The best analogy is to OPEC, the oil producers cartel, which is responsible for the higher prices we all are paying at the gas pump.  This bill would create an "OPEC for doctors."

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that doctors in these collective bargaining groups would see their fees rise by 15 percent on average.

Median physician income in 1996 was $166,000.  H.R. 1304 would cause that to rise by at least $24,900 to $191,935.  The median income of all American workers was $28,480.

CBO says government spending on health care would rise by $11.8 billion over 10 years.

Over the 10 years, $11.8 billion would pay for these medical services:

–More than 156 million mammograms;

–More than 247 million PSA prostate cancer tests;

–More than 65 million colonoscopies;

–More than 87 million units of blood;

–More than 2 million days of treatment in neonatal intensive care.

Also, Medicaid and S-CHIP, the children's health coverage program, would suffer much higher costs because of H.R. 1304.  Fewer children would receive health coverage if this bill became law.

CBO estimates that these programs' costs will increase by more than $11 billion over 10 years.

Medicaid and S-CHIP costs will rise $1.88 billion in 2010 alone.  That money could otherwise be spent to cover more children – more than 1.1 million additional children in 2010 alone.

Many people believe that CBO underestimates the real costs of this bill, including its impact on Medicare+Choice and the state share of Medicaid.

Working Americans would experience higher costs and be put at higher risk of becoming uninsured under this bill.

CBO estimates that employer-sponsored health insurance premiums would rise 2.6 percent.

These higher premiums due to doctor cartels will be passed along to employees.  They will get lower cash wages and reduced fringe benefits.

And independent analysis by Charles River Associates places private health insurance premiums at up to 13 percent increases.  This would hit employees and consumers directly in the pocketbook. 

The overall cost consequences of this legislation are potentially far-reaching and deep.

Health care spending could rise as much as $95 billion per year, Charles River Associates says.

The federal government would spend an additional $11.8 billion over 10 years, according to CBO, while revenues would drop by $10.9 billion.  That's a $22.7 billion hit over 10 years.

Congress would have to find a way to pay for those costs.