More healthcare discussion…

Posted on February 28th, 2010 by craighope

Paul Taylor - CEO Ozarks Community Hospital

My thoughts on http://ochhealthcarereform.blogspot.com/2010/02/dear-president-obama-and-guests-of.html

A very interesting perspective on the topic of Universal Health Coverage.  We should also keep in mind that all Americans have access to healthcare and will not be turned away when seeking attention.  The healthcare debate revolves around controlling the costs.  One of which is getting more people to pay into the system.  I suppose 100% employment would help that, but that is another discussion.

“the government would contract with insurance companies to serve as fiscal intermediaries to process and pay claims efficiently”

No way…Maybe I am being cynical but nothing with the words government and efficient have ever turned out well.  One of the main problems we have today is with insurance claims processing.  It introduces too much overhead.  We need to eliminate as many middlemen as possible.

“Employees would have half of the premium deducted from their wages with the other half paid by the employer. Self-employed persons would be expected to pay the premium and those who do not would have it assessed against them as a tax.”

This has been debated as being unconstitutional.  As much as I like the idea of forcing people to pay a premium and contribute, this is a tricky one.  The car insurance analogy is often used.  We will still have uninsured motorists getting into accidents.

“Legislation would prohibit loss of coverage for pre-existing conditions and other nefarious insurance practices, but individuals with higher risk factors would pay higher premiums.”

This is basically already being done.  I suppose the debate would be to define “higher premium”.  I agree we need to eliminate pre-existing conditions and somehow pool the risk.  The bottom line is that you pool risky patients who have to be paid for by the healthy patients.  More on enforcing healthy habits later.

“…nation-wide army of general practitioners, better trained and more highly compensated than specialists. Patients would be required to choose a general practice physician to supervise their care.”

I am trying to visualize this component.  It sounds like a huge impersonal medical/treatment farming process like a medic for an army platoon.  It smells like a bunch of academics practicing medical theory.   This concept needs more inspection and discussion.

“No doubt less money will be spent on new facilities and new equipment for many years, but the healthcare delivery system will adapt and survive. Americare is one of those compromises that everyone would hate and complain about bitterly, but it would work.”

Here is the rub.  This is rationing healthcare by demand outweighing supply.  A complete government takeover will almost certainly reduce the quality of American Healthcare.  If we get frustrated today with delays to see specialists, think about a system that does not grow infrastructure and introduces 45 million new patients into the system where medical professionals will eventually be paid less and get more frustrated with practicing medicine.

I do agree totally with the concept of incentivising (did I spell that right…. I am too lazy to spell check) good health and putting the responsibility on the individual.  This is going on now with some companies.  The other side of the health care debate is getting people to be healthier which in time can reduce some healthcare expenditure.

As I read through this, I can’t imagine how much more the employed middle class will begin to pay in taxes to support anything universal.  We already can’t fund government programs.

Tags: healthcare

2010 Census: Money well spent?

Posted on February 8th, 2010 by craighope

During the SuperBowl there was an ad for filling out the 2010 Census.  The fiscal cheapo in me was outraged that our federal tax dollars were being spent on such an expensive television ad (directed by Christopher Guest whom I find very funny).  I want to see more funny beer commercials of dudes freaking out over spilt beer or half naked godaddy girls.  I don’t want a boring commercial about a government form that I know I should be filling out.  Do I need an ad to tell me to file my taxes?

Then I googled around a bit and learned that there was a  justification for this expensive ad… If an additional 1% of viewers completed their census, it would save $25-30 Million in followup costs.  Ok… nice.  I get it.  BTW, how many SuperBowl viewers do you think WON’T complete their census?

I can accept the funny cost savings math, but I can’t accept the fact that the federal government is so backward that we have to complete our census on paper.  Why not electronic?  Their defense is security and hackers.  Lame excuse given the fact that I just completed my personal property declaration online and I just finished reviewing all of my online banking and investment accounts via Mint.com.

There are so many ways to collect census data.  Send each citizen/head of household a pin#.  Designate a location where each person(s) can go to fill out their census’ online (voting locations, schools, Target).  Or simply fill it out online at home.  Offer a tax credit for completing it.  I used the example of Target because in order to work at a Target, you have to fill out your application online.

The security argument does not hold water and as tax paying citizens we should demand a better way and more efficient way to get this done.

Tags: 2010 Census

Do we really like Twitter?

Posted on January 26th, 2010 by craighope

Has Twitter seen it's peak?

Has Twitter peaked?  (News on CNN) Is it on a downward turn? I don’t use Twitter as much.  It is somewhat annoying when you use it full time.  It is more fun and interesting in small doses or when you are using it via your mobile with friends/colleagues.

The article does not that most people use an alternate interface to post.

Twitter might be the next Atari.

Why other countries hate the US…

Posted on January 19th, 2010 by craighope

I quietly predicted this in my thoughts the other day.   France accused the US of occupying Haiti.  “Occupying”!!!!  ??????  Rather absurd.  I thought that this sort of sentiment would have come from a radical Islam group first.  No… France.  France behaves like radical idiots at times.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/centralamericaandthecaribbean/haiti/7020908/US-accused-of-occupying-Haiti-as-troops-flood-in.html

God Bless the Free Press

Posted on January 17th, 2010 by MaryBeth

(Mary Beth) This morning, I find myself feeling grateful for the media. Because Monday is Martin Luther King Day, my students have been learning about MLK and the Civil Rights Movement. I pointed out to my students that a “television in every home” was fairly new in the early 1960′s, and that it was the news coverage of events like the ill-fated March to Montgomery that infuriated Americans and threw sympathies to the movement.

This week, the media are amongst the very first with their feet on the ground in Haiti. The other night, I watched Brian Williams and Ann Curry from NBC reporting from the earthquake-devastated country. I wondered how these reporters  got to Haiti, who flew them in, and, especially, where they are sleeping while they are there. There is a part of me that is appalled that a wealthy news organization can deploy its “travel team” at a moment’s notice while family members of victims must sweat it out — waiting and worrying here in the U.S. But, the reality, to me, is that without this coverage, I would not be paying as much attention as I should to a situation that demands compassion and aid from our nation. From how many different media did I hear “Text ‘Haiti’ to 90999″ this week?

So, today I am grateful for NBC, CNN, MSNBC and for your favorite news organization, too. God bless the free press!

People are generally stupid…

Posted on January 16th, 2010 by craighope

I have held the belief for a long time that most of our country are uneducated simpletons with a follower mindset. It might be the defeat of America if this continues.

Our freedom is a beautiful thing, but with that comes a responsibility.  Our culture is that of independence and being self sufficient.  This commentary article from the Daily Caller site is outstanding.  It discusses how local news feeds the populous nanny-state crap and how journalists don’t dig into stories but instead cow-tow to political correctness and fear mongering.

A must read… http://dailycaller.com/2010/01/15/confessions-of-an-anchorman/

Tags: People are Stupid

The Harry Reid Teachable Moment…

Posted on January 16th, 2010 by craighope

In the newly released backstage politics book “Game Change“, Harry Reid was quoted to say “light skinned” and “no Negro dialect” when commenting on Obama as a Presidential Candidate.  On the surface, you raise your brow and have to digest it.  What did he say?

More importantly, what did he mean?  The media and talk shows have beaten it to death now with the obvious sides forming.  The GOP is all over Harry Reid and calling for his resignation.  It has come to the general conclusion that Harry Reid was simply stating that Barrack Obama was a worthy candidate.  Harry apologized to Barrack Obama and everything is all good.  (I wonder if there was an accepting fist pump in the oval office between them where Harry awkwardly raised his gangly fist to Barrack and sheepishly “bumped”)

Liberal opposition wanted to bury Harry Reid on the comments while defenders of democrats stood by Harry Reid.  This is to be expected.  What he said vs what he meant is all the talk.  Imagine saying what Harry Reid said at your work.  If you stood around your coffee maker and referred to a co-worker in this fashion you would be in the HR office within the week.  Example: “Larry could give the presentation.  He is light skinned and doesn’t sound like Bernie Mac.”    This sounds offensive right?  Of course it does.   Society has taught us that using words like “articulate” or “well spoken” are offensive to African Americans.  We get it.  The dude abides.  It is unnecessary and not spoken.  Larry is Larry and capable to give the presentation like the rest of us.

But Harry Reid is not a normal corporate Joe like us.  He is a politician and politicians work within a different context.  Harry was conveying that Barrack Obama would be a good candidate because he could be all things to all people of this country (meaning both white voter and black voters).  He meant to say that Barrack is a suitable representative.  Harry was speaking from a marketing and political science context.  In Washington, this is normal.  For the rest of us, this is not excusable.  The GOP guys bashing Reid are standing up for the average American in this case.  If we look at the comments in the context of politics, we get it.  We can all agree that words Harry Reid chose were from an era of ugliness in this country and out of place in 2008.

Here is the teachable moment.  Excusing Harry Reid and his use of 1950′s vernacular opens the door for everyone who has used a word or words but meant to express something else entirely.  This is a good thing.  Maybe we can move forward and better communicate with each other and focus on the content of what we are saying rather than individual words.  Lay off Harry Reid and remember to examine content more closely in the future.  Do NOT immediately hear a keyword and assume hate speech.

Here is the sad part about all of this.  MLK said “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Sadly, American Politics is still judging based on color of skin.

Let’s remember to focus on the content of the policy Harry Reid and Barrack Obama are making in Washington.  Right now it is a trying to shove an expensive Health Care bill, that the American people do not want, through congress by making backroom deals.  If Harry Reid should resign, it should be because of his involvement with the Nebraska Ben Nelson deal.

Tags: Harry Reid

The Healthcare / cell phone analogy

Posted on January 13th, 2010 by craighope

Here is a thought I was having as it relates to access to healthcare when a universal plan is available or when all Americans have coverage.  (I am not making any statement that people don’t deserve access to healthcare).  There is a supply and demand issue along with an expense for it all.

If you find it frustrating today when you can’t get into see a doctor or specialist within a couple weeks, keep in mind that there are 45 million Americans uninsured and are not likely to currently be in the queue with you.  Some might, but largely they will not.  Also think of your cell phone frustration you sometimes have with dropped calls in congested areas of service.

Let’s look ahead and visualize those 45 million people now have coverage and will participate in visits with same healthcare infrastructure (physicians and facilities).  Keep in mind that as soon as people are insured, hospitals, clinics and doctors are NOT suddenly entering the supply.  Over time possibly but not immediately.  For the cell phone infrasture, if more new users received phones, there are not new towers going online instantly.  The cell phone coverage and drop calls will get worse.  Your access and waits to see doctors will increase.

Now for the cost.  Think of how you pay for your cell phone service.  You pay on time each month.  Now enter more consumers but they get subsidized or free phones and service while you have to pick up the added consumers costs through raised fees or taxes.  Cost you more, service is worse.

This is about as good an analogy I could think of for healthcare.  It is a reality.  Do people deserve access to healthcare?  Yes.   Access is not the problem.  Do people have a right to coverage?  No.  They have to pay for their coverage.  If you want a phone, you have to pay for it.  You can still use a phone if you need to.

There are many other factors that feed into this debate but before we blindly pass an expensive healthcare bill, let’s get one that everyone can agree upon.

The Movie Theatre Experience – getting worse

Posted on December 20th, 2009 by craighope

To Whom it may concern (Dickensen Theatre),
Please stop the pre-movie advertising.  It is too much advertising.  Today I took my kids to see Avatar. The movie scheduled start time was 12:00pm (noon). The movie did not actually start until 12:22pm. My kids and I had to sit through many commercial ads then sit through 6 movie previews.  My six year old was annoyed.  As was I.

Do we really have to pay for a movie ticket, then be held captive to endure these extra ads.  This is NOT effective advertsing.  I would argue that this is precisely the opposite.  I have the urge to boycott Sprint, JCPenney, Macy’s, Coke, and T-Mobile products.

22 @(*&$ Minutes of ads.  Crazy!  This is on top of a movie (Avatar) that is 2 hours 40 minutes.  

Just reconsider your profit center.  As home theatre gets move affordable, I will be more apt to stay home and wait for the Blu-Ray.