health care reform: Well, Healthcare & Finance Reform Are Already Negatively Impacting Me!
- 03/02/11 05:02 AM
Much of what we have heard from the adminstration, Pelosi and Reid is how great the health care and finance reform bills will be for me. Well, so far, the only changes have been negative. Last year, my insurance provided sent a letter that they would no long offer my policy because of changes in the health care law. This forced me to find a different provider and it is costing me more per month. Now, I can no longer pay by credit card. The credit card processor for my current insurance company is no longer accepting credit card payments for … (21 comments)
health care reform: Obesity Index - Mandatory, Smoking History - Mandatory, but Guess What is Not Mandatory to Record Under the New Health Bill
- 07/22/10 12:39 PM
The other day I wrote blog post about BMI (body mass index) and smoking history recording being required in the new electronic health records doctor will be required to use, if they want to get paid for treating medicare patients. But guess what won't be required! HIV history, STD history and abortion history. According to the health records Czar, Dr. David Blumenthal, doctors will not be required to input that information. He states it will be up to the doctor and the patient. Somehow, I think that this information is more pertinent than body mass index, which can fairly easily be … (13 comments)
health care reform: Administration Says Congress Can Use Its Taxing Power “Even for Purposes That Would Exceed Its Powers Under Other Provisions” of the Constitution
- 07/19/10 12:51 PM
The Obama administration Justice Department has filed its brief in defense of the Health Care Reform bill. It is justifying the mandated insurance as an exercise of the government’s “power to lay and collect taxes.” Let's forget about the fact that both the administration and congress declared, emphatically, that this was not a tax. Further, the department brief states that Congress can tax activities that it could not reach by using its power to regulate commerce. Opponents are charging that the madate exceeds Congress's power to regulate commerce via the commerce clause. So it appears that the adminstrations justice department is … (15 comments)
health care reform: The Obamacare Insurance Mandate Wasn't a Tax When it Was Signed, But Administration Says That It is Now!
- 07/19/10 12:32 PM
Well, when the healthcare reform legislation was being written, when it was being debated, when it was being passed congress and the administration swore up and down that it wasn't a tax. President Obama, in an interview with George Stephanopoulus was very adamant that it was not a tax. When Stephanopoulus read the dictionary definition of a tax and said that the healthcare mandate appeared to fit the president replied “I absolutely reject that notion.” and proceeded to accuse Stephanopolous of reaching. Of course, now that the law is being challanged in court the administration has changed its tune. It is … (7 comments)
health care reform: Administration Takes First Steps to Dictate Lifestyles Under New Health Care Regualtions - By 2014 Doctors MUST Record Obesity Index
- 07/16/10 02:42 AM
In new regulations trotted out by HHS Secretary Sebilius, by 2014 doctors will be required to record, onto electronic records, all patients BMI, or obesity index. In the HiTech Act (medical records maintenance) standard 170.302 General certification criteria for Complete EHRs or EHR Modules states: (e) Record and chart vital signs. (1) Vital signs. Enable a user to electronically record, modify, and retrieve a patient’s vital signs including, at a minimum, the height, weight, blood pressure, temperature, and pulse. (2) Calculate body mass index. Automatically calculate and display body mass index (BMI) based on a patient’s height and weight. (Bold/intalics mine) (3) … (21 comments)
In effect, there was only one rally with both groups, and probably many undecided, meeting simultaneously. A speakers platform was set up on a flat bed trailer. At highest attendance there appeared to be somewhere between 150 and 200 people present. The weather was pleasant, mostly a slight overcast … (10 comments)
health care reform: Some Simple Suggestions for Improving Health Care Access in the U.S. Without a Government Take Over, Part 3.
- 08/17/09 07:09 AM
This is part 3 in a series of steps we can take that I fell will both decrease health care costs (or at least slow the increase) as well as make it more accessible, and, most importantly, at least to me, prevent a government takeover of our health care system. For this installment, I am going to refer to a Wall Street Journal article by John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods. He has developed an 8 point process for health care reform. Here it is: Remove the legal obstacles that slow the creation of high-deductible health insurance plans and health savings … (8 comments)
health care reform: Some Simple Suggestions for Improving Health Care Access in the U.S. Without a Government Take Over, Part 2.
- 08/09/09 09:36 AM
This is part 2 of a series on improving access to health care and recuding the overall costs. Because this was both on my list and also appeared to be a hot button on several others who responded to the original post, #2 on my list of recommendations is honest tort reform that will: reduce the cost of malpractice insurance, reduce the number of frivolous lawsuits continue to protect those litigants that really do have a case. Additionally, it should set reasonable caps on judgements, while still being equitable to the damaged parties. I know this will upset many, especially any … (21 comments)
health care reform: Some Simple Suggestions for Improving Health Care Access in the U.S. Without a Government Take Over, Part 1.
- 08/07/09 11:36 AM
It is apparant that the majority of Americans believe that there are some issues with health care costs, while the majority of Americans are satisfied with their health care. Also, it is evident, from poll after poll that the majority of Americans do not want what is being proposed by the president and by congress. So, what can be done to change the availability of coverage? What can be done to control the increase of costs in health care? This will be the first in a series of some things that I believe will help resolve the issues with health care … (24 comments)
Much of what we have heard from the adminstration, Pelosi and Reid is how great the health care and finance reform bills will be for me. Well, so far, the only changes have been negative.
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