HealthCareOrScare?

Awful Part of Current Health Insurance… “Politically Cartooned”

jgold316 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:48:07 +0000

I’m not quite sure this cartoon even needs my input, but just to emphasize how badly we need this health care legislation to pass.

Cost-Containment Measures Proposed

jgold316 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:29:22 +0000

(picture taken from nytimes.com)

There are now two groups of Senators who are trying to figure out if this new health plan is going to be able to slow the crazy health care costs down for the federal government and for the average American. One group of Senators contains Susan Collins (Maine Republican), Joseph Lieberman (Connecticut Independent), and Arlen Specter (Pennsylvania Democrat). The three apparently have apparently boasted their title as “Tri-Partisan”. (how clever haha) One issue they are trying to tackle is the spending that takes place because of infection people during hospital stays. They bring to our attention that most of these infections are avoidable and that they are costing lots of money to keep these people who become sick with these infections in the hospital for a longer period of time.

“An estimated 1.7 million Americans become ill each year as a result of a hospital-acquired infection,” Ms. Collins said. “Annually, 99,000 Americans died from these infections. These infections are also costly. They extend hospital stays by more than eight days and increase costs by approximately $30 billion per year. That is simply unacceptable.” (nytimes.com)

Susan Collins says that the “Tri-Partisan” amendments would save the government $8 billion over ten years. Doesn’t sound too shabby huh? The second group of Senators is made up of freshman Democratic Senators who have also prepared a package of amendments that they feel will be cost effective. One of their proposals is that there should be a new independent commission created that will be responsible for identifying potential savings in Medicare, also be directed to look at the overall health care system, and to make recommendations for voluntary steps that could be taken by doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers in order to lower costs. (nytimes.com) I believe both groups of Senators will figure out some pretty wise ways in which the cost can be contained in an effective and organized way. What do you think? Do you have any of your own personal suggestions on how some of this cost could be contained? Until next time…

Cuts on Home Health Services?

jgold316 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 22:30:27 +0000

I’ve finally come across a part of this new health care legislation that I’m not sure I like too much. Now, we have already figured out through the amendment passed this week that those covered by medicare will not lose their coverage with the new public option. The big question now is what kind of cost cuts are going to occur and what are they are going to take away from Medicare. Home Health Services are a big part of medicare when you take into account the nurses that are provided to those who do not wish to be hospitalized or quite frankly do not need to be hospitalized, they just need care. I know that private nurses can be very expensive so it’s nice that they can be provided to those who need them. I am very unsure on this issue. I mean it is almost bitter-sweet, on one hand 30 million people will gain health insurance, but on the other hand the cost would be offset by new taxes, fees, and cutbacks in Medicare payments to health care providers. I would hate for cost cuts to affect those who are used to and depend on private nurses who come to their home. What do you think? (If you want to read more I’ve attached an article from the New York Times below.)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/05/health/policy/05home.html?_r=1

Democrats Request to be Added to Coburn Amendment…

jgold316 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:13:51 +0000

And here we go, the fight on the floor of the Senate over the proposed “public option” has begun. Three Democrats, (Christopher Dodd, Barbara Mikulski, and Sherrod Brown) have decided to join the Republican Amendment proposed by Senator Coburn which would force members of Congress to receive their own health benefits through the new public plan. I wonder if this tactic is going to work. Senators will either agree or be very angered that anyone would suggest them having to move their insurance under the new public option. Up until this point I’m pretty positive that they pay for it out-of-pocket, and some may prefer to keep it this way. I have attached two videos, the first is Brown’s request to be added to the amendment, and the second is Dodd’s request to do the same. Listen closely. What do you think?

http://brown.senate.gov/newsroom/multimedia/ (click on the bullet posted on 12/04/09 which is titled “Sen. Brown Demands to be Added to the Coburn Public Option Amendment on the Senate Floor)

Day of Rest?

jgold316 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:51:43 +0000

I read a very interesting article in the New York Times that spoke about how busy the Senate would be in the next few weeks debating over this new health care legislation. The article recognized the fact that Senator McConnell from Kentucky, asked Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, if they would have time off on Sunday morning in order to attend church. With seemingly no hesitation, Mr. Reid granted the request and acknowledged that the Senate would meet some time after church on Sunday morning was over. The article also mentioned Independent from Connecticut, Joseph Lieberman, who is of the Jewish faith. (Mr. Lieberman was on the ballot two elections ago as Gore’s Vice presidential candidate.) Saturdays are a holy day in the Jewish religion, referred to as the Sabbath, in which no one is supposed to do any type of work from sundown on Friday, until sundown on Saturday. Mr. Lieberman will however be present and voting in the Senate on Saturday, but he makes note that he will be walking to the capital. (Driving on the Sabbath is frowned upon.) This article was interesting to me because I think some of us fail to see that these men and women in the Senate do have lives outside of politics just like everyone else. Is it fair to infringe on their religious beliefs and practices in order to have sessions and votes on Saturdays and Sundays? For once, I am not quite sure how I feel about the issue. Part of me feels that it would almost be unfair to REQUIRE attendance and also have important votes on Saturdays or even Sunday mornings (for those who attend church), but on the other hand if there are important issues involved like those currently about health care legislation and none of the Senators are complaining that much, maybe it’s not such a big deal. The article made it clear the Senate will not have a time period of rest any time soon. Until next time…

2 Main Issues

jgold316 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:35:02 +0000

According to the New York Times, there are two key issues that are going to key the final outcome of the new health care legislation; “provisions related to insurance coverage for abortion and to a proposed government-run health insurance plan, or public option.” Both of these have obviously been huge factors in this debate so far, and they are finally going to have to be agreed upon in some form or fashion. Ben Nelson, a democratic senator of Nebraska is an opposer of abortion rights and is preparing an amendment that will be a big test factor on how the issue of abortion will actually be handled. Nelson would like to see the language in the amendment clarify something to the effect that the coverage of abortion by any insurance plan purchased even partly with federal subsidies would be barred. This amendment is supposed to hit the Senate floor next week. On the other hand, the public option is being pushed very hard by liberal senators who emphasize the fact that the public option is necessary in order to compete with private insurers. Both of these are very crucial to the new health care legislation and I guess we will be left waiting to figure out what’s going to happen. What do you think? Until next time…

Breakin it Down

jgold316 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:21:59 +0000

I thought it would be kind of nice to give you all a break down of the votes that recently occurred in the Senate. I know I report on them, but I thought maybe getting a visual might be a nice change. The 3 charts below indicate the results of the Mikulski amendment, the Murkowski amendment, and the amendment to guarantee Medicare benefits. So take a look by clicking each link to view a graphic chart!

Senate Vote 355 – H.R.3590: On the Amendment To clarify provisions relating to first dollar coverage for preventive services for women.

http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/111/senate/1/355

Senate Vote 356 – H.R.3590: On the Amendment To ensure patients receive doctor recommendations for preventive health services, including mammograms and cervical cancer screening, without interference from government or insurance company bureaucrats

http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/111/senate/1/356

Senate Vote 357 – H.R.3590: On the Amendment To protect and improve guaranteed Medicare benefits.

http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/111/senate/1/357

Guarantee of Current Medicare Benefits

jgold316 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:07:30 +0000

There was a unanimous vote in the Senate (100 to 0) that Medicare benefits guaranteed under current law to Americans ages 65 and over would still be guaranteed under the major health care legislation being debated on the Senate floor!! (Sorry John McCain, you may need to take a different angle in your opposition techniques/campaigns.) So let’s make this clear one more time; MEDICARE BENEFITS WILL NOT BE TAKEN AWAY AS A RESULT OF THE NEW LEGISLATION! Yay!! I know this is a short post but I thought I had to share because this is great!! Until next time…

Obama Makes an Appearance

jgold316 — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:00:56 +0000

President Obama made a trip to Capitol Hill today to meet with the Democratic caucus in order to energize and invigorate lawmakers as they remain so internally divided over so many of these important issues. Unfortunately, I have never had contact with President Obama, but just hearing the way he speaks on television is enough to let me know that if he were in front of me trying to get me energized and motivated to handle a situation, it would most likely do the trick. This debate is most likely going to drag on until Christmas Eve, and hopefully not longer. President Obama has plans to be in Hawaii for Christmas, but his aides have said if he is needed on Capital Hill during Christmas, then he will be there. Until next time…

Woman. The Biggest Pre-existing Condition of All..

jgold316 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:53:38 +0000

As I’ve presented in many previous blogs, women seem to be the target when it comes to rejecting health insurance coverage due to a pre-existing condition. These days, just about anything can constitute as one of these pre-existing conditions, and it just so happens that most of these “conditions” are suffered by women. This leads me to some exciting news, the Senate approved an amendment that will be added to the Senate health care bill which requires insurance companies to offer free mammograms and other preventative services to women. The vote was 61-39 (three republicans joined the democrats, as well as two independents). I do not believe this decision was a partisan one but rather a gendered one. I find it rather disturbing that any woman could be opposed to having coverage extend to preventative care for themselves. I also find it disturbing that a man would be opposed, considering if it weren’t for the health of his mother, he would not be alive today. I think men tend to become selfish on this issue, and need to think about the fact they were raised by a mother who I’m sure they would like to remain healthy. This makes me think of a video I posted a long while back where a congress woman reminded a gentlemen (who was opposed to insurance companies providing preventative care for women) that his mother would have greatly appreciated it. This amendment is great news for women AND men all over the country, and each person should be grateful that it was added, and each person must have hope that this bill will pass !! Until next time…

http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/03/senate-passes-womens-health-amendment/