HealthCare struggles

How will the new health care law effect YOU?

Good question .... Here is what Betsy McCaughey (author of several books on ObamaCare) had to say earlier this year on FNC's show "Fox and Friends" {14JAN2013}

-- most Americans get their health insurance through work ... this will CHANGE
-- in 2014 any employer with more than 50 FT employees MUST provide the government mandated insurance coverage
-- cost to employers will COULD be twice the cost of most current plans

Current thinking now is that many employees will be either paying the penalty {which is CHEAPER than the plans} or reduce the FT staff to just PART-TIME staff ... which of course will lead to UNDERemployed workers struggling and needing to go on the government aid programs.

Lost your FT job? No problem - just PROVE that your INCOME SO FAR is enough for you to qualify for Medicare ... OR ... Go to your states Health Care Board/Exchange to get some from out of YOUR pockets!

Oh and these Exchanges will ONLY sell the GOVERNMENTS plan ... Interesting

Now you will have a "choice" of Bronze/Silver/Gold/Platinum plans ... BUT only the CoPays/Deductibles differ! Everything involved in the plans are the same - so it is a matter of how much comes out of your pocket either before or after the treatments.

The jest of it is that the government DICTATES to doctors what they can do and what information they must take, as well as what programs they must "force" upon you.

Cuts to Medicare pay for MORE THAN HALF the new health care plan -- seniors will get LESS health care!

So what will happen at hospitals?

Fewer seniors admitted
Nurses spread thinner ... unless the Unions put tighter reigns on the hospitals

Seniors will get $1431 LESS care per year

So where is the money going? Care or bureaucracy? BUREAUCRACY!

Not just to pay for all the new paperwork, but to train IRS workers to check for proper insurance forms &/or proof of insurance as well as how to fine people who do not qualify under the law.

Oh look -- yet another way for the government to get your money!

Bottom line?

$28 billion vs. $68 billion ... Out of the governments pocket ... Which means OUT OF YOUR POCKET

Economic Education

Well for all he promises we've gotten concerning the rise in jobs, economic growth, and consumer confidence - that isn't going to be the case for long since the following companies are about to have a real big issue with having more than 50 employees and HAVING to provide the government mandated health care levels for them:

§ Papa Johns Pizza (employees will be cut to less than 30 hrs/wk or layoff more)
§ Denny's (will charge 5% surcharge on bills & reduce employee hours/layoff)
§ Walmart (employees to pay +30% in premiums)
§ Methodist Medical Center
§ Aetna
§ Blue Cross Blue Shield (irony, they are one of the companies that MEET the law)
§ Kaiser Permanente
§ Community Medical Centers
§ HealthMarkets
§ Tidewell Hospice
§ Beaumont Hospitals
§ Abbott Labratories
§ Lutheran Medical Center
§ Piedmont Health Center
§ St Francis Medical Center
§ Northwest Community Healthcare
§ Mountain States Health Alliance
§ Metronic
§ Nebraska Medical Center
§ Mercy Health System
§ UCSF Medical Center (University of CA - San Fransisco?)
§ Applebee"s
§ Welch Alllyn
§ Dana Holding Corp
§ Stryker
§ Boston Science
§ Smith & Nephew

The owner of one Denny chain says that if he had to pay the $5000 fine for each employees then it would cost him $175,000 for just ONE SINGLE restaurant, and none of his restaurants make that much in a year. He would take a loss ... he will have no choice but to CUT HOURS & RAISE PRICES

Actually the irony is -- the majority of the businesses about are in the HEALTH CARE BUSINESS in some form or another.

So what will be the outcome?

well more UNDER-EMPLOYED

Less money in the economic stream

more people needing to get their OWN health care or be fined by the IRS

Health Alert: Meningitis

UPDATE 4: (10OCT2012)
WOW this just keeps getting worse.
death toll now up to 12 - sounds like they reclassified the death of a 71 yr old man in July to the meningitis outbreak
cases are over 200


UPDATE 3: (9Oct2012)
New numbers:
(5 deaths reported in TN alone)
8 people dead in four states
• TN 4 (until other death is confirmed)
• MI 2
• MD 1
• VA 1
109 cases in 9 states (see below)
:::::::::::::::::::::::
Symptoms of meningitis:
Fever
Headache
Stiff neck
Nausea
Vomiting
Sensitivity to light
Altered mental status

Seems very much like the flu with the exception of the mental state ...

So if you think you got this shot see a doctor ASAP - the sooner they can get the anti-fungal meds started the more likely you are to survive and recover.

((@))((@))((@))((@))
UPDATE 2:
It sounds like the CDC website knows which clinics got the injections, and those clinics have been ordered to contact the patients who got the shots ... It also does NOT include epiderals given during childbirth - they do not contain any steroids (so it sounds like they are pretty sure it's the steroid that's causing it)
((0))--((0))--((0))--((0))--((0))
UPDATED INFO:
The steroid shots were sent to 75 clinics in 23 states (no clinic names yet)
Death toll up to 8 as of 2:22pm CT
((--))((--))((--))((--))((--))
I wasn't going to do a post on this because it originally was so localized - even though there had been deaths - I figured that they would be able to track down those who were possibly effected and get them in ...

After all, it was caused by a steroid shot to the back, surely they would have records or who got those ... It wasn't like they are using steroids without keeping records of it - not when there's been senatorial hearings on steroid use and so many people could be in a sport where it's not allowed ... Right?

Wrong, apparently they have NO IDEA who has gotten this shot ...

And since it is FUNGAL this means only those who go the shot are effected - it can not spread to others - it was PUT THERE by the shot ... ewwww, think of that next time you take your kid in for a booster

But the death rate is up to 7 and they are still only putting out GENERAL WARNINGS to the public

States Effected (91 cases so far)
• MN
• MI
• IN
• OH
• MD
• VA
• TN
• NC
• FL

Michigan, Maryland, Tennessee, and Virginia are the only states to report at least one death ... So far

So if you have had a back shot between July - September, get to the doctor ...

States where shipments went: 23 states)
• CA
• NV
• ID
• MN
• TX
• IL
• TN
• MI
• IN
• FL
• OH
• GA
• NC
• SC
• WV
• VA
• PA
• NH
• NY
• RI
• CT
• NJ
• MD
• DC
• FL

I think that's all of them - it's so hard to tell on the east coast .... I counted 26 on their map, but the reporter said 23 ...

Health Alert: Meningitis

UPDATE 4: (10OCT2012)
WOW this just keeps getting worse.
death toll now up to 12 - sounds like they reclassified the death of a 71 yr old man in July to the meningitis outbreak
cases are over 200


UPDATE 3: (9Oct2012)
New numbers:
(5 deaths reported in TN alone)
8 people dead in four states
• TN 4 (until other death is confirmed)
• MI 2
• MD 1
• VA 1
109 cases in 9 states (see below)
:::::::::::::::::::::::
Symptoms of meningitis:
Fever
Headache
Stiff neck
Nausea
Vomiting
Sensitivity to light
Altered mental status

Seems very much like the flu with the exception of the mental state ...

So if you think you got this shot see a doctor ASAP - the sooner they can get the anti-fungal meds started the more likely you are to survive and recover.

((@))((@))((@))((@))
UPDATE 2:
It sounds like the CDC website knows which clinics got the injections, and those clinics have been ordered to contact the patients who got the shots ... It also does NOT include epiderals given during childbirth - they do not contain any steroids (so it sounds like they are pretty sure it's the steroid that's causing it)
((0))--((0))--((0))--((0))--((0))
UPDATED INFO:
The steroid shots were sent to 75 clinics in 23 states (no clinic names yet)
Death toll up to 8 as of 2:22pm CT
((--))((--))((--))((--))((--))
I wasn't going to do a post on this because it originally was so localized - even though there had been deaths - I figured that they would be able to track down those who were possibly effected and get them in ...

After all, it was caused by a steroid shot to the back, surely they would have records or who got those ... It wasn't like they are using steroids without keeping records of it - not when there's been senatorial hearings on steroid use and so many people could be in a sport where it's not allowed ... Right?

Wrong, apparently they have NO IDEA who has gotten this shot ...

And since it is FUNGAL this means only those who go the shot are effected - it can not spread to others - it was PUT THERE by the shot ... ewwww, think of that next time you take your kid in for a booster

But the death rate is up to 7 and they are still only putting out GENERAL WARNINGS to the public

States Effected (91 cases so far)
• MN
• MI
• IN
• OH
• MD
• VA
• TN
• NC
• FL

Michigan, Maryland, Tennessee, and Virginia are the only states to report at least one death ... So far

So if you have had a back shot between July - September, get to the doctor ...

States where shipments went: 23 states)
• CA
• NV
• ID
• MN
• TX
• IL
• TN
• MI
• IN
• FL
• OH
• GA
• NC
• SC
• WV
• VA
• PA
• NH
• NY
• RI
• CT
• NJ
• MD
• DC
• FL

I think that's all of them - it's so hard to tell on the east coast .... I counted 26 on their map, but the reporter said 23 ...

Health care ... Coming soon

Just to give you a heads up as to what you can expect. If Obama-Care ever goes through...
%%%%%
84% of running program
UK Govt spending
-----
48% of running health care
US Govt costs
%%%%%
10% UK GDP
17% US GDP
Healthcare expenditures
%%%%%
2.7 UK
2.4 US
Physicians per 1,000 people
%%%%%
UK whas provided:
Free primary care (@ point of use)
Preventative
Mental
Hospital care
%%%%%
8.5 weeks UK
Avg wait-time for general SURGERY
(although in the UK this may mean a doctors appt and not getting an operation - their terminology doesn't always translate well)
@@@@@

So why is this information coming out? Because they are talking about a pre-"Logans Run" situation over there.

While facing an increasingly elderly population, they are proposing to SHUT DOWN HOSPITALS which serve mostly the elderly.

They also purpose that NURSES take over patient care and not doctors ... Not nurse practioners (who should be allowed to treache)

They also purpose making more of the elderly Receive caring at home by family members instead of at care-facilities With trained personnale!

The main call for these cut backs are from the dr who was in charge of their system when the hospital boom took place ... Now the government is finding that they simply can NOT support the system they think was so good.

If you want a good idea of what the health care system is like over there - watch a few of the British sitcoms & dramas ... They may not be totally accurate but they are a big glimpse ....

High mortality rates for diseases we have lowered greatly (like breast cancer & diabetes - while we haven't cured them, your chances are better that you will live a long and happy life afterwards)

Less likely to have a private room unless you have private insurance anyways ... Awe aren't talking just one or two room mates here, while we aren't tLking about 20 to a room like pre-70s they still have 4-6 people in a room and they don't group them according to ailment either ... So you could be in for a broken leg and you neighbor could be in for typhoid ... Okay maybe not typhoid (they'd have to isolate for that) but you get the idea

But the thing that gets me is 8 1/2 WEEKS to see a doctor! This doesn't make sense ... They have more doctors for their population but they take longer? It has to be all the damned paperwork - that's the only thing I can think of.

An operation can be turned down if the GOVERNMENT paper-pusher thinks your chances of survival aren't worth the cost. Like a prostate operation if you are over 50 years of age.

I expect to see the UK go back to a private heLth system within the next 20 years

Police State Over Stepping ... Yet AGAIN!

South Carolina ... I remember as a freshman in high school going on a trip to visit my aunt & uncle who lived in NC ... During this visit we took a trip to SC to go to the beach (sorry don't remember which one) ... But along the way my aunt pointed out to us the tobacco farmers and it struck me as to how much the economy down there DEPENDED on the tobacco industry.

Not just the farmers but the people who handled the warehouses, the drivers who took the crops to market, etc.

So it is shocking to me to hear that SC is now going to make it illegal for you to smoke in your own car if you have children.

Yeah

The way I've heard the law stated (from an interview by the congress man who helped draft the stupid thing) is that it will be illegal to snake in your "enclosed car" if you have children with you under the age of 6 years old.

I am not completely without sympathises here - I do think that if you have SOMEONE ELSE'S children in your car then you shouldn't be smoking ... You don't get to dcide the health issues of another persons child ...

My issues are

A)it allows the police to enforce/apply a TRAFFIC LAW which has absolutely nothing to do with traffic issues

B)the law equates smoking with TXTING while driving ... No it's equivalent to eating while driving, it is the same motion as getting a piece of fruit or a fry to your lips, it is the same motion as drinking from a cup of soda or coffee while driving.

C)it interferes with that pesky "Right to Privacy" thing they've got going on

D)(as my daughter who is going into Law Enforcement said) The police have more important things to do than pull someone's ass over for smoking in their car!

look - people smoked for GENERATIONS around children ... Even in enclosed vehicles ... And they didn't have the issues they are equating to this.

I think it's time the government stop the BULLYING of smokers now

Because they can't leave well enough alone

To fall in with the present administrations general standard of "fix what isn't broken until it breaks" the FDA or Health Department ... Or whoever is in charge of this thing has changed the FOOD PYRAMID ....

Again

They just did this within the last 6 yrs - I know this because I remember going online with my kindergartener to see what they said she had to do for a good diet ... Btw, it was anything but healthy ... And according to their charts my 11yr old who is in a size 1 is technically "obese" .... But then so is my football player son who is nothing but muscles.

So they have simplified things ... NOT

The "pyramid" is now a plate ...

1/2 is veggies/fruit
1/4 is meat/protein
1/4 is grains (breads/multi grains)

That's 100% ....

WHERE IS THE DAIRY?

They are only recommending ONE serving of dairy a day, and even that is supposed to be low or no-fat.

They are going after bleached flour & white rice because of the paranoia over diabetes. Diabetes is the new "disease of the month" I guess ... M not saying it's not an issue but since when is it the go rN nets job to tell us what we should and shouldn't eat?

Let's understand that this is just another way for the skinny people to attack those who don't fit their thin-little-world ... Let's remember that in a cataclysmic world, the skinny people get eaten first.

Oh the cost of this restructure? A rather modest $2 Million .... But haven't heard if that is just for the new design or all the research that went behind it.

Six "healthy" tips ... They say
1. Enjoy food but less of it
2. Avoid over-sized portions
3. 1/2 plate should be fruit/veggies (fries count, right?)
4. Fat-free or low-fat dairy products
5. Lower sodium foods (of course they never say that without sodium your body will shut down)
6. Drink water, not sugary drinks (is there no other alternative for people with touchy stomachs?)

Oh please ... This is just the governments way of attacking the fast food industry without actually coming out with it.

Look my Big Mac has a salad on it (granted it could use less dressing on it) and my fries should count as a veggie too -hey it's a potato or twos worth of veggie! And it's a diet coke which is practically water ... At least it's not sugary.

Actually we haven't been getting fast food as much anymore with the gas prices the way they are ... In fact we've taken to eating homemade food before leaving for the in-laws on the weekends ... Less to do with health than it does economy ...

But then that's even becoming a question with the costs of food these days.

Putting my best foot forward

Some of you might know the old Roman custom of always entering a house of a friend with your right foot first ... The right foot being considered the "clean" or "cavorts" foot ... Thus the saying "putting the beat foot forward" ...

Well for me this became very literal today ... It turns out I have Plantar Foot ... Or what I call "Planter's Foot", rather fitting for a Farmer's wife don't you think?

It's an issue without the tendon that runs along the bottom of my foot - makes sense, I used to get a lot of Charlie Horses in that foot. Also I have really high arches bit tend to walk on the inside of my foot ... All this really stresses out the tendon they say.

Luckily the dr. Doesn't see any indication of a spur in there (a calcification of the torn ligament) that would require surgery & casting.

He did give me some exercises to do that are supposed to help loosen up the tendon and train it to stretch again like it's supposed to.

I should have taken care of this 2 yrs ago or so when I hurt my foot stepping out of the van - I felt the twang of the tendon when I did it. I babies it, soaked it in warm water baths thinking it was an issue with my calluses that I've had all my life but didn't start to bug me until moving into this house with it's concrete floors and poor padding under the carpets (I think they were put in during the 70's) if there is padding under this carpet it has certainly dissinigrated by now!

Most winters my callous does split, pretty deep too, it doesn't bleed but every step makes it spread ... Dr said that this wasn't the case this time and the callouses looked nice and thin this year ... Well not as thick as it normally does.

The pain was really bad this summer at the local Ren Faire - it got to the point where I couldn't enjoy myself ... As long as I stayed standing, or walking I was ok ... Bt the moment I sat down to eat something or take in a show ... Oh my gods ... It felt like someone was tearing the foot in half!

But I stuck it out as long as possible ... It was only happening after long bouts of shopping ... And then sitting in the car on the way home ...

They suggest online (not mentioned by the dr, but he was probablythinking it) that taking off some weight might help ... But according to the wii fit I've lost about 23lbs since April ... Not too shabby, especially since that was during "water retention time" for us ladies.

This isn't something that is going to go away over night ... It will take some work ... But. Now that I know what it is, I can figure a plan of attack.

Health Care Law

Readers in CA may be feeling a bit pinched right now ...

besides the fact that their state House & Senate have California tittering on bankruptcy ... their moves as far as health care goes is making it harder on those who go thru Blue Shield.

CA Blue Shield is pushing for another rate hike ... they've already done so twice since the beginning of October, but this one will raise the rates for some by 59%

One has to wonder why? 

What is happening in the CA health care system that would make Blue Shield so desperate to get money out there.

the USHHS (US Health & Human Services) is looking into it as well ... I smell a deep audit coming up .... I hope.

Now that Pelosi isn't in power to cover their @$$es ... something might actually get done about it.

(hee hee I have controlled spell check back too)

Health Care Reform bill

Remember that famous quote by Pelosi about how they won't know what's in the Health Bill until they passed the bill??? -- FYI, that is a sign of a really bad bill -- well we are beginning to see the results.

Now you may have read here before about McDonald's cutting their current health benefits for part-time employees ... they are still waiting to hear if they can get the waiver they are hoping for.

or perhaps you've heard of Walmart also looking at dropping their partial health coverage for employees because of what it will do to the company's pricing systems.

Well now add Boeing to the mix ... the aircraft & aerospace giant says that it will have to drop 2 of its HMO plans or force employees to pay a larger chunk of it.

I think we will be seeing a LOT more companies doing this before the Jan 1st deadline ...

so much for that promise from the President that you can keep the coverage you have now at no extra-cost.

ALTHOUGH in the President's Defense -- just like I would for any President ... He did not ARGUE the bill, do the political tricks to PASS the bill -- he only signed the bill.  This is as much on Congress' shoulders as the poor economy is on Congress' shoulders more than Bush's as well.

We need to remember that the president doesn't pass the bills, he just signs them ... its Congress that does the spending - and the president only 'signs the checks' as it may.

RECALL: CHILDREN'S LIGUID MEDS

There is a recall of about 40 different liquid medicines going on ... while it is being labelled as "voluntary", I've heard that the company really was not given much choice by either the FDA or Johnson&Johnson.

Full information of the Recalled Products can be found on the FDA recall page for these products.

Here's the jest of it --

inspectors found repeated issues with the plant ... either there wasn't enough meds, or too much med, per ml .... in some cases "foreign matter" was found in the meds - i.e. metal shavings ... etc.

but there have been no reports of adverse reactions (in otherwords, they don't know of anyone who has been hurt by it .... yet)

Here is a partial, non-detailed list of products ....

• Tylenol Infant Drops
• Children's Tylenol Suspensions (such as toddlers uee)
• Children's Tylenol PLUS Suspensions (the stuff for colds/allergies/runny noses/etc)
• Motrin Infant Drops
• Motrin Liquid Suspension
• Children's Zyrtec
• Children's Liquid Benedyrl

Please note that some of these products have been included in Kits the company put together (especially those given to new parents who leave the hospital) ... so if you know someone with an infant or small child -- generally the liquids are used for kids under 6 yrs old -- you may wish to pass this information on to them ASAP

If you go to the McNeil pharmacuticals website Recall page you will find the process for getting refunds/coupons for products you have already purchases ... their full list of products has photos of the products involved and further info on how to read your medicine box/bottle to see if it is one of the products in question.

Military Parade

to kiss the Congressional butts! (hate to say it, but probably scared after what they saw happen to NASA)

Okay so now the military has joined in on the 'too fat' bandwagon.

27% of the kids 17-24 yrs old (ok not exactly kids) are too fat ...

EXCUSE ME???? If I remember correctly, the military puts a person in shape -- unless the military itself is getting lax-daisy on their calisthenics. I can't imagine that though -- first because I think most marines/army folk could kick a football players butt ... but also, and most importantly, they could kick my butt.

Of course you have to understand a couple of things ....

• (1) DI*s are not supposed to swear or scream at recruits any more
  (2) recruits can take a 'red card*' if they feel stressed
  (3) recruits can get discharged rather easily these days (they have worked out all the ins & outs)
  

But I don't see how school lunches are effecting this ... after all, most kids only get 30mins for lunch total, so maybe 15-20 for actual eating.

I have some interesting photos to share - but they are taken from the television so bear with me please - they aren't the best quality. Click for larger images

KEY
Green = Less Than 39%
Orange = 40 - 49%
Red = More Than 50%

The first is of the reported "Obesity" rate in the timeline of 1996-98

From Ginger Gargoyle's Gems

The second is a map showing the difference in 2006-08:

From Ginger Gargoyle's Gems

While yes this makes it look horrible, what they don't tell you is that there was a movement in 2005 to make doctors MANDATORY recorders/reporters of these numbers. These means that of course the numbers jumped, suddenly they had data from a lot more people.

ALSO - because more clinics/hospitals/schools are on computerized systems there is some question as to whether people have been double, maybe even triple, counted. And lets face it, the government isn't above that to get what it wants.

AND - they changed the boundaries between normal/over-weight/obese. It also does not show UNDERweight people - and there are quite a few.

but considering that kids tend to only eat ONE MEAL a day at school -- I don't understand WHY the school lunches are getting the blame for it. If the majority of children ONLY ate at school, I might be able to see their point -- but this is ridiculous.

Just wait -- the next thing you know ... they are going to outlaw fast food restaurants ... the regular restaurants ...

*definitions:

DI = Drill Instructors ... that's the really scary looking person who couldn't seem to speak with out giving you a free shower - or in some cases a bath since they slobbered more than they spit.

Red Card = recruits in the Air Force are given cards that they can raise to let their DI know when they are feeling like its getting to be too much. (about.com/military)

Health Care - get it under control

The food police are back -- this time they are taking more drastic moves towards controlling your salt (there will be another story about the military in a bit) .... but they are ignoring some facts put out by the "Salt Institute" (yes there really IS one).

the FDA wants to begin a 10 yrs plan to reduce the salts in prepared foods.

According to the Salt Institute (Morton Satin, Dir. Salt Institute):
half the population has no issue with salt
20% of population has BP go up when salt is reduced

So let me get this straight -- so 70% of the population does just fine with salt ...

so 70% has to deal with blandness because 30% of the population has a problem???

WTF??

hey I had a mother who had high blood pressure, heart issues, and had a stroke before she was 60yrs old. Of course she was also on those over-the-counter diet pills they used to sell - the doctors blamed her condition more on THAT then her salt/cholesterol/weight.

Of course once she had her stroke then she had to start watching the other stuff because she became more susceptible to it all.

Numerology Class

oh ho -- here's a bit I bet you didn't know....

I just heard it reported by Stephen Moore of the Wall Street Journal that one of the major ways that the Dems played with the numbers to show the Health Care bill 'saves' money ... is that they took 10 yrs of taxes, against 6 yrs of benefits.

Its like doing your monthly budget with 10 months of income but only counting 6 months of bills.

Of COURSE they came out ahead.

now the Wall Street Journal isn't known for partisanship, at least not that I'm aware of ... and no one can accuse them of not knowing how to crunch numbers.

The Price of health Care

See I'm not just talking thru my hat here!

KSTP TV - Minneapolis and St. Paul - Cornhusker Kickback gets the boot in health bill:

"include extra money for hospitals in Tennessee that serve large numbers of low-income patients. And though the bill would revamp the nation's student loan system to make the government the only lender, one bank - the state-owned Bank of North Dakota - would be allowed to continue making student loans."

" Still alive is special spending for Louisiana, Connecticut, Montana and other states that was included in the health care bill that the Senate approved in December. The House may give it final approval this weekend. "

" ... a provision allowing about 800,000 elderly Floridians to keep enhanced Medicare benefits that are being cut for residents of other states."

"The changes also include an additional $99 million in 2012 and 2013 for Tennessee hospitals that treat many poor people."
"Retiring Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., ... their inclusion had nothing to do with his announcement Thursday that he will vote for the final health legislation after opposing an earlier version in November."

"Retains $300 million in extra Medicaid aid for Louisiana, which had helped win support for the Senate health bill from Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La. "

"Keeps $100 million the Senate bill included to build a public hospital in Connecticut sought by Dodd, who is retiring."

"Preserves language won by Baucus permitting many of the 2,900 residents of Libby, Mont., to qualify for Medicare benefits."

"Provides an additional $8.5 billion over the next decade for 11 states and the District of Columbia to help them pay for the more generous Medicaid assistance they have been providing low-income residents. These states are Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin."

"Maintains a Senate-approved provision giving extra money for hospitals and doctors in North and South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming"

That's a LOT of bolding there - but it all really needs to be brought out to people.

Of course there isn't much we can do about it ... Pelosi and her cronies are going to push this thru this weekend no matter what the People think.

This is what happens when people vote for a Party instead of listening to what they are actually saying - and thinking it thru. Of course these were the same voters who couldn't figure out that a variable rate would change over time ... or that if you are spending 1/2 - 3/4 of your income on your house payment, you might someday not be able to afford your home. Or that you actually have to pay back your mortgage or they are going to take the house back

The Price of health Care

Michelle Bachman (R-MN) was on the Chris Baker show this morning and she tore the mask off the Health Care Bill.

• This bill, once the double counting is taken out & the muddy numbers, will cost between $2.5 - $5.5 Trillion dollars (USD)
• There are 'sweet heart' deals going on trying to buy 'yes' votes .... one such deal that she mentioned was for North Dakota -- they will have the only bank AUTHORIZED to give student loans. Yep - they are going to put all those eggs in one basket.
• The bill online is NOT the final bill ... it is a preliminary bill that has been cooked up just to get something out there for people to look at ... but like Pelosi & Obama have said, we don't get to see what the bill will actually be until AFTER it passes -- and they won't be able to repeal it until after Obama gets out of office!!!!
• The fine for not having 'compliant' coverage is $250 ~OR~ 2% of your income, which ever is greater. For those doing the math -- that means you would have an income of $12,500 or more. So everyone (OK nearly everyone) will have to pay the 2%.
• businesses will be fined $2000/employee for not complying to strict Federal standards
• The IRS will be put in charge of making sure people are complying ... that's right, they are the ones who are going to audit people every month to make sure they are paying for care.
• Department of Health will have access to your personal tax info so they know who they need to sick the IRS after.
• The bill does not include the extra $10 Billion it will cost for the new Federal employees that the IRS will have to add to enforce/check for compliance. (16,000 new employees)
• IRS Monitoring will begin the moment that the bill gets signed by the President, even though benefits won't take effect for 4 yrs.
• Taxes will come out immediately upon signing of the bill
• $500 Billion will be taken out of Medicare, but 300 million people will be added to Medicare (that's not including an est. 50 million ILlegal aliens)

It also needs to be pointed out that the President is pushing for AMNESTY for ILlegals so that they can get around any amendment that would prevent them from getting free health care

• 1/2 of taxes to pay for Health Care bill will be paid for by those earning $60,000/family of 4 or more .... what happened to that $250,000 line?
• No taxes or penalties for ILlegals or prisoners

They have crunched the number for our state, MN, and it will cost our local government an additional $3 Billion to monitor compliance of businesses ... money which will not be coming from the Feds. This means that we, the citizens, will have to pay even higher taxes to pay for this checking.

Yes - you read that correctly.

Not only will people have to pay the Feds for the Health Care bill ... we will have to pay our States for Federally mandated monthly compliance checks.

MN, along with 35 other states, are poised to file lawsuits against the Feds if this bill passes ... first because its unConstitutional, and second because there is something that says that the Feds can't require the States to do something unless they fund it.

BTW - that means that there is still more money that they aren't counting.

The Price of health Care

$940 Billion over 10 yrs for Cost of Dems current Health care plan.

Now lets get this straight too ... this is the pretty face they are putting on it. The dems say ... what would it cost if we allow each clinic 20 blood pressure machines & 50 themometers?

oh that's too much ... how about 14 & 25? oh that's still too much ...

and they play with the numbers until they get something that they like but is still believable.

They are also double counting some of those 'saving' measures.

Its like the scene from "Life With Father" where the wife buys a ceramic dog, but her son needs a suit too ... so Mother figures out a way of getting the suit for free (but somehow her logic still costs Father the cost of the suit) ... I will find the exact quotes later for you - I will have to watch the movie, imdb.com doesn't have the quotes for that scene up ...
the sacrifices I make for my blog.

Its A Right --- wrong

Okay - so even the Dems are putting Judge Andrew Napolitalo out there as an authority as to whether things are actually constitutional or not (I heard it yesterday on Fox News).

First lets start with what Kucinich said about rights/health care from his speech yesterday:

"...there are those who believe that health care is a priviledge based on an ability to pay. This is the model President Obama is dealing with.
Attempting to open up health care to another 30 million people, with in the context of a 'for profit' system. There are others who believe that health care is a basic right, and ought to be provided thru a 'not for profit' plan. This is what I have tirelessly advocated. "

Well here is what Napolitano says about Health Care being a "civil right":

" ... our rights come from our humanity - think about it.
You have the right to think, the right to speak, the right to travel, the right to privacy, the right to worship. Where do they come from? Do they come from the Government? They come from our humanity.

We believe they are gifts from God [or Gods, depending on your religion] - a Good is
something like food, shelter, clothing, or health care. Do they come from our humanity? No you have to pay for them.

You can't translate a Good into a Right. Government can't do that"

Ok - so what does this mean?

It means that the Democrats are blurring the lines ... majorly blurring them ... to the point to where they will have no issues beginning to call what we deem as a 'right' a 'good' and can then be taken away at the governments whim.

Health Care - get it under control

In Washington State, Walgreen's across the entire state will no longer be accepting Medicaid prescriptions because it is costing them money.

They will continue to do the prescripts for those patients that make it in before April 16th but those that bring in a new one after that date are out of luck.

It costs them too much money to fill these prescripts ....

Washington state, which reimburses Walgreen's for the drugs, cuts down the price it says that the drugs are worth to the point that 95% of the time, Walgreen's isn't even making the money it costs them to shelf them.

So Walgreen's has a choice -- it can take the loss, or make it up on those who have private medical insurance [well that hardly seems fair does it?]

Now you can't blame Walgreen's ... what business can stay viable if you are giving your stock away? Or if you have to over charge the good customers to pay for the one customer who steals from you [not the Medicare recipients, the State for not paying] .... no one would go there after a while, no one at all - because the doors would be locked.

But they are NOT the only ones doing it there .... Bartell Drugs did the same thing last month ... Ritzville Drugs has also announced it will stop participation, Meyer & Safeway are complaining about the reimbursment policies too but they will continue for a while until they see what happens.

The state's head of the program has said simply "We have plenty of other businesses that will fill the prescriptions" [paraphrased] .... BUT if you have ever been in a small town, often times there is just one or two drug stores, and only one of those might have an actual pharmacy.

I would imagine that in many of the small towns in WA the story is much the same -- one local small town pharmacy and then you have to travel to the next largest city to get to the next one.

If you are elderly, or can't afford a car -- you are SOL ... what are they to do then?

Look - I know the state wants to save money ... all states are hurting for income right now ... but do they have to do it at the cost of businesses? do they have to undercut these companies at such a horrid rate?

Get ready though --- this is what its going to be like across America very very soon.

BREAKING NEWS: Kucinich on Health Care

Well Kucinich (D-OH) has been called up to the White House to speak to the President - why? Because Kucinich stood against the Health Care bill ... he was a staunch OPPONENT.

So what is his position now? Well he is currently having a press conference now speaking about where his stance will be now.

He says he believes that health care is a civil right (if that's the case, it wouldn't cost any one anything, not even taxes)

he says he understands that the health care vote will be very close, and that he has fought for health care under two administrations.

Kucinich says that he has to vote on the bill, not as he would like it to be ... but as it is.

But after discussions with Obama & Pelosi ... he is deciding to vote FOR the bill -- even though he hates the bill as it is written now.

He says people are against it because they fear things that seem as coming from foriegn thoughts because of 9/11 ..... hello - this is an issue that has been chatted/kicked around since the 1920's.

Way to sell out the People to further your political career!

He swore up and down that he would not vote for this bill because it is a BAD bill .... now he is going to vote yes and HOPE they can CHANGE it later.

What an idiot .... what bill has EVER been passed that has been 'made better' after its been passed??????

I hope he gets voted out when his seat comes up. Not because he's voting for this (it was going to pass no matter what, Obama & Pelosi want their 'legacy') but because he sold out his convictions for political gain.

He put his political life before what he knows is right & wrong.

On Mar 3rd ... just two weeks ago, he told Fox News:
" .... anytime I can support the President I'd like to, I just - accept on this bill. I signed a committment with 77 other members of Congress saying that if there was not a robust Public Option in the Health Care Bill that was presented to the House I wouldn't vote for it."
====================

Current Whip Count

(216 needed to Pass)

212 - 219

4 Democrats to change vote from "yes" to "no"

====================
I have to wonder ..... what is being promised to these swing votes?
You know they are getting promised some of those Sweetheart Deals such as NE was .... where everyone else pays for their share of things.

How's that Change going for you now?

Oh did I mention that the major businesses have already had meetings with employees letting them know that if the bill passes as it is now, they will have to cut their work force by over 40% ... gee -- that means the unemployment numbers are going to go up.

Wait and see -- we will be hitting Depression Era unemployment rates ... but they will 'dress up' those numbers.