Really.
Saturday, February 27th, 2010 Posted in National Healthcare, politics | No Comments »Andy McCarthy writes: "I hear Republicans getting giddy over the fact that "reconciliation," if it comes to that, is a huge political loser. That's the wrong way to look at it. The Democratic leadership has already internalized the inevitablility of taking ...
Reconciliation. Really?
Friday, February 26th, 2010 Posted in National Healthcare, politics | No Comments »Using reconciliation to pass health care reform kinda reminds me of the final scene from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I envision Reid and Pelosi having a similar conversation to: Sundance: "I'll go." Butch: "This is no time for bravery. ...
Insurance Reform Ideas
Monday, October 26th, 2009 Posted in National Healthcare, Uncategorized, politics | No Comments »Sounds like I missed a spirited discussion on health care reform at this year's Barcamp Atlanta. Here is a highlight of what I would have added: Forget Democrat vs Republican. Since Medicare was enacted in 1965, politicians of all stripes ...
Lab Coat Politics
Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 Posted in National Healthcare, politics | No Comments »A couple days ago the White House had an event with 150 or so doctors who supported its health care reform agenda. From the NY Times, Doctors Are Opting Out of Medicare: Many people, just as they become eligible for ...
Dude, Who Spent My Lockbox?
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 Posted in National Healthcare, politics | No Comments »Medicare was enacted in 1965 at a time when the US population was relatively young, expected life span was relatively low, and when medical technologies were in their infancy. Now we are facing a whole new scenario. Baby-boomers ...
U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. on Health Care Reform
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009 Posted in Health Insurance, National Healthcare, politics | 1 Comment »Watching this won't take but four minutes from your day. Senator Coburn has a great grasp on the issue of health care reform.
The Real Motive for the Public Option?
Monday, August 24th, 2009 Posted in Health Insurance, National Healthcare, politics | 1 Comment »Do you get a sense that President Obama and the Democrats are truly desperate to produce a plan that leads to single-payer? On August 20th, Speaker Pelosi said, "There’s no way I can pass a bill in the House ...
“Death Panels” in Private / Public Plans?
Friday, August 21st, 2009 Posted in Health Insurance, National Healthcare, politics | No Comments »A friend recently tweeted: "Death panels? Cigna has one "If the appeal involves..experimental treatment, a committee will conduct this appeal review" http://is.gd/2mSYI" In an interview with David Lionhardt of the New York Times, President Obama said the following with regard ...
The Biggest Losers
Wednesday, July 8th, 2009 Posted in Health Insurance, National Healthcare, politics | No Comments »Doctors! The latest in health care reform has a proposal coming out of the House Ways and Means for a 4 percent levy on incomes exceeding $200,000 (read doctors). Physicians already face the threat of lower Medicare reimbursements ...
Taxing Health Benefits – Remember Section 89?
Monday, June 22nd, 2009 Posted in Health Insurance, National Healthcare, politics | No Comments »It was 1989 when I got into the health insurance business. A new law was coming on-line called Section 89. It was championed by Chicago politician, Dan Rostenkowski, who chaired the House Ways and Means committee. This ...