Real Health Care Reform Secrets: Part 2

Real Health Care Reform needs to include a change from employer based coverage to individually based coverage.

Currently, the vast majority of Americans obtain health insurance coverage through their employer. This is a huge obstacle for purchasing health insurance across state lines. However, if business offered vouchers for individuals to purchase insurance, the individual would benefit.

For example, I am a nurse, if the hospital would give me an insurance voucher equal to what the hospital currently pays for my health insurance, I could go and find my own individual plan, possibly from another state, at a lower monthly rate. This increase in competition would help to drive down my monthly premium.

This aspect of Health Care Reform would also be an incentive for people to take better care of themselves. This is because those who are not currently implementing healthy practices in their lives would directly pay for it, rather than the employer or the other employees in the businesses group health plan.

Another benefit for business with this sort of reform would be a decrease in the capital and overhead necessary to organize and administer a health plan, in turn saving the business money.

The government public option doesn’t allow for this set up in any way, it actually further ties health care and premiums to business in a negative way. The government will actually charge the business premiums based on the payroll amount of the company. If the business decides not to offer a public option then they will pay a fine based on the payroll amount of the company.

As you may have guessed the cost for the business to be enrolled and offer the government public option is less than paying the fine for not offering it, naturally leading to the vast majority of Americans being covered on a predetermined government run option with no alternatives if it doesn’t suit your individual needs.

Real Health Care Reform Secrets: Part I

The current proposals that are presently getting attention in Washington for Health Care Reform are really proposals for a Government Health Care take over and an expansion of an already growing problem. Real health care reform would and should be much different.

First, it is important to understand that physicians are not permitted to negotiate their rates with patients that don’t have health insurance. The contracts that physicians have to sign with private insurance companies forbid it and federal law says that it is fraud for physicians to do so for Medicare co-pays. I know this sounds really technical and that is where the current health care system is REALLY broken. The more people that understand the little known details, the greater the chance that the actual change in the Right Direction will happen.

Some may not understand, so I will explain. In order for physicians to bill private insurance companies for their services to patients, there must be a contract between the physician and that insurance company. Okay, that is simple enough to understand.

Now, one little know secret is in the contract between the insurance company and the physician. There is a discount off the physician’s rate for those patients who have health plans with that insurance company. I know that may be a little technical, it helps to think of the explanation of benefits that you get from your insurance company after you see the doctor. On that explanation of benefits you see what the physician’s rate is, then you see the Contracted Discount, then you see how much the insurance company paid toward the bill, and whatever is left is up to the patient to pay.

So, in order for the physician to stay in practice, he must artificially inflate his rates so that he gets a decent amount of money after the insurance company applies it’s discount. What people rarely know is that the physician is not permitted by contract to give that same contracted discount to a person that doesn’t have health insurance, they have to be billed the full inflated price! Basically, private insurance companies have forced costs for the uninsured to be inflated.

Those of you that think that a government run public plan would fix this are mistaken because the federal government already does exactly what the private insurance companies are doing. The only difference is that if a physician contracts with Medicare and they privately negotiate rates with a patient on Medicare, the physician would be sued and jailed for fraud.

This also may be a little much to understand so I will give an example. An elderly woman comes into see her doctor and she is on Medicare. Now, we all have co-pays, and for elderly people on Social Security the co-pay can be a lot of money. A physician cannot, by law, say to that elderly woman that he will discount the co-pay. If he does, he could go to jail for fraud! Now think of a government run public plan with a co-pay that you can’t afford and a doctor that, by law and threat of jail, can’t discount.

So, when you read or hear about Health Care Reform and you hear about a public option, keep this little known fact in mind. Physicians are forced to inflate their rates to stay in business there fore, pushing people to purchase expensive insurance plans because they can’t afford the physician’s rates on their own.

Bottom line, end the contracted agreement that physicians cannot negotiate rates with individuals without health insurance. This one change could open up health care access to millions of those who cannot afford it now.

Health Care Bill passes Senate Finance Committee

The Senate Finance Committee passed a version of Health Care Reform yesterday, which moves President Barrack Obama's agenda of government run health care closer to reality. Politico reports that Republican Senator from the state of Maine, Olympia Snowe was the only republican to vote "yes" in the committee. Snowe stated, "I happen to think the consequences of inaction dictate the urgency of Congress to take every opportunity to demonstrate its capacity to solve the monumental issues of our time.” Of course, time and wisdom will tell if her action actually helps solve health care or make it worse.

This version of health care reform requires that all Americans have health insurance or else pay a fine of $1,500 per family, it also sets up for a health care co-op, and does not require employers to offer health insurance to its workers. Its version of health care reform has a price tag of $829 Billion dollars.

I still have issue with the government imposing a fine on those who cannot afford health care insurance, not even the government plans. It is wrong to take the money from them and not give them a health care plan in return for it. This is yet another example of why the government is only interested in revenue and not in the people.

Augusta County Board of Supervisors wastefull spending Alert!

The Augusta County Board of Supervisors will be hearing for the first time contract bids for new cellular phones and data cards for the county employees. The cost to the county taxpayers for the new phones and data cards is $46,158.84 per year. This doesn't include the initial cost for the phones and accessories, which include belt clip and vehicle accessories. There are more concerns with the quantity being requested, for instance the Parks and Recreation department is asking for two more phones and phone plans than it has employees.

Initially, the questions needs to be answered as to why the county needs new cellphones, apparently they already have them, along with desk phones with voicemail, and computers with county email addresses. Why the phone and for that matter why do they need a blackberry?

We have already heard from the county about our financial burdens and how short revenue is throughout the state, so how is there justification for this type of expense? This is to be on the agenda on Wednesday, October 14th 7pm a the government center in Verona. I encourage those who are concerned about this type of unnecessary spending to join me and others on Wednesday night as we voice our opposition to such an extravagance.

Francis Chester continues the fight.

Francis Chester appeared in court to represent the voice of over 10,000 Augusta residents in regards to their property tax assessments. He was defending his actions of petitioning the court in the matter against the Augusta County Board of Supervisors. County attorney, Patrick Morgan, questioned Mr. Chester in a loud voice while pounding on a table. The judge had to ask Mr. Morgan to quite down. The court case wasn't dismissed or concluded, rather the case is still active. At this point the county is being asked to draft a brief, or summary of events, to voice the Augusta County Board of Supervisors perspective in this matter. After that brief is reviewed Mr. Chester will have an opportunity to respond in a brief of his own. At that point the judge will consider the matter. Interestingly, no formal record of the events in court was taken. The court reporter never showed up. Fortunate, The News Leader, News Virginian, NBC 29, and area residents were on hand to take an account of the proceedings. The News Leader in their Thursday, October 1st edition all but patted Mr. Chester on the back saying that the county needs to allow the citizens to make their voices heard without fear. Their political cartoon is featured.

9/12 March on Washington YouTube Slideshow.

I have compiled a bunch of photos from the 9/12 March on Washington and created a slide show with music, click here to watch. Enjoy.

Augusta Health Care Town Hall now on YouTube

I have already created the DVD movies of the Town Hall and they have been delivered to our U.S. Senator's offices. I have also started to create the movies that will be posted on YouTube. In the mean time I have created a movie/slideshow of the Town Hall that can be watched on YouTube by clicking here. Enjoy.

9/12 March on Washington!!

We The People!!

1.7 MILLION GRASSROOTS CONSERVATIVES

MARCH ON WASHINGTON D.C. !!

Virginia Senators Stonewall Shenandoah Valley residents.

In an email statement from Senator Mark Warner's Roanoke office, Drew Densmore, Outreach Representative, communicated that neither the senator nor a representative from his office would be coming to the Valley health care town hall event.

Mr. Densmore wrote, “I spoke with Jim Webb’s office today and they let me know Sen. Webb will not be attending the town hall. It is my understanding that there are no elected officials scheduled to attend. We wouldn’t be sending a representative in Sen. Warner’s place but instead to hear the audience address Sen. Webb. In light of this we regret to inform you we will have our representative elsewhere working with constituents.” Since when do you have to have another politician present to get our representatives to listen to us, are we not the employers of these representatives?

It is unfortunate that not only have our senators refused to hear our voice, but also have not given us an alternative means to speak with them. This is what Valley residents are frustrated with. What must we do to get through to our representatives in Washington? How are we as citizens supposed to get through this barrier between us and our representatives? Now is the time for Valley residents to demand that our representatives uphold their contract with the constituents.

As of this date Senator Webb's office has not communicated with me whether or not he will attend, the only information that has been expressed about Senator Webb's intention has been through the email from Senator Warner's office. Quoted in a previous news article, Senator Webb's office expressed a desire to have discussion regarding health care reform, once he returned from Asia; however nothing has been scheduled before Congress resumes session.

I regret to inform the Valley that their concerns and frustrations are well founded; their senate representatives are not listening. I am happy to announce that this Town Hall will be held and the Valley's voice will be heard in spite of the fact that our senators refuse to attend. I encourage all Valley residents to come on Sunday, September 6th to Riverheads High school at 6pm to speak their mind and write down their thoughts so their opinions can be delivered to our senators.

A Welcome Sign for the Virginia Senators Webb and Warner.

Health Care Town Hall

Augusta County Virginia

Sunday, September 6th

The Auditorium at

Riverheads High School

6pm - 8pm

This is Augusta's opportunity to speak about

Health Care legislation.

10 Days until Health Care Town Hall, Senator Warner's office responds!

With only 10 days until the Augusta County Health Care Town Hall, scheduled for Sunday, September 6th from 6-8pm at Riverheads High School, Senator Mark Warner's office responded.

I received a call from Senator Mark Warner's office, they had a couple of questions and at first said that the senator was not going to be able to join us.

However, after some discussion and explanation about how this Town Hall is being put together and sharing how much positive feedback I have received, the senator's office is going to try again to see if they can something out. We do know for sure that at least a representative from Senator Mark Warner's office will be there to hear from our community.

As of today, I have still not heard anything from Senator Jim Webb's office.

I will keep you posted.

12 Days Until Town Hall, No response from Senators Webb and Warner.

Senator Jim Webb and Mark Warner have not yet responded to my invitation to a Health Care Town Hall. Please call these senators and encourage them to attend. Whether the senators show up or not the event will still go on, we will collect all comments and questions and get them to the senators in Washington.

Health Care Town Hall

Sunday, September 6th

Riverheads Highschool Auditorium

6-8pm

All are invited to attend, bring your questions, comments, suggestions, support, or criticism of the Health Care bill.

Response from public overwhelming for Augusta Health Care Town Hall!

Response from public overwhelming for Health Care Town Hall, Senators Webb and Warner stay silent.

As of now, I haven't heard any response from our two Virginia Senator's offices to my invitation to a Health Care Town Hall. However, I read in our local newspapers, The News Virginian and The News Leader, that the senators are aware of the event.

I have received an outpouring of support and interest in the Health Care Town Hall from the public, I have individual citizens asking if they can help at the event, others are asking if they can donate to help with the burden of cost, while others in the community are just showing their support and explaining how much it means to them to be able to hear from their senators.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to share the details about the event on the radio with Doc Thompson with WRVA Radio in Richmond, he has also posted a link to the event on his website.

According to the News Leader, Senator Webb spokesperson Kimberly Hunter said that the senator would be back in town tomorrow, Sunday, August 23^rd, from his trip to Asia. That would give him ample time to attend our event that is scheduled almost two weeks later.

The News Leader article also quotes Warner spokesperson Riki Parikh saying "...the senator gets hundreds of town hall meeting invites each day." Which means hundreds of Virginians want to speak with the senator about this issue. Yet he has not scheduled one public appearance to answer average citizen’s questions. Hopefully, he can come to our event that is already planned and paid for.

Whether the senators are able to attend or not, the meeting will go forward. We will have a plan in place where people can speak their questions, concerns, support and criticism of the health care legislation. We will collect that information and bring it to the senators in Washington.

It is vital that we, as a community, keep these important lines of communication open to our representatives in Washington.

Come out on Sunday, September 6th to the Auditorium at Riverheads High School from 6-8 pm and be heard. We are doing all we can to make this event engaging and fun.

Senators Warner and Webb are invited to a town hall meeting on healthcare hosted by David Karaffa.

Due to the fact that neither of the U.S. Senators from the Commonwealth of Virginia have arranged any healthcare town hall meetings; one has been arranged for U.S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner to answer questions about the health care bill, H.R. 3200.

The auditorium at Riverheads Highschool in Augusta County Virginia on Sunday, September 6th has been reserved from 6p.m. until 8p.m. All residents are encouraged to attend, please bring your questions, support or criticism. This is the valley's opportunity to have its voice heard.

Bell for Delegate

Staunton City Councilman Richard “Dickie” Bell was selected at a public forum on Monday, July 27th to replace Delegate Chris Saxman as the Republican nominee for the 20th District House of Delegates seat. The 20th House District of Virginia encompasses a large majority of Augusta and Rockingham County, all of Highland County, and Staunton City. Bell has been a member of Staunton City Council since 1996 and is currently serving in his fourth term. He has also been a special education teacher of 13 years and coach at Riverheads High School. Bell holds a masters degree from Old Dominion University in Special Education and is a U.S. Navy veteran. Bell is married to Anne and has two adult children, Brian and Erin.

Councilman Bell joined six other candidates from the area at the forum to answer submitted questions and give the five-person Republican 20th Legislative District Committee a chance to compare the candidates for the nomination. At the forum, Bell stated that he would work to reform education, especially for special needs children. He also expressed his Pro-Life and Pro 2nd Amendment conservative values. In Councilman Bell’s closing statement he said, “I believe in you, the citizens of the 20th District. I believe in your spirit. I believe in your work ethic. I believe in your family values. I'm deeply honored that you'd even consider me for this important job, and I'm proud to be one of you.”

Councilman Bell will be at the Augusta County Fair on Saturday, August 15th at the Republican booth. He will also be at the Augusta County GOP Picnic on Saturday, August 29th at Tinkling Springs Presbyterian Church from 2-6 p.m. Cost for adults is $5 dollars. Come out and meet our future delegate.

He also has a new website BellforDelegate.com