WE THE PEOPLE: Americans for Healthcare, Donna M. Ellington, Chairperson

The New Decade: Personal Update on How 2010 is Coming Along

2010-03-18T07:42:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of the year, a new decade, I put to paper not so much of a list, as some random thoughts, observations, expectations and realities of the upcoming decade. Not many specific definable goals were found here. There were a couple, but not many. There were a few things I'd like to see or do.

Places I'd like to visit. A plan to walk at least 500 miles, and recumbent cycle 500 miles each year until twenty-twenty.

A realization that during the next decade I would likely experience significant losses in the two generations ahead of mine in our families. People still wear out and pass on to the next plane, remaining in our memories, our hearts, and the fabric of our being.

Two days later my father was in the hospital in terrible condition, and went to skilled nursing, followed by a nursing home a week or two ago.

Two weeks into January, my inlaws both required hospitalization and skilled nursing care.

My grandmother who will be 100 on the last day of this year has been in a group home for the last few years. She has good days and bad days. This week she had a couple very poor days.

My husband and I have learned more about Medicare, Medicaid, nursing care and assistive devices for the elderly than we could have imagined. We have learned that our particular elderly folks are extremely hard-headed, strong-willed, and not easy to manage. We have learned that plans to walk at least 500 miles and recumbent cycle 500 miles each year are even tougher under these conditions. Only last week did I get to the gym to renew my membership, and it has been a struggle and a challenge to get there 3 of the last 7 days (and that's assuming I make it there today).

I have watched Keith Olbermann and the Healthcare Reform Debate, and his specific issues with his father's medical care, and those people he met along the way that are less fortunate financially and with healthcare insurance than he. It has been painful and heart-wrenching. We have talked with our elderly folks about their wishes. My parents have put their wishes to paper. My husbands have not. I wish they would. We at least know what they wish.

Have we put our wishes to paper? Not yet. I'm still having trouble wrapping my brain around what I really would want. Would I like to donate anything I have that is usable? Yes. That said, I want someone, several someones, to make damned sure that I'm really, really DEAD. Very DEAD. Never coming back kinda DEAD. Worse are the decisions about what specific kinds of life support I may or may not want. A lot would depend on what condition I'm in and what the prognosis for recovery and quality of life would be. What will be the state of medical technology when all this will happen? These decisions are revocable and changeable, as long as you take care of it while you are still competent. I think, at present, if several competent doctors deemed that I was in great pain that could not be managed, and was terminally ill (with a guestimate of less than 3 months remaining), I would opt for no feeding tubes, no CPR, and no life-saving gestures, but as much morphine or other narcotics as they could legally pump into me. If I were in a persistent vegetative state, and several competent doctors certified that there would be no return, I would opt for no feeding tubes, no CPR, and no life-saving gestures, but as much morphine or other narcotics as they could legally give me to make me comfortable until the end. Other than those specific conditions, I think I would prefer for all possible life-saving measures to be utilized.

I also am committed to making specific plans about living arrangements as we age. Our present home is fairly ideal for the next 10 to 15 years, after which something much smaller and without yard care is in order. The time to start paring down and preparing for that is now. Our home was built in the mid 80s. It's a slab ranch, one-story, in great shape. The roof is good for 30 more years, the windows need replacing and some solar upgrades and neutralizing of décor would be useful. As the entire population is aging, it might be wise to invest in railing in the baths, and perhaps renovate the bathrooms and the kitchen.....replacing cabinetry, counters and appliances, showers and bathtubs. We're accomplished do-it-yourselfers with plenty of practice, so this will give us something meaningful to do with retirement.

And still, by the time 2020 rolls around, my present grand kids will be adults. I will be eligible for Medicare, and ALL senior discounts will apply. My kids will both be in their mid 40s. The best thing I can do for all concerned is get into better shape and make going to the gym a commitment. The last thing I want is for my kids to be having to deal with my deteriorating health between 2020 and 2030.

And still, some of the general things I'd like to see our world working on:
desalination plants and wind farms along our vast coastal regions,
greater use of cisterns for water supplies to use in swimming pools, yard watering, car washing, etc
use of more drought resistant plants in our landscaping that are consistent with and suited to their local climates
greater recycling
increased use of solar panels, solar roofing and solar-siding on homes to generate personal electricity and heat

What after all, are the really important things in life:
clean water
clean air
available food supplies
shelter
love
a sense of peace, and freedom from fear.
I would like to see people making rational decisions which are
information and fact-based,
which assist in preserving life, health and well-being of selves and others,
which reduce unnecessary conflicts,
and are not based on exaggeration or magical thinking.
Let's all work on these important things.

HEALTH CARE REFORM FIRE-DRILL INTERACTIVE EXERCISE

2010-01-31T17:13:00.000-08:00

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2010
MODERATOR: DONNA MARIE MILLER ELLINGTON
HEALTHCARE REFORM INTERACTIVE EXERCISE

I was excited to be moderating the lively discussion that took place at Democratic Headquarters in North Charleston. It was a Congressional Healthcare Reform Fire Drill! All of us in that room WOULD PASS A HEALTHCARE REFORM BILL ON THAT DAY IN THAT ROOM! This WAS a very participative exercise: fun, energizing, exasperating, and will gave us all some insight into the process our elected officials are going through as they try and push the elephant out of the way, and herd the wayward donkeys along the path to a bill for the President's desk!

Republicans and Independents were welcome and were assigned to the House or Senate.

The Executive Branch, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid were allowed contact their members with proposals for merging the Senate and House Bills ahead of Saturday's date. All options for Passing Healthcare Reform were on the table, EXCEPT FOR NOT PASSING IT!

The Final Healthcare Reform Bill had to be passed before the end of the one hour session. Everyone came prepared to participate and have a good time! FIRED UP! YES WE DID!

PROPOSED SCHEDULE
2:00 Introduction

2:15 Senate and House will convene separately to strategize
2:30 Senate and House will hold joint session and make a decision to A1-A3, B, C, D, E

2:55 BILL READY FOR SIGNATURE AND CONCLUDING COMMENTS
3:00 ADJOURN WITH READY TO SIGN BILL

ASSUMPTIONS FOR THE EXERCISE:

Senator Scott Brown has not yet been seated

Simple majorities will be required in both houses to pass legislation

1.Be careful not to monkey around too much with the monetary parts so we can assume that the CBO will continue to find the plan budget neutral, because we don't have time to actually mock the CBO process. In other words, you may pass monetary issues thru reconciliation, but please make every effort to intuitively guesstimate that any changes you make in these areas will be approximately equal to whatever you have changed.

All options for Passing Healthcare Reform are on the table, EXCEPT FOR NOT PASSING IT!
A. Merge the bills and repass in both the Senate and House
1)with 60 votes required
2)with nuclear fillibuster reduction to require only a simple majority.
3)With a change in the number of votes required to fillibuster.
B. Pass the Senate version of the Bill in the House, with some fix it later agreements
C. Quickly pass a simple, clean, and easy to explain expansion of Medicaid/SCHIP/Medicare using reconciliation. Tell voters you’ve heard them and made the bill simpler while still helping 30 million Americans.
D. Create a sugary sweet reconciliation sidecar measure with as many popular ideas as possible to fix the Senate bill (include a public option, Medicare buy-in, and drug re-importation, eliminate Nebraska’s special deal, and fix or eliminate the excise tax).
E. Pass both bills on the same day. Finally, run against Joe Lieberman and the Senate for messing things up, while pointing to how you did everything you could to stand up to the evil insurance companies, and managed, with hard work, to salvage a very decent health care reform package.
The Final Healthcare Reform Bill must be presented and passed by 3:00. Everyone come prepared to participate and have a good time! YES WE CAN! FIRED UP! YES WE WILL!

Thus, the exercise was set up. The day was a rainy one, and the prior sessions of the day's “Say Yes to Rational Discussions, Say No To Fear” events , had been well attended, and discussion had been productive, and thus the day was running longer than expected. Our exercise began about the time we had been scheduled to end. The moderator (me) had preassigned roles to the people on the RSVP list who said they either would be coming or might be coming to the event. Well, you know how the RSVP business goes....people don't always RSVP, and when they do, they don't always show up. Additionally, sometimes they show up, and don't like their assigned roles. All of the above happened. Being the flexible and good-humored person that I am, accomodations were quickly made so we could get on with the exercise.
Shawn Mitchell and I represented the Executive Branch of government for the purpose of the exercise. Other participants were assigned or chose roles in either the Senate or the House. One brave member chose the role of Olympia Snowe. Another refused the role of Joe Lieberman, was given another identity, and then ultimately decided not to participate. It had been 25 or more years since I last taught Human Relations at Trident Technical College, and I had forgotten just how much some adults dislike this sort of participative exercise. Others, thankfully, relish the opportunity.
Two notebooks contained the President's Healthcare Plan, a short summary of the House Bill, and a short summary of the Senate Bill. One notebook was available for the use of the Senators and one notebook was available for the use of the House. Additionally, all participants were provided with paper copies of the aforementioned documents. The participants chose paper and pencil over the use of the notebooks, given the time constraints. For anyone who might like to set up a similar exercise, I'd certainly recommend letting participants choose their own roles, and also allowing about 2 and a half hours for the exercise.

The Senate and the House were each called to order. They both opened this session of Congress by setting the rules of the Senate and House to allow a simple majority to be required for passing legislation and removing filibuster. Each chamber discussed a way to reconcile the Bills in the hour allotted. Reconciliation with Amendments proposed by the House to the Senate Bill were chosen as the method to get the job done. The Senate was concerned about the possibility of a challenge of legislation to the Supreme Court, if States' Rights were not considered in the passage of the legislation. The Senate therefore chose to include an opt-out provision for the states after a mandatory period of two years of participation in the plan. The House crafted provisions for the Senate to add to their bill through reconciliation amendments which: required that 90% of any insurance company premiums be dedicated to patient care, and allowed only 10% of premiums to be used for profits, added a “people's plan” which would incrementally extend medicare coverage to people lowering the age at which people could buy in, until in 2030, eligibility would be extended to people of all ages who choose to buy-in. Additionally, tort reform was added to help bring down medical costs. The Senate passed the revised Bill and passed it on to the House. The House considered asking the Senate to change the 2 year mandatory participation to 5 years. After negotiations, the House passed the Senate's Bill with the Amendments (including a 2 year mandatory participation period by the states before they could opt-out).
I was extremely pleased with the outcome of the exercise. It was not a resolution that I could have predicted. Our Senator who chose the role of Olympia Snowe voted with the democratic majority to pass the bill, even though under the rules of the day, her vote was not required for passage. I did not imagine that the House would craft such an ingenious “people's plan” that dove-tailed well with the mandatory 2 year mandatory participation requirement prior to opt-out crafted by the Senate to preclude a possible appeal of the legislation to the Supreme Court. I was happy to see the provision of tort reforms.
http://tinyurl.com/ykjmgjg Google Doc of Obama's Healthcare Plan
http://tinyurl.com/yjmcmu7 Google Doc of House Healthcare Bill
http://tinyurl.com/ykl3f7e Google Doc of Senate Healthcare Bill
YES WE CAN! FIRED UP! YES WE DID! PASS HEALTHCARE REFORM!

REFLECTIONS ON THE PAST DECADE, AND THE UPCOMING ONE HAPPY TWENTY-TEN!

2010-01-01T15:34:00.000-08:00

REFLECTIONS ON THE PAST DECADE, AND THE UPCOMING ONE

HAPPY TWENTY-TEN!

When the last decade rolled around, I was too wrapped up with working, trying to design an exit strategy to retirement, and a new grand baby, to really reflect much on the end of one millennium and the beginning of the next. I didn't think much about the new decade or any of the hoopla that was a constant noise revolving around what was for me an anti-climactic Y2K. I didn't write any lists or resolutions. I try not to do too much of that sort of thing anyway.

The last memorable list of that type, I committed to paper as a 17 year old. I didn't keep the list. I lost track of what became of it over 20 years ago. I still remember much of what I wrote, and surprisingly accomplished much of the list over time, not always in the ways originally imagined. But DONE is DONE!

This isn't so much of a list, as some random thoughts, observations, expectations and realities of the upcoming decade. Not many specific definable goals will be found here. There will be a couple, but not many. There will be a few things I'd like to see or do.

Places I'd like to visit include: Hawaii, the Canadian Rockies, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and the Galapagos Islands. I'd like to revisit Europe and see Germany, Luxembourg, the UK, Ireland, Scotland, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, and Italy. I'd like to see Turkey and Greece. I'd like to go on a photo-safari in Africa.

For the next year, I do plan to walk at least 500 miles, and recumbent cycle 500 miles. That would be something specific I plan to do each year until twenty-twenty.

During the next decade I will likely experience significant losses in the two generations ahead of mine in our families. People still wear out and pass on to the next plane, remaining in our memories, our hearts, and the fabric of our being. By the time 2020 rolls around, my present grand kids will be adults. I will be eligible for Medicare, and ALL senior discounts will apply. My kids will both be in their mid 40s.

Some of the general things I'd like to see our world working on:

desalination plants and wind farms along our vast coastal regions,
greater use of cisterns for water supplies to use in swimming pools, yard watering, car washing, etc
use of more drought resistant plants in our landscaping that are consistent with and suited to their local climates
greater recycling
increased use of solar panels, solar roofing and solar-siding on homes to generate personal electricity and heat

What after all, are the really important things in life:

clean water
clean air
available food supplies
shelter
love
a sense of peace, and freedom from fear.

I would like to see people making rational decisions which are
- information and fact-based,
- which assist in preserving life, health and well-being of selves and others,
- which reduce unnecessary conflicts,
- and are not based on exaggeration or magical thinking.
Let's all work on these important things.

HEALTH CARE REFORM NOW......OR ELSE!

2009-12-15T07:06:00.001-08:00

Last night I was lying in bed watching Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow, and in particular, the discussions on where health care is stuck at the moment.

After all the other nasty, vile things that I was thinking, I became peaceful and thought:

WE MUST SUCCEED ON THE BASIC POINTS OF THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN. THAT'S ALL. THAT HAS TO BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR NOW. HERE'S A REFRESHER ON THE BASIC POINTS:

More Security and Stability
If You Have Health Insurance, the Obama Plan:

* Ends discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions.
* Limits premium discrimination based on gender and age.
* Prevents insurance companies from dropping coverage when people are sick and need it most.
* Caps out-of-pocket expenses so people don’t go broke when they get sick.
* Eliminates extra charges for preventive care like mammograms, flu shots and diabetes tests to improve health and save money.
* Protects Medicare for seniors.
* Eliminates the “donut-hole” gap in coverage for prescription drugs.

Quality, Affordable Choices
If You Don’t Have Insurance, the Obama Plan:

* Creates a new insurance marketplace — the Exchange — that allows people without insurance and small businesses to compare plans and buy insurance at competitive prices.
* Provides new tax credits to help people buy insurance.
* Provides small businesses tax credits and affordable options for covering employees.
* Offers a public health insurance option to provide the uninsured and those who can’t find affordable coverage with a real choice.
* Immediately offers new, low-cost coverage through a national “high risk” pool to protect people with preexisting conditions from financial ruin until the new Exchange is created.

Reins in the Cost of Health Care
For All Americans, the Obama Plan:

* Won’t add a dime to the deficit and is paid for upfront.
* Requires additional cuts if savings are not realized.
* Implements a number of delivery system reforms that begin to rein in health care costs and align incentives for hospitals, physicians, and others to improve quality.
* Creates an independent commission of doctors and medical experts to identify waste, fraud and abuse in the health care system.
* Orders immediate medical malpractice reform projects that could help doctors focus on putting their patients first, not on practicing defensive medicine.
* Requires large employers to cover their employees and individuals who can afford it to buy insurance so everyone shares in the responsibility of reform.

SO, PEOPLE.....FORGET WHETHER JOE LIEBERMAN IS BEING A TOTAL ASS! FORGET ALL THE SEMANTICS AND RHETORIC OVER PUBLIC OPTION, SINGLE-PAYER, MEDICARE FOR ALL. FORGET EVERYTHING EXCEPT WHAT IS COVERED ABOVE. SEND THIS TO YOUR CONGRESSMEN AND SENATORS BY EVERY MEANS AVAILABLE, TODAY! TELL THEM TO GET THIS THING PASSED, OR GET OUT OF DODGE. IF THEY DON'T, TELL THEM NEXT TIME THEY COME UP FOR ELECTION, YOUR VOTE WILL NOT BE THEIRS, IF THEY HAVE NOT SUPPORTED YOU ON THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE OF THIS CENTURY! PERIOD.

PERFECT SOLUTION TO THE PUBLIC OPTION!

2009-12-03T10:06:00.000-08:00

Dear Congressional Leaders, Senators and Congressmen, Democrats and Republicans. Regarding the Public Option: Regardless of which side of this issue you happen to be on, this is the winning strategy:
Include a robust public options that REQUIRES voters in each state, by REFERENDUM to give the PUBLIC OPTION an UP OR DOWN VOTE in APRIL of 2010, with IMPLEMENTATION by JANUARY of 2011.

FOR GOD'S SAKE, JUST DO IT! IF YOU DON'T THINK AMERICANS ARE BEHIND IT, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

IF YOU DO THINK AMERICANS ARE BEHIND IT, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

Issues in Health Care for the Mentally and Physically Challenged

2009-10-13T09:38:00.000-07:00

October 12 at 11:03pm
Senator Cantwell,

The current economy has me concerned because I have a mentally and physically handicapped sibling who is dependent on state and federal funds. Although Senator Deccio created a bill that guaranteed her support with her family and in her community, she has been moved 4 times, from bellevue to redmond to sammamish to woodinville. Each tme, her programs are cut, and it is 3 to 6 months to find something, even 2 hours a week.

The staff/agency who "provides" care has also undergone name changes and staff turnover and multiple moves...not to mention a 75% turnover, on the average, every year.

The health care program definitely affects her, and it is for her that I, and my siblings pay our property and income taxes. I don't have children, but I am grieved by the utter lack of any programs whatsoever, and in the course of this decade of "care" she has lost her speech, her ability to walk, and her ability to toilet herself. All under "state certified care."

Please ensure the voiceless are not overlooked in the health crises and economic crises. She is LAST MAN in the chain of services, and what is documented as services by the caregiving agency does not change the fact that edema and muscle atrophy are the least of her physical concerns. Her body is bruised, and DSHS and police have been notified repeatedly. The "documentation" may cite a bruise, a cut, but never mention the cause.

I don't need more money for management, for state overseers. I need the funding to get to her, to her programs. To a concerted walking and swimming program that isn't repeatedly canceled or delayed because of funding cuts, staff turnover, or whatever may be going on inside the politics of Olympia.

Sincerely
Your constituent (person signed the letter, but I will not disclose the name)

DO UNTO OTHERS: LET'S GET SOME HEALTHCARE FOR ALL AMERICANS AND CHANGE OUR ATTITUDES

2009-10-09T03:31:00.000-07:00

MY POST: DO UNTO OTHERS: LET'S GET SOME HEALTHCARE FOR ALL AMERICANS AND CHANGE OUR ATTITUDES
This was one of the scriptures that has been hanging in my mind since Ted Kennedy's funeral where it was read.....possibly not from the King James version, but a version of this text was read....and I couldn't help thinking about the right-wingers who keep hollering that we the people (government) are not our brothers' keepers.....and I wonder how they reconcile that with their religious beliefs....
Matthew 25:31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy[c] angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
44 “Then they also will answer Him,[d] saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

FB READER Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell amoung thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him and departed, leaving him half dead. (31) "Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. (32) "likewise a Levite when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. (33) "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. (34) "So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. (35) "On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, "Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' (36) So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" (37) And he said, "He who showed mercy on him" Then Jesus said to him. "Go and do likewise.

This is to illustrate that this was done via Compassion (Deep awareness of the suffering of another.) and Charity (Help or relief given to the poor.). It is easy being righteous (Morally upright; just) with OTHER PEOPLES MONEY. The Roman Gov't didn't force the Samaritan to help this person, He did it out of the goodness of his own Heart. Maybe Faith Based/Charitable Insurance Co-ops should be set up for the Health Care needs of uninsured Americans.

So who are the Goats and who are the Sheep?

MY RESPONSE The goat and sheep issue is not for me to decide. Faith Based/Charitable organizations already help with the health care needs of the uninsured. It simply is not enough. As a democracy, we are the government, and we can choose to tax ourselves (out of compassion and charity) to do what is morally right for the least among us, just as we would do unto Jesus.

HOPE

2009-09-22T07:20:00.001-07:00

"In the unlikely story that is America there has never been anything false about HOPE."

Barack Obama

RESPECT...EMPOWER...INCLUDE...

Politicians, Tramps, Thieves, and Whizzers in the Wind

2009-09-16T17:12:00.000-07:00

fb friend: "Donna, First of all, its health insurance money and control the democratic party wants, not healthcare. Given our governments track record with our tax dollars, how can you support Obama and his merky at best medical insurance government takeover? They implemented a terribly expensive cash for clunkers program that spent billions to save millions and they havent payed the car dealers yet!!"

Donna:
We are the government. We elect officials to represent us. Some of them probably need to be recalled. But we put them there. We are a government of the people, by the people and for the people. I know they are all politicians. And I wish they would try and remember that they represent you and I....and would try and get along and get some things done.

fb friend: When we the people elect liars cheats grafters and just plain ole crooks it isnt the people goverment. Its an out of control government trying to feed itself off our- we the people backs.

Donna:
It's still on us, as we put em there....and we need to hold them accountable and vote them out. If they don't HEAR from us IN FORCE, AND WITH CLEAR SPECIFICS they will continue to run amuck...

fb friend: They are crooks and criminals. So far about half of our population is happy with the situation so it wont change.

Donna:
I'm not sure they are happy. I would say they basically don't care enough speak up. I ran a poll recently to see how many of my fb friends had said anything to their senators or reps, in any fashion....and just to make sure they didn't just hit the "like" button indicating they had, I added the caveat: "don't lie or you'll burn in hell!" 3 people including myself (out of 230 something) had bothered. The rest just like to hear themselves complain and whizz in the wind. So, Have you used a link to tell your reps what you think??????

OPTIONS

2009-09-14T10:17:00.000-07:00

OPTIONS ... a world-class system....womb to tomb....regarding health care reform: Nobody has taken anything off any table....the reform remains to be written and passed by Congress and the President with the input OF WE THE PEOPLE who elected them. Tort & other reforms may well be included...what may be included will depend on how open-minded, civil, and focused we all remain. There's no room for hot-button rhetoric

From fb friend:
All options need to be on the table. If you go to work for a big company, you should be able to get off of Obama Care. If you are illegal. You are not to be on it. If u r on COBRA, case by case basis.

The problem is is if we give free care to everyone, all the corporations will drop their health care as a cost-savings, and u will never get their insurance programs back. What about the insurance companies? Once they go out of business one by one, we lose all the jobs associated with it. We also lose those jobs forever. We also lose all the tax base from those companies. It cannot be replaced. And some of the money used for health care from those ins. co's will now not exist because a lot of the money came from the insurance industry. Then we'll have even more unemployed people who now require "free" insurance which no doubt the insurance companies provided their employees with insurance. Wow. Talk about compounding a problem. There's consequences to everything.

My response:
If you go to work for a big company, you use their options. If you are illegal, you do not qualify to be on any plan, but doctors are still required to see you in the ER. Nothing in the plan disrupts COBRA. The health care being offered is NOT FREE> Everyone is required to have some health care insurance. Or you go on Medicaid. I can think of umpteen ways that insurance companies can offer additional products and services, and I'll bet they can too. So, no insurance companies will be going out of business, unless they are run by noncreative morons unwilling to adapt and change. The tax base will continue to be there. Estimates are that fewer than 5% of Americans will dump their current care to OPT for care through an insurance exchange. Right now those unemployed and uninsured people go to the ER and WE ALL PAY FOR THEIR CARE! The consequences of NOT acting on health care reform are dire...1)Americans who go to third world and/or neighboring countries for health care and meds they require, or 2) go without, or 3) go broke trying to pay for health care when they are dropped by their insurance companies or 4) reach the lifetime cap that's currently in place due to catastrophic illness....

TALK TO CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT

2009-09-10T17:36:00.000-07:00

Now that you have heard the President debunk all the misinformation, and lay out the plan EVERYONE CALL OR WRITE CONGRESS, AND TELL THEM WE WANT AFFORDABLE OPTIONS NOW!
Congressional committees are passing legislation, and it's crucial they hear that you support quality, affordable health care for all.

My personal view is that both free enterprise and government are necessary parts of the health care solution. What I want is for EVERYONE to tell Congress and the President what they want in health care....that way everyone has had a real voice in the matter....Not just blowing off hot air and steam and hearing themselves shout into the wind!!!!

That is what the word OPTIONS means in some of my original posts about a world-class system....womb to tomb....regarding health care reform: Nobody has taken anything off any table....the reform remains to be written and passed by Congress and the President with the input OF WE THE PEOPLE who elected them. Tort & other reforms may well be included....All of what may be included will depend on how open-minded we all remain, and how vocal we are with our ELECTED representatives in both houses of Congress and with our President about what we would like to see. This is going to take open-minded, thinkin-outside of the box, leave your labels, and hot-button rhetoric at the door kind of COURAGE AND INDEPENDENCE....but, YES WE CAN...WE ARE AMERICANS!

http://healthcareforamericanow.org/
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0Ab7EkA2IMoh0Z...GhqbTM2bXBfNGdkM3p3amZ4&hl=en&invite=CLbFlM8F

These are some of the opinions folks have expressed on my fb page: (My response comments are in italics)

I believe we need some kind of "healthcare reform" but what the government is promoting is taking away the freedom that this country was founded upon

So, call or write and tell them....

Yeah, curse those big government programs. Like medicaid. And social security.

Just so I understand what you're trying to say: which freedoms the country was founded on, do you think the government is trying to take away

This is not directed at anyone, but just a thought I had after reading this note: I think if we had the same kind of health care we had when this country was born, I would have died at the age of 20 giving birth to my second son (was saved by military health care). Had I survived that, I would have died at the age of 36 of a gangrene gall bladder... (saved again by the military health care system). Of course, there may have been numerous death opportunities before 20 or 36, because I wouldn't have had access to the kinds of medical care those of us with insurance currently enjoy: preventative medicine, vaccines, reproductive health care, etc.

The sad thing is, that in this great country, we still have pockets of poverty where little has changed since the birth of the country. Where people's access to health care has not improved much since then, and where their knowledge of the systems that do exist to help them out is so poor, that they can't or don't access it.
Tears!

I can see how you were saved by the health care system, but you were healed by God as well. The health care system is just a tool he may have used to heal you.

There are many things in this country that are considered a privledge. People can have whatever they want, they just have to work for it. I understand that there are people out there that cannot work, but many places offer great benefits to work there. People have access to health care, they just do not go work for it in most cases.

I feel that too many people are taking advantage of government handouts. I will always pay taxes, because I am instructed to be obedient to God's word. However, I am glad that I do not have to face the judgement on how I used tax payers money. ...

The government is trying to take away the freedom of choice. With a "goverment aka public option“, we do not have a choice of what healthcare to have. Also, we cannot have the freedoms of going to the doctor whenever we want to. In the UK, they have to log onto the internet to even get approved to go the doctor. One freedom we enjoy is being able to call our doctor and have him fit us in to his schedule because we are not feeling well. Other countries with government controlled health care do not have that option.

I also do not agree with the government deciding when you can get treatment and when you cannot. If you read the health care plan, we will be told if we can get treatment that is needed, or we will be given pain meds to get us to death or to see if our body fights it off, without proper treatment. To me this is getting into playing God.

All I can do is pray for this country and pray that God moves in a way that turns our leaders hearts to the right way. Should everyone have healthcare? yes. does everyone have access to healthcare in america, yes. Is it expensive. yes. should it be cheaper. yes. Should some people get off their behind and work for what they need. yes....

I understand your position better now, however, the operative word is OPTION, still indicating CHOICE. I don't think a single-payor system or total government health care is necessary. I think it takes both government and business in concert with one another...and OPTIONS FROM WHICH ALL CAN CHOOSE! I’ve provided several links for folkst contact their members of Congress and ask them to support health reform!

I agree, but I also feel that government should not interfere with the private sector. The health care bill reads... you can keep your current health insurance under the new bill, but as soon as you loose your job or choose health care insurance, you must then take into the government (public) option. There is where we loose choice.

The proposals are still in a state of fluidity where change is possible IF AMERICANS CARE ENOUGH TO CALL, WRITE, OR PETITION their governmental officials. Thus far, what I'm seeing is a great desire on the part of many to speak their minds to every one except the people they elected to carry out the will of the people. My reading of both the HR 3200, and Obama's policy statements didn't include the above statements, however....There are provisions that propose to penalize folks who choose to not have insurance through IRS penalties, etc, as well as incentives for individuals and companies to offer affordable OPTIONS OR CHOICES....
EVERYONE SHOULD WRITE AND CALL THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND VOICE THEIR OPINIONS! THEN PRAY THAT APPROPRIATE DECISIONS ARE RENDERED....

When he reads the bill in its entirety, I want him to immediately call for every American to be on this plan. That includes the US Senators and US Reps. who have the most amazing health plan in the universe, which, they would have to give up. Oh never mind, 97 of the Senators and 422 of the US Representatives haven't read it either. Let's vote. :-)

As a self employed individual, are you happy with your current insurance, and do you feel that if you had the equivalent of Medicaid as an affordable alternative, you wouldn't switch over like a shot? Just saying . . .

We're far from the vote. The vote was to introduce a bill to get started with....now comes much debate, committee work, etc...AND, unfortunately, based on my poll results so far....not very much input directly from the American people, who seem content to whine, rather than ACT...As for Jack's question above, I'm not self-employed, but have the luxury of 2 health insurance plans (HMO/PPO type,) plus a tertiary thru Tricare Standard.....so I'm not sure if I'd jump onto a Medicaid equivalent....would depend on the specifics....I would consider it, however. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE OPTIONS. EMPHASIS ON OPTIONS! And for those who think it would kill off the insurance companies, ONLY IF THEY ARE RUN BY NON-THINKING PRIMATES! Certainly our private enterprise in America is alive and well and creative enough to develop some new alternatives to stay in the game. I have brainstormed at least a dozen ways they can sell alternate products/services...

sorry, i was refuting the self employed "ding doctor" - he's been kicked off my friends list since he wrote about how great Dick Cheney was on my wall . . . the taint is still there. So now we snipe at each other on other people's walls. I'm glad to see you making lots of noise on the topic; I'll probably have to call Norm, Maria and Patty for support on getting something through. Do you suppose letters from abroad count double?

I know, Jack, I just had to add my 2 cents as well....If you still maintain your American citizenship, I don't see why your opinion wouldn't count....I'll count you double!

We, the government, of the people, by the people, and for the people can make known what we want in Health Care. We CAN do this! EMAIL, PHONE, AND WRITE YOUR SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN AND TELL THEM TO PRODUCE A WORLD-CLASS HEALTH CARE PLAN FOR ALL AMERICANS, WOMB TO TOMB SERVICE OPTIONS.

The U.S.A. is not the Nanny States of America, having to take care of everyone and everything. If the Govt gets involved with health care, your WOMB TO TOMB journey may be shorter than you might think. Health Care needs to be fixed NOT DESTROYED.

WE are the government. A government of the people, by the people and for the people. Not just the people who can afford it. All the people. Government has been involved in health care for quite a long time....and doing quite well. I was happy with my health care as a military member, and as a military dependent. They saved my life!

I would hope that the military/govt (WE) would provide Health Care for it's/our members since they are putting their lives on the line for the protection of ALL our enjoyed Fredomes of which one is Freedom of Choice. Sorry about the ones that can not afford insurance but if that is the case, they normally qualify for low income State Health Insurance.

You would think so, but my son, for one, does NOT. We pay for catastrophic health care, hospitalization for him, so that if he's in an accident or needs hospitalization, we don't have to choose between losing the house, or losing him.

Just for Mr. X’s info....military medical isnt all that. What is it with folks that think that since folks are in the military they are treated with white gloves and all that crap? Here comes the clue mobile folks. The military isnt. Right now Madigan is overcrowded, and most of the care is cardboard cut out care, meaning, just enough to keep ... them healthy. I've yet to see funding help out the troops that are coming back wounded, or upgrades in a lot of the military hostpitals to help with the wounded. The sad thing is .....the health care system both civil and military is already broke. Too many insurance companies demanding top dollar out of their patrons, pharmecutical companies demanding the same high price. This doesnt even cover the cost of the supplies, bedding, etc that Hospitals need to keep it running, which runs up the cost...there low income families that cant even dream of any type of medical care and the "State" med care is minimal at best...the same as the military care. SO go ahead.....keep thinkin that we dont need reform and that we dont need to help these folks out...

you're right on it! insurance companies and pharmecutical companies need to be investigated

So if you aren't satisfied with the care military/vets get (who actually EARN it) WHY do you think the gov't will provide anything better for the entire population??? And you want the gov't to take overhealth care in its entirety because....?

that's not what is being said. My personal view is that both government and free enterprise are necessary elements of any health care solution. What I want is for EVERYONE to tell Congress and the President what they want in health care....that way everyone has had a real voice in the matter....Not just blowing off hot air and steam and hearing themselves shout into the wind!!!!

That is what the word OPTIONS means in some of my original posts about a world-class system....womb to tomb....regarding health care reform: Nobody has taken anything off any table....the reform remains to be written and passed by Congress and the President with the input OF WE THE PEOPLE who elected them. Tort & other reforms may well be included....All of what may be included will depend on how open-minded we all remain, and how vocal we are with our ELECTED representatives in both houses of Congress and with our President about what we would like to see. This is going to take open-minded, thinkin-outside of the box, leave your labels, and hot-button rhetoric at the door kind of COURAGE AND INDEPENDENCE....but, YES WE CAN...WE ARE AMERICANS!

2009-09-09T19:23:00.001-07:00

PLEASE USE THIS PDF FORM TO TELL CONGRESS WHAT YOU WANT, SPECIFICALLY, IN HEALTH CARE REFORM: http://tiny.cc/YH7UH

2009-09-09T19:19:00.001-07:00

Now that you have heard the President debunk all the misinformation, and lay out the plan EVERYONE CALL OR WRITE CONGRESS, AND TELL THEM WE WANT AFFORDABLE OPTIONS NOW!
http://healthcareforamericanow.org/
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0Ab7EkA2IMoh0Z......GhqbTM2bXBfNGdkM3p3amZ4&hl=en&invite=CLbFlM8F

PDF Version of Health Insurance options

2009-09-07T03:24:00.000-07:00

Table of Health Insurance Options at Google Docs in PDF Form.

http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B77EkA2IMoh0MmRkMWQwNWItZWRhYi00NDA2LTg3M2MtZjkzNDcyMDNmY2Yy&hl=en

Please complete this checklist and mail to your Senators and Congressperson, as well as President Obama. We, the government, of the people, by the people, and for the people can make known what we want in Health Care. If you like this, twitter it, fb it and hit the share button to share with your friends. We CAN do this!

Form Available at Google Docs

2009-09-06T19:09:00.000-07:00

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0Ab7EkA2IMoh0ZGhqbTM2bXBfNGdkM3p3amZ4&hl=en&invite=CLbFlM8F

By clicking on the above link, you will be able to view (at least those with Firefox/Mozilla can) the Table of Proposed Health Care Reforms in a table format. It may be easier to print, complete the information and email, or snail-mail the form from there.....Please share with EVERYONE....so this decision can truly be OF THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE, AND BY THE PEOPLE.

Thanks..

Donna

Table of Health Insurance Options

2009-09-06T18:40:00.001-07:00

	TABLE OF PROPOSED HEALTH INSURANCE REFORMS
(x)YES INCLUDE	REFORM INITIATIVE PROPOSED	DEDUCTIBLE PROPOSED	SPECIFY LIMIT OF CAPS, LIABILITY, OR OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES, DEPENDING ON ITEM
	Protect families from bankruptcy or debt because of health care costs
	Reduce long-term growth of health care costs for businesses and government
	Guarantee choice of doctors and health plans
	Invest in prevention and wellness
	Improve patient safety and quality of care
	Assure affordable, quality health coverage for all Americans
	Maintain coverage when you change or lose your job
	End barriers to coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions
	Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions
	Coverage regardless of your medical history
	Limits on Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles and Co-Pays	Proposed deductible of: ___________ Proposed copay: ____________	Proposed yearly limit on out-of-pocket expenses: __________________
	No Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care
	Full coverage, without charge, for regular checkups and tests that help you prevent illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics.
	Prohibit Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill
	Prohibit dropping or watering down insurance coverage for those who become seriously ill.
	No Gender Discrimination in premiums charged or insurance provided
	No Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage
	Prevent from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive
	Extended Coverage for Young Adults	Through age: ___________
	Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26
	Guaranteed Insurance Renewal
	Insurance companies will be required to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full. Insurance companies won't be allowed to refuse renewal because someone became sick.
	exempt grandfathered health insurance coverage from requirements of this Act
	provide for guaranteed coverage to all individuals and employers and automatic renewal of coverage
	Prohibit premium variances, except for reasons of age, area, or family enrollment; and tobacco use	For a period of: _______year(s)
	prohibiticancelling of health insurance coverage without clear and convincing evidence of fraud. Require qualified health benefits plans to provide essential benefits. Prohibits an essential benefits package from imposing any annual or lifetime coverage limits.
	Lists required covered essential services: Check if yes: hospitalization, prescription drugs, mental health services, preventive services, Well-baby care through age 3 maternity care, and children's dental, children’s vision, and children’s hearing services and children’s hearing equipment.
	Limit annual out-of-pocket expenses to $5,000 for an individual and $10,000 for a family.
	Establish the Health Choices Administration as an independent agency to be headed by a Health Choices Commissioner
	Establish the Health Insurance Exchange within the Health Choices Administration in order to provide individuals and employers access to health insurance coverage choices, including a public health insurance option.
	Require the Commissioner to: (check if yes) contract with entities to offer health benefit plans through the Exchange to eligible individuals; and establish a risk-pooling mechanism for Exchange-participating health plans. Provide for an affordability premium credit and an affordability cost-sharing credit for low-income individuals and families participating in the Exchange. Require employers to offer health benefits coverage to employees and make specified contributions towards such coverage or make contributions to the Exchange for employees obtaining coverage through the Exchange Exempts businesses with payrolls below $250,000 from such requirement.
	Amend the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax on: check if yes: (1) an individual without coverage under a health benefits plan; (2) an employer that fails to satisfy health coverage participation requirements for an employee. Imposes a surtax on individual modified adjusted gross income exceeding $350,000.
	Amend title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise provisions relating to payment, coverage, and access, including to: (check if yes) (1) reduce payments to hospitals to account for excess readmissions; (2) limit cost-sharing for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries; (3) reduce the coverage gap under Medicare Part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program); (4) provide for increased payment for primary health care services; and (5) prohibit cost-sharing for covered preventive services. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide for the development of quality measures for the delivery of health care services in the United States.
	Establishes a Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research within the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, financed by a tax on accident and health insurance policies, to conduct and support health care services effectiveness research.
	Sets forth provisions to reduce health care fraud.
	Amend title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to: (check if yes) (1) expand Medicaid eligibility for low-income individuals and families; (2) require coverage of additional preventive services; and (3) increase payments for primary care services.
	Sets forth provisions relating to the health workforce, including: (check if yes) (1) addressing health care workforce needs through loan repayment and training; (2) establishing the Public Health Workforce Corps; (3) addressing health care workforce diversity; and (4) establishing the Advisory Committee on Health Workforce Evaluation and Assessment.
	Sets forth provisions to: (check if yes) (1) provide for prevention and wellness activities; (2) establish the Center for Quality Improvement; (3) establish the position of the Assistant Secretary for Health Information; (4) revise the 340B drug discount program (a program limiting the cost of covered outpatient drugs to certain federal grantees); (5) establish a school-based health care program; and (6) establish a national medical device registry
	Include tort reform		Specify liability limits:
	Allow consumers and insurers to cross state lines to offer and or purchase insurance competitive prices
	Affordable, reasonable, competent health care for all Americans, womb to tomb