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DonnaT
Posted Tuesday, September 01, 2009 5:03 PM


 

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Reform would gut home health care
By Newt Gingrich and Nancy Desmond
7:46 p.m. Monday, August 31, 2009

In the piney woods of southeast Georgia, 70-year-old Claude Cox is home receiving daily intravenous antibiotics over the next 10 weeks to combat a bacterial infection in his left lung.

The leukemia patient spent only four days instead of many weeks in the hospital thanks to home health care services that send a nurse to his Statenville home to help administer the antibiotics.

In a cost-efficient move, Medicare pays for home health care to keep patients out of hospitals — a program combining efficiency with compassion.

“Considering this versus 10 weeks of hospitalization, there is no comparison,” Cox said. “You get to rest at home and carry on in your own surroundings. It is a far more convenient and healing way of being treated than being in the hospital.”

But if President Barack Obama and Congress have their way, Cox and many of the other 3.2 million other Medicare patients who utilize home health care benefits could be cut off next year.

Congress may not have adopted a health reform bill yet, but the administration and Congress are already taking steps to ration cost-effective and life-saving programs such as home health care.

Bureaucrats at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued an administrative order last month, cutting $34 billion from home health care programs for Medicare over the next 10 years.

In addition, the proposed health care reform bill in the House includes $56.8 billion in cuts to home health care services under Medicare.
That’s almost the entire federal budget for home health care services in 2007.

If either of these cuts stands, they would likely put more than two-thirds of the nation’s approximately 9,800 home health care providers out of business in the next two years.

Rather than target the crooks that rip off the taxpayers to the tune of $80 billion to $120 billion annually in the current Medicare and Medicaid programs, the administration and Congress are turning their guns on the defenseless: homebound patients who need help feeding, dressing, taking their medication or even utilizing the bathroom.

A recent study released by Avalere Health LLC found that early use of home health care after hospitalization for those with chronic disease saved Medicare $1.71 billion over two years from 2005-06. Those patients were significantly less likely to be readmitted to a hospital, the study found.

Home health care produces better health care outcomes by keeping patients out of hospitals or nursing homes and helping them heal in a more personalized setting, according to studies by the Rand Corporation.

Another study found patients with congestive heart failure who had home health monitoring had hospitalization rates drop by more than half.

Yet, rather than identifying and stopping the specific scam artists, Washington would rather gut home health care to fund a public health insurance system the majority of Americans don’t want.

In our recent book, “Stop Paying the Crooks” edited by Jim Frogue, we at the Center for Health Transformation have documented specific examples of government health care programs paying crooks, such as men earning maternity; pizza parlors being paid as HIV transfusion centers; and dead patients earning federal health care benefits.

We’re not talking about inadvertent billing errors here. We’re talking about outright fraud going on in the Medicare and Medicaid systems that is not being addressed.

If there was ever a reason not to embark on another government health program, this is it. Government can’t get the details right.

Rather than targeting the scam artists that infiltrate the system, they totally gouge the home health care program — a program that, when managed properly, helps make the existing health care model more efficient.

Every one of the 3.2 million Medicare patients who utilize home health services will be the first victims of health care rationing as a result of the 2009 Obama administration health care reform movement.

This gives all of us a glimpse into the future of life in a Washington-run health care system.

As economist Milton Friedman once said, “There is no such thing as a free lunch.”

Unfortunately, it is the home-bound, the very sick and the disabled who may be the first who will have to pay the price for the politicians so hellbent on financing “free” health care for all.
-------

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia is the founder of the Center for Health Transformation. Nancy Desmond is the center’s president and CEO.

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/reform-would-gut-home-128163.html
Post #4228908
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Grandpavan
Posted Tuesday, September 01, 2009 6:33 PM


 

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I was disappointed that the link cited did not tell where to find more information about the proposed budget cuts so I Googled for it and found the link below.  It doesn't have quite all the information referred to in the article but also tells of much more in the way of reduced health care services available if the plan passes.  Well, perhaps the government doublespeak assumes that no health care provider minds having their pay cut but my experience with Medicare is that it is increasingly difficult to find a provider who will still accept the small payments offered for Medicare.  Further cuts is likely to mean further reduction in availability of services.  They refer to but do not detail the earlier proposed cuts of over $600 billion that can be found in February or thereabouts.  I wonder what the government would think if they were told to accept about half of the full market value for their services?  Less funding means less service.  God bless.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/06/13/news/economy/Obama_health_Care.reut/index.htm 

 

Age 82, diagnosed RA 12/2001, married since 1952, 4 sons no daughters, 4 grandsons 1 granddaughter.  Doing well on Methotrexate and Remicade.

Post #4228940
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Pip
Posted Wednesday, September 02, 2009 1:59 PM


 

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I'm sorry Donna - but do you have anything that's not astroturf for the Insurance companies?  Seriously, girl, you don't check this out too deeply, do you?  Don't worry, I have faith you can start figuring this out.

http://mediamatters.org/research/200904140030

From the article -

But Budoff Brown did not note that the Center for Health Transformation is a for-profit entity that receives annual membership fees from several major health insurance companies, which have a direct interest in whether a public insurance plan is part of health care reform.

And if I remember correctly - Gingrich is a criminal.  Only in America would he become the spokesperson for the ill informed Foxheads.  It's like having a gangbanger (or Congress) be involved with criminal activities (or legislation).

Having been formally reprimanded by the House in 1997 for violations associated with the political use of tax-exempt organizations -- which were structured similarly to the new center -- Gingrich decided that a nonprofit would have invited enormous scrutiny. Organizing as a for-profit company, however, permits him to operate "under the radar," Tyler said.

If you want more info - just search Newt Gingrich and 'conflicts of interest'. 

A 'ho by any other name is still a 'ho - to paraphrase Winston Churchill.

Pip

Antibiotic Protocol - Minocin, Zithromax, Naproxen (occasionally), 1 mg. Folic Acid.

Supps are Milk Thistle, Black Cohosh, Bromelain, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, NAC, B12, Hawthorne, CoQ10, MSM, Tumeric, and weaning Melatonin!  PROBIOTICS, PROBIOTICS, PROBIOTICS!!!

Occassionally Nystatin, Diflucan, GSE, Oil of Oregano still sitting on the counter!

Feel free to PM me about the Antibiotic Protocol~

Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.               Hippocrates 

                         
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Joy125
Posted Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:28 PM


 

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From the Access to Healthcare "FACTCHECKING Websites" thread of August 7, 2009:

"If one is going to "fact check" information for accuracy, one would need to know the views and opinions of the organization reviewing and commenting on said information. Do they have a "bias" to one side or the other?

. . . . If anyone is interested in this topic, I encourage every person to read the bills for yourself. Make up your own mind and do not let anyone, repeat anyone, tell you what you should think. This is a serious matter and we all have the right and responsibility to be asking our elected officials the toughest of questions. Also, this is not just a matter of "what" we get with the health care plan, but "how" we are going to get it. Nothing in life is free.
Donna T. "


"I don't really trust any "digested" reports for or against health care reform. I try to go to actual sources and do my own analysis. There is enough misrepresentation on both sides to make an analysis very difficult. ... God bless."

http://community.arthritis.org/forums/Topic4223734-1928-1.aspx

__________________________________________________

Lift up your hand, oh God. Do not forget the helpless. Psalm 10:12

http://www.physiciansforpeace.org/
Post #4229270
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Suzanne321
Posted Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:48 PM


 

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I'm not sure it is worth the energy to argue over the 'source' of this article - the link itself says 'opinion'. The original poster did nothing to mispresent anything, in my opinion. The thread is titled what the editorial is titled, and the link takes you to the opinion page of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Post #4229281
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Jon Male
Posted Wednesday, September 02, 2009 3:51 PM


 

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Grandpa Van:

Here in the Houston area, finding qualified general physicians and specialists that will take Medicare patients is so easy that they emphasize their acceptance in local advertising and Doctor search engines. In the past 5 years since becoming qualified for Medicare I have had foot surgery, a knee replacement, a fem-tib arterial bypass in my right leg, two heart stints, Continuous RA treatment by a first rate Rheumatologist including 3 different biologicals and numerous oter services. NOT ONCE HAVE I BEEN REJECTED BECAUSE I WAS ON MEDICARE! A blanket statement such as the one you have made concerning availability of care disingenuous to say the least. Smacks of fear mongering to me once again!
Jon McClain

PS: Medicare and my classic supplemental insurance has paid 99.5% of all costs as well!

Diagnosed w/ RA: May, 2001
Currently on MTX (Injections), Toxilizimab drug trial
Started Remicade in 2005, then Orencia for 8 months
Now unresponsive to Remicade or Orencia
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Grandpavan
Posted Wednesday, September 02, 2009 4:25 PM


 

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Pip, an attack on the messenger does not refute what the messenger is saying.  I didn't take the article at face value but sought confirmation of the basic facts of the article.  If you want to address this issue show that the proposed legislation does not affect home health care.  God bless.

Age 82, diagnosed RA 12/2001, married since 1952, 4 sons no daughters, 4 grandsons 1 granddaughter.  Doing well on Methotrexate and Remicade.
Post #4229334
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Grandpavan
Posted Wednesday, September 02, 2009 4:45 PM


 

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Jon Male, I am glad that you have had such good luck with Medicare.  However, I have not.  Some doctors refuse Medicare patients already and as payments for Medicare services decrease I expect it to become even harder to get qualified care.  Also while I do have secondary insurance I am not so fortunate in having that much of my medical bills paid.  Congratulations on your good fortune but don't assume that others have equal success.  God bless.

Age 82, diagnosed RA 12/2001, married since 1952, 4 sons no daughters, 4 grandsons 1 granddaughter.  Doing well on Methotrexate and Remicade.
Post #4229348
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DonnaT
Posted Wednesday, September 02, 2009 4:58 PM


 

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Pip wrote: Don't worry, I have faith you can start figuring this out.


And would that be when you run me off or brainwash me?

The Media Matters website is “slightly” biased in their staff representation. And if you are not convinced of that bias by the list of staff and their affiliations - then click on “DONATE”. They certainly do not hide their intentions, do they?


Quote from Media Matters Donation Form:

YES! I want to help correct conservative misinformation in the media by making a fully tax deductible donation.


Pip wrote: A 'ho by any other name is still a 'ho - to paraphrase Winston Churchill.


It seems Mr. Churchill has met all the politicians on BOTH sides of the street. And it seems there is just as much “misinformation” and “fear-mongering” on BOTH sides of the street.

I am truly offended that we cannot hold good political debate without the derogatory comments.
Donna
Post #4229354
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DonnaT
Posted Wednesday, September 02, 2009 5:04 PM


 

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Joy,

I am not certain what point you are attempting to make by quoting my previous post. I still stand by my comment.

Regarding any quoted articles, I may not agree with everything someone says or with their previous actions, however, if they make a certain point, it may be worth considering. I would expect we could be mature about our consideration and debate of ideas/thoughts being presented.

Each time I post those who support the Plan direct me to websites that will correct my “wrong” information. So, how can you prove your information is “right.” If we are reading anything other than the actual Plan, as it is written, and the corresponding documents it references, then we are getting someone else’s opinion.

I have attempted to be respectful of others in my debate of opinion regarding this most important issue. I would hope for the same courtesy from others.
Donna


Copied from another post:
And to quote Mark Twain (again),
"If you don't read the newspaper, you're uninformed. If you read the newspaper, you're mis-informed.”

I don’t think I would limit Twain’s quote to the newspapers only.
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