Thursday, December 18, 2014

Medicaid Enrollment Up by 9 Million in 2014 | Medpage Today

Medicaid Enrollment Up by 9 Million in 2014 | Medpage Today

If 66.5 million are now on Medicaid and another approximately 8 million
on a plan under the ACA we would now have 24% of our population covered
by those programs.  Per some data I found - if we have 8 million on CHIP
and 25 million on Medicare (w/o also being on Medicaid),  we would have
108 million on  a public program.  I am sure my numbers are a bit off
and that I missed some public programs like Veterans health care.  I
wish most of this was not via managed care / HMO type models.  What
struck me is that we already use public programs to cover about at least
1/3 of our citizens.  That is a ball park figure and if it is way off, I
sure would like to be corrected.  Again, my research capabilities are
limited.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Two Theologies Have Blocked Medicare-For-All – Health Affairs Blog

Two Theologies Have Blocked Medicare-For-All – Health Affairs Blog

Worth reading the summary and looking forward to the Feb report. 
The barriers to improved access to health care for all are summarized very
well here.  I contend that it comes down to money and the corporate
money control over our whole government decision making.  HMOs do not
save money overall and they sure do not help me as a patient. 
Competition in health care is an oxymoron.  In fact, I suggest it is the
for-profit competitive motives that have driven the horrendous cost
increases in our health care system.

Monday, December 8, 2014

My Insurance Company Killed Me, Despite Obamacare - The Daily Beast

My Insurance Company Killed Me, Despite Obamacare - The Daily Beast

Comment from a friend: "The article is an effective, easily understandable demonstration that
the ACA does not solve the problems of private health insurer
participation in our non-system. Thus, the ACA is not really a "first
step" toward a health care solution, as is often stated by
self-proclaimed progressives who actually don't get it."

Health law impacts primary care doc shortage

Health law impacts primary care doc shortage

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Friday, November 21, 2014

Employer Perspectives on the Health Insurance Market: A Survey of Businesses in the United States | APNORC.org

Employer Perspectives on the Health Insurance Market: A Survey of Businesses in the United States | APNORC.org

Poll: Employers watching insurance costs closely

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/poll-employers-watching-insurance-costs-082118083.html
I sure wish the job and access to health care were separated and that the insurance industry was not allowed to be in the health care market.  If we put hospitals on a budget instead of a marketing approach with complex itemized bills, we sure would save allot. Check out the video at this site.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Medicine’s Top Earners Are Not the M.D.s - NYTimes.com

Medicine’s Top Earners Are Not the M.D.s - NYTimes.com

I am not surprised by this but the
general public is not aware, at least not aware that it does not have
to be this way.  The profit driven system pushing recent decades
of higher salaries for insurance and hospital execs has the same
argument in support as the ungodly high salaries for corporate execs
throughout the U.S.  The argument that a capitalistic, profit
driven system is more efficient and effective is BS when it comes to
providing health care - IMHO.  It actually makes it cost way
more and be much less responsive to me as a patient.  

Friday, November 14, 2014

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

NEW VIDEO: Walker sells out Wisconsin - Citizen Action of Wisconsin

NEW VIDEO: Walker sells out Wisconsin - Citizen Action of Wisconsin

http://www.citizenactionwi.org/walker_sells_out_wisconsin/?splash=1&utm_campaign=our_new_video_w&utm_medium=email&utm_source=citizenactionwi

Monday, September 22, 2014

Test shows how hospitals battle to balance care, cost | Star Tribune

Test shows how hospitals battle to balance care, cost | Star Tribune



"Persuading hospitals to become accountable care organizations — to share in the financial risks and rewards of their own efficiency — is an underlying but unproven tenet of U.S. health care reforms."

Wednesday, September 3, 2014


Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Life expectancy gap between blacks and whites improves — but not in Wisconsin

Life expectancy gap between blacks and whites improves — but not in Wisconsin:



Causation is not addressed.  Lack of equitable access to health care and differences in access to social supportive programs in women's health certainly would play an important role.

Monday, July 21, 2014

Don't tell Slovenia

Remote Area Medical expedition

http://m.dailykos.com/story/2014/07/19/1315138/--They-pull-thousands-of-teeth-here-At-the-end-they-ll-have-buckets-of-teeth?detail=email

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Biggest Insurer Drops Caution, Embraces Obamacare – Capsules - The KHN Blog

Biggest Insurer Drops Caution, Embraces Obamacare – Capsules - The KHN Blog:



DUH!  They knew it all along - their money bought what turned out to be an insurance company bail out law.

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Losses mounting at Wheaton Franciscan-St. Joseph

Losses mounting at Wheaton Franciscan-St. Joseph:

I wish this article dug into what role the WI private insurance companies play in setting rates and making profits.  I wish they had dug into what role the State's refusal to get into the ACA and refusal to accept the Fed $ and expand Medicaid had to play in this issue.

I hope the Gov and his cronies in the Legislature don't take the response the North Carolina Gov did and say that the Feds should repeal the requirement for free ER care as the solution.


Tuesday, July 15, 2014

How Bad Medicine Is Sweeping The Country, One State At A Time | ThinkProgress

How Bad Medicine Is Sweeping The Country, One State At A Time | ThinkProgress:



'via Blog this'

The ACP Advocate Blog: Will American conservatives lead the U.S. to a single payer system?

The ACP Advocate Blog: Will American conservatives lead the U.S. to a single payer system?:

Interesting perspective:  Partial quote: "This isn't sustainable. A person’s
access to quality healthcare shouldn't depend on who their boss is.
And an employer shouldn't be heavily fined if they don’t
compromise their religious convictions in providing healthcare for
their staff. . . A single-payer public health care option eliminates
such complications. No matter who your boss is or what business you
work for, you get access to the healthcare you need. And employers
will not be forced to compromise their religious beliefs while
providing the public good of healthcare."

 

Sunday, July 6, 2014

End Employer Based Coversge

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/the-bigger-question-behind-hobby-lobby

This bad decision can help rid us of a bad practice.

Monday, June 23, 2014

Monday, June 16, 2014

Poor Health - JSOnline

Poor Health - JSOnline:

Interplay between poverty, health is complex -- An Interesting Series

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Myth vs. Fact: Violence and Mental Health - ProPublica

Myth vs. Fact: Violence and Mental Health - ProPublica:

Important to remember to check out the facts.  Early intervention and treatment can pay off big time.

Friday, June 13, 2014

Sign petition to State Legislators to accept federal funds for BadgerCare

Sign petition to State Legislators to accept federal funds for BadgerCare:

"The $1 million a day is a big loss to state government, but it does not include the extra costs paid by the working families needlessly denied BadgerCare. We estimate based on state figures that if the families denied BadgerCare sign up for private insurance they will pay $26 million a year more in deductibles alone, not including additional co-pays and premiums." ADD YOUR VOICE supporting accepting federal money for BadgerCare: http://www.citizenactionwi.org/badgercare_petition2

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

CEO Pay: Healthy pay for health care CEOs : Madisondotcom

CEO Pay: Healthy pay for health care CEOs : Madisondotcom:



Median pay for health care CEOs  last measured at $12.3 million.  That was the highest in the survey, even above financial companies.  I am sure these include the health insurance industry.  I think profit needs to be removed from how our health care and health care coverage industries are run.  It does not improve our actual care and it sure doesn't keep costs down. We pay more for premiums and provider charges in order to line the pockets of these CEOs and the shareholders who keep that pay so high.

Sunday, May 25, 2014

States eye more oversight of health insurance exchange workers, but no reports of complaints | Star Tribune

States eye more oversight of health insurance exchange workers, but no reports of complaints | Star Tribune:

Last year as ACA was ramping up I saw this happen via admin. policy in Wisconsin so that it was virtually impossible for an interested citizen to get OK'd to help folks apply.  I see this as the same as all the voter ID and other voter suppression laws being enacted in states like WI.  I would not be surprised if this too was written by ALEC.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Dr. Frank Bures: Medical bills remain a mystery

Dr. Frank Bures: Medical bills remain a mystery:

And this is just the surface of how complex out system is from beginning to end.  Figuring out insurance, figuring out who to see, figuring out all the bills and statements (I get at least three for any office visit - clinic, Medicare and insurance company) and then figuring out how to pay after you give in on accepting what to pay.  I used to be able to come close on figuring out the bottom line -- not anymore.  Now I just wait for the clinic bill and only spend time on it if the net amount left for me to pay is high enough to justify it.  Sad!


Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Pass Minnesota Health Plan Notice

Please join PassMHP on Thursday, May 8th at 5:30 pm for the Campaign Season Kickoff and Fundraiser at Cowboy Jack's, 126 5th St N., Minneapolis.



The 2014 elections are fast approaching. The PassMHP Political Action Committee is gearing up to help elect legislators who support single payer and Gov. Dayton, who has publicly voiced his support for single payer on numerous occasions. It is vital that PassMHP supporters and volunteers are active this year. Because it is not a presidential year, we have to work even harder to get our supporters elected. 

Everyone is welcome, so come and join us to help get the Minnesota Health Plan passed! Contributions of $25 are encouraged. If you would like to be a sponsor please contact us at passmhp@gmail.com

Platinum Level Hosts: Elizabeth Frost and Martha Hotchkiss, Kava Zabawa

Gold Level Hosts: Erin Anderson, Donna Cassutt, Joel Clemmer, Jay Damberg, Alex Eaton, Sharon Erickson Ropes, Megan Gavin, Renate Hohman, Barb Jacobs, Geri Katz, Dave Lee, Don Pylkkanen, Chuck Sawyer, Valerie Nelson Swenson.

If you cannot attend, we greatly appreciate your donation: 



You can mail a check to:

PassMHP
P.O. Box 15704
Minneapolis, MN 55415-0704

Sign petition to State Legislators to accept federal funds for BadgerCare

Sign petition to State Legislators to accept federal funds for BadgerCare:



'via Blog this'

Sunday, April 27, 2014

How patient groups saved America from Medicare efficiency | Star Tribune

How patient groups saved America from Medicare efficiency | Star Tribune:

This sure appears to be an example of how big money/corporations hood wink people into doing their dirty work.  And, it ends up being in the patient's worst interest.

'via Blog this'

Monday, April 14, 2014

Under new health law, insurers target diabetics before they get lax in managing costly disease | Star Tribune

Under new health law, insurers target diabetics before they get lax in managing costly disease | Star Tribune:

Sounds like a good thing.  Community workers is a model that helps here.  MN has done some of this but the rates under Medicaid do not allow it to really work well.  Insurance companies, MCOs and the States need to expand this para-professional model idea for home visits, etc.  It works much better than a nurse calling me to bug me or getting a fancy colored mailing to bug me.  Too easy to ignore and it does not work like human contact from folks who "have been there".

'via Blog this'

Minnesota's uninsured get public aid at historic levels | Star Tribune

Minnesota's uninsured get public aid at historic levels | Star Tribune:

Too bad this is not happening in the states who, for political reasons, are refusing to take the Federal Medicaid money to expand the program.

'via Blog this'

Sunday, April 13, 2014

The Conservative Death Panel

The Conservative Death Panel:

We need changes in these states - starting with Wisconsin.

'via Blog this'

Monday, April 7, 2014

Insurance industry spends millions fighting cuts to Medicare Advantage | Star Tribune

Insurance industry spends millions fighting cuts to Medicare Advantage | Star Tribune:



Personally I chose a Medicare Supplement and NOT the Advantage program.  I did not like all that money being skimmed off by the for profit insurance companies and I did not like the idea of a manged care model that would restrict my choices of providers.  I am happy with my choice and my several years of experience have shown it is better financially as well.  I also have the freedom to change, if I want, my Part D provider and have saved allot of money by doing so.

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Expand Medicaid

http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/pressure-to-expand-medicaid-likely-to-grow-b99237895z1-253973681.html?page=1http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/pressure-to-expand-medicaid-likely-to-grow-b99237895z1-253973681.html?page=1

Friday, March 21, 2014

Some companies are seeing higher costs because of law, while others are saving money | Star Tribune

Some companies are seeing higher costs because of law, while others are saving money | Star Tribune:



'via Blog this'

With new access to health insurance, some workers weigh the tempting 'I Quit' option | Star Tribune

With new access to health insurance, some workers weigh the tempting 'I Quit' option | Star Tribune:



'via Blog this'

Q&A: Am I Stuck In My Job's Costly Health Plan?

"The new health care law helps some people, hurts others and confuses almost everyone. Hoping to simplify things a bit, The Associated Press asked its Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus followers for their real-life questions about the program and the problems they're running into as the March 31 deadline approaches to sign up for coverage in new insurance markets.
Two of their questions and our answers:"

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=292204653

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Friday, January 24, 2014

True Single-Payer Healthcare System Being Considered in New York Assembly

True Single-Payer Healthcare System Being Considered in New York Assembly: "A key point about single-payer is quite cogent and compelling as made by Gottfried: that "the most affordable way to achieve universal coverage," as confirmed in a report by New York State "found that a single-payer plan would have the lowest-cost for providing universal coverage, compared to plans relying on insurance companies and employment-based coverage.""



'via Blog this'

Sunday, January 12, 2014