If this factual piece doesn't scare the hell out of you nothing will!
Folks,
People are starting to read the health care bill being considered by the House. As they say, the devil is in the details. Here are some that have been noted. Since several of you receiving this email are senior citizens, 20I puts into bold, the provisions that especially apply to you. Incredibly, AARP is supporting this. (That is less surprising when you use the internet to see the numerous ties that the AARP has with ACORN.)
Please call or email your representatives to oppose this nightmare. Here's a link that you can use to find them:
http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
Also, forward this to others on your email list.
Note that this list only extends to page 498, and the bill is over 1000 pages.
Pg 22 of the Health Care Bill mandates that the Govt. will audit the books of all employers that self insure
Pg 30 Sec 123 of HC bill - Establishes a Govt. committee that decides what treatments/benefits you get
Pg 29 lines 4-16 - Rationing of health care
Pg 42 - The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your benefits for you. You have no choice
PG 50 Section 152 - Health Care will be provided to all non US citizens, illegal or otherwise
Pg 58 - Govt. will have real-time access to individuals' finances & a National ID Health card will be issued
Pg 59 lines 21-24 - Govt. will have direct access to your bank accounts for elective funds transfer
PG 65 Sec 164 - This is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in community orgs (ACORN).
Pg 72 Lines 8-14 - Govt. is creating an Health Care Exchange to bring private plans under Govt. control.
PG 84 Sec 203 - Govt. mandates all benefit pkgs. for private plans be in the Govt. health care exchange
PG=2 085 Line 7 - Specifics for Benefit Levels for Plans = The Govt. will ration your Healthcare
PG 91 Lines 4-7 - Govt. mandates "linguistic appropriate services." Translation: for non-English, including illegal aliens
Pg 95 Lines 8-18 - The Govt. can use groups (i.e., ACORN & AmeriCorps) to sign up individuals for Govt. plan
PG 85 Line 7 - Specifics of Benefit Levels for Plans. (#AARP members - your care will be rationed)
-PG 102 Lines 12-18 - Medicaid Eligible Individuals will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. No choice. It is claimed that these additions will not cost additionally.
pg 124 lines 24-25 - No company can sue GOVT. on price fixing. No "judicial review" against Govt. Monopoly
pg 127 Lines 1-16 - Doctors/ #AMA - The Govt. will set compensation for you
Pg 145 Line 15-17 - An Employer not providing health care must automatically enroll employees into Govt. plan
Pg 126 Lines 22-25 - Employers must pay for health care for part time employees AND their families.
Pg 149 Lines 16-24 - Any Employer with a payroll of 400k & above who does not provide public option=2 0pays an 8% tax on all payroll
pg 150 Lines 9-13 - Any employer with a payroll between 251k & 400k who doesn't provide public option pays a 2-6% tax on all payroll
Pg 167 Lines 18-23 - Any individual who doesn't have acceptable Health Care according to the Govt. will be taxed 2.5% of income
Pg 170 Lines 1-3 - Any nonresident Alien is exempt from individual taxes. (Americans will pay)
Pg 195 - Officers & employees of Health Care Administration of Govt. will have access to all Americans financial and personal records
PG 203 Line 14-15 - "The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax". Yes, it says that…
Pg 239 Line 14-24 - Govt. will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income, poor affected
Pg 241 Line 6-8 - Doctors, doesn't matter what specialty you have, you'll all be paid the same
PG 253 Line 10-18 - Govt. sets value of Doctor's time, professional judgment, etc.
PG 265 Sec 1131- Govt. mandates & controls productivity for private Health Care industries
PG 268 Sec 1141 - Govt. regulates rental & purchase of power driven wheelchairs
PG 272 SEC. 1145 - Controls treatment given at Cancer hospitals - Cancer patients - welcome to rationing
Page 280 Sec 1151 - The Govt. will penalize hospitals for what Govt. deems preventable rea dmissions
Pg 298 Lines 9-11 - Doctors that treat a patient during initial admission that results in a readmission will be penalized
Pg 317 L 13-20 - Prohibition on ownership/investment. Govt. tells Doctors what/how much they can own.
Pg 317-318 lines 21-25,1-3 - Prohibition on expansion- Govt. is mandating hospitals cannot expand
pg 321 2-13 - Hospitals have opportunity to apply for exception to expansion rule, but "community input" (i.e. ACORN) required.
Pg 341 Lines 3-9 - Govt. has authority to disqualify Medicare Advanced Plans, HMOs, etc., forcing people into Govt. plan
Pg 354 Sec 1177 - Govt. will restrict enrollment of Special needs people.
Pg 379 Sec 1191 - Govt. creates more bureaucracy - Telehealth Advisory Committee. (Health Care by phone)
PG 425 Lines 4-12 - Govt. mandates Advance Care Planning Consultations. Senior Citizens must meet with Govt. representatives on a regular basis (more often if ill) to discuss "end of life" issues
Pg 425 Lines 17-19 - Govt. will instruct & consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney. Mandatory!
PG 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3 - Govt. provides approved list of end of life resources, guiding you in death
PG 427 Lines 15-24 - Govt. mandates program for orders for end of life. The Govt. has a say in how your life ends
Pg 429 Lines 1-9 An "Advance care planning consult" will be used more frequently as patients health deteriorates
PG 429 Lines 10-12 "Advance care consultation" may include an order for end of life plans.
Pg 429 Lines 13-25 - The Govt. will specify which Doctors can write an end of life order.
PG 430 Lines 11-15 - The Govt. will decid e what level of treatment you will have at end of life
Pg 469 - Community Based Home Medical Services (ACORN Medical Services)
Page 472 Lines 14-17 - Monthly payments to community-based organizations (ACORN)
PG 489 Sec 1308 - The Govt. will cover Marriage & Family therapy. Which means they will insert Govt. into your marriage, family size, and abortion
Pg 494-498 Govt. will cover Mental Health Services including defining, creating, rationing those services
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Do As I Say, Not As I Do - Congressional Motto
How many times have you heard this old saying or said it about a bad parenting situation or even said it to yourself under certain circumstances? Is this not exactly what our Congress is telling us and doing today? Here are just a few examples:
Thy shalt not kill, unless you're a senator named Kennedy
Thy shalt not commit adultery, too many to name except there's always the big one Clinton
Thy shalt pay taxes on time, unless you're Sec. of Treasury or Rep. Charles Rangel
Thy shalt not lie, unless you're Speaker of the House Pelosi
And, the list goes on, the point being is our Congress wants us to live under a system they would have no part of. Let's just take the current issue of health care. How many of OUR elected congress people will stand up and say I will give up my Congressional Health Care Plan that is good for life and take whatever we decide for the citizens? Find one, they're far a few if any. But, this is the point we must MAKE our Congress People live under the same laws, rules and policies they make us live under. Including if you commit a crime oh say like murder, one should be tried, right Senator Kennedy?
I know the folks for the most part reading this agree but we must get the folks that aren't reading it or thinking about it to understand. Businessmen and women should make business decisions not idiots in positions of power that have never made payroll, run a lemonade stand or done anything else worthwhile. We must have leaders that are proud of this country and not apologize for anything our forefathers did or that we have done. As a country we've not been perfect but a damn site better than any other country ever on this earth.
Finally just a quick thought on racism. I have never seen a President more racist than Obama and it is going to lead to BIG problems in the future mark my word. What he said was NO mistake and will be at some point a rallying call. Who was it that said, Stupid is as stupid does? Mr. Gump I believe, think about it, is he stupid or setting us up?
Make OUR elected officials live by the rules that they legislate for us so they can say, Do AS I Say and As I Do. By the way would someone please point out to me where in the Constitution does it say OUR elected representatives shall have privileges unlike the rest of the citizenry?
Please think about this and pass it on or read other blogs at www.americaswebradio.com
Thy shalt not kill, unless you're a senator named Kennedy
Thy shalt not commit adultery, too many to name except there's always the big one Clinton
Thy shalt pay taxes on time, unless you're Sec. of Treasury or Rep. Charles Rangel
Thy shalt not lie, unless you're Speaker of the House Pelosi
And, the list goes on, the point being is our Congress wants us to live under a system they would have no part of. Let's just take the current issue of health care. How many of OUR elected congress people will stand up and say I will give up my Congressional Health Care Plan that is good for life and take whatever we decide for the citizens? Find one, they're far a few if any. But, this is the point we must MAKE our Congress People live under the same laws, rules and policies they make us live under. Including if you commit a crime oh say like murder, one should be tried, right Senator Kennedy?
I know the folks for the most part reading this agree but we must get the folks that aren't reading it or thinking about it to understand. Businessmen and women should make business decisions not idiots in positions of power that have never made payroll, run a lemonade stand or done anything else worthwhile. We must have leaders that are proud of this country and not apologize for anything our forefathers did or that we have done. As a country we've not been perfect but a damn site better than any other country ever on this earth.
Finally just a quick thought on racism. I have never seen a President more racist than Obama and it is going to lead to BIG problems in the future mark my word. What he said was NO mistake and will be at some point a rallying call. Who was it that said, Stupid is as stupid does? Mr. Gump I believe, think about it, is he stupid or setting us up?
Make OUR elected officials live by the rules that they legislate for us so they can say, Do AS I Say and As I Do. By the way would someone please point out to me where in the Constitution does it say OUR elected representatives shall have privileges unlike the rest of the citizenry?
Please think about this and pass it on or read other blogs at www.americaswebradio.com
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Hungry for the Fourth of July?
If you're looking for some super recipes to make your Fourth of July sparkle, new show host Ivy Stark has some spectacular ideas for you. Chef Ivy is the executive chef at Dos Caminos, the hottest spot in NYC! Check out her recipes on her show page: http://www.radiosandysprings.com/showpages/ivyStark.php
And be sure to listen to her live on Tuesdays at 11am on America's Web Radio!
And be sure to listen to her live on Tuesdays at 11am on America's Web Radio!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Healthcare Reform by Dr. Elaina George
An honest conversation on healthcare reform, insurance companies & the doctor/patient relationship
Elaina F. George, MD
www.peachtreeentcenter.com
Now that President Obama has put heath care reform on the agenda, I am really afraid that the needs of patients and their physicians will continue to be ignored. I believe that good medical care is a right and not a privilege. However, the drive for true reform has been hijacked by the insurance and pharmaceutical industry.
I have seen a disturbing trend in medicine since I started practicing medicine in 1998. It seems to be getting worse. I am an ear, nose and throat surgeon in solo private practice in Atlanta, GA. I have a unique perspective on the health care system. I truly believe that the voices of average physicians need to be heard.
Imagine going to an ER after sustaining an injury to your face, sitting for hours finally being seen by an ER physician. You are given a CT scan, but not physically examined or treated. Instead you are told to see an ENT specialist and then paying for the privilege. Or what if you have a nose bleed and go to the ER 3 times over 2 days. The first time you are not even seen by an ER doctor. The second time you get a nasal decongestant but no IV fluid. The 3rd time you get your nose packed and told to follow up with an ENT doctor in 48 hours to have the packing removed. You call the ENT doctor on call and you are given an appointment in one month for the packing removal. These are two examples of patients who have presented to my office over the past 2 weeks.
I joined a large single specialty group practice when I left residency. In order to practice medicine and not just be a 'mill' I opened my own practice. I stopped taking HMOs because of the restrictions they placed on my ability to take care of my patients. When our system is compared to a system that has duel medical system like the Caribbean island of Antigua, the cost of medicine is controlled because the patient has a choice. Essentially, those who want to can use the public health system, but those who want to see a private physician are free to do so. The interesting difference is that people with private insurance tend to pay the physician directly and then get reimbursed directly from the insurance company. This has the effect of keeping costs down. The physician gets paid their fee at the time of service and the patient gets a portion back from the insurance company. There is no pressure for doctors to raise their fees because they are getting what they charge at the time of service. The costs associated with paperwork and re-billing denials are removed. The patient gets a discount of 40-80% as a check back from the insurance company and there are no hidden charges or cost shifting.
When the insurance company is the middle man there is a drastic decrease in what the physician is paid. For example, in a former HMO contract I was getting 18 cents on the dollar. I have since negotiated better contracts and now average about 55 cents on the dollar. However, In order to make up the short fall, the pressure has been to either see more patients or raise my prices. If you contrast this with a specialty that does not take insurance it is easy to see what has happened to the cost of care for the patient without insurance. For example, in plastic surgery - the price for a rhinoplasty or a face lift has essentially remained unchanged over the years because they are strictly fee for service.
In short, the cost of medicine has risen because of the insurance companies - the premiums paid have not gone to doctors, but instead has gone to the insurance company in CEO bonuses and investments in software and/or gatekeeper physicians and nurses who get bonuses for rationing healthcare by denying necessary procedures and tests. I can give plenty of examples of necessary medical care denied to my patients by a nurse making clinical decisions. The insurance companies have developed an elaborate system designed to pay as little and as late as possible (over 1 year after service in some cases). There is little oversight or regulation of this industry, and physicians have little recourse. For example, even if I get pre-authorization to perform a procedure. The insurance company can deny payment after the surgery is done and I cannot bill the patient because of the denial even if it is arbitrary. This has the effect of poisoning the doctor patient relationship.
There has been a disconnection of the doctor patient relationship for many reasons. Some of the most important are:
1. The rise of insurance companies as the middle man has increased the cost of medicine by rationing health care and limiting access (through rising premiums). This will get worse under a universal healthcare system. Insurance companies will wield even more power over access to health care. They stand to gain the most by having more people paying premiums. Health care will likely be rationed unless there are provisions in place to assure that: a) what is "medically necessary" is determined by the physician; and b) once pre-authorized by the insurance company, the medical treatment can not be arbitrarily denied.
2. The reimbursement to physicians has dropped every year since I left residency. That has led physicians to increase patient volume and add extenders such as physician assistants and medical assistants. This has been one of the biggest blows to the quality of health care and the doctor patient relationship because it has severely limited the time the doctor has to spend with his or her patient.
3. Disease has become a big business. Instead of promoting wellness and prevention, the cost has been driven up by managing chronic diseases. We are prescribing more medication, but our patients are sicker.
4. Direct marketing by big Pharma to patients has driven demand for expensive but not necessarily more effective or safe prescription medication.
The above mentioned problems must be addressed to insure that good healthcare is not permanently disabled.
Elaina F. George, MD
www.peachtreeentcenter.com
Now that President Obama has put heath care reform on the agenda, I am really afraid that the needs of patients and their physicians will continue to be ignored. I believe that good medical care is a right and not a privilege. However, the drive for true reform has been hijacked by the insurance and pharmaceutical industry.
I have seen a disturbing trend in medicine since I started practicing medicine in 1998. It seems to be getting worse. I am an ear, nose and throat surgeon in solo private practice in Atlanta, GA. I have a unique perspective on the health care system. I truly believe that the voices of average physicians need to be heard.
Imagine going to an ER after sustaining an injury to your face, sitting for hours finally being seen by an ER physician. You are given a CT scan, but not physically examined or treated. Instead you are told to see an ENT specialist and then paying for the privilege. Or what if you have a nose bleed and go to the ER 3 times over 2 days. The first time you are not even seen by an ER doctor. The second time you get a nasal decongestant but no IV fluid. The 3rd time you get your nose packed and told to follow up with an ENT doctor in 48 hours to have the packing removed. You call the ENT doctor on call and you are given an appointment in one month for the packing removal. These are two examples of patients who have presented to my office over the past 2 weeks.
I joined a large single specialty group practice when I left residency. In order to practice medicine and not just be a 'mill' I opened my own practice. I stopped taking HMOs because of the restrictions they placed on my ability to take care of my patients. When our system is compared to a system that has duel medical system like the Caribbean island of Antigua, the cost of medicine is controlled because the patient has a choice. Essentially, those who want to can use the public health system, but those who want to see a private physician are free to do so. The interesting difference is that people with private insurance tend to pay the physician directly and then get reimbursed directly from the insurance company. This has the effect of keeping costs down. The physician gets paid their fee at the time of service and the patient gets a portion back from the insurance company. There is no pressure for doctors to raise their fees because they are getting what they charge at the time of service. The costs associated with paperwork and re-billing denials are removed. The patient gets a discount of 40-80% as a check back from the insurance company and there are no hidden charges or cost shifting.
When the insurance company is the middle man there is a drastic decrease in what the physician is paid. For example, in a former HMO contract I was getting 18 cents on the dollar. I have since negotiated better contracts and now average about 55 cents on the dollar. However, In order to make up the short fall, the pressure has been to either see more patients or raise my prices. If you contrast this with a specialty that does not take insurance it is easy to see what has happened to the cost of care for the patient without insurance. For example, in plastic surgery - the price for a rhinoplasty or a face lift has essentially remained unchanged over the years because they are strictly fee for service.
In short, the cost of medicine has risen because of the insurance companies - the premiums paid have not gone to doctors, but instead has gone to the insurance company in CEO bonuses and investments in software and/or gatekeeper physicians and nurses who get bonuses for rationing healthcare by denying necessary procedures and tests. I can give plenty of examples of necessary medical care denied to my patients by a nurse making clinical decisions. The insurance companies have developed an elaborate system designed to pay as little and as late as possible (over 1 year after service in some cases). There is little oversight or regulation of this industry, and physicians have little recourse. For example, even if I get pre-authorization to perform a procedure. The insurance company can deny payment after the surgery is done and I cannot bill the patient because of the denial even if it is arbitrary. This has the effect of poisoning the doctor patient relationship.
There has been a disconnection of the doctor patient relationship for many reasons. Some of the most important are:
1. The rise of insurance companies as the middle man has increased the cost of medicine by rationing health care and limiting access (through rising premiums). This will get worse under a universal healthcare system. Insurance companies will wield even more power over access to health care. They stand to gain the most by having more people paying premiums. Health care will likely be rationed unless there are provisions in place to assure that: a) what is "medically necessary" is determined by the physician; and b) once pre-authorized by the insurance company, the medical treatment can not be arbitrarily denied.
2. The reimbursement to physicians has dropped every year since I left residency. That has led physicians to increase patient volume and add extenders such as physician assistants and medical assistants. This has been one of the biggest blows to the quality of health care and the doctor patient relationship because it has severely limited the time the doctor has to spend with his or her patient.
3. Disease has become a big business. Instead of promoting wellness and prevention, the cost has been driven up by managing chronic diseases. We are prescribing more medication, but our patients are sicker.
4. Direct marketing by big Pharma to patients has driven demand for expensive but not necessarily more effective or safe prescription medication.
The above mentioned problems must be addressed to insure that good healthcare is not permanently disabled.
Monday, June 8, 2009
GROSS REALITY IS COMING
GROSS REALITY Is coming to www.americaswebradio.com June 24, 2009 5P ET, lock your children in their rooms, put the dogs and cats out, and prepare for Gross Reality like you've never heard before on any radio station. Gross Reality will dive into areas never discussed before nor with the authority to be discussed. We DARE you to tell your family, friends (enemies), neighbors or strangers about what is coming toAmerica's Web Radio - GROSS REALITY.
No special equipment will be needed to listen and watch but we do suggest either some thing strong to drink at hand or aspirin.
Please be advised the content of Gross Reality is not necessarily the views or opinions of America's Web Radio on-the-other-hand we may agree with it all. This show is designed to help us all. Tune in EVERY Wednesday at 5P ET right before Bold Ventures.
No special equipment will be needed to listen and watch but we do suggest either some thing strong to drink at hand or aspirin.
Please be advised the content of Gross Reality is not necessarily the views or opinions of America's Web Radio on-the-other-hand we may agree with it all. This show is designed to help us all. Tune in EVERY Wednesday at 5P ET right before Bold Ventures.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Radio Sandy Springs: Who's Next?
For a small station, Radio Sandy Springs sure packs a big punch. In our short history we've had guests like Former Fox and Friends host E.D. Hill, TV and stage star Jasmine Guy, Emmy Award Winner Stephen J. Cannell, Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto and Restrauntuer Richard Blais just to name a few.
Coming up this Thursday, Super Model-turned-Author Kathy Ireland joins Pat Montgomery on Parent's Rule from 2-3pm. You never know who is going to be on Radio Sandy Springs so you'll just have to tune in to find out!
Coming up this Thursday, Super Model-turned-Author Kathy Ireland joins Pat Montgomery on Parent's Rule from 2-3pm. You never know who is going to be on Radio Sandy Springs so you'll just have to tune in to find out!
Immigration: Coming to Washington, Already on RSS
President Obama and Congressional leaders are going to meet next week to talk about reforming immigration laws. Clearly, immigration has been at the forefront of the political landscape for some time now and it's starting to get some rub from the administration.
Every Tuesday, Radio Sandy Springs has a show that talks about all the issues surrounding the immigration debate. Listen to the Immigration Hour with Charles Kuck from 10-11am. Charles has spent the last year as the President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, so who better to bring you all the pertinent information about Immigration law in the United States? So check out the Immigration Hour, Tuesdays from 10-11am only on radiosandysprings.com
Every Tuesday, Radio Sandy Springs has a show that talks about all the issues surrounding the immigration debate. Listen to the Immigration Hour with Charles Kuck from 10-11am. Charles has spent the last year as the President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, so who better to bring you all the pertinent information about Immigration law in the United States? So check out the Immigration Hour, Tuesdays from 10-11am only on radiosandysprings.com
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