Dr. Robert Levine author of the new book “Shock Therapy” addressed the problem of rising health care costs. He advocates overhauling the entire system. Health care cost has increased by 8.9% per year. About 3.9% of inflation and this issue is not addressed in the health care legislation passed in congress and the senate version that is up for vote. Over $500 million goes to administrative costs in health care each year. Couple that with unnecessary surgery which is a chronic and systemic problem, it is estimated that about 500,000 out of one million cases involved unnecessary surgery. Doctors are also ordering unnecessary test, because of the huge number of malpractice test.
According to Dr. Levine, there are three main drivers that ramp up the cost of health care . Unnecessary surgeries, the more operations doctors perform , the more they get paid. Doctors are afraid of law suits so they order unnecessary test. Doctors and patients have no access to test, so doctors may inadvertently order the same test. All of these instances cause a tremendous rise in cost. These alternatives are not addressed in any of the bills, house or senate.
In order to eliminate this problem there must be a single payer system. This is needed in order to understand that it is not the government that is the problem, it is the insurance companies that are already between the patient and the doctor. Insurance companies know everything there is to know about you. You cannot hide this information from them. So if you worry about big brother, he already is on the prowl and it is the insurance company. Just ask any insurance agent, if they are honest they will tell you. It does not matter what you withhold on the insurance application underwriters will find out. If you lie, you will lose when you file your claim.
Dr. Levine’s fix is to have an administrative agencies oversee medical administration, put doctors on salary and put everyone on a single payer system. This approach makes total sense.
Tags: Doctors, health care cost, Health Care Legislation, inflation, Insurance Companies, medical administration, Robert Levine, Shock Therapy, Single Payer
Barack Obama continues to be attacked by nearly everyone. Members of his own party who make racial comments (Harry Reid and take your pick among the others), members of his own party who call him weak and indecisive, members of his own party who say he is too conservative and not liberal, members of his own party who say he too liberal and progressive. Where does the buck stop? Mr. Obama says it’s stops with him and he’s right.
The trouble is Obama is so focused on being political correct and safe in nearly everything he does that he has lost his identity as a person, which is the main reason for all the attacks he has received from the left and the right. You cannot serve two masters and think you can lead a country. Most people really and truly want to know where you stand on issues; on anything. Obama is so set on treading water in the middle ground, that is will be his undoing and perhaps dash any hopes for a second term.
He has not endeared himself to either the right or the left because of his waffling and indecisiveness and he can’t seem to pull himself out of this hole. He is a likable person, but he is the cause of all the problems he faces. Obama must learn you cannot serve two masters, pick one; or resign yourself to the fact you will be one term in the White House and out or better yet “one and done”.
Sphere: Related ContentIs Donovan McNabb on the hot seat in Philly? He continues to under achieve in the playoffs and it appears that Philadelphia Fans and the media are getting a little perturbed with him. With the second drubbing of the Eagles at the hands of the Cowboys, this time 34-14, many are wondering is this McNabb’s swan song ? Perhaps it should be. He has lost his skills and really has not met expectations during his reign as top quarterback for the Eagles. I don’t know the answer; perhaps no one does, but it’s time for the Eagles to zero in on a new quarterback of the future.
Sphere: Related ContentTags: Cowboys, Eagles, McNabb, Playoffs, Quarterback
President Obama continues to work diligently by working first with Congressional Democrats and now with Senate Democrats on the heals of passing sweeping Health Care Reform in Congress. Obama’s main argument is that Health Care Reform cannot help but improve the economy while driving down health cost and keep the insurance industry honest. The economy continues to improve modestly, But President Obama feels Health Care Reform will help to jump start the economy ever further.
As the economy continue to operate on a fragile time line, unemployment continues to hover at an increasing rate. The current unemployment rate is currently over 10 percent. Many corporations continue to downsize and layoff workers. The Obama Administrations’ view is that Health Care Reform is the final piece of the puzzle to bring back the economy from it tailspin.
001_A_004_cjenkins_091111_001_2009_11_11
Sphere: Related ContentTags: democrats, Downsize and layoff workers, economy. Congress, fragile, Health Care Reform, President Obama, Senate, Unemployment
The Buffalo Bills have not made the playoffs in over nine years. While many teams in the NFL such as the Minnesota Vikings, have spent big money bringing in established stars like Brett Favre, who came to Minnesota accustomed to their strategic football offense. Brett Favre’s raw determination and grit has helped Minnesota to remain competitive and greatly improved their chances of making it to the Superbowl.
The Buffalo Bills have not had such wild success with their football product. The have continually fielded teams with economics in mind, but this strategy has done nothing to improve their chances of making the playoffs. The Bills have done all they can to obtain bargain basement players by downsizing in the area of player talent. Ralph Wilson is now an aging owner and it remains to be seen if he can ever bring the Bills back to respectability. Meanwhile western New York continues to search for the elusive talent stimulus to infuse the team.
Sphere: Related ContentActivision is hoping that their Modern Warfare 2 can turn the industry on its ear. The hype from both Activision and retailers is strong. On November 5, Activision had an earnings call, where Activision’s leadership outlined a profit of $15 million, versus losing money the year before. Therefore, Activision is in a strong place now, and with one of the most intense launches of a game EVER, spending close to $200 million for promotions and licensing (according to CEO Bobby Kotick), Activision expects Modern Warfare 2 to perform quite well at retail. In fact, Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan expects sales of 12 million for Modern Warfare 2 by Christmas.
Sphere: Related ContentTags: Activision, Christmas, Game, Modern Warfare 2, Retailers, Stong
The house passed the Health Care Bill tonight by a margin of 220-215 for the bill. It is a culmination of nearly 75 years of attempts to pass a bill. With the passing of tonight bill it is the first step in the process. The Senate will have to pass their version of the bill. 39 democrats actually voted against the bill. Which says volumes about the split between progressives and so call Blue Dog Democrats.
President Obama, congratulated Nancy Pelosi, for a great victory in overseeing a house majority in the vote for Health Care reform. The passing of the bill insures that every American will have affordable health care. Only one Republican voted for the the Health Care Bill.
Sphere: Related ContentTags: Blue Dog Democrats, Charlie Rangel, health Care, Health Care Reform, House Majority, Nancy Pelosi, Passes, Vote
Talk about an attack. This was an unsportsmanlike attack. This is a rare occurrence and the offense was committed by University of New Mexico Junior Elizabeth Lambert. The most brutal assault was that she pulled an opposing player’s pony tail from behind and pull her brutally to the ground. It was a rare glimpse of behavior you would not normally see. There was not any response from her teammates or the referees. There was one yellow card thrown on at least six or seven infractions. It is a physical game, however this was outrageous behavior on the part of Lambert.
Video of Lambert’s Unsportswomanlike Conduct
Sphere: Related ContentTags: Elizaebeth, Lambert, New Mexico, Red Card, Soccer, Yellow Card
Hasan could face the death penalty for his assault on the victims at Fort Hood. Law Enforcement officials are trying to sort through the aftermaths of what happened and why Hasan snapped and committed this act. Law enforcement officials are interviewing people who knew Hasan to try to get clues as to any motive behind the attack, while families of the victims continue to ponder why this happened.
Tags: Army, Assualt, attack, Death Penalty, Fort Hood, investigation, Victims
Apparently Obama administration aides are taking it as an affront to President Obama that a Democratic Strategist appeared on Fox News. This in the aftermath of the Obama administrations assault and ban against the perceived biased reporting of Fox News. We are beginning to see a not so kinder/gentler Obama. Some think he could use a little bit more of a mean streak. Perhaps he is trying to deliver on that wish list.
President Obama spoke with Congressional Democrats today at the Capitol to discuss the upcoming vote on Health Care Reform legislation. Obama reminded them that this is their moment and a moment in history to deliver sweeping Health Care Legislation and to foster a feeling of unity. Perhaps in response to nearly unanimous opposition from Republican Congress, Obama felt the need to speak directly to Congressional Democrats to remind them to hold ranks and not defect from promises made to the electorate regarding health care.
Sphere: Related ContentTags: Democratic Strategist, democrats, fox news, health Care, obama, President Obama, republican
