Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Health Insurance with Medicaid is the Perfect Gift
This is not a headline from The Onion. It was an email I received yesterday from the "team" at Healthcare.gov. Even better than the headline was the message that followed.Mother's Day might be behind us but it's not too late to give your mother a special gift. Let the moms in your life know that health insurance is available through Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
Wait, I'm confused? Wasn't the last enrollment blitz focused on mothers telling their children to sign up? Obviously that didn't work since Obamacare fell way short of enrolling the necessary number of Young Invincibles.
I guess the "Nag Toolkit" used in Rhode Island didn't work either. Although I highly doubt any mom would want to use sites like Tinder, OK Cupid, Vine, SnapChat, or Twitter to inundate their kids.
The Loneliest Number
Three Dog Night had it right. After a 3+ year run-up to the 404Care.gov Exchange, the results were - too put it mildly - underwhelming:
"Only one person successfully enrolled in Obamacare on its first day of business, a nonprofit government watchdog group found ... 48 percent of enrollee hopefuls failed in their efforts on day two of Obamacare"
Anyone surprised?
"Only one person successfully enrolled in Obamacare on its first day of business, a nonprofit government watchdog group found ... 48 percent of enrollee hopefuls failed in their efforts on day two of Obamacare"
Anyone surprised?
Coming full circle, MVNHS© edition
Over the years, we've chronicled the many shortcomings of the Much Vaunted National Health System©, including its decision to pay for breast enlargements for teens but not spinal cord surgeries for tots.
And remember, this is one of the key models for our own shiny new healthcare scheme. That's because the rocket surgeons in Britain and Washington believe that government-run health care beats the private sector.
Comes now proof that they're both wrong:
"A failing NHS hospital has been voted the best for patient care just two years after it was taken over by a private company."
A scant 24 months ago, Hinchingbrooke hospital was described as a "basket case," almost $70 million in debt, unable to even keep and maintain accurate records.
What changed?
Turning its operation over to a private, for-profit partnership called "Circle." According to the firm's website, they now run 5 different "trusts" (hospitals), with Hinchingbrooke being the most recent (and perhaps most dire) client. In just two years, its mortality and re-admission rates, as well as the speed with which its able to treat cancer patients have all improved to award-winning status.
So what's the lesson here?
I think this sums it up:
"The key to their success was bringing business practises into the hospital ... Now there’s a future for the hospital and we know through the security of the contract that they can operate for a certain period"
Imagine that.
And remember, this is one of the key models for our own shiny new healthcare scheme. That's because the rocket surgeons in Britain and Washington believe that government-run health care beats the private sector.
Comes now proof that they're both wrong:
"A failing NHS hospital has been voted the best for patient care just two years after it was taken over by a private company."
A scant 24 months ago, Hinchingbrooke hospital was described as a "basket case," almost $70 million in debt, unable to even keep and maintain accurate records.
What changed?
Turning its operation over to a private, for-profit partnership called "Circle." According to the firm's website, they now run 5 different "trusts" (hospitals), with Hinchingbrooke being the most recent (and perhaps most dire) client. In just two years, its mortality and re-admission rates, as well as the speed with which its able to treat cancer patients have all improved to award-winning status.
So what's the lesson here?
I think this sums it up:
"The key to their success was bringing business practises into the hospital ... Now there’s a future for the hospital and we know through the security of the contract that they can operate for a certain period"
Imagine that.
Monday, May 19, 2014
Lying Can Cost You
unless you are a politician trying to get re-elected or work for the Veteran's Administration
and you are expected to lie as part of your job.
The Obama administration Friday spelled out civil fines of up to $250,000 for knowingly and willfully providing false information to get taxpayer-subsidized coverage under the new health care law.
New regulations say the fines also apply for lying to escape the law’s requirement that most Americans carry health insurance.
If you fail to provide correct information — but there’s no malicious intent— you still risk a $25,000 fine. It can be waived if there’s a reasonable explanation and you acted in good faith.
Double standard.
MVNHS© Priorities
Compare and contrast:
"More than 250 girls aged 16 and under have had breast enlargements paid for by the NHS ... Across all age groups, more than 3,000 women had augmentation surgery last year"
While bigger may be better, is this really the best use of precious health care dollars?
Ok then, what about a young girl - two years old! - who "was born prematurely and has a form of cerebral palsy which means she cannot use her legs(?)"
Cerebral Palsy is "a term used to describe a group of chronic conditions affecting body movement and muscle coordination. It is caused by damage to one or more specific areas of the brain, usually occurring during fetal development."
Treatment for CP certainly seems like a test-book example of what we call "medical necessity," while breast enlargement seems, at first glance, about cosmetic enhancement. Yet the Much Vaunted National Health System© is willing to spend who knows how many pounds for the latter, while denying young Sophie any chance at a "normal" (or at least much-improved) life:
"An operation on her spinal cord would enable her to take her first steps – but health chiefs have decided that it is too expensive."
This is the direct result of government-run health care: no appeals, no accountability. And it is an underlying girder of our own new health care scheme. Think about that.
Oh: if you'd like to help Sophie's family raise the £25,000 ($42,000) needed to pay for the her surgery, click here.
[Hat Tip: Ace of Spades]
"More than 250 girls aged 16 and under have had breast enlargements paid for by the NHS ... Across all age groups, more than 3,000 women had augmentation surgery last year"
While bigger may be better, is this really the best use of precious health care dollars?
Ok then, what about a young girl - two years old! - who "was born prematurely and has a form of cerebral palsy which means she cannot use her legs(?)"
Cerebral Palsy is "a term used to describe a group of chronic conditions affecting body movement and muscle coordination. It is caused by damage to one or more specific areas of the brain, usually occurring during fetal development."
Treatment for CP certainly seems like a test-book example of what we call "medical necessity," while breast enlargement seems, at first glance, about cosmetic enhancement. Yet the Much Vaunted National Health System© is willing to spend who knows how many pounds for the latter, while denying young Sophie any chance at a "normal" (or at least much-improved) life:
"An operation on her spinal cord would enable her to take her first steps – but health chiefs have decided that it is too expensive."
This is the direct result of government-run health care: no appeals, no accountability. And it is an underlying girder of our own new health care scheme. Think about that.
Oh: if you'd like to help Sophie's family raise the £25,000 ($42,000) needed to pay for the her surgery, click here.
[Hat Tip: Ace of Spades]
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