Understanding What You Read!

http://docs.house.gov/edlabor/AAHCA-BillText-071409.pdf


I have not done a post on the Health Care bill, in a while. I was listening, and waiting to see what happens. I must ask how many people, that are spouting off such angry, and vicious language have actually read the bill? I am very curious to know that, because the things they are saying, I have not found in the bill. The link above, is the complete House of Representative bill. Last night I read 60 pages of it, and I was shocked at what it really says, and the awful rumors being spread by the media. I will give my thoughts below. I am in no way saying you should agree with my point of view, but I am asking you to read the bill, and make an informed decision, rather than a decision based on someone elses opinion, of whom may, or may not have even read the thing.

The very first thing you notice is the name of the bill, ‘‘America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009’’. Making health insurance affordable, and fair for everyone. What could be wrong with that?

So lets start with the very first rumor that started some time ago. You will not lose your current health care plan, if you like it, and want to keep it. There are some that is saying this is not true, and you will be forced into the public option. According to what I read this is not true. There is a Grandfather Clause in the bill that allows you to keep your current plan. A Grandfather Clause is used in lots of bills. What it means is if you already have something, you can keep it, and you do not have to be included in the new rules. These are used in real estate, education, just to name a few. It does appear that the bill also has a provision so your employer can not drop the health insurance, forcing you into the public option. So that first myth appears to be untrue completely.

What I did notice is that the bill requires Health Insurance providers to follow a whole host of rules, to be sure you are actually getting what you pay for. As a matter of fact there is a clause, that states if you do not use your health insurance you will get a refund from the Health Insurer for what you were overcharged. They can not raise your insurance by 10 percent every year either, kick you out when you become sick, deny you insurance for a pre existing condition, or refuse treatment.

They are going to open up the lines of competition, so no one company has a monopoly. There will be a data base where you can pick, and choose a plan with more than two options, that best suits the needs of you, and your family. The public option, according the bill, is to serve several purposes. To keep the health insurance companies honest, because there will be true competition. To supplement you, if your insurance is not that great, and you need a little more coverage. To provide basic health care coverage, to those who have none. I found this section especially interesting. There has been so much screaming, and yelling about the public option. It covers the most basic of health care coverage, and preventative care. It does not cover non essentials at all. So you see if you already have health insurance, but maybe your plan, is not the greatest, the public option can help you to supplement where you may need it.

Changes to medicare. I think medicare needs to be changed, but I have not seen yet where this is addressed in the bill. Obama, and AARP have said that the current bill does not appear to have any untoward negative effects towards seniors who use medicare. It supposedly will take out Medicare Advantage, which costs billions, and only makes the health insurance companies wealthy.

Now to the most ridiculous thing I have heard yet, euthanasia. In case you do not know what euthanasia is, it is putting someone to sleep that is deemed to serve no purpose anymore. This is absurd. Number one, even if it was in the bill, no doctor, nurse, or hospital would go along with such a thing, and no bill could make them. They have a set of ethical standards they must follow, and I dare to say they would flat out refuse to participate in such practices. This is just outright lies, and scare tactics. With that said, there is talk that a part of the bill be addressed to end of life care. It has been said that they would like to add a clause that states basically that by age 65 you start to think about end of life care. This does not mean, nor imply that it will be put in, or that it is any way in reference to pulling the plug on you. I do not think that it is absurd, or crazy to think people nearing 65 should start to think about their elder years. How will you handle the end of your life? Not only does being unprepared put stress on loved ones, but on medical institutions as well. There are legal procedures you can take, to be sure the end of your life is handled in a manner you wish it to be. Living Wills, Health Care Proxies, are just a couple of the ways you can be sure it will be handled how you want. I do not know of one medical institution that would not agree with that.

Now to the point about rationed care, and refusal of treatment for those deemed unsuitable. Did you know that there are doctors that perform procedures on patients that have no hope of the procedure, or treatment working? A doctor admitted it on Stuart Varney's show the other day, so I am not just saying it. If a treatment, or procedure, will do absolutely no good whatsoever, and is just a way to make money, than the patient should not get it, period. Now with that said, you as the patient need to be informed, so you can make good sound decision. Should a 75 year old, with very limited quality of life get a heart transplant over a 23 year old? That is the question. Should someone who is an alcoholic, and ruined their liver, get a transplant over a car accident victim? These are all very difficult, and ethical questions, that I do not think any bill could cover. The doctors, nurses, ethics boards of hospitals, these are the people who make these decisions, not the government. I do not see this changing, despite all the nonsense you hear.

Please read the bill. I know I will be continuing my reading tonight. It is actually very interesting. Then write your Representative, and give a good, educated response as to how you feel about the health care bill.

Glenn Beck Has Some Issues

First of all if you have not heard the clip yet, please listen to it, before you respond. I think Glenn Beck is a true conservative, and a patriot, but he rally is crazy, and has no people skills. I have listened, and or watched several times, and wondered how his eyes don't just explode outside his head. However, the radio show episode yesterday, was really uncalled for. Now granted he has complained incessantly about all the bailouts, and money this country is spending, and the woman that called had never listened to his show before, so accusing him of such was not wise. However she did raise a very valid point, that the wealthy, and well insured refuse to answer. What would you do if you had no health insurance? They will not answer this, because they have no idea what that really means. They keep saying you can get health care, you can go to the ER, the clinic, or whatever. Well no see technically that is not true. If you go to the hospital for care, if you even get seen, because they will do everything in their power, like long wait times, to not see you, you still get a bill. A bill that will cost no less than 250 dollars, and that is if you get no real treatment at all, and a referral to see a primary care doctor, which will cost you no less than 250 dollars, to see maybe a PA, not a doctor, and still get no treatment. It is a vicious cycle, and the real issue behind health care reform. Yes, maybe people don't really want higher taxes, and it will cost a lot of money, but it really is unfair for all US citizens to not have access to GOOD health care. Take the one point he made, where he said other well off citizens, from other countries, were coming here to get treatment rather than getting it in their own country where health care is provided. Think about that, why do you think that is? It is because they have money, and if you have money you get to bypass everyone else, and get the treatment you want. Not necessarily the treatment you need, but want, and want it now. We are a society of impatience, we think we need, and deserve everything right now, this minute. Try affording MS medication, cancer, Aids, or any other number of illnesses where the medication is so absurdly expensive, if you do not have health insurance, you will not get it. You might just as well kiss your ass goodbye, and just die. Is that fair, is that what we want to be known for in this country of the greatest countries. I understand the all conservative pledge, and though I consider myself a conservative, I find some of them cruel, and the idea that you take care of yourself, and only yourself, is one of them. Universal Health Care IS a right, to all US citizens, not just those who can afford it, or are lucky enough to have it through their job. Which by the way, even if you have health insurance, you can easily go broke, before all they care about is making money, not whether you get the care you need, and deserve. Reform is needed, and soon, how they pay for it is another question. Tort reform, plus reform to drug companies, and insurance companies is a must. I am always curious why they scream and holler, but never make the point that all of us that work, or own our own homes, pay for uninsured through the Medicaid program. We ALREADY pay for it. WE ALREADY pay for the uninsured, through a tax on our own health insurance. WE ALREADY PAY FOR IT!!! I would think if everyone had health insurance, there would be no need for Medicaid, or the tax the insured already pay, to cover those who are uninsured.

I Don't Agree With Everything

So far my posts have been all positive, concerning health care reform. But there are two things, that President Obama, proposed that I do not agree with. One is tort reform, and the other is how to pay for it. Today will be tort reform. In case you are unsure a tort basically refers to a citizen's ability to sue for damages, for medical mistakes, also called medical malpractice. Let me say first, I am in no way against people being able to sue for gross negligence in the medical field. Nor am I saying I am against doctors, nurses, hospitals, or nursing homes. That is the furthest from the truth. Every year, or two, we have to take a nursing continuing education course, on medical errors. These classes are a collection of statistics, and ways to improve medical errors in the profession. One sentence jumped out at me more than any other. It said that the number one reason for the extremely high cost of health care, is because of lawsuits, risk, and malpractice issues. So what does that tell you, that the lawyers need to be removed from the equation, or at least limited. Now Obama said he did not believe in capping the recovery amount a jury can award a plaintiff. Ok, fine then make changes some other way. Honestly I am not sure what he can really do at the federal level, as tort laws are left up to the individual states, but there must be something. Here are some of my thoughts on this issue. Some of these may sound harsh, but lets be frank, it is true.

1- Lawyers should not be allowed to have commercials trolling for clients. Every single time there is even a whiff of something with a medication, or instrument, they are trolling for customers. I think we can agree most people would know how to sue, without constant commercials asking them if they used this, or took this, or did this happen to them. These lawyers are making a killing, because even if the case never goes to trial, and is settled out of court which most are, they are still getting at least 30% of the settlement amount. I am still waiting for the Zicam ads to start.

2- Doctors need to be doctors, and do what doctors do. Physicians assistants should be banned. I do not see any reason for someone who goes to school for less than two years sometimes, to be allowed to write prescriptions for medications. I will not even see a PA, they just push drugs on you. Doctors need to spend more time with their patients. Come on now, you charge 180 dollars for a 15 min visit, if you even see them that long. Most times it is in, and out so fast, the patient can not discuss anything if they want to. If they think of something later, and call the office, you will most likely talk to the secretary, or maybe the nurse. These are all things that increase risk, and thereby increase the chance for lawsuits. If you don't want to be charged high malpractice rates, then decrease your risk. I heard a different Dr several times this week, state on TV, that they order tests that are not needed, because they are afraid to be sued. I am sorry I thought all procedures had to be justified, for the insurance company to cover them, so what the pt is stuck paying for them? Come on this is absurd.

3- The public needs to be informed, and educated, but not crazy. No one is perfect. Anytime you have a procedure done, or put a medication in your body, you are taking a risk for a side effect, or untoward event to occur. That does not mean it was malpractice. You need to learn about everything you have done, or take, and decide to assume the risk. If you did not ask the doctor, nurse, pharmacist or any other information source, and then something happens, you are part of the responsibility. Now obviously there are cases of gross negligence, and malpractice that the public has no control over, those are lawsuits, that should be brought.

4- Facilities that provide medical care, need to provide proper staffing ratios, proper training, and machines in good working order. Now this does not mean you need to spend billions buying new equipment every year, but it should be properly maintained, and in good working order. There are already laws on the books for this, but I think we can agree it doesn't mean it is followed, or enforced. Nurses often work with staffing numbers that are inadequate, and sometimes pushed into areas they are not trained, or comfortable with. I especially call on Mr Obama to change the ratios for nursing homes. Right now one nurse can have 30 patients on the first two shifts, and 40 on the night shift. One CNA, can have up to 19 patients, on the night shift. Now I am not saying I am against working hard, however to reduce risk of malpractice, you need to remove the risk. Having 30-40 patients is a risk, believe me, to everyone. The hospitals have more reasonable ratios, or at least they used to. It was based on acuity, and staffed as such. However with a nursing shortage, it may be short staffing there as well. Having nurses who are forced to work double shifts, short staffing, and in a highly stressful environment you can see how mistakes can happen. Some facilities have excellent competancy classes, each year, to be sure their staff is up to date, on new information, and skills. Others are not as good, and they increase the risk for everyone else, there by increasing the malpractice insurance for all. Nurses also need to know their Nurse Practice Act, and be willing to stand their ground, for what is safe, correct, and best for the patient, nurse, and facility.

I think medical malpractice insurance, should be based on a facility, or medical practice, on a base by base situation. If a Dr has low scores in all the things a DR should do to maintain being a good doctor, then they should pay more. If a Dr has higher scores, with very little risk mounted up, then they should pay less. Same goes for facilities. I do think there should be a cap on certain types of lawsuits, so that suing will be discouraged rather than encouraged. I think lawyers should be limited to how much money they can spend on advertising to troll for malpractice clients.

If we do not get some of the risk removed from health care, and bring down costs, who is to say it will not go the way of the housing bubble. One day it will just become too much, and explode. Then what will happen? I hate to even think about it. Health care is a team effort including, doctors, nurses, patients, and facilities, and everyone has a responsibility to each other.

Say Goodbye To The Pre Existing Condition Clause

If anyone watched the Obama speech yesterday, at the AMA, it was a pretty awesome speech. He really is a good speech giver. He finally laid out what he plans to do, and how, health care reform. There were several things that jumped out at me, in the speech. I will cover them individually, so they can be discussed as such.

He very clearly said that under his reform, Health Insurance companies will no longer be able to refuse coverage, due to pre-existing conditions. Wow it is about time! What sucks more than paying hundreds of dollars per month, for a service, and then being denied that service? These insurance companies spend countless hours, days, and months trying to deny you the coverage you have been paying for. Now with that said, if you have health issues, refuse to follow your doctors plan of care, or choose to live a lifestyle that is reckless, and dangerous, then you should pay more for your insurance, but not be denied care. Most people do not even know they have a pre-existing condition until they are diagnosed. So that is just a load of crap, in itself, and one more way for the insurance companies to boost their profits. I am unsure of when companies started implementing the pre-existing condition rule, because it was not always like that, but it sure started a rapid decline in the health care industry. I know of a lot of people, who not only could afford insurance, but also had insurance, and they dropped it because they were paying for something that they were never getting to get any good use of. No, in case anyone is wondering, I do not care what it does to health insurance companies. They have been screwing the American people for years, and getting away with it. It is about time they pay their dues. Stay tuned for more in the coming days. I will be covering Torts, and lawyers in the next post.

Summer Education and Tutoring Options, Health Care Cont

Well since it is summer vacation, and I can only rant about health care reform so much, I thought I would show some love for our local businesses. With all of Levy County schools doing away with summer school, this year, a lot of parents are wondering how their kids will meet their goals. Suwannee Valley Educational Options is offer summer education, and tutoring options. It does not list prices in the little pamphlet they sent me but they can be contacted at sveotutoring.att.net for info, or 352-490-0700 You can also stop by their office at 6830 NW 140th St, Chiefland, FL I hope kids will not suffer from the inability to access summer school programs. I think there is also the option to use the virtual online classes, but many kids of course do not have a computer, with long waits at the library. I had made a previous post about Currclick having live Algebra, summer classes if anyone needs to look there, their prices are reasonable.

Now to my recent irritation about the health care reform debate. Fox News, who I normally enjoy watching, is really making health care reform, their political talking points. I am actually quite tired, of how ignorant, and crass they are about the whole thing. Their recent irritation to me, was this poll they supposedly did asking people who were already insured if they were happy with their current insurance. I forgot the exact percentage, it was high, of those happy. Well duh, number one they usually only poll 1,000 people give or take a few, and why would you not be happy if you already have coverage. Some said it was too expensive, and sometimes coverage is not so great, but over all happy. Would anyone expect that to be any different? If you have insurance you do not have to worry about an accident, major illness, surgery, or injury to make your life a catastrophic event. They will pay the copay, and deductible, but it surely will not cost them thousands of dollars, lose their home, car, credit, credibility, possibly job, etc. Come on Fox, get with the program. We need universal health care for everyone, plain and simple. Stop with your increased tax BS, and have a little compassion for your fellow American.