The saga of health care reform continues. I promised clarification by mid September. So far only snippets of clarification are possible. The promised clean bill for Congress may emerge this week in the Senate Finance Committee. We saw a typical eloquent speech from the President this past week where he threw out bones to various interest groups like the business community wanting tort reform. He said there would be no federal dollars used to fund abortions. He said there would be no "death panels" for the elderly. Then he said there would be no support to illegal aliens. This was the line that received the "You Lie" cat call from the South Carolina Congressman.
The President did say his plan would not go into effect until 2013. This is a cute trick. It will allow him to use the success of health care to be re-elected, or if not re-elected it won't be his job to manage the mess.
No matter how you address the total package, it will be a matter of health care rationing. Whether it is rural accessibility or triage at the desk in the ER; denial of care is the dollar management mechanism of choice. Right now there are people in the rural areas who have to travel many miles for a health examination. There are just not enough doctors going to these regions of the country. Many doctors are retiring because they don't like dealing with Medicare. Until this deficiency is addressed, there will be health care rationing. And unfortunately the President is now back-pedaling on "competition", so it does not appear that “reform” will be of much benefit for the uninsured or under insured.
It is difficult to see so many older people at these town hall meetings shouting and carrying signs, most of which are not made by themselves, decrying "ObamaCare", "Death Panels", "Tax Dollars will be spent on Abortions, and "Socialism"--------when it is clear the majority of them are on Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans Health Care or Disability. Do they truly not see the irony of their demand "I don't want the government to mess with my Medicare?”
Stay tuned for the next episode of this continuing soap opera.
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Speaking of soap operas, the closing days of the 2009 session the California State Legislature was rocked by a scandal involving an Assemblyman from Orange County. He was recoded bragging about his sexual conquests with two lobbyists. I guess in his orientation session he failed the course when you learn how to turn off the microphone when you are conversing with a colleague. Whether real or fantasy he managed to ruin the careers of two effective women lobbyists, since he named names. He quickly resigned.
And the Governor continues to struggle with the budget. He quietly gave orders this past week to eliminate several thousand state “positions”.
Have a good week!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Imagine This!
In the 1930s an exotic dancer by the name of Sally Rand used bubbles to capture the imagination of her audiences as to what was underneath the bubbles. The White House continues to have events to capture the imagination of the viewers as to what the health care issue is all about. The problem is the bubbles are beginning to burst and the public is now becoming aware of what is underneath.
Last week, I raised the issue of whether or not the undocumented aliens are a part of the 48 million without health insurance. Low and behold the information is slowly leaking out that the undocumented are a part of the 48 million. The healthy families group are also a part of this, though Administrations from George H W Bush, Bill Clinton, and W Bush have all begged people to sign up. They haven't. That is why we must identify who comprises the underserved.
Since my last blog I have started wading through the version of HR 3200 which is pending before the Waxman Committee of the House. It is like a Russian novel. I can categorically guarantee that no one including the President of the United States has ever read the complete document. The American people will be appalled by what they find in the bill. I called the committee staff for clarification on some points. They told me that on July 30th so many amendments were thrown at the bill that they will not have a real version for release until mid September.They told me that everyone was brain dead and wanted to go on vacation to really address the detail.
No where in the bill is there any provision for the health professionals who will be needed to serve the 46,000,000 underserved. If we use the normal doctor to patient ratios, 470,000 plus new doctors will be needed to say nothing of the nurses needed to support the system.
No where in the legislation is there any reference to tort reform. The frivolous law suits encouraged by the trial lawyers continue to raise the cost of health care. It is highly unlikely that an Administration so beholden to trial lawyers will move toward reform.
There is no emergency. The costs are skyrocketing, but to address these costs in a reasonable fashion means that we have time to start over again. The past week has seen the White Houses ratcheting up outrageous condemnation of the insurance industry. This group, plus all of the stakeholders need to be brought to the table to craft real reform, not political agendas. Either Congress or the President should step into the role of convening these groups .I think the American people are far too savy to buy into the HR3200 document now before the Congress.
Last week, I raised the issue of whether or not the undocumented aliens are a part of the 48 million without health insurance. Low and behold the information is slowly leaking out that the undocumented are a part of the 48 million. The healthy families group are also a part of this, though Administrations from George H W Bush, Bill Clinton, and W Bush have all begged people to sign up. They haven't. That is why we must identify who comprises the underserved.
Since my last blog I have started wading through the version of HR 3200 which is pending before the Waxman Committee of the House. It is like a Russian novel. I can categorically guarantee that no one including the President of the United States has ever read the complete document. The American people will be appalled by what they find in the bill. I called the committee staff for clarification on some points. They told me that on July 30th so many amendments were thrown at the bill that they will not have a real version for release until mid September.They told me that everyone was brain dead and wanted to go on vacation to really address the detail.
No where in the bill is there any provision for the health professionals who will be needed to serve the 46,000,000 underserved. If we use the normal doctor to patient ratios, 470,000 plus new doctors will be needed to say nothing of the nurses needed to support the system.
No where in the legislation is there any reference to tort reform. The frivolous law suits encouraged by the trial lawyers continue to raise the cost of health care. It is highly unlikely that an Administration so beholden to trial lawyers will move toward reform.
There is no emergency. The costs are skyrocketing, but to address these costs in a reasonable fashion means that we have time to start over again. The past week has seen the White Houses ratcheting up outrageous condemnation of the insurance industry. This group, plus all of the stakeholders need to be brought to the table to craft real reform, not political agendas. Either Congress or the President should step into the role of convening these groups .I think the American people are far too savy to buy into the HR3200 document now before the Congress.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Voters Needed
Did you know you can register to vote online? You can! It's easy. Just click on the headline, complete your information, and press submit. The California Secretary of State will mail you an official registration request for signature. And they even pay postage!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
The Time to Fix Medicare & Social Security is Now!
Yesterday, the silence was deafening. The trustees who monitor Social Security and Medicare announced that the trust funds backing these two critical resources for older persons are running out of money faster than had been contemplated. This should have been front page news and blaring off the cable news outlets. Instead, there was relative silence. In Sacramento, the story was buried on page 12 and CNN carried a tepid blurb on this massive problem
And this announcement came on the heels of the Secretary of Treasury announcing, just yesterday, that it will cost at least $40 trillion to fix the problem. That is correct: $40 trillion. One of the national commentators sniffed and said: "We won't be able to afford anything else." Well, give me a break, we have time to put the best minds together to come up with a solution. We need leadership.
Almost since it’s inception, the Social Security Trust Fund has needed occasional fixes and the same holds true for Medicare. While there is a reasonable amount of time to take on Social Security, the horizon for serious Medicare reform is way too close.
It is obvious that the senior troops are being mobilized to roll out a political sunami to support national health care reform. The proponents will demand that seniors wear their colorful T shirts and swell the crowds demanding health care restructuring. The leadership in the House of Representatives have said that they want as few days of hearings as possible on the proposed legislation and want to have it passed before Congress takes their three week recess for the Fourth of July. Should we not address Social Security and Medicare along with health care reform?
Now is the opportunity for seniors to stand tall to force Congress to begin addressing the short fall in the trust funds before rolling over like trained dogs in a show to do political bidding on health care restructuring. The question, “Where have all the seniors gone?” should be answered by, “We are here, and we are as mad as hell over these political shenanigan.” And even madder about the silence.
And this announcement came on the heels of the Secretary of Treasury announcing, just yesterday, that it will cost at least $40 trillion to fix the problem. That is correct: $40 trillion. One of the national commentators sniffed and said: "We won't be able to afford anything else." Well, give me a break, we have time to put the best minds together to come up with a solution. We need leadership.
Almost since it’s inception, the Social Security Trust Fund has needed occasional fixes and the same holds true for Medicare. While there is a reasonable amount of time to take on Social Security, the horizon for serious Medicare reform is way too close.
It is obvious that the senior troops are being mobilized to roll out a political sunami to support national health care reform. The proponents will demand that seniors wear their colorful T shirts and swell the crowds demanding health care restructuring. The leadership in the House of Representatives have said that they want as few days of hearings as possible on the proposed legislation and want to have it passed before Congress takes their three week recess for the Fourth of July. Should we not address Social Security and Medicare along with health care reform?
Now is the opportunity for seniors to stand tall to force Congress to begin addressing the short fall in the trust funds before rolling over like trained dogs in a show to do political bidding on health care restructuring. The question, “Where have all the seniors gone?” should be answered by, “We are here, and we are as mad as hell over these political shenanigan.” And even madder about the silence.
Vote YES on May 19
Next Tuesday there will be a special election to alleviate California's fiscal crisis. This newest form of participatory democracy was crafted to move the current budget to be signed, and the temporary fiscal gridlock solved. It did manage to raise some taxes, much to the discomfort of some Republican legislators, who now face political annihilation having violated a "No new taxes pledge". It is a historical fact that those who participate in a special election, do so for a specific cause, and the idealists gamble on the lack of interest gives the advantage to the proponents. The vitriolic manner in which the electorate are taking off after the "tax heretics," on the tax pledge, means their interests will be represented loud and clear. After the dust settles, the No side will propel the legislature and the Governor back to the treadmill of budget solutions going nowhere.
Special interests thrive on legislative dysfunction. They can use the power of political contributions to keep control. Perhaps hope lies in the Redistricting Commission which will develop a post-decennial census plan for re-apportionment. You will remember how hard the special interests fought against this measure, so there must be something right about it. Recently, a leader of one of the Senior organizations in California said that the reason seniors lose out in these cutbacks is they have no monetary support behind their positions, in other words in order to play, they would have to pay by way of campaign contributions.
California is too great of state to be governed by slogans like : "No new Taxes," "Cut Spending," or creating ballot propositions to play to the crowd. We need statesman who can plan, be permitted to raise new funds if needed, and reduce spending. It takes the right folks in public office to step up to the plate on the interests of all Californians, and not the interest of the few of either political party. In 1894, Samuel Walter Foss wrote a poem entitled: The Coming Americans. A famous line was: "Bring me men and (women) to match my mountains." A renewal of this spirit can get us through the current trauma.
Special interests thrive on legislative dysfunction. They can use the power of political contributions to keep control. Perhaps hope lies in the Redistricting Commission which will develop a post-decennial census plan for re-apportionment. You will remember how hard the special interests fought against this measure, so there must be something right about it. Recently, a leader of one of the Senior organizations in California said that the reason seniors lose out in these cutbacks is they have no monetary support behind their positions, in other words in order to play, they would have to pay by way of campaign contributions.
California is too great of state to be governed by slogans like : "No new Taxes," "Cut Spending," or creating ballot propositions to play to the crowd. We need statesman who can plan, be permitted to raise new funds if needed, and reduce spending. It takes the right folks in public office to step up to the plate on the interests of all Californians, and not the interest of the few of either political party. In 1894, Samuel Walter Foss wrote a poem entitled: The Coming Americans. A famous line was: "Bring me men and (women) to match my mountains." A renewal of this spirit can get us through the current trauma.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
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