Plain Talk: Ryan’s plan plays into hands of insurers

Plain Talk: Ryan’s plan plays into hands of insurers: "There’s a much better way. Don’t destroy Medicare as Ryan would have the U.S. do, but extend it to everyone from the day they’re born to the day they die. For the inflated prices we’re now spending for health care, we could cover every American and still save money — more money than the Ryan “reform” could ever do."

Barbara Quirk: Vermont is leading the way on health care

Barbara Quirk: Vermont is leading the way on health care:
"Indeed, single-payer health reform is supported by a majority of Vermont residents, and although the current legislation falls short of that standard, it goes a long way to ensure high-quality, comprehensive and affordable care.

The Vermont plan, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, will be overseen by a five-person board. It is a Canadian look-alike model.

This is not a new idea for Vermont. In 2006, legislation was passed providing the foundation for health care reform. Each year since then Vermont’s administration and legislature have worked collaboratively to pass additional legislation that clarifies and enhances the 2006 act."

Medicare and Mediscares - NYTimes.com

Medicare and Mediscares - NYTimes.com: Krugman takes on Ryan. Here's an excerpt. See full column for details. "Then people who actually know how to read a budget proposal started looking at the plan. And that’s when everything started to fall apart. "

Security gaps pose a risk in digitalizing medical data - Washington Times

Security gaps pose a risk in digitalizing medical data - Washington Times:-
A lot of money and effort is going into this electronic records push. Not only is it questonable that it will work are intended and whether it will save money but we also have to watch what it will mean for our privacy (assuming we still have any). Article in at above link and can also be accessed via this one.

Bill Berry: While Americans shout about health care, Canadians love theirs

Bill Berry: While Americans shout about health care, Canadians love theirs:
An Excerpt:
"This kind of stuff ought to be required reading for a long-overdue discussion about health care in America. The trouble is, we Americans don’t talk about health care. We just shout at each other. Special interests fan the fire by throwing bales of money on it — and meanwhile, living, breathing human beings fall through the cracks every day. In a country with so much concentrated wealth, this is shameful."
If link doesn't work, try this.

25 Shocking Facts That Prove That The Entire U.S. Health Care Industry Has Become One Giant Money Making Scam

25 Shocking Facts That Prove That The Entire U.S. Health Care Industry Has Become One Giant Money Making Scam: This has some useful info. If this link doesn't work for the article, try this.

Take Action MN's View

Take Action says we have a corporate take over of public health care programs, that the rural areas and communities of color are hit hardest and they propose we need a new model of how health care is funded that takes the profit out of how decisions are made.  This article was well worth sharing.