Private Equity Again

A new article from Time magazine predicting more dire consequences from our old friend private equity.

Jobs and Health Care

Here is an article that I came across while finishing up on my paper. It talks about how so many Americans are scared to lose their jobs because they will be jobless, but also they wont have health insurance for themselves and their family because it was payed for by their employers.

New CNN Poll on Health Care

Here is the article and you can download the results in a PDF

Drug Prices Going Up

Here is an article about the rising cost of pharmaceuticals that will offset any gains from cutting prices in health care reform bill. Money, money, money...

Glen Beck on Healthcare and more

Here are two videos, both of Glen Beck. The first clip is his basic breakdown of Obama's plan and how he views healthcare. The second is just a quick snippet of what Jon Stewart was poking fun at on his show. The first video is a little long so you can just watch some of it to get a feeling of his usual show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1DSVKbKCVE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-D_S7WOnjg

Bachmann on Health Care

Please read this article from CNN on Michele Bachmann, congresswoman from Minnesota.

The Decade in 7 Minutes

I know it's not really about the health care debate, but this is a cool video I found while using Stumble Upon. It's sort of fun to look back on everything that has happened.

Response to Walmart sick-leave articles:

This is a major issue because if people come in sick, it will effect the population and possibly spread H1N1. If people don't get paid for work days off, it could badly effect the economy. On the other hand, if they do get paid, it could effect the economy AND the unemployment rate.

This is a tough one.

Article from Reuters found here.

An Interesting Idea...

Paying in "Bundle Paccages" for certain procedures.

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE5AA4YV20091111.

"WHAT WORKS"?

(NaturalNews) When it comes to affordable, effective health care reform in America, there's only one question that really needs to be asked right now: What works?

In other words, what works to keep people healthy? What's affordable, safe and supports the long-term health of the population? What's available right now that can help people get healthy and remain healthy?

Those answers aren't difficult. They're found, in fact, in the fresh produce section of every grocery store in America, and even more answers are found in the dietary supplementsections of health food stores. In America today, we don't have a lack of good answers to the current health carecrisis; what we have is too many people asking the wrong questions!

Instead of asking, "What works?" we have health care reform lobbyists and pharmaceutical pushers putting their efforts into a completely different question: "What's profitable?"

The entire health care reform conversation taking place today is based around that question: What's profitable? How can we make the most money by requiring the most people to participate in our profit-making system? That's the real reason behind mandatory health insurance requirements, by the way.

But what if we threw out everything we think we know about health care right now and started from scratch? Toss out the current complex system of failed treatments, failed insurance plans and the monopolistic practices that dominate western today. What if we started with a blank slate?

If we started over, wouldn't the first and most important question simply be "What works?"

A universe of possibilities to consider

Answering that question necessarily involves consideringall the possibilities of what works. We've got to look at what works in the known universe, not just what works in one system of medicine. Proponents of western medicine, as you well know, want to limit the entire discussion of health care reform to their own narrowly-defined systems of chemical intervention, ineffective disease screening, medically unjustified surgeries and deadly chemotherapy treatments. But that's not an honest answer to the "what works" question... it's only a predetermined, narrow interpretation of the question that ultimately lends little value toward finding real health care solutions.

In answering the "what works?" question, we've got to consider healing foods, nutritional supplements, exercise, stress reduction, vibrational medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, spiritual medicine, healing through intention, body work, chiropractic care, mind-body medicine, the healing arts and much more. Not surprisingly, once you open up the possibility of answers to include the entire universe of possibilities, you quickly begin to discover safe, affordable and highly effective healing modalities that can help people prevent and eliminate disease while enhancing lifelong health and happiness.

For example, simple dietary changes alone can eliminate 70% of cancers all by themselves. Combined with superfoodnutrition (which is ridiculously affordable compared to urgent medical care), sunshine, exercise and stress reduction, we can prevent 90% of all cancers using what we know right now -- without a single visit to a hospital or a clinic. (And without a single additional dollar being spent to "find a cure.") '

website: http://www.NaturalNews.com/027171_health_food_health_care.html

comments:

- this article is interesting because it states that we have the resources to help people and reform health care but lobbyists and pharmaceutical pushers not asking what is gonna work to help these peoples health, they are asking them selves what is profitable? America is a country of greed in a way because everyone just wants their money. Unless america becomes less greedy and accepts that as a nation we have to make sacrifices for the people not for the gain of money. the government, medicare, doctors and lobbyists have to put this country first then things will change but everyone is to caught up in their money and income. the possibilities are endless but the greed and scattered dedication to this country is making it hard to find successful health care solutions.

Who is Joe Biden?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EALYveaLctU&feature=subtivity

How does it relate to what we're doing in class? Replace Joe Biden with health care and you get your answer.

Cole on Health Care II

Hi Mr. Aldredge,

I watched the news a couple nights ago and found this topic about Wal-Mart and it's employees.
There is a video on the subject. It doesn't talk about health insurance but about sick days and
losing money for missing work. I though it was an interesting video. Here it is.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/walmart-defends-sick-leave-policy-good-morning-america/story?id=9013693

New Health care proposal would limit options

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/12/stephen-hawking-enters-us_n_257343.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/14/weekinreview/14abelson.html

Both these articles discuss an implication of the new bill that's been passed, will options be decreased? As the easier/cheaper options often gets decided on, will the bill further promote this?

Polling Website

Gallup is a major pollster and have a good website that shows a lot of polls in a graphic format.

Last Minute Anti Abortion Clause

Here is an article about how Nancy Pelosi had to agree to the Stupak Amendment in order to pass the health care reform passage.

Downn then Upss

NEWS ANALYSIS

Medical Industry Grumbles, but It Stands to Gain

• SIGN IN TO RECOMMEND
• TWITTER
• SIGN IN TO E-MAIL
• PRINT
• SINGLE PAGE
• REPRINTS
• SHARECLOSE

By DUFF WILSON and REED ABELSON

Published: November 8, 2009

For any industry, there has to be at least some good news any time Congress votes to expand the market by tens of millions of customers.

A blog from The New York Times that tracks the health care debate as it unfolds.

• More Health Care Overhaul News

Health Care Conversations

Share your thoughts about the health care debate.

Top Discussions: The Public Option| Medicare and the Elderly | A Single-Payer System

Multimedia

Graphic

Sticking Points

Interactive Feature

A History of Health Care Reform

Interactive Graphic

House Democrats Who Voted Against the Health Care Bill

Slide Show

Long Day on the Hill, Big Victory for Democrats

Related

Prescriptions: If Anything, the Senate's Task Is Trickier

Obama Presses Senate to Pass Its Health Bill (November 9, 2009)

For Abortion Foes, a Victory in Health Care Vote (November 9, 2009)

Louisiana Republican Breaks Ranks on Health Bill (November 9, 2009)

But the business world found plenty to complain about Sunday, as it assessed the House bill that would make sweeping changes in the health care system and extend insurance coverage to millions more Americans.

Insurers do not like the provision to create a new government-run insurance program. Drug makers oppose billions of dollars in rebates they would have to give to the government over 10 years. Makers of artificial hips, heart defibrillators and other medical devices are not particularly happy about the proposed 2.5 percent tax on their products.

And employers large and small oppose rules that, for many of them, would make health care coverage — long a job benefit — become a federally mandated obligation.

That is why, as attention now shifts to the Senate, where Democratic leaders are trying to merge two bills into one, virtually every business group with a stake in the outcome will be hoping to strike at least a slightly better deal than they found in the House version.

And they may indeed get a break from the Senate, where the need for Democrats to compromise to win 60 votes may ensure a more business-moderate outcome.

And yet, many analysts said on Sunday that even the House bill was not as bad for business as many in the health care industry might have feared when the overhaul effort began many months ago.

“All industries stand to gain from this legislation,” Steven D. Findlay, senior health policy analyst with Consumers Unionin Washington, said in an interview. “They’re going to continue to fight their narrow issues and get the best that they can get. But all of them are aware they stand to gain significant new business and new revenue streams as more Americans get health coverage and money flows into the system for them.”

Of course, new revenue streams apply only to companies in the business of selling medical goods and services. To employers required to provide worker health benefits or else, in many cases, pay some sort of financial penalty, the House legislation offers little to cheer about.

Employer groups complained on Sunday that the House bill would impose insurance obligations while doing little to rein in the medical costs that help drive premiums higher year after year. In fact, those groups argue, the bill’s creation of a government-run insurance program, which may pay doctors and hospitals less than private insurers do, could end up shifting even more medical costs to the private insurance system that employers use.

“This won’t just hurt business, it will hurt millions of workers who have coverage through their employers,” said John J. Castellani, president the Business Roundtable, a group of chief executives of some of the nation’s biggest companies.

And the National Federation of Independent Business, representing many small businesses, said it was furious with the legislation. Susan Eckerly, senior vice president of the federation, attacked mandates, which she called punitive, and “atrocious new taxes.” The legislation, she said, was “a failed opportunity to help small-business owners with their No. 1 problem — skyrocketing health care costs.”

Another group, the Small Business Majority, praised the legislation but said the Senate needed to take more steps to lower costs.

Employers hope the final Senate legislation ends up looking more like the bill the Finance Committee passed, which does not require companies to insure their workers.

Meanwhile, the health insurance industry has been increasingly vocal about the emerging shape of the legislation, and it was sharply critical of the bill that passed on Saturday night.

“The current House legislation fails to bend the health cost curve and breaks the promise that those who like their current coverage can keep it,” Karen M. Ignagni, the chief executive of America’s Health Insurance Plans, the industry trade association, said.

The reference to a broken promise refers, in part, to people enrolled in privately offeredMedicare Advantage insurance plans, which would lose federal subsidies under the House bill. Ms. Ignagni warned of cuts that would “force millions of seniors out of the program entirely.”

But the promise reference also refers to the bill’s provision of a new government-run insurance plan that would compete directly with the health plans offered by private insurers. The insurance industry has long opposed such a move and warns that it will eventually force many people with private insurance into the government-run program.

That “public option,” as it is known, was also in the Senate health committee bill approved in July. And the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, has also signaled that he intends to include some kind of public plan in whatever Senate legislation is reached.

comment: this article is interesting because it talks about the tax and how the government wants to raise it to 2.5 percent, which would affect medicare and medicaid. it would make it so much more difficult for people and insurance companies who need or have patients who need a fake arm or leg to be able to afford it. however, they are raising the tax to help the whole nation so this could be looked at as a sacrifice if the money is put to correct use.

++ NEW YORK TIMES++: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/health/policy/09industry.html?ref=health

why are health costs rising?

This site gives detailed reasons and explanation of why health care cost rising.

Free Market Survey

A new survey reported by the BBC on people's feelings worldwide about free market capitalism twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. How do you feel about these questions now that you have studied the recession?

Health Care Reform Vote Update

I certainly hope all of you are aware that the House of Representatives voted for health care reform last night! Here is an article from the NY Times and here one from CNN and here is one from Fox News although their lead article is about how much this vote will hurt Democrats in the next election. How did this vote pass? Pay special attention to the debate over abortion funding. Please read, post and comment as we will discuss all of this on Monday.

News Ways of Seeing

This is an interesting article on new technology and new ways of perceiving our world. How has media altered in your lifetime? Think of the applications to this course.

Health Care Reform continued

Here is a new CNN poll on voters opinions on reform. Look closely at the distinction within parties. Here is a CNN report on yesterday's protest on Capital Hill. Finally, here is the link to the Bill Moyers interview we were watching today. We only saw the first seven minutes of a half hour program. Please view and be ready to comment on Monday. Remember to keep posting and commenting and thinking about your position paper that is due Nov 19th.

Healthcare Issues

This article here talk about 5 big issues that are kind of being ignored and that we need to look at these issues more seriously.

Roses Articles

My first article talks about how many protestors there are to having the health care reformed.

My second article is about how there are mixed reviews about the reform.

Samantha - Abortion in Health Care Reform

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/health/policy/05health.html?_r=1

this is interesting because it covers abortion and how a new plan would have to involve a pro-life and pro-choice option.

Health Care Homework 11/5

Please watch and comment on the following videos. I will try to have them available in class Friday.

1. Time Obama Speech
2. CBSMoneyWatch.com
2. New Scientist
3. MoveOn.org

Health care issues

This article from reuters is about how the government is making a law that employers will have to give workers paid sick days to prevent them from coming to work sick.

5 Things you Will Lose With Health Reform

An article from Fortune magazine on CNN.com, that states five things you will lose form the current health care system due to reforms. It seems to be a pretty conservative article that opposes health care reform. This is probably because it comes from the Fortune Magazine, which covers major corporations on a regular basis. And, since the insurance companies are major corporations, it's logical to assume that they are against health care reform. Also, the article is from July so it is a little dated.

Most Americans oppose health care reforms

This article gives some reasons why the Americans oppose the health care reform.

Here is a story about how Harry Reid told a reporter who asked when the health care bill was going to pass, that "we're not going to be bound by any timelines." basically saying "not till text year"

Health Care Not Covering Abuse Victims

Here is an article I came across that stunned me a lot.

I thought it was horrid how victims of domestic violence

may not be insured because their condition is said to be "pre-existing."

It is definitely a new take on pre-existing...

White House Website

This is on the White House website. It is trying to correct rumors about reform.

Health Care Reform

Here is an article from CNN/Money about the personal side of health care. Can we understand the problem better through individual stories?

Health Bill Worse Than "Terrorist"

This is an article about a speech a Congresswomen gave claiming that a health care bill would be worse for the United States than terrorism. I think this portrays just how divisive the health care debate has been

http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/02/house-health-bill-is-worse-than-any-terrorist-a-republican-says/

Health Care

Here is an article about how a lack of paid sick days is causing people to go to work sick which is causing viruses such as the flu to spread at a much greater rate.

Healthcare Videos

This is a video on youtube about the need for a government run health care option. It's made by a pretty liberal guy, keep that in mind. Its pretty basic, and also some of the "facts" are bordering on incorrect.
Some people have made reply videos trying to prove that we DON'T need a government run option. For instance, this one.


You definitely have to fact check when you look at things on youtube, but I think its really cool that there are ways like this for the population to express their opinions.

Cole on Health Care

Hi Mr. Aldredge,

I did go to the help desk today and got into the system. At the time I thought everything was fine but now i realize I still can't start a new topic.
I can only comment on other posts. I found this good site for health care between different states. If you could post it for me that will be great.
I will go back to the help desk tomorrow and finally get it fixed all together. The site is http://www.healthreform.gov/
Thank you.

Cole

Health Care Reform Part 1

Here is the New York Times Topics page on Health Care Reform. Begin by reading the Overview on this page (notice that you need to expand the article by clicking Read More). We will be looking to investigate three main areas in the next three weeks: How does the Health Care system work in the United States; what is the Democratic Party proposing in the way of reform; what is the response by the Republican Party. You will write a position paper that covers one aspect of this research that will be due November 19th. Each of you will once again need to post two articles to the blog each week and you also must comment on at least five articles per week.