Tuesday, May 28, 2013


Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Tricare extends changes to UnitedHealthcare military plan | StarTribune.com

Tricare extends changes to UnitedHealthcare military plan | StarTribune.com:
$21.5 Billion to deny care/referrals.........That's what for profit MCOs do.  Maximizing their profits and their high administrative salaries is what they focus on and they don't care about delays and refusals of care -- even for Veterans.

Sunday, May 19, 2013


In a year, Hennepin Health improves care for poor, keeps costs down | StarTribune.com

In a year, Hennepin Health improves care for poor, keeps costs down | StarTribune.com:
Our great country doesn't do too well in health statistic comparisons with other developed countries.  The major reason, (IMHO), is our two tiered system for how care is given and how it is paid for.  We discriminate because of poor payment rates, because of poor profit margins for insurers and (far too much) because we still have so many of us who believe that using any of my money to help out those malingering bastards is just wrong.  Here's an example of how my tax money can be used to better serve the sickest of the poorest to get better results.  We really need a system that pays the same and gives equal access to all.  Until we change our prejudicial beliefs about the poor and until we can create a fair single payer system, this kind of model can help raise the bar for our most needy neighbors.

Friday, May 17, 2013

3 Emerging Benefits of the Minnesota Health Exchange That Don’t Get Talked About | StarTribune.com

3 Emerging Benefits of the Minnesota Health Exchange That Don’t Get Talked About | StarTribune.com:
Hopefulness about Minnesota's Exchange.  My favorite quote: "make things better instead of waddling in complexity and hyperpartisanship"

Friday, May 10, 2013

Electronic Medical Records - AMA having trouble


AMA rips EMRs

 Statement by Kip Sullivan:

Like the news on the ACA, the news regarding electronic medical records keeps getting worse. Now the American Medical Association has, at long last, ripped into EMR theology.
The AMA’s chairman, Dr. Steven Stack, gave testimony on May 3 at a hearing on “meaningful use” of EMRs. Stack inexplicably genuflected to EMR theology, but then ripped into EMRs. I have pasted in excerpts below. Note phrases like “pure torment,” “time-wasting,” and “infuriatingly difficult,” etc.
My only question for Stack and the AMA is, Where the hell have you been for the last two decades? (see this wonderful comment at Health Care Renewal http://hcrenewal.blogspot.com/2013/05/ama-says-ehrs-create-appalling-catch-22.html) If the AMA had demanded evidence for EMRs before the computer industry and their allies unleashed their lobbying campaign to force taxpayers to finance EMRs and doctors to use them, we might not be in this awful fix today.
The EMR project is US faith-based health policy at its worst – say any damn thing you want, with or without evidence, especially if it makes some big insurance companies or computer corporations rich, pass it into law, and then either ignore the outcome or shoot the messenger.
Kip

 



Thursday, May 9, 2013

Health Care Not Warfare

Health Care Not Warfare says: We have never given up on single-payer health care, enhanced Medicare for All. That's why we're backing Representative John Conyers bill H.R. 676, that would establish a non-profit, universal, single-payer health care program, an improved "Medicare for All" act.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013


Pentagon pushes UnitedHealth on Tricare delays | StarTribune.com

Pentagon pushes UnitedHealth on Tricare delays | StarTribune.com:
Get United Health out of vets health care.  As a stepping stone for single payer why not combine Medicare and Veteran's (non-vet system clinics and hospitals) coverage into one system, ad in all Fed employees and elected officials, and do it the Medicare for All way without paying an arm and a leg to multi-million salaries at places like United Health.

Many part-timers to lose pay amid health act's new math | StarTribune.com

Many part-timers to lose pay amid health act's new math | StarTribune.com:
I still think we need to separate coverage from what job you have.  This is just another example of why.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013


WI needs to take the money and save Badge Care
A very good argument for Single Payer!