SOCIALIZED MEDICINE DAILY DIGEST FOR 2/20/10

Myth Diagnosis - Everyone knows that people without health insurance are more likely to...

The Atlantic ^ | March 2010 | Megan McArdle

Posted on Saturday, February 20, 2010 1:10:24 AM by neverdem

Everyone knows that people without health insurance are more likely to die. But are they?

Outside of the few states where it is illegal to deny coverage based on medical history, I am probably uninsurable. Though I’m in pretty good health, I have several latent conditions, including an autoimmune disease. If I lost the generous insurance that I have through The Atlantic, even the most charitable insurer might hesitate to take me on.

ObamaCare Vs. Defense

Air Force Magazine ^ | 2/01/2010 | By Robert S. Dudney

Posted on Saturday, February 20, 2010 4:43:21 AM by sonofstrangelove

This nation is face-to-face with disarmament by entitlement. On the morning of Jan. 19, the American national debt stood at $12,276,477,277,649.25, according to the US Treasury. Call it $12 trillion, close to a year’s worth of national economic output. Every US citizen—man, woman, and child—owed an average of $39,900 to the nation’s creditors.

By the time you read this, the figure will be higher, since the debt grows by $4 billion per day. In fact, US indebtedness, which was $5.7 trillion in 2000, is expected to hit a towering $21 trillion in this decade.

This can’t go on, yet it is against this grim background that Washington has been pushing to forge a massive new social welfare program that would make the fiscal mess worse. We manifestly can’t afford it, and all signs are it would pose a special threat to America’s military power.

To the ObamaCare Barricades (WARNING: Illegal Health Care is coming with the Public Option)

Wall St Journal ^ | Feb 20, 2010 | editorial

Posted on Saturday, February 20, 2010 6:01:17 AM by The Raven

[snip]

Liberals are making a bid to restore the "public option," ObamaCare's most controversial and destructive inspiration. Some 18 Senators as we went to press—led by Colorado's Michael Bennet and growing to include New York's Chuck Schumer on Thursday—have endorsed slipping this government-run insurance entitlement in the reconciliation process that would let Democrats abuse Senate rules to hustle ObamaCare into law with 50 votes. Vehemence among House progressives is also at a fever pitch, though it always is.

What Americans Don't Understand about Obamacare

The American Thinker ^ | February 20, 2010 | Brad O'Leary

Posted on Saturday, February 20, 2010 6:50:48 AM by Scanian

In his State of the Union speech, President Obama tried to offer a mea culpa of sorts for the unraveling of his health care bill. Calling health care "a complex issue," the president said, "I take my share of the blame for not explaining it more clearly to the American people."

Health Backlash in the States

Wall Street Journal ^ | February 20, 2010 | Editorial Board

Posted on Saturday, February 20, 2010 8:52:50 AM by reaganaut1

The backlash against ObamaCare is moving beyond the Tea Parties and has now arrived in state capitals. In more than 30 states, legislators are proceeding to pass statutes or ballot initiatives that would guarantee the right to choose medical services and insurance.

Obama Calls for Bipartisan Health-Care Reform (NO! We are not buying this Sucker's Medicine)

Voice Of America ^ | 2/20/2010 | VOA

Posted on Saturday, February 20, 2010 10:08:48 AM by tobyhill

U.S. President Barack Obama is trying again to get a health care reform plan through Congress, after the legislature failed last year to produce a bill for him to sign.

In his weekly radio and Internet address Saturday, Mr. Obama calls on members of both political parties to come together in "good faith" at a special meeting next week to discuss the issue.

He said the meeting will test not just whether the government can solve this one problem, but any problem.

Republicans already are expressing doubts about the process. Speaking in his party's weekly address, Michigan Congressman David Camp accused Democrats of drafting a new bill in secret. He said if that is true, then the upcoming meeting "will likely be a charade."

Obama to write Health Care Bill & use reconciliation - What about the Byrd Rule?

The Examiner ^ | Feb 20, 2010 | Victoria Nicks

Posted on Saturday, February 20, 2010 10:20:02 AM by Clairity

According to the Associated Press, President Obama intends to write his own version of the Health Care Legislation, and attach it to the budget, using a procedure called reconciliation to eliminate the need for any Republican votes.

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the Byrd Rule, named for Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia could quickly derail the President's attempt to pass Health Care Legislation through budget reconciliation. The Byrd Rule, adopted in 1985, states that any provision or amendment of a budget reconciliation bill that any Senator decides is "extraneous" would automatically be stripped from the bill if there are not 60 votes saying that it should stay.

Senate GOP: Dems lack votes to use partisan tactic on health reform

The Hill ^ | 2/20/2010 | J. Taylor Rushing and Eric Zimmerman

Posted on Saturday, February 20, 2010 1:50:16 PM by advance_copy

Senate Republicans are claiming Democrats lack the votes to pass healthcare reform through reconciliation rules, but their math appears a bit fuzzy.

Senate Republicans on Friday distributed a press release titled “18 Democrats Oppose Health Care Reconciliation” with a breakdown of each senator’s statements on the issue.

Health Care Summit: Obama Calls for 'Spirit of Good Faith' Without 'Political Theater'

ABC News ^

Posted on Saturday, February 20, 2010 11:38:45 AM by Sub-Driver

Miller ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports:

A week before his health care summit, President Obama called on Democrats and Republicans to come to the table “in a spirit of good faith,” when they sit down at the Blair House on Thursday for the president’s much-anticipated meeting.

“I don’t want to see this meeting turn into political theater, with each side simply reciting talking points and trying to score political points,” Obama said in his weekly address. “Instead, I ask members of both parties to seek common ground in an effort to solve a problem that’s been with us for generations. “

Obama on health-care summit: Let’s play nice or else I’ll nuke you with reconciliation

Hot Air ^ | Feb. 20, 2010 | Allahpundit

Posted on Saturday, February 20, 2010 12:54:46 PM by Free ThinkerNY

An efficient bit of political theater, capped by his insistence that “I don’t want to see this meeting turn into political theater.” It’s a little late for that, champ:

It is now clear that the “summit” the president has called for February 25 is not intended to consider different approaches to health care financing, but rather to create an illusion of momentum that might just lull disoriented congressional Democrats into ramming the health care bill through the budget reconciliation process…

Up Next! On Live TV! A Battle Over ... Health Care?

NY Times ^ | Feb 20, 2010 | DAVID M. HERSZENHORN and SHERYL GAY STOLBERG

Posted on Saturday, February 20, 2010 1:50:22 PM by SmartInsight

When he jousts with Congressional Republicans over health care policy during a televised â€œsummitâ€� meeting on Thursday, President Obama will seek to portray his adversaries as sharing many of the broad goals of his legislation, and also strive to unify Congressional Democrats to press ahead and adopt a bill, senior White House officials and leading Democrats say.

SGR Deadline Nears (Medicare doctors' pay cut scheduled for March 1, 2010)

Med Page Today ^ | February 19, 2010 | Emily P. Walker

Posted on Saturday, February 20, 2010 6:57:06 AM by hocndoc

When Congress returns from the Presidents Day recess next week, lawmakers will have just seven days to pass a bill to prevent a 21% cut in Medicare reimbursement.

Racing the clock to prevent cuts dictated by the sustainable growth rate (SGR) is nothing new. Every year over most of the past decade, Congress has voted at the eleventh hour to push planned cuts off for a year.

Reid tries to resurrect public option

Politico ^ | February 19, 2010 | Chris Frates

Posted on Saturday, February 20, 2010 8:36:11 AM by maggief

Ahead of next week's White House health reform summit, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has signed on to a plan to try to resurrect the public insurance option in the Senate and signaled a willingness to use a 51-vote majority if needed to get it through.

Reid's announcement came as the White House went ahead with plans to craft its own health reform proposal ahead of the summit, a plan that could pass with 51 votes in the Senate, bypassing the threat of a Republican filibuster, according to Democratic officials.

The Real Reason Obama, Dems Desperately Push Healthcare Bill

Conservative Examiner ^ | 2/20/2010 | Anthony G. Martin

Posted on Saturday, February 20, 2010 3:47:38 PM by Welshman007

In the frenzied push to pass a massive healthcare bill that will change the U.S. healthcare system from top to bottom, Americans were told that such a plan was needed to address untold suffering on the part of the uninsured and to reign in the skyrocketing costs of medical care.

Even the Democrats and Barack Obama, however, could not manage to approve a bill in spite of the fact that they held a super-majority in both the Senate and the House, and thus, could basically do whatever they pleased.

Reid: Dems will use 50-vote tactic to finish healthcare in 60 days (Here we go again...)

The Hill ^ | 2/20/10 | Michael O'Brien

Posted on Saturday, February 20, 2010 6:21:04 PM by Libloather

Democrats will finish their health reform efforts within the next two months by using a majority-vote maneuver in the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said.

Premiums jump 14 percent on Medicare private plans

AP on Yahoo ^ | 2/19/10 | Richard Alonzo-Zaldivar - ap

Posted on Saturday, February 20, 2010 6:54:20 PM by NormsRevenge

WASHINGTON – Millions of seniors who signed up for popular private health plans through Medicare are facing sharp premium increases this year — another sign that spiraling costs are a problem even for those with solid insurance.

John Edwards, Mesothelioma Man, and Health Care Reform

Ameican Thinker ^ | Feb. 20, 2010 | Ralph Alter

Posted on Saturday, February 20, 2010 7:30:45 PM by libstripper

It has been fairly well-demonstrated that John Edwards is a pretty-boy philanderer married to a condescending harridan willing to go to any lengths to acquire stationery with the 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue imprint. But what do we know about the bag-man behind the elaborate cover-up scheme designed to keep the sleeping bloodhounds of the Beltway media at bay?

Obama and Democrats' Health Care Plan [Averaging many polls is revealing]

Real Clear Politics ^

Posted on Saturday, February 20, 2010 4:26:09 PM by Lorianne

Forget the squabbling over whose poll is valid or not. RCP has assembled a spreadsheet of all the recent polls on health care 'reform' and averaged them to reveal the opposition to such 'reform' plans.

Obama Continues to Push Health Care When Country Needs JOBS!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/2456272/posts

No Means No, Mr. President

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2456265/posts

Patients receive lethal injections without giving their consent (involuntary euthanasia)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2456260/posts

Dr. Mark Mostert: "Finishing Off" Children with Disabilities

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/2456248/posts

McCain Bill Would Limit Access to Nutritional Supplements

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2456237/posts

Reid to use Reconciliation to Pass ObamaCare, The People be Damned

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/2456233/posts

GOP Headed to White House Hopeful But Hesitant

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2456229/posts

Republicans 'ready to participate' in Obama's health care summit

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2456226/posts

A cautionary tale in healthcare reform [Mandates = Higher Premiums!!]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2456204/posts

Is Byrd The Last Word On Reconciliation?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/2456168/posts

Docs 4 Patient Care -- Time for a New Look for Doctors

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2456154/posts

Detroit home health agency owner (Muhammad Shahab) pleads guilty over Medicare fraud

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2456153/posts

Hijacked this from another thread, no link:

Obama’s plan (from the White House website:

The Obama Plan: Stability & Security For All Americans “It will provide more security and stability to those who have health insurance. It will provide insurance to those who don’t. And it will lower the cost of health care for our families, our businesses, and our government”

-President Barack Obama

If You Have Health Insurance
More Stability and Security

•Ends discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions. Over the last three years, 12 million people were denied coverage directly or indirectly through high premiums due to a pre-existing condition. Under the President’s plan, it will be against the law for insurance companies to deny coverage for health reasons or risks.

•Limits premium discrimination based on gender and age. The President’s plan will end insurers’ practice of charging different premiums or denying coverage based on gender, and will limit premium variation based on age.

•Prevents insurance companies from dropping coverage when people are sick and need it most. The President’s plan prohibits insurance companies from rescinding coverage that has already been purchased except in cases of fraud. In most states, insurance companies can cancel a policy if any medical condition was not listed on the application – even one not related to a current illness or one the patient didn’t even know about. A recent Congressional investigation found that over five years, three large insurance companies cancelled coverage for 20,000 people, saving them from paying $300 million in medical claims - $300 million that became either an obligation for the patient’s family or bad debt for doctors and hospitals.

•Caps out-of pocket expenses so people don’t go broke when they get sick. The President’s plan will cap out-of-pocket expenses and will prohibit insurance companies from imposing annual or lifetime caps on benefit payments. A middle-class family purchasing health insurance directly from the individual insurance market today could spend up to 50 percent of household income on health care costs because there is no limit on out-of-pocket expenses.

•Eliminates extra charges for preventive care like mammograms, flu shots and diabetes tests to improve health and save money. The President’s plan ensures that all Americans have access to free preventive services under their health insurance plans. Too many Americans forgo needed preventive care, in part because of the cost of check-ups and screenings that can identify health problems early when they can be most effectively treated. For example, 24 percent of women age 40 and over have not received a mammogram in the past two years, and 38 percent of adults age 50 and over have never had a colon cancer screening.

•Protects Medicare for seniors. The President’s plan will extend new protections for Medicare beneficiaries that improve quality, coordinate care and reduce beneficiary and program costs. These protections will extend the life of the Medicare Trust Fund to pay for care for future generations.

•Eliminates the “donut-hole” gap in coverage for prescription drugs. The President’s plan begins immediately to close the Medicare “donut hole” - a current gap in its drug benefit - by providing a 50 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs for seniors who fall into it. In 2007, over 8 million seniors hit this coverage gap in the standard Medicare drug benefit. By 2019, the President’s plan will completely close the “donut hole”. The average out-of-pocket spending for such beneficiaries who lack another source of insurance is $4,080.

If You Don’t Have Insurance
Quality, Affordable Choices for All Americans

•Creates a new insurance marketplace – the Exchange – that allows people without insurance and small businesses to compare plans and buy insurance at competitive prices. The President’s plan allows Americans who have health insurance and like it to keep it. But for those who lose their jobs, change jobs or move, new high quality, affordable options will be available in the exchange. Beginning in 2013, the Exchange will give Americans without access to affordable insurance on the job, and small businesses one-stop shopping for insurance where they can easily compare options based on price, benefits, and quality.

•Provides new tax credits to help people buy insurance. The President’s plan will provide new tax credits on a sliding scale to individuals and families that will limit how much of their income can be spent on premiums. There will also be greater protection for cost-sharing for out-of-pocket expenses.

•Provides small businesses tax credits and affordable options for covering employees. The President’s plan will also provide small businesses with tax credits to offset costs of providing coverage for their workers. Small businesses who for too long have faced higher prices than larger businesses, will now be eligible to enter the exchange so that they have lower costs and more choices for covering their workers.

•Offers a public health insurance option to provide the uninsured and those who can’t find affordable coverage with a real choice. The President believes this option will promote competition, hold insurance companies accountable and assure affordable choices. It is completely voluntary. The President believes the public option must operate like any private insurance company – it must be self-sufficient and rely on the premiums it collects.

•Immediately offers new, low-cost coverage through a national “high risk” pool to protect people with preexisting conditions from financial ruin until the new Exchange is created. For those Americans who cannot get insurance coverage today because of a pre-existing condition, the President’s plan will immediately make available coverage without a mark-up due to their health condition. This policy will offer protection against financial ruin until a wider array of choices become available in the new exchange in 2013.

For All Americans
Reins In the Cost of Health Care for Our Families, Our Businesses, and Our Government

•Won’t add a dime to the deficit and is paid for upfront. The President’s plan will not add one dime to the deficit today or in the future and is paid for in a fiscally responsible way. It begins the process of reforming the health care system so that we can further curb health care cost growth over the long term, and invests in quality improvements, consumer protections, prevention, and premium assistance. The plan fully pays for this investment through health system savings and new revenue including a fee on insurance companies that sell very expensive plans.

•Requires additional cuts if savings are not realized. Under the plan, if the savings promised at the time of enactment don’t materialize, the President will be required to put forth additional savings to ensure that the plan does not add to the deficit.

•Implements a number of delivery system reforms that begin to rein in health care costs and align incentives for hospitals, physicians, and others to improve quality. The President’s plan includes proposals that will improve the way care is delivered to emphasize quality over quantity, including: incentives for hospitals to prevent avoidable readmissions, pilots for new “bundled” payments in Medicare, and support for new models of delivering care through medical homes and accountable care organizations that focus on a coordinated approach to care and outcomes.

•Creates an independent commission of doctors and medical experts to identify waste, fraud and abuse in the health care system. The President’s plan will create an independent Commission, made up of doctors and medical experts, to make recommendations to Congress each year on how to promote greater efficiency and higher quality in Medicare. The Commission will not be authorized to propose or implement Medicare changes that ration care or affect benefits, eligibility or beneficiary access to care. It will ensure that your tax dollars go directly to caring for seniors.

•Orders immediate medical malpractice reform projects that could help doctors focus on putting their patients first, not on practicing defensive medicine. The President’s plan instructs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to move forward on awarding medical malpractice demonstration grants to states funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality as soon as possible.

•Requires large employers to cover their employees and individuals who can afford it to buy insurance so everyone shares in the responsibility of reform. Under the President’s plan, large businesses – those with more than 50 workers – will be required to offer their workers coverage or pay a fee to help cover the cost of making coverage affordable in the exchange. This will ensure that workers in firms not offering coverage will have affordable coverage options for themselves and their families. Individuals who can afford it will have a responsibility to purchase coverage – but there will be a “hardship exemption” for those who cannot.

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