JBD
Premium Member
I'm confussed... I really am. What are we debating here? This thread has jumped 3 times and pissed a few people off? I mean really. If we say no to the dang thing do you honestly think it can stop it from going through? I am all for writing and calling a congressman and have on several occasions, but do you think that once they got the letter? They are going by what they get a bigger kick back on. I know I can't compete with a pharmacutical company or a heathcare provider.
I want each and every one of you to sit and think about your local government and then the state. At what point does it get corrupt? What is a plan of action here? Sure we can complain all we want but the truth is WE ALL just benifitted from something we wanted being tacked on and slid under the door of Congress. HB2555 for the property tax. Why else would do you think that GM did not want us to call our congress members? Plus just as he stated and I heard him there is more to come on this. He is still working the system.
So I ask why is it ok sometimes and not ok others? There is not one person on this forum that can tell me that the healthcare system in the USA is right and does not need to be fixed. Does it need to be left up to the States? Maybe, but Perry has had his chance to fix it and he hasn't done squat. Now that its an election year and he has to show his face he just now decided to bring up the topic. I'm sorry but I am not sure that the plan on the floor is the best plan but something has to change period. Heathcare companies have too much power over us as a middleclass and it needs to stop.
Note: I am not for or against this. Actually from everything I have seen I would fall under the same thing as the President or Congress themselves and not be using a sysyem like this since I work at Lockheed and we have our insurance negotiated in our union contracts. The only way I would be effected would be a tax increase and even if it is $10 a week and the way I look at is if a I can help insure more children in America then I don't care about the $520. JMHO
Josh - I have been in healthcare all my adult life. I have a degree in Healthcare Management. There are many misstatements in your post and you are not to blame. By and large the healthcare community - providers especially, do a terrible job of explaining the situation and too much is left to pharma, insurance, major equipment manufacturers, regulators and politicians along with the willing liberal media to tell the story.
In that regard healthcare is not much different than Masonry. We (both groups) have essentially not provide accurate timely succinct information in anticipation of misinformation or in response thereto.
In response to your specific issues - Keep contacting your elected representatives. Phone calls work best - they have to answer the phone; they log calls and opinions - emails work, but not as well, faxes next, mail is a no-no since all the security issues they don't handle paper well especially in DC. The kickback thing is not really as prevalent as you think. It occurs in some form but most of these guys (and Women) go what they are told by staff and others with access - that is the real deal with the $$ in DC - access. You can compete, you have an internet, a group of friends, acquaintences and they all have the same - stand and speak up.
The bill you are talking about (HB2555) did not go through Congress it went throug the Legislature. Our amendment was tacked onto this bill because ours got stuck in a procedural play by another group in Austin who wanted to make a statement. It happens every year. The GM DID NOT say to not call because he was trying to do something strange, he did it because he wanted to make sure that nothing rocked the boat this time. It was a foregone conclusion the bill would pass and all you need are 97.000 people trying to keep the message straight - heck we can't get 50 us to decide on what we want for dinner at a stated meeting. One voice speaking for us was what he wanted - he said if and when he needed us he would call. Adding amendments to bills that even remotely are on the same subject happens all the time. Heck even I have done it - and I am far from sinister. It is simply the only way somethings get done -they still get voted on just as part of a bill- just not THE bill.
There is one person on this forum the can tell you the healthcare system in the US is right, but no one can say it cannot be improved. It is a fact that some 95% of all AMERICANS are covered, the 20million illegals are not.
There is not one place in the United States that you can go and not receive care - as long as there is care there - if you need it. It may not be as convenient, it may not be as efficient, it may not be a luxurious, but it will be life sustaining care.
You live or work in Texas - hospitals in this state are required by the Feds and state law to provide care or provide for its provision. In Tarrant County you have JPS (2 hospitals, 6 community clinics, at leat 6 school clinics, three jail clinics); THR Harris Methodist 5 hospitals FE, Azle, HEB, Arlington and SW - it is part of their charitable mission to provide care - I used to work there I can tell you they do it. Baylor has 3 locations - they are tied to the Baptist Church. So through County and Faith Based you have 11 hospitals in just one county.
There are reduced pharmacy programs at Mission Arlington, Cooks Childrens, Wal-Mart and other locations. In Tarrant County there are only 4 for profit hospitals and they are required to provide life sustaining and stabilizing treatment.
Healthcare, like education, transportation, water sanitation and many other services are not the responsibility of the Feds, the constitution states anything not specifically stated is left to the states. Until 1965 this country operated with the City, County, State and faith based programs for all the healthcare provided. There were a few hospitals owned by Doctors and a few attached to academia.
Perry? What did you want fixed first? He was dealing with immigration issues, drug wars and a host of other border issues. Is he perfect - no. Is he the cause of this problem - NO. Can he fixt is alone - NO. Healthcare in Texas, in most parts of the state is not as broken as you might think. Medicaid still has money, it still provides services for the poor, Medicare still works, Mental healthcare is still available both inpatient and out patient, the Shrine and Scottish Rite along with Cooks has the kiddies covered.
In several other states that I work in the state ran out of money several years ago and continue to be in the red every year. Those states? 99.99% are heavily taxed, more heavily regulated and are suffering because of it. Ask people on Medicaid in Mississippi, Illinois, Louisiana and California - ask them how their Medicaid works. Ask Doctors in Illinois how they liked not having tort reform? Ever wonder why so many of them are in Texas in the past 5 years? You guessed it; that evil Perry got tort reform and signed it into law. Tort reform reduced malpractice insurance by more than 20% and yoiur doctor is still able to practice, pay his premiums AND his staff.
Now you want to hang this on him? Go read the state constitution. The governor of Texas has little power - he can call a special session, he can stomp his feet, he cannot set legislative agendas, he cannot foresee what manufactured issued will need to be responded to.
The plan on the floor is NOT the best plan. It is a takeover of our healthcare system - which, despite its flaws, is still the best, most efficient, most accessable and safest in the world. Stop with the middle class gobblty goop. The INSURANCE companies may have control, but they are no more Healthcare companies than State Farm is an automaker.
Your last paragraph indicates you would fall under the same thing the President or Congress has - guess again. As long as you are employed there, as long as they continue to provide coverage you would have it - leave there or they no longer provide group coverage - you are in the public bucket with the Indians, the Vets, and the rest of us. You are dreaming if you think your working at Lockheed is going to do anything to keep you out of socialized care. Out of BHO's own mouth - it may take a while for us to get there but single payer is where we are going.
Why do you think the penalty is only 8% if your employer decides not to cover you? Because most companies will opt to pay the tax, same the money they spend on benefits and reduce HR staff and complaints and let the government provide it.
If you think the government can run anything look at the Post Office, AMTRAK, the Public Health Service, the Indian Health Service, VA hospitals and FQHC - the BOP (Bureau of Prisions) has better healthcare than most of these, why? They contract most of it out.
I do not intend this to be a lecture, but I am just fed up with the misinformation campaign that is out there - I am one healthcare guy who is proud to be in the industry, proud of what we do in this country, how many people are saved every year and how the average life expectancy has increased just in my lifetime despite our ability to shove 40 extra pounds on us, smoke like chimenies, drink like fish and be too lazy to jump us and change the channel.
We have technology that saves lives, cuts down hospital stays to hours instead of days; circumvents open surgical procedures which reduces time off work from weeks to days for all but the most aggressive surgeries; we have the ability to intervene in disease processes before they kill you and there is a drug for darn near anything. All of these advances took money to do. Each prescription drug take a minimum of 10 Million to get to the market and probably only 1 or 2 out of 100 make it.
Anyway - it is sort of like that bumper sticker you see a Lodge, if you can read this Thank A Teacher - if you can read it in English Thank a Soldier. I would add - if you do it without an Iron Lung, WheelChair or zipper in your belly or chest thank your healthcare system.
OK, so where did you guys put the "RANT OFF" button???