Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Battle over how health insurance is sold in Minnesota begins | StarTribune.com

Battle over how health insurance is sold in Minnesota begins | StarTribune.com:

And the battle continues.

Timeline:

Jan. 1, 2013: States must demonstrate that exchanges can be operational by Jan. 1, 2014.

First half of 2013: Exchanges undergo testing.

October 2013: Open enrollment begins.

Jan. 1, 2014: States begin to offer coverage over the exchanges.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Tough talk for Minnesota's medical community | StarTribune.com

Tough talk for Minnesota's medical community | StarTribune.com:
Some issues to consider here -- we do need to focus on inefficiencies and not just new fancy technologies. The article critical of Mayo (which some reports say is one of the most cost effective providers in the country) is available by clicking here.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Editorial: Finding a cure for 'charity care' ills | StarTribune.com

Editorial: Finding a cure for 'charity care' ills | StarTribune.com:
Charity care does cost us all a lot of money in what hospitals charge and in what we pay for insurance and in what we pay via income and property taxes. This gets into how much 'charity care' goes on but does not really give a true picture of how much it really costs all of us.

Eliminating the Individual Mandate - RWJF

Eliminating the Individual Mandate - RWJF:

A study on the ACA's requirement to have insurance. Good to follow as this is a stepping stone toward single payer but it is really too bad that so much of our money will still go to finance such an expensive insurance system that really should just be shut down.

Health care changes: Will state of MN remain gridlocked? | StarTribune.com

Health care changes: Will state remain gridlocked? | StarTribune.com

The exchanges are needed as the best we can do for now.  Another link to a column on the need for teamwork needed to accomplish this is here.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Cracking Down on Insurance Companies, Protecting Consumers | HealthCare.gov

Cracking Down on Insurance Companies, Protecting Consumers | HealthCare.gov
An excerpt: "The health care law gives us new tools to protect consumers who are looking for health insurance. One of those tools is “rate review”. For the first time ever, in every State, insurance companies are required to publicly justify their actions if they want to raise rates by 10 percent or more. "

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Tip/Wag - Irresponsible Dead People & Insensitive Papa John's - The Colbert Report - 2012-10-01 - Video Clip | Comedy Central

Tip/Wag - Irresponsible Dead People & Insensitive Papa John's - The Colbert Report - 2012-10-01 - Video Clip Comedy Central

This video by Colbert has great stuff on people without health insurance.

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/405668/january-10-2012/tip-wag---irresponsible-dead-people---insensitive-papa-john-s
Per PNHP Jan. 12th post: "On Tuesday night, television comedian Stephen Colbert did a two-and-a-half minute segment based on GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum’s refusal to accept an Iowa student’s remark that 50,000 people die annually in America from lack of health insurance, a finding based on a PNHP study by Dr. Andrew Wilper, et al. The “Colbert Report” segment, which starts at the very beginning of this clip, is must watching!"

Uncompassionate Conservatism - NYTimes.com

Uncompassionate Conservatism - NYTimes.com
Talks about Romney but speaks to health care:
Excerpt:
"But most of all, we don’t see the health insurance company as providing us a service. We see ourselves, rather, as indentured supplicants forced to pay exorbitant monthly rates for a basic need that responsible people with means can’t get out of paying for if we can help it. We don’t see ourselves as in control of the relationship with them. They are in control of us–and no more so than when we get sick and need the insurance most."

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Annual growth in US health care spending at historic lows; experts debate if relief will last | StarTribune.com

Annual growth in US health care spending at historic lows; experts debate if relief will last | StarTribune.com
Postponing or just plain skipping medical care is likely to cost more in the long run - both in dollars for treating more advanced illness and in pain, suffering and death.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Instead of tweaking system at patients’ expense, opt for single payer - Letters - The Boston Globe

Instead of tweaking system at patients’ expense, opt for single payer - Letters - The Boston Globe
Great little letter from a Boston doc:

Tiered coverage limits choice for patients who may prefer doctors or hospitals outside their network, and unfairly penalizes patients who can’t afford extra fees to go to providers of their choice. The SaveOn initiative that pays patients to go to less expensive service facilities, even though their doctor may not recommend them, strains the important doctor-patient relationship and raises doubt about the quality of cheaper services.

The real solution to the health care crisis should be focused on eliminating the huge administrative waste generated by the health insurance industry, the unacceptable number of uninsured, the growing number of underinsured, and the Rube-Goldberg-like systemic complexity that makes patients fall through the cracks.

Patients should be the center of a strong health care system that makes high-quality health care available to everyone regardless of ability to pay. We need a single payer system that covers everyone, provides continuous care, and is affordable and sustainable.