Rep. Michele Bachmann someone worth watching?

Rep. Michele Bachmann of the great state of Minnesota called on Americans from across the country to come to Capitol Hill on Thursday, November 5th and protest Government Run Health Care. She had a lot to say, watch and listen here.

Health Care Bill Shreaded on Pelosi Office floor!

HotAirPundits have video of the protest in front of Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) House of Representatives Office. Some were arrested.

Virginia Congressman tries to have woman arrested?

On Thursday, November 5th, Americans from across the country came to the Capitol in Washington D.C. to express their opposition to the government health care bill. One American got more than she bargained for when she went to visit her Congressman, Mr. Gerry Connolly.

Health Care: Personal Responsibility or the Welfare State

Our nation stands in view of a great divergence, government run health care. However, this issue has an even deeper and broader principle-based decision at its heart; personal responsibility. Our great nation was founded and has prospered by the guiding principle of individual choice, responsibility, and accountability. However, through an ignorance of these principles and complacency, we have welcomed the welfare state. We continue daily to see the welfare system expand, broaden, and intrude, never shrinking. The decision of government run health care is one that could cause the greatest expansion of government intervention and welfare in our life time.

Our people are being told that we don’t possess the intelligence to responsibly choose our prescription for health care. Rather, our government is proposing that it is better equipped to make the decision for us. We must beware when government says it can do a better job than its citizenry, or the private sector which we control through individual choice. Careful consideration is necessary because when a service and responsibility is handed over to the government so too is an element of our personal freedom. The real question we must ask is does the sacrifice of liberty and choice justify the service?

A consideration to the haste and enormity of the current legislation lends to a more prudent approach. Why doesn’t the government work toward reform of the current welfare programs; Medicare, Medicaid, social security, and the veteran’s affairs administration rather than dismissing their corruption and fraud. Why doesn’t the government venture carefully and cautiously, rather than recklessly with thousand page bills that neither everyday citizens nor legislators understand? The answer is a statement of fact; there is something inherent in government which makes it, when it isn’t controlled, continue to grow. Our nation stands at a crossroads of principle and our posterity will pay the price.

Cautiously Optimistic GOP Victory

I have been asked today whether or not I am happy with the election results. I responded that I was cautiously optimistic. I believe the better candidates were elected, but now is where the rubber meets the road. Now we see if we elected statesmen or politicians.

In all elections, victory or defeat, persistent attention by the electorate must be maintained as new representatives assume their new roles. We must hold them to their promises and principles and serve as a constant reminder of their duty to the citizens they represent.

So, to the victors of the Nov. 09 election I say, Congratulations now get to work and lets see some progress.

Real Health Care Reform Secrets: Part 4

The secret to Health Care Reform is based on making the system less complex and more accessible. You will notice, after reading the last three posts, that these health care reforms wouldn’t cost the taxpayer an additional dime, it would rather save the taxpayers money. Also, these reforms could greatly increase the ability of those without health care insurance to gain access to affordable care. It would cut the cost of practice for doctors, cut the cost of coverage for employers, and cut the cost of care to the individual. All of which are great for the struggling economy that we are trying to keep healthy enough to work through these tough economic times.

Unfortunately, we are not hearing any of these reforms in anyway from our representatives in Congress or the President. The reason is simple; the current legislation is about tax revenue and has no Real interest in covering all American’s health care. Rather, their goal is to centralize and control health care through a government public option and collect the fines.

I encourage everyone to think hard on this proposal and its principles. If you agree with what is laid out here, please send it to your representatives in Washington and show them what real reform should look like.

Isn’t it fascinating how much progress could be made toward Real Health Reform by implementing common sense practices that allow the individual and free market principles to have effect?

Real Health Care Reform Secrets: Part 3

The real savings is in a Health Savings Account coupled with catastrophic health insurance coverage.

In the beginning, health insurance was only intended for catastrophic coverage. Doctor’s visits were paid for out of the patient’s pocket. Over time, insurance companies began to compete with low cost health plans that would cover routine doctor visits. Since then, combined with federal regulation, health care has evolved into an expensive and complex system.

Now, with premiums skyrocketing, and the actual coverage of services dropping, real reform is needed. Patient’s paying for routine doctor visits and other services out of pocket is not as practical as it was. Enter the Health Savings Account. These accounts could be a great asset to reform.

If Americans were given incentives toward Health Savings Accounts we would see Health Care costs plummet. For example, if a person who is employed full time received a voucher for health insurance from their employer, as covered in previous blog post, and placed that money into a Health Savings Account then that money would gather toward paying for health services. This also encourages individuals to only use health services if needed, also causing a decrease in health care costs.

The government could incentive this program in many ways. One is already in practice. Health Savings Account deposits are tax free. This incentive could be taken a step further by allowing businesses to take a tax credit based on vouchers that are deposited into Health Savings Accounts. Also, those people who have the Health Savings Accounts could receive tax credit for the amount of money that is placed into the Health Savings Account. These incentives would greatly motivate people toward saving and healthy practices.

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. !!