Unbelievable!
Legally speaking, it is NOT OK to say "Merry Christmas"! The Affordable Care Act (ACA, a/k/a "Obamacare") includes a list of "Specified Phrases" and sets a target of reducing the incidence of those Specified Phrases by 75% by 2015. The ACA imposes a sliding scale of civil and criminal penalties for those using "Specified Phrases," starting at small fines but progressing up to termination from any ACA benefits. While most SP relate to medical conditions or treatment, one SP is -- no suprprise -- "Merry Christmas". The intention was to get doctors and nurses to stop assuming that all patients were Christians, and start using other secular holiday greetings. BUT, because of sloppy drafting, the prohibition applies to anyone "covered" by the ACA -- essentially all Americans.
Anyone reported to HHS's Office for Civil Rights using the term "Merry Christmas" can therefore be denied care or payment for care, and get a criminal record to boot. Atheist groups have already started distributing form complaint letters to their members, planning to flood HHS with reports of any Christians who dare to wish others Merry Christmas.
Another reason we need to repeal Obamacare!
Legally speaking, it is NOT OK to say "Merry Christmas"! The Affordable Care Act (ACA, a/k/a "Obamacare") includes a list of "Specified Phrases" and sets a target of reducing the incidence of those Specified Phrases by 75% by 2015. The ACA imposes a sliding scale of civil and criminal penalties for those using "Specified Phrases," starting at small fines but progressing up to termination from any ACA benefits. While most SP relate to medical conditions or treatment, one SP is -- no suprprise -- "Merry Christmas". The intention was to get doctors and nurses to stop assuming that all patients were Christians, and start using other secular holiday greetings. BUT, because of sloppy drafting, the prohibition applies to anyone "covered" by the ACA -- essentially all Americans.
Anyone reported to HHS's Office for Civil Rights using the term "Merry Christmas" can therefore be denied care or payment for care, and get a criminal record to boot. Atheist groups have already started distributing form complaint letters to their members, planning to flood HHS with reports of any Christians who dare to wish others Merry Christmas.
Another reason we need to repeal Obamacare!




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