Next Big Challenge for Health Law: Carrying It Out
From The New York Times, By JOHN HARWOOD, April 29, 2013 -
WASHINGTON — This month, a political organization aligned with House Republicans sent an e-mail to reporters attacking President Obama’s health care law.
“Young adults on parents’ plan pay more,” said the organization, the YG Network, citing a new employee benefits study. The e-mail’s subject line read “So Much for Popularity.”
Estes: The Medicaid Mousetrap
Op-Ed from the Office of State Senator Craig Estes, District 30
For Immediate Release
March 11, 2013
Contact: Liz White
512-463-0130
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The Medicaid Mousetrap
My granddad often told me, “there’s always free cheese in a mousetrap.” Those words have never rung more true than with Medicaid expansion. I can’t help but think Texas is being lured by “free” federal dollars into expanding Medicaid. Mousetraps don’t work out well for mice, and Medicaid expansion won’t work out well for Texans.
First, Texas can’t afford Medicaid expansion.
Obamacare Mission Impossible
from conservative.org, by Greg Scandlen Issue 217– 12/12/12 –
Now that the election is over, the prospect of “repeal and replace” of ObamaCare is virtually nil. But that was never the greatest threat to the law anyway. The real threat lies in implementation.
I said well before the law was enacted that it was so poorly conceived and so poorly written that it could never be implemented. That is even more evident today.
Texas counties consider going it alone on Medicaid expansion
From The Washington Post, By N.C. Aizenman, Published: August 26, 2012 - SAN ANTONIO —Local officials in Texas are discussing whether to band together to expand Medicaid coverage in some of the state’s biggest counties, making an end run around Gov. Rick Perry’s opposition to the expanded program included in President Obama’s health-care law.
Hospital district gives $9 million to WRMC parent company
From the Weatherford Democrat, by Christin Coyne CNHI, August 20, 2012: WEATHERFORD — Last month, the Parker County Hospital District Board of Directors voted to make a voluntary payment of up to $9 million in tax revenue to the company that leases and operates Weatherford Regional Medical Center for yet-to-be-decided improvements to the facility as well as other plans.
“That money is coming back into Parker County for the health care of Parker County people and to make improvements to the hospital,” board president Melvin Woody said.
Five of the seven elected directors voted for the payment to Community Health System, Inc., with the exception of David Barbrick, a CHS employee who abstained, and Dr. Eric Floyd, who voted against and said he believes the payment is a waste of taxpayer money.
Floyd said he has issues with the fact that such a large payment was voluntarily made to the for-profit company, as well as the lack of a contract.
Though they have not nailed down everything on paper, it will not be a “no strings attached” gift, proponents said.
Floyd, however, questions how much input the district will have regarding where the money is spent now that they’ve agreed to make the payment.
Medicaid Patients, Not Uninsured, Crowd Emergency Rooms
Phil Kerpen
From GOPUSA.com, By Phil Kerpen July 24, 2012 – Supporters of the president’s unpopular health care mandate tax are now trying to justify it on the theory that those who go uninsured later impose large costs on the rest of us through emergency rooms. But the truth is emergency rooms are crowded not by the uninsured, but by Medicaid patients. Far from alleviating the problem, the president’s law dumps millions of people into a failed Medicaid system. It’s the opposite of reform.The original purpose of the mandate was not to reduce the costs of uncompensated care, but rather to extract revenue from young, healthy people who go uninsured because they are low utilizers of health care.
Texas has universal health care
From The Daily Caller, By Arlene Wohlgemuth, October 27, 2011 – Many commentators have portrayed Texas’s uninsured rate as evidence of Texans’ lack of access to health care. However, the reality is that Texas’s problem is not care but cost.
How does an uninsured individual receive care? In Texas and across the country, the answer is all too often through an emergency room. The costs of emergency room visits are ultimately picked up by a combination of county tax dollars, Medicaid and cost-shifting to insured patients.
This system of universal health care is based on market distortions caused by federal price controls and regulations, chiefly the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) and Medicaid. Continue reading →
Liberal governor’s request for Medicaid cuts puts Democrats in tough spot
By Julian Pecquet -
President Obama and congressional Democrats have been put in a tough spot by California Gov. Jerry Brown’s (D) request to cut
Governor Jerry Brown
Medicaid spending by 10 percent.
Brown says he needs to make the cuts to the state Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal, to ease his state’s severe budget woes. But advocates say cuts of that size would be devastating to California’s most vulnerable residents. Continue reading →
Texas Public Policy Foundation outlines alternative to failed Medicaid program
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http://www.texaspolicy.com/press_releases_single.php?report_id=3543
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Kristen Indriago
February 22, 2011 (512) 472-2700
Texas Public Policy Foundation outlines alternative to failed Medicaid program
State could provide better health care to more people with control over policies and funding
AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation unveiled a proposal that would replace the federal Medicaid program with a state-driven TexHealth program, dramatically transforming the way medical care and services are provided to low-income individuals.
“The federal Medicaid program is structurally designed to make states spend money in ineffective ways,” said TPPF Executive Director Arlene Wohlgemuth. “However, Texas now has the opportunity to reform our state’s Medicaid program so that it better meets the needs of both the individuals it serves and the taxpayers who support it.” Continue reading →
Reverse the rules for jails and nursing homes
Let’s reverse the rules between jails and nursing homes.
This way the seniors would have access to showers, hobbies, and walks, they’d receive unlimited free prescriptions, dental and medical treatment, wheel chairs etc. and they’d receive money instead of paying it out.
They would have constant video monitoring, so they could be helped instantly, if they fell, or needed assistance.
Bedding would be washed twice a week, and all clothing would be ironed and returned to them.
A guard would check on them every 20 minutes, and bring their meals and snacks to their rooms.
They would have family visits in a suite built for that purpose.
They would have access to a library, weight room, spiritual counseling, pool, and education.
Simple clothing, shoes, slippers, P.J.’s and legal aid would be free, on request.
Private, secure rooms for all, with an outdoor exercise yard, with gardens.
Each senior could have a P.C. a T.V. radio, and daily phone calls.
There would be a board of directors, to hear complaints, and the guards would have a code of conduct, that would be strictly adhered to.
The “criminals” would get cold food, be left all alone, and unsupervised.
Lights off at 8pm, and showers once a week.
Live in a tiny room, and pay $5000.00 per month and have no hope of ever getting out.
- author unknown
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Nursing Homes have been called “Living Museums”. Their occupants made our way of life possible. The abundant life we enjoy was made possible through their generosity and sacrifice. Chances are, you pass by a Nursing Home on your way to, or from work or from shopping. If you stop for a visit, I believe you will be shocked and saddened to learn how many residents haven’t had a visitor in weeks or months, if ever. You could learn first hand how “efficiently” government healthcare (Medicare & Medicaid) is administered.
It may be wise to learn all you can about Nursing Homes – before your kids choose one for you!
