The cost of Health Care Reform (not in $)

There was an article in the NY Times today about what health industry groups are getting out of negotiations with the Obama administration. Wal-Mart supporting mandatory employer coverage? What are the costs of these deals?

This mess of a thing we call Health Care Reform

I have been meaning, for some time, to write about the status of health care reform in the US. After all, this is a blog mostly centered on health care issues and I am a health advocate, how can I not comment on such an issue like health care reform? (Ah but come on, my thoughts on the Twilight series are so relevant to the state of the world). But, it has been a daunting task. Everyday something new comes out in the news and honestly, I am not even sure where some people/entities stand on the issue sometimes. This post is in no way, an end all and be all of health care reform. Rather, it is meant to be a gathering of news and updates on the status of health care and who is doing what. Maybe eventually, we can all figure this out (and maybe even have access to affordable health care too, but that may be asking too much).

As much as I would like to meet this subject with an air of neutrality, I find it near impossible. I’ve seen and heard too much to be impartial. It’s very hard for me to find sympathy for wealthy people and industry who have held the power over our health care system for too long. I am not deluded enough to believe that a national system would be perfect all around. But, I cannot see health care as anything other than a right for all people, not just those who can afford it.

Let’s take a look at who some of the major players are in health care reform and where they stand.


The Obama Administration:
Obama assured us all in his 2008 presidential campaign that he would fight for universal health care coverage and that a combination national/private health care plan would be the best route for the U.S. This sounded great to many of us, although those of us who have paid attention to previous health care reform attempts (IE. The Clintons’ attempt in the 90’s) realized this would be an uphill battle.

Now that he’s in office and attempting to take on this beast in his first year, we see a mess of cost issues, industry influence and anti-national health insurance propaganda. My concern is that, now in office, will Obama bow to the pressure and his campaign promise will not be accomplished? Will he have to compromise to make even smaller changes, working toward gradual reform? We voted you in with hope, Obama. Please don’t let us down.

Congressional Democrats:
Democrats are mostly pushing for a combination national/private health care program. Now they have to show us the costs of such a program and where we can save money.

Congressional Republicans:

Republicans are fighting against any form of government run plan, even in combination with private insurance. They fear that employers will drop private insurance and force people into the government plan.

American Medical Association (aka Doomsday to any attempts at national health care):
The AMA hates public programs that reimburse doctors at a lower rate than private plans. They have fought all attempts at public health care programs and would like to see Medicare eliminated, as well as charitable care reduced. They claim that individuals should ultimately be responsible for their own health care.

Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP):
Not all doctors belong to the AMA. Some doctors are for a national health care program, PHNP is an example. It’s not as large or powerful as the AMA, but it’s good to know there are MDs fighting for a national system too. This particular organization proposes an expanded version of Medicare for all Americans.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA):
The biggest reason that the pharmaceutical industry would oppose a national insurance program would be the ability of a single insurance entity to negotiate cheaper drug costs. We have seen this fear played out with Medicare, and it will no doubt affect the industry’s support of a national health plan. There is also a fear of stricter government regulation over the industry.

The industry is sensitive to negative publicity however, and has recently increased its charity provisions in a few ways. First, drug companies have agreed to offer discounts to people with a Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage during the infamous Donut Hole, when beneficiaries must cover the full cost of their drugs. Second, Pfizer just started a program providing drug assistance for the newly unemployed.

Now, these programs are all well and good, but wouldn’t they be irrelevant if people had affordable access to prescriptions on a regular basis? Wouldn’t that save the companies money?

The Insurance Industry:
This is a no-brainer. The creation of a national health insurance program would hurt the private insurance industry. Why would the industry then support a public program? But, come on, it’s obvious to see the current state of health care is not working. Even those with health insurance coverage are filing for bankruptcy.

WARNING: The following is a rant about the stupidity of some people.

We’ve been hearing the argument that a government-run national health insurance program would be too bureaucratic; telling people what doctors they could see and making them jump through hoops to get coverage. Really?!?!?!?! REALLY? This is about the most hypocritical argument I’ve ever heard. Are these people really trying to suggest that people don’t face any of this crap with private insurance? Because I bet that argument would be washed away simply by talking to people who have private insurance, and especially if they have any kind of chronic illness! Anyone who believes this is fully delusional.

Anyway, enough of the ranting. If you want to learn more about health care reform or just keep up with health reform news, check out the Kaiser Family Foundation website. They even have a side-by-side comparison of health care reform proposals.

Obama and Reproductive Rights

Okay, it's been a while since I've posted on this here blog. I've been busy searching for a career and writing in my food blog. Anyhow, I thought I would take a moment to write about a very important action being undertaken by President Obama. Last year I posted a link to an Op-Ed written by Hillary Clinton regarding legislation being pushed by then President Bush. The bill basically protects providers working for recipients of federal money who refuse to offer abortion services or referrals. The act became effective January 20, 2009. Now Obama is working to reverse the rule, agreeing with others that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 already states that employers must make reasonable accommodations for an employee's religious belief and that, in turn, the bill really just works to trump state laws requiring coverage for contraception by insurers and coverage of emergency contraception in hospitals for rape victims.

Kudos to you, President Obama, for taking a step in protecting reproductive rights for women.

A Change Will Do Us Good

January 20, 2009

Barak Obama is inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States

Photo Courtesy of NY Times

Yes we did!

So, anything going on in the news lately?

I am feeling such intense emotions right now, please be patient with me as I try to express what I am feeling. What an amazing night! I had the privilege to watch the election results in New York City last night. It was a bit of a journey as some friends and I moved between several locations in Manhattan.

We started off by getting some free Ben & Jerry’s ice cream (you know the night can only be great after that). We then moved on to Rockefeller Center and watched as Obama got Vermont and McCain Kentucky. As the other states were “too close to call” we decided to go to a local bar and watch there. We were amazed and thrilled when one-by-one Eastern and Midwestern states went to Obama (Woo! Way to go Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan). From there we moved on to Times Square, where we got our photo taken with a lifesize Obama cutout and watched Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart ham it up (No sound though, we had to improvise by reading the captions). In Times Square we got free popcorn and hot chocolate (oh no, is that socialism?!? :). We decided, with perfect timing, to go back to Rockefeller Center just before 11pm.

We got to Rockefeller Center just few minutes before they announced Obama as the predicted winner. Wow! What an atmosphere! The place was packed, but people were not annoyed with being squished in such a large amount of people. No, people were laughing, crying, hugging, screaming. It was beautiful and the energy went on for a while.

We then decided that we wanted to go to a bar in the East Village to watch Obama’s speech. We got in a cab and a friend announced to the driver “Obama just won!”. He just smiled and said “I know”. The driver was courteous and turned up the radio so we could hear McCain’s concession speech, which I found to be pretty respectful. When we got to the East Village, we were greeted by cheering and shouting. Somebody would shout “Obama!” and the cheers would reverberate down the street, like we were doing the wave at a baseball game. All the people on the streets were filled with joy. It was so amazing to be a part of!

We ended up watching Obama’s speech in a bar, and saw many people, myself included, tear up with his words. More hugging and shouting ensued, and then quickly turned to dancing. We decided to finally head home around 2am, but were slightly derailed when we were told that we had to go to Union Square just then. We did and saw a few hundred young people dancing/screaming/chanting in the square. There wasn’t any violence or even ill will. The environment was positive as people chanted “Yes we can! Yes we can!” (even when one guy started chanting “Let’s get naked! Let’s get naked!” to which I replied “You go first! You go first!” but he didn’t and no nudity ensued). It was a picture of the role young people played in this election and how Obama motivated this group.

I got about 3 hours of sleep last night. I am feeling a lot of things, but tired is not one of them. I’m sure that will change. I have gone back and forth with pure joy, relief, and sentimentality. One minute I’m laughing, the next crying. But, it feels so good. Because I am filled with hope, and that hasn’t happened in about 8 years. I am so glad that I got to be part of such a historic moment. Now I can look back on it one day and say, what an event! I was there! Yes we did!

Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope. That's the true genius of America: that America can change. Our union can be perfected. What we've already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow. - from Barack Obama's speech last night

At the polls

Doug Mills/The New York Times

"Who are you voting for?"

"No, you can't vote for him. That'll cancel out my vote!"

Crammity, Cram, Cram, Cram!

Tomorrow's E-Day. Do you know who and what's on your ballot? We all know the big ones, the Presidential candidates (and we should, what a race!). But, the state and local elections are important too. Being that I live in NYC I looked up some local info. Should you live elsewhere, well do your own research (and do it quickly, time is running out! No pressure. But do it!). Know your polling location and times. NYC see here (Polls are open 6am-9pm in NYC). This is especially so if there are hot issue proposals on the ballot. (I'm talking to you Michigan, California, Washington, etc).

P.S. Isn't it sad Obama's grandma died today? Oh, I wish she could have seen him win the election! (Please win, please win, please win!)

Obama's mad debate skills!

In case you missed it...

Can we just vote already?

I wasn't going to watch the debate last night, but I ended up seeing it with a group of friends. I cannot watch these things alone, I get too infuriated. And last night was no exception. Overall, I thought that Obama kept his composure and, even when McCain really could have put him on the defensive, he brought it back to the issues. McCain was grasping for whatever last breaths of air he could get.

Now, I may be biased, but here is an overview of the debate from my perspective:

Issue: Campaign Attacks
McCain: You hurt my feelings, why didn't you call me so we could do a town hall?
Obama: Look at the polls, people seem to think my campaign is less negative and focuses on the issues.
McCain: You didn't defend Palin/me when whats-his-face said [true] things about the people that attend my rallies. (ie. chanting 'kill him')
Obama: Yes I did...I don't agree with your views on healthcare...economy...yada...yada
McCain: My supporters are great...vets...patriots...Joe the Plumber...
Obama: They call me a terrorist and and want to kill me.
McCain: Aren't you a terrorist? You're buddies with Ayers and involved with ACORN. Ha! Gotcha!
Obama: Here's the truth about those things and you have no point. *Smile*

Issue: Health Care
Obama: Here's my plan to make sure everyone gets coverage.
McCain: That costs too much money, let's just give everyone $5,000 for health care!
Obama: But that's not dealing with the underlying issue with our system.
McCain: Socialist! Don't vote for this commie!

Issue: Which programs would you cut during financial hardtimes?
McCain: An across the board spending freeze - that's the hatchet and I would get out a scalpel...look I know how to cut programs.
Moderator: Could you be more specific?
McCain: Pork-barrel earmark projects. We'll cut the pork, that's why I have a hatchet...Joe the Plumber!

Issue: V.P. as Pres should something happen to you
Obama: Joe Biden's great! Look at his record.
McCain: (Oh Shit!) Uh...energy independence...Joe sixpack...isn't she adorable!

Issue: Bias in picking a Supreme Court judge (excellent question!)
McCain: I am unbiased in picking judges, but abortion is wrong! Obama is pro-abortion!
Obama: I will pick a judge that is intelligent, experienced, and who recognizes a woman's constitutional right to privacy. I support Roe v. Wade and feel that the decision is between the woman and her doctor (DAMN STRAIGHT!!!!!)
McCain: Obama voted to kill infants!
Obama: No, I just didn't support a bill in Illinois that would have compromised Roe v. Wade, there is already a law in Illinois that doctors must resuscitate an infant, not to mention the Hippocratic oath.
McCain: You're a Pro-abortion extremist! You want to kill all babies!
Obama: First of all, no one is pro-abortion. I am pro-choice.
McCain: Don't fall for his fancy words, America!
Obama: Look, there are good, intelligent people on both sides of this debate. We have common ground here...prevention of unwanted pregnancies, support for single moms, options for adoption. (Can I get an amen!)
McCain: (Air quotes) "Health of the mother"? You want to kill all babies...

McCain was certainly trying to paint Obama as an extremist, left-wing, baby-killing, commie terrorist. And he was unapologetic for it too. This debate made me lose any respect that I had left for McCain, as he tried to play into the unsubstantiated fears of many people in this country. I just hope that a lot of other people recognized this in him too and don't vote for him.

It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel...a little worried

Did you know that the economy’s gone to shit? I know, why doesn’t anyone talk about it?

Okay, so I watched the first presidential debate on Friday (or at least half of it, that which I could hear over the packed bar full of NYU students). I thought that Obama brought his A-game and didn’t back down. Since I couldn’t hear everything that was said, there were times where I could only focus on body language. A few things I noticed:

-Obama looked directly at McCain several times and McCain would only look at Jim Lehrer.
-The reactions of both McCain and Obama were hilarious! Both had smirks come up several times throughout the debate. McCain especially, while writing down notes as Obama was speaking.
-Obama let out a big smile that, while I’ll explicitly state is not the reason I want to vote for him, did make me crush on him a little.

Of what I did hear, this was the best line in debate history: McCain’s reaction to Obama’s statement about Pakistan, “You don’t do that! You don’t say that out loud!”. Priceless.

BTW – Excellent piece(s) in the NYTimes today about the absence of healthcare in the election lately. Where did it go?

I’m gearing up for the VP debate this Thursday. Palin’s ineptitude has been shown in the past few weeks, so it will be interesting to see her performance at the debate. Of course, the McCain campaign has set “restrictions” to the debate, to make it more even for Palin. Really? You know, Hillary got so much BS for having to work even harder to be taken seriously as a woman and Palin waltzes in and has the election dumbed down for her? There’s the part of me that thinks there is no way that McCain/Palin are going to get elected, especially after her performance lately. But, last night I saw a clip of Bush and I was taken back to the 2000 election, when I thought there was no way in hell that he would ever get elected. Some American people, or the rigged voting system – however you see it, were silly enough to elect him – twice! – why would this be any different for Palin?

Speaking of Palin, an SNL sketch of Palin’s interview with Katie Couric was spot on! Thanks Tina Fey for making SNL funny again and the election slightly more amusing. Anyway, to see Tina Fey’s remarkable resemblance, I’ve posted both interviews here. Enjoy!

A few things about Obama's acceptance speech

I had the opportunity to watch Obama's acceptance speech at the DNC in the company of a packed bar in Brooklyn last night. I was very excited about it, especially about being surrounded by so many supporters who were enthused about this turning point in our country's history. I thought this would be such a historic moment that would give me chills. I have to say though, I was a little let down. Although I still very much support Obama and what he stands for, there were a few things about his speech that got to me:

1. He made promises that he, nor anyone, can live up to. Okay, I'll give you that all politicans have somewhat grandiose ideas that never end up being accomplished when they get into office, but isn't this what Obama is telling us we don't need in Washington. Yes, I think that we should work toward renewable and domestic fuel sources, yes we should improve the education system, and yes we need better healthcare. Independence from foreign oil in 10 years, top notch education during his term, etc, etc, just what we want to hear! Realistic? Not so much. What's the problem with idealism, you ask? There's nothing wrong with striving toward these ends but making these unrealistic promises seems to make him a little less credible.


2. He attacked McCain a lot. Yes, elections are dirty and candidates boost up their own images by putting their opponents down. But, again, isn't this what Obama wants to change? On the one hand, it's nice to actually hear a Democrat take a stand on things for once and not dance around issues. And he's tapped into the common disappointment of the past 8 years. On the other hand though, I'm sick of candidates dogging each other. And he did it in kind of a sleazy, passive-aggressive way.


3. The common chant of "yes we can" sounds a little too militaristic for my taste. I cannot help it, I know it's a positive chant. But really, just listen when you hear it, it's a little scary.


4. His talk of being for the people and not fortune 500 companies when so many companies put millions of dollars into the convention and were listening, live, to this very same speech. (Including a certain pharmacaeutical co...) No doubt they had a significant presence at the DNC.

Of course, there were great things about his speech. The fact that he actually listens to the American people and is in touch with the issues (he spoke very well about the middle class, jobs and Katrina) is inspiring and propells him far past McCain in my book. Due to the past 8 years under the current administration, the prospect of change reaches to so many people. We're sick of not being seen or heard, of an administration that doesn't care about anybody but wealthy CEOs and industry. So, although he did get a little snippy toward Bush and McCain, I could appreciate the stance he took against what we've been experiencing the past 8 years.

I have high hopes for Obama. I am putting my support behind him as a candidate because his campaign of hope and inspiration is not lost on us. Call it what you want, but isn't it obvious that millions of people are inspired by his words and are through with the political callousness of the past. They're not shallow words. People are sick of heartless politics, we want someone who can lead with his heart. I liked the song that Sheryl Crow performed last night "Out of Our Heads"

If we could only get out of our heads, out of our heads And into our
hearts

She apparently adapted this from one of the Dalai Lama's speeches. No wonder why it's so Buddhist in nature.

BTW - I couldn't help but use the image with the shamrocks. Irish for Obama! He he.