olson, Treasurer. It is our prayer that many of you, individuals and organizations, will support HALO and join with us to accomplish the mission of promoting, protecting and advocating for the rights of the medically vulnerable.

The dictionary lists a number of synonyms for the word support: advocate, uphold, assist and help. “Support” means “to promote the interests; to serve as a foundation; to hold up; and to keep going.” We, the founders of HALO, wish to express our gratitude for support already received and for assistance HALO will receive to keep going and growing.

1. We are grateful for the support of dedicated, knowledgeable, experienced and well-respected individuals who are serving on HALO’s board of directors.

2. We are also thankful for the leaders of important ministries and individuals with specific expertise who generously said “yes” when asked to share their wisdom and talents as member of HALO’s advisory board.

3. We appreciate and are indebted to family and friends who encourage and accompany us on this journey.

4. To everyone who has asked to receive the HALO Monthly newsletter because you desire to become better informed on the issues, we express our gratitude. Please share this newsletter with others. You are invited to be our grassroots supporters who help educate others, contribute articles, and donate time and talent.

5. Funding is often the first thing to be associated with support. HALO definitely has financial needs and goals. We appreciate donations of any amount.

6. We mention last the most important help—prayer support! Prayer is vitally important. Please ask God to keep us focused and faithful to our mission. Pray for our board of directors, our board of advisors, their organizations and their families. Pray for more individuals and organizations to join with us to assist the medically vulnerable and their families. Your prayers are greatly appreciated. Already we have had answers to prayer. Doors are opening before us. In future issues of the HALO Monthly, we will keep you informed about how our prayers are being answered.

In the past two months, we have done a number of things to lay a solid foundation for HALO. We are incorporated and have filed for 501(c)(3) tax status so donations will be tax-deductible. Julie Grimstad just completed a video on “Patient Advocacy.” We’ll let you know when it is available on our YouTube channel. And our website will soon be ready to launch.

We call your attention especially to the inspired design of the HALO logo. It includes the Greek letters alpha and omega, signifying the First and the Last, a name the Scriptures apply to God and His Son, Jesus (see Isaiah 44:6 and Revelation 22:13). It is fitting that we acknowledge and honor God in our logo since we are trusting Him to guide us and bless our work. However, there is a double meaning. The HALO logo also symbolizes our recognition of the common dignity shared by all human beings, from the first moment to the last moment of each person’s life on earth.

None of our progress would have been possible if it weren’t for the various types of support I’ve listed and then some. To all who have helped and all who will help us, we humbly say, “Thank you for assisting us to take that big, high step outside the box!”

DO SOMETHING

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It’s one thing to talk about human suffering and another thing to do something about it.

Are we so caught up in our own lives that we have no time to help anyone else? A friend? A neighbor? An elderly person? A lonely person? A sick or injured person? A suffering person?

Most of us are familiar with the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37). A man is beaten and robbed and lies on the side of the road. The priest and the Levite pass him by, but the Samaritan stops and tends to the wounded man and even goes the extra mile to take him to a safe haven, an inn, and promises to pay for whatever he needs.

The Samaritan is the hero in this story. Perhaps the first two passersby were so busy going about their business that they thought they did not have time to help the injured man. It takes time, effort, energy and sometimes money to be compassionate, to love another person as we would like to be loved.

The only way we can effectively change the culture is to first change ourselves, to show the world what sincere respect and compassion for every human being looks like in action.

It is really simple. Stop passing up the opportunity to make a difference in the world. Be a hero.