Monday, February 4, 2013
Woodbury resident Thomas St Martin discusses health care.
Whether paid directly by patients or by some third party entity (an insurance company, a government agency, etc.), American health care providers are typically paid on a fee-for-service basis (i.e. on a discrete/piecework basis: tests given, office visits, devices provided, etc.). This method of payment, it is claimed, fails to hold providers accountable for the outcomes of the services or goods provided. Thus, some (perhaps many) individual services—when evaluated in terms of the results achieved—may be found to be ineffective, wasteful, perhaps even harmful. More to the point, the “fee for service” method of payment, based as it is on medical inputs (as opposed to outputs) encourages medical providers to order unnecessary tests, to …
Friday, November 30, 2012
“It seems that about 90 percent of England’s government hospitals are now rationing care… Could it happen here? You bet it could,” says Woodbury resident Thomas St. Martin.
That, it seems, is emerging as a question du jour, a question pushed to the forefront of the debate sparked by the impending implementation of various provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA/aka ObamaCare), chiefly those provisions that create a fifteen member unelected board called the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). The avowed purpose of the IPAB (created by secs. 3403 and 10320 of the PPACA) is to achieve specified savings in the Medicare program and to depoliticize Medicare policy-making. Although it ostensibly prohibits IPAB from “rationing” health care, the language and overall flavor of the PPACA suggests otherwise. Consequently, many medical professionals, politicians, bioethicists and …
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Here are the latest posts from Woodbury Patch’s Local Voices.
Here are this week’s blog posts. If you're interested in joining our Local Voices roll, email kris.janisch@patch.com. Our most popular post of late was this blog about Costco from Craig Thorsen. Top 5 Things to Do After a Hurricane or Other Major Catastrophe Hits What to do in the event of a catastrophe like Hurricane Sandy. It is always good to be as prepared as possible! (Caleb Brunz) Juicing Experience: Day 28 Lookout, I may actually be in a bathing suit this year. lol (Rhonda Fitzgerald) Obamacare: Some Thoughts A quick and dirty response to recent Patch comments regarding Obamacare. (Thomas St Martin) Ken Burns on the Dust Bowl Ken Burns’ photo-documentary on The Dust Bowl, showing on PBS, has much food for thought. (Dick Bernard) …
Friday, July 6, 2012
Tell us what you think about the court's decision that the 'individual mandate,' centerpiece of Affordable Health Care Act, does not violate the Constitution.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the "individual mandate," the centerpiece of the Affordable Health Care Act that President Obama signed into law last year, Patch readers have weighed in by the hundreds to share their opinions. Though the ruling happened more than a week ago, our readers continue to debate the proposal, so we're re-featuring the poll that led to this debate. Because the argument hasn't died down, we figure some of you who missed the original story may have new opinions to offer. To review, five of the nine justices agreed that the key to the act—the requirement that people either buy health insurance or pay a tax penalty—is allowed under Congress' ability to impose using its taxing power. …
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Recapping the latest posts from Woodbury Patch bloggers.
What’s the word from your neighbors in Woodbury? Here are this week’s blog posts—tackling everything from Obamacare to your best bets for enjoying the summer. If you're interested in joining our Local Voices roll, email kris.janisch@patch.com. For Such a Time Celebration of Community offered a look back on Mark Porter's 32 years with South Washington County and a look ahead at what's to come for all of us who live by the 3 Ps. (Vicki Strong) The Key to Surviving Those Awkward Grad Party Moments We All Love 'Tis grad party season—awkward walks up the driveway, stares from the family, and the notorious display boards bragging about the grad. But how do you survive when you barely know the grad at all? (Brittney Harvin) Get Outside! It's …
Thursday, June 28, 2012
What are your thoughts on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Obamacare?
Asked his initial response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on President Obama’s Affordable Health Care Act, Woodwinds Health Campus Dr. Brendon Cullinan was clear. “Quite favorable,” the family physician said. Cullinan, who also serves as executive medical director for all HealthEast clinics, said the ruling ensures expanded insurance coverage for a number of patients, along with improving access to primary care providers. Five of the nine Supreme Court justices agreed that the key to the act—the requirement that people either buy health insurance or pay a tax penalty—is a kind of tax, which Congress is allowed to impose using its taxing power. Concern about limited options for patients isn’t as much of an issue in Woodbury, Cullinan …
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
On Monday, Rep. Michele Bachmann called the Affordable Care Act the most unpopular law in recent history and said she is hopeful the Supreme Court will repeal it this week. How do you think the Supreme Court will rule?
In March 2010, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law. On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on the legality of what is commonly called “Obamacare.” From the onset, Sixth District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has been an advocate of repealing the President’s health care overhaul. In fact, just hours after passage two years ago, Bachmann introduced the first bill in the House of Representatives to repeal Obamacare in full. On Monday, Bachmann called the Affordable Care Act the most unpopular law in recent history and said she is hopeful the Supreme Court will repeal it this week. “As the author of the original bill to repeal Obamacare, I am convinced that no decision in recent …
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
The justices are expected to rule on the issue Thursday. We want to know how you feel about the law.
In March 2010, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law. On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on the legality of what is commonly called “Obamacare.” The controversial law has been the subject of recent TV commercials, political speeches and protests. Since everyone else is weighing in, we want to know what you think. Answer our poll question and tell us in the comments how you feel about the law, including the individual mandate.
Monday, April 16, 2012
The U.S. Supreme Court decision on Obamacare could turn on judges' chosen theory of judicial review.
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Monday, April 16, 2012
The role of the courts has received a lot of attention following hearings at the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the law commonly known as “Obamacare.” Many, including the president, have discussed something called “judicial review.” Judicial review refers to a power held by the courts to decide if a law violates the Constitution or not. If the law violates the Constitution, the courts will “strike down” the law declaring it invalid. Perhaps ironically, the court’s power to declare a law to be unconstitutional is not specifically addressed in the U.S. Constitution. Instead, it is considered to be an inherent power of the courts. The U. S. Supreme Court first declared a law to be unconstitutional in 1803 in a case known as Marbury vs. …
Donald Lee
2:23 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
Good info for people discussing this topic: http://healthreformquestions.com/ Follow the links. It is well researched and sourced. more ›