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    Tag: Health care

    Tuesday Divertere - You Picked A Fine Time To Leave Me Blue Shield


    By JGillman, Section News
    Posted on Tue Dec 03, 2013 at 10:34:52 AM EST
    Tags: Michigan, Health Care, Insurer of Last Resort, BCBS, Obamacare, Wealth Transfer, Power, Money, Legislature, Suckers, Theft. (all tags)

    Just kicking back and appreciating the theft unanimously approved early this year in the state senate, and nearly as much in the state house.

    Once upon a time, the insurer of last resort (yeah Michiganians have had a cant-deny-preexisting insurer for several decades already)was owned by you and I. (since 1939)  As recently as a few years ago, it even carried a balance sheet of about $6,000,000,000.00 including over $3,000,000,000.00 cash reserves. The BCBS board tried to use those reserves in for-profit ventures, (a great way to pass off cash to private partners)  and were stopped by then attorney general Mike Cox. In 2008, Cox kept BCBS of MI in check.

    But things are different now. This time no one stepped in to stop the transference of a GREAT BIG PILE OF MONEY away from Michigan citizens. And the great big Obamacare boondoggle helped them do it. Now that they aren't owned by you and I, its time to make some real cash!

    "Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan shows a projected savings of tens of millions of dollars next year by terminating 25 individual health plans that were noncompliant with the Affordable Care Act.

    Over the past decade, Blue Cross has lost hundreds of millions of dollars in the individual market as Michigan's designated insurer of last resort, a moniker it no longer has under health care reform with all insurers now required to cover people with pre-existing conditions and its conversion earlier this year into a mutual health insurer. "

    Note that a loss means a growth in cash reserves over the same period.

    How clever.

    Enjoy the song.

    Comments >>

    Harry Loves Ricky


    By JGillman, Section News
    Posted on Thu Nov 07, 2013 at 10:53:45 AM EST
    Tags: Embracing Obamacare, MEDC, Health Lobby, Medicaid Expansion, Cronyism, Crony Capitalism, Same Snake Two Heads, Michigan, Harry Reid, Rick Snyder, Republicans, Democrats, Health Care (all tags)

    Only the perpetually stupid could continue to ignore this.

    The unapologetic praise for a system that holds no chance of meeting promises made and already broken, is continuing unabated. The use of the term Obamacare as an endearing term, instead of the official title "Affordable Care Act." Appropriately connecting the dots from Obamacare to Medicaid expansion; a feat that be performed only with enablers and collaborators in our State Senate and House. When the bleeding edge of the socialist/fascist movement in this country praises our governor for expanding welfare; a move that promises to explode in our face in 3 years time?

    Yet losing the seat to a Democrat is the fear that would keep cowardly Republicans voting for Rick Snyder?

    Could anyone remind us all here why his winning really matters again?

    (2 comments) Comments >>

    A Message To Our Legislators - Beware False Choices

    Politics Of The Possible


    By JGillman, Section News
    Posted on Fri Nov 01, 2013 at 12:17:28 PM EST
    Tags: Health Care, ACA, Fred Upton, Fail, NetRight Daily (all tags)

    Reprinted by permission from NetRight Daily

    By Rick Manning

    Republican Washington, D.C. insiders have spent the past month wagging their fingers at tea party types and telling anyone who will listen that these people just don't understand realpolitik and the "politics of the possible."

    In a first reveal of what constitutes the Beltway Republicans "possible", Fred Upton, the inert chairman of the House Commerce and Energy Committee has introduced legislation to deal with the Obamacare problem of the day - people are losing their health insurance due to regulations propagated by the Obama Administration.

    After bruising battles trying to stop, delay or defund Obamacare, Upton's politics of the possible is language that would allow, if they wanted, health insurers to continue to offer this year's plans to customers next year.

    Apparently rather than push for a real solution to Obamacare now that some Democrats are approaching panic mode as their constituents and supporters are getting the higher premiums and dropped policies that the Ted Cruz's of the world tried to prevent, the possible politics crowd is choosing to push legislation that delays the problem for another year, and allows the politicians to blame the insurers when policies are cancelled.

    Continued below

    (496 words in story) Full Story

    Getting Health Care Policy Right


    By JGillman, Section News
    Posted on Thu Oct 31, 2013 at 09:07:31 AM EST
    Tags: Greg MacMaster, Michigan, ACA, Health Care, Expansion, Welfare, Higher Taxes, Snyder, Cowardly Republicans, Obama, Tyranny, Washington, Lansing, IRS (all tags)

    State Representative Greg MacMaster (R-105) has provided a little insight to the past year's health care debate, and his participation in the process.

    "Bait and switch," a term he uses to describe the promises and ultimate product, is no stranger to any government program designed to help so many.  He writes:

    "In 2012, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found that the United States leads the world in health care research and disease treatment.

    For the 85% of Americans that have health insurance, the access they have to cutting edge, life saving technologies is among the very best in the world.

    But not every American has insurance, with upwards of 49 million being uninsured, according to the 2010 Census.

    The question for policy makers in Lansing and in Washington should be what to do to help the 15% gain access to the quality care that the rest of us have.

    Unfortunately, Washington and Lansing's answer has been to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

    In 2010, Congress passed, and President Obama signed, the widely unpopular and flawed Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). Among the provisions of this act is enticing Michigan to put an additional 300,000 citizens on Medicaid with the promise that the federal government would pay for taxpayers' additional costs.

    When the expansion was first voted on in the House, I supported it. This wasn't really Obamacare, we were told. This was Michigan getting its fair share back from Washington.

    It initially seemed like a good deal for Michigan taxpayers, who receive back only $0.80 for every tax dollar they send to Washington.

    But there was more to the bill.

    Continued below the fold

    (5 comments, 734 words in story) Full Story

    We Hear You Mr President


    By JGillman, Section News
    Posted on Fri Oct 04, 2013 at 07:44:27 AM EST
    Tags: One Bite At a Time, CD1, Congress, Power Of The Purse, Article1 Section 9, IRS, NSA, Obamacare, HUD, EPA, DOE, Spending, Appropriations, Constitution, Michigan, Health Care, Purse Strings, Section VIII #1, The Power Of Congress, Candace Miller, Dave Camp, Bill Huizinga, Justin Amash, Mike Rogers, Dan Benishek, Tim Walberg, Fred Upton, Kerry Bentivolio (all tags)

    Ted Cruz is spot on.

    The role of the US House is supposed to be fund as needed, and not as a great big package.  The President as Cruz explained, called out the dangers of veterans services and parks being put at risk by the GOP led house holding off the big package.  The US House responded appropriately and offered funding only to have it rejected by Harry Reid.

    Huh go figure.  Michigan GOP Reps pay attention.  KNOW that you are winning FOR the country.

    This guy is brilliant.

    (3 comments) Comments >>

    Rep Walberg Votes to Fund Veterans and Open National Parks


    By JGillman, Section News
    Posted on Wed Oct 02, 2013 at 09:18:31 AM EST
    Tags: One Bite At a Time, CD1, Congress, Power Of The Purse, Article1 Section 9, IRS, NSA, Obamacare, HUD, EPA, DOE, Spending, Appropriations, Constitution, Michigan, Health Care, Purse Strings, Section VIII #1, The Power Of Congress, Candace Miller, Dave Camp, Bill Huizinga, Justin Amash, Mike Rogers, Dan Benishek, Tim Walberg, Fred Upton, Kerry Bentivolio (all tags)

    Credit where it is due.

    In fact, I should have eight other press releases similar to this one.  Tim Walberg (CD7)yesterday, voted in favor of legislation that would provide funding for the National Park Service and the Veterans Affairs Department. However,both pieces of legislation failed by not gathering enough Democrats to reach the two-thirds required for final passage.  We have discussed this (quite appropriate)strategy on these pages recently.  Walberg says:

    "President Obama and Congressional Democrats are already on record as supporting a piecemeal approach to keeping the government funded. It's disappointing some of my colleagues in the House do not feel as strongly about veteran services and disability claims, national parks and other areas of importance.

    I remain committed to finding a compromised way to move this country forward. We deserve better."

    Solid.

    Reality, is that Obama and Reid have said they will not negotiate.  The GOP led US House is completely in the correct mode holding out specific funding legislation for what might be perceived as an immediate need, while other negotiations (and hopefully complete dissolution of Obamacare) are being made.

    Any suffering as a result of non funding is the result of the Democrats' stubbornness, and the President's absolutism.

    (7 comments) Comments >>

    One Bite At A Time


    By JGillman, Section News
    Posted on Mon Sep 30, 2013 at 08:55:17 PM EST
    Tags: One Bite At a Time, CD1, Congress, Power Of The Purse, Article1 Section 9, IRS, NSA, Obamacare, HUD, EPA, DOE, Spending, Appropriations, Constitution, Michigan, Health Care, Purse Strings, Section VIII #1, The Power Of Congress, Candace Miller, Dave Camp, Bill Huizinga, Justin Amash, Mike Rogers, Dan Benishek, Tim Walberg, Fred Upton, Kerry Bentivolio (all tags)

    The old question of how one might eat an elephant could see a fiscal analogy if a miracle of courage and determination sets into the Republican dominated US House.

    Congress has already set an example of continuing resolutions, and money spending sans a budget, balanced or otherwise. Frankly, the role of congress has become that of enabler and cash valet to the spenders elsewhere in government, and little more.  Competing special interests over the years have created some form of acceptance that ALL issues are important enough to fund fully, and no congress critter majority has been able to (as a whole) suppress the need to please.

    Its now a different world.  The stakes are higher, there is a tyranny begging to be funded, and the people are screaming at the top of their lungs that ENOUGH is ENOUGH!

    And something happened in the meantime that should give us hope.  Letting a little steam off the pressure cooker that is Washington DC, the president is at the time of this writing, expected to sign a bill guaranteeing pay for military services and members in the event of a 'shut down'.

    "The measure would also ensure continued pay for civilian employees of the Defense Department and Pentagon contractors whom Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel determines "are providing support to members of the Armed Forces." "
    Big deal, no?

    Think about it as one less thing the president can hold over the Republicans in congress. And the fact is, he really MUST sign it.  Otherwise the tables are turned hard on him.

    And it is pure gold that should not be squandered.

    Listen up GOP, you had best go below the fold and pay close attention.

    (3 comments, 591 words in story) Full Story

    Meekhof: Solid NO On Expansion


    By JGillman, Section News
    Posted on Tue Aug 20, 2013 at 09:59:45 AM EST
    Tags: Bad Law, Michigan, Health Care, Medicaid, Expansion, Lobbyists, HB4714, Arlan Meekhof, State Senate (all tags)

    The use of 'the possible' scenarios can be confusing sometimes.

    Jack Hoogendyk penned a piece the other day that might have turned a few heads.  His email article "Money, Power, Quid Pro Quo - How it Destroys Good Policy" used a story from the 'watching Michigan' site that suggested Arlan Meekhof's position on Medicaid expansion might be compromised by a desire for leadership.  The article painted a scenario under which it seemed possible that Senator Meekhof might capitulate to expansion:

    "But, by rising to the seat power as leader, you too are owing to someone. All that money you spread around during the campaign; where did that come from? The lobbyists. And those lobby groups that endowed you with all that cash, do you think maybe they have a few quid pro quos as well? Oh, yeah.

    ...

    I remember when there was a key vote on insurance reform in 2003. Blue Cross/Blue Shield had much to gain if the vote went their way. They had to put a full court press on Republican lawmakers to get the needed votes. Several members were swayed by promises that "your campaign debt will go away."

    It happens.

    Hoogendyk ended with wonderment of of the house votes and a question whether Arlan Meekhoff, as a man of integrity would cave to the a desire to grow in office.

    "... Were they promised help in the upcoming election? A few seats could be in trouble because of the Freedom to Work vote. Some future campaign cash could be helpful...in exchange for a key vote now.

    I know Arlen Meekhof quite well. He is a man of integrity. I appreciate that he has always stood tall on social issues. He is a staunch defender of life and traditional values. But, is he vulnerable to the intoxicating lure of power? Will Arlen Meekhof compromise his principles in exchange for leadership? Only time, his votes and his post-election campaign finance report will tell for sure."

    And as usual, the grassroots came alive.

    Continued below.

    (2 comments, 661 words in story) Full Story

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