What will happen to health care reform? Nothing, or a worsening of the situation unless the politics are left out and the Republicans stop using obstructionist tactics to derail this and just about every other initiative the President undertakes.
The Democrats aren’t blameless either. Their willingness to stoop to backroom deal making and concessions just to get a bill passed have resulted in the loss of two vital provisions: the public option and the threat of serious limitations on women’s reproductive services which, I maintain, creates another pre-existing condition the bill was envisioned to eliminate.
The insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies will do anything to maintain their profit margins. Witness Anthem Blue Cross raising rates in California in anticipation of a bill's passage.
Here’s what else can happen if people are forced to buy coverage from the very companies ripping us off now. Without a public option, if you lose your job and have a family to support, perhaps the only insurance you can buy will be on a private exchange. Even if you can't afford it, you’re required to buy coverage. How will you pay for that, as well as mortgage/rent, utilities and food? If your spouse makes too much for you to qualify for Medicaid (or an exemption from the mandatory coverage) this is all too possible.
And here is an example of the convoluted way reproductive health services would work: In the military, where men no doubt can obtain condoms, women can’t get emergency contraception. Most health plans will follow the Federal guidelines and likely exclude birth control abortion coverage unless you pay out of pocket. The argument: "It's a rather small expense." My argument: "Pay for your Viagra, penile pumps and other treatments for erectile dysfunction. If you can't afford it, not having sex won't kill you."
Here's an editorial from The New York Times on this issue: Showing Respect for Women In Uniform
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/15/opinion/15mon3.html?scp=1&sq=emergency%20contraception%20military&st=Search
How about respect for women in general? I'm sick of my body being divided into pieces deserving of care and parts that are "my responsibility" or "my irresponsibility" depending upon whose opinion is being voiced. It takes two to tango, as they say.
Meanwhile, yet another hospital here in NYC (St. Vincent’s) is bankrupt due to bad debt and charity care and lowered insurance reimbursement. They just had a layoff and more are likely. If they close, surrounding institutions will have to absorb the volume-and that means longer waits, understaffing which endanger patient safety and affect infection control measures (more crowding, less cleaning).
What about tort reform and provisions to address the malpractice morass? Lawyers are still advertising no fee unless we win, wasting money on frivolous cases, many of which have not merit but are settled to avoid costly litigation.
I have a great insurance plan, and would likely have to give up some perks, like my health care spending account funded from pre-tax payroll deduction. But my optical benefits have already been reduced and I must go to one vision care provider. I must fill all prescriptions at certain pharmacies to get that benefit.
We’re all going to have to give up something. But unless the health of the American people is put first, not ideology, politics and vengeance there will be no meaningful reform.
Without a viable public option, protection for women's health care services, and changes in the legal system reform is not going to reform anything.
Finally, this is a very intelligent op-ed from The New York Times on how the GOP can fix health care.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/22/opinion/22healthintro.html?th&emc=th
It contains proposals for health care reform written by conservative Republicans. If they can write such reasonable suggestions why can't the House and Senate come to some consensus? The answer: politics.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
No Matter Who Wins, We All Lose
If Martha Coakley loses the Senate race in Massachusetts, health care reform is doomed, right?
Wrong.
Health care reform was doomed when politics and deal making became the goal, rather than health care reform. Why else would House and Senate Democrats "celebrate" the passage of a bill that discriminates against women and tramples their rights? And force people to buy health insurance from the very companies that are ripping us off already? And make deals to allow states to "opt out" when the American people can't. And eliminate the public option? And not address in any meaningful way tort reform and the liability insurance crisis which continues to drive costs higher.
Was I wrong to trust the Democrats and President Obama to do the right thing regarding health care reform? And that they heed the advice of experts from almost every major health care professional organization. Appears so.
Are the Democrats solely to blame? No, the obstructions put up by the Republicans have more to do with discrediting the Democrats in general, and the President in particular than anything else.
Is this politics as usual?
Yes, which is why most Americans are so disgusted with all our elected officials.
I worked very hard with Organizing for America during the initial efforts. Back and forth communication was great, the updates timely, and I felt like I was part of something wonderful. All that changed after the House sneaked through a bill eliminating any possibility of abortion coverage for women. The sight of Nancy Pelosi beaming for the cameras celebrating the deal still sickens me.
Then the communication stopped. No acknowledgement. No explanation, no justification, no strategy. All I get now are requests for money. Senator Gillebrand has never responded to any of my communications. Neither has Congressman Ackerman. Senator Schumer was tripping over himself apologizing, but he still voted for the bill eliminating the public option.
OFA invited me to a strategy session this weekend, but I can't face it. Politics is not my thing. I'm unsubscribing from OFA and am subscribed to Creedo Action, which is much more in line with my political views, and like me, not afraid to open their big mouths and complain.
http://www.credoaction.com/?r=11&id=7407-2377113-7NEBQkx
I hope this bill is defeated because it's bad for women, it's bad for health care in general, and it's bad for cities like New York who have always picked up the slack and offered coverage for those who fall through the cracks. I'm sad, but that's the way it is.
And as for Martha Coakley, the Democrats need to see this as a warning. The American people are fed up with this process.
But no matter who "wins", we all lose.
Wrong.
Health care reform was doomed when politics and deal making became the goal, rather than health care reform. Why else would House and Senate Democrats "celebrate" the passage of a bill that discriminates against women and tramples their rights? And force people to buy health insurance from the very companies that are ripping us off already? And make deals to allow states to "opt out" when the American people can't. And eliminate the public option? And not address in any meaningful way tort reform and the liability insurance crisis which continues to drive costs higher.
Was I wrong to trust the Democrats and President Obama to do the right thing regarding health care reform? And that they heed the advice of experts from almost every major health care professional organization. Appears so.
Are the Democrats solely to blame? No, the obstructions put up by the Republicans have more to do with discrediting the Democrats in general, and the President in particular than anything else.
Is this politics as usual?
Yes, which is why most Americans are so disgusted with all our elected officials.
I worked very hard with Organizing for America during the initial efforts. Back and forth communication was great, the updates timely, and I felt like I was part of something wonderful. All that changed after the House sneaked through a bill eliminating any possibility of abortion coverage for women. The sight of Nancy Pelosi beaming for the cameras celebrating the deal still sickens me.
Then the communication stopped. No acknowledgement. No explanation, no justification, no strategy. All I get now are requests for money. Senator Gillebrand has never responded to any of my communications. Neither has Congressman Ackerman. Senator Schumer was tripping over himself apologizing, but he still voted for the bill eliminating the public option.
OFA invited me to a strategy session this weekend, but I can't face it. Politics is not my thing. I'm unsubscribing from OFA and am subscribed to Creedo Action, which is much more in line with my political views, and like me, not afraid to open their big mouths and complain.
http://www.credoaction.com/?r=11&id=7407-2377113-7NEBQkx
I hope this bill is defeated because it's bad for women, it's bad for health care in general, and it's bad for cities like New York who have always picked up the slack and offered coverage for those who fall through the cracks. I'm sad, but that's the way it is.
And as for Martha Coakley, the Democrats need to see this as a warning. The American people are fed up with this process.
But no matter who "wins", we all lose.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Kill This Health Care Bill Now!
Well, the experts have spoken but no one listened.
To say I'm disappointed with the proposed health care reform bill is an understatement. Once again, number crunchers, lawyers and politicians (since most of them are lawyers it's double jeopardy) have hijacked true reform and crafted bill catering to special interests: conservative, power hungry males, the anti-abortion lobby, and big business in the form of commercial insurers.
The bill myself and other worked so hard to support has created being female as a pre-exisitng condition, requiring women to pay extra for a rider to include coverage for abortion services. Absolute, inexcusable discrimination.
And those who now have no insurance will be required to buy coverage from an exchange run by, guess who? The very same commercial insurance companies that have screwed us all in the past. If you can't afford to buy food and pay your rent and mortgage how are you going to buy insurance?
Back in the 1980s, insurance companies instituted draconian measures to rein in costs and created the myriad of reimbursement strategies including DRG's, precertifications, referrals, preferred provider organizations....The list goes on and on. In the 1990s the Federal government added a whole new layer of regulations to hold down Medicare costs.
Did it improve care? Hell, no! Anyone who has been in a hospital or emergency room knows that there aren't enough nurses or space, yet there are entire departments dedicated to billing, coding, and enforcement of CLIA, HIPPA and all the other mandates. Hospitals are going out of business because their reimbursement rates have been cut. Providers like myself have closed practices because the cost of doing business is higher than the money paid by insurance companies to provide care--and they pay less and less every year. Add to that the malpractice insurance debacle, which I'm not sure has even been addressed in this bill.
Do you trust these people to administer a new bill? Given the last minute, deal making sellouts by the House and Senate which hijacked the original intent of the bill, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL PEOPLE, and the betrayal of those of us who worked in good faith to support reform, I do not.
The Democratic Party gloats about winning but all they have won is a political game, likely to make the situation worse, especially for women and families. They ask us for money, phone calls, petitions, events, signatures, letters....then don't even address our concerns or provide a forum for us to voice our discontent.
Senator Gillebrand and Representative Ackerman have not responded to any of my emails or letters. Senator Schumer has, assuring me that he agrees--but he is still voting for this deeply flawed legislation.
Please, call your representatives and tell this to kill this bill and start over.
Op ed columnist Gail Collins has summarized this much better, and with much more humor than I:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/19/opinion/19collins.html?emc=eta1
To say I'm disappointed with the proposed health care reform bill is an understatement. Once again, number crunchers, lawyers and politicians (since most of them are lawyers it's double jeopardy) have hijacked true reform and crafted bill catering to special interests: conservative, power hungry males, the anti-abortion lobby, and big business in the form of commercial insurers.
The bill myself and other worked so hard to support has created being female as a pre-exisitng condition, requiring women to pay extra for a rider to include coverage for abortion services. Absolute, inexcusable discrimination.
And those who now have no insurance will be required to buy coverage from an exchange run by, guess who? The very same commercial insurance companies that have screwed us all in the past. If you can't afford to buy food and pay your rent and mortgage how are you going to buy insurance?
Back in the 1980s, insurance companies instituted draconian measures to rein in costs and created the myriad of reimbursement strategies including DRG's, precertifications, referrals, preferred provider organizations....The list goes on and on. In the 1990s the Federal government added a whole new layer of regulations to hold down Medicare costs.
Did it improve care? Hell, no! Anyone who has been in a hospital or emergency room knows that there aren't enough nurses or space, yet there are entire departments dedicated to billing, coding, and enforcement of CLIA, HIPPA and all the other mandates. Hospitals are going out of business because their reimbursement rates have been cut. Providers like myself have closed practices because the cost of doing business is higher than the money paid by insurance companies to provide care--and they pay less and less every year. Add to that the malpractice insurance debacle, which I'm not sure has even been addressed in this bill.
Do you trust these people to administer a new bill? Given the last minute, deal making sellouts by the House and Senate which hijacked the original intent of the bill, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL PEOPLE, and the betrayal of those of us who worked in good faith to support reform, I do not.
The Democratic Party gloats about winning but all they have won is a political game, likely to make the situation worse, especially for women and families. They ask us for money, phone calls, petitions, events, signatures, letters....then don't even address our concerns or provide a forum for us to voice our discontent.
Senator Gillebrand and Representative Ackerman have not responded to any of my emails or letters. Senator Schumer has, assuring me that he agrees--but he is still voting for this deeply flawed legislation.
Please, call your representatives and tell this to kill this bill and start over.
Op ed columnist Gail Collins has summarized this much better, and with much more humor than I:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/19/opinion/19collins.html?emc=eta1
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
The Experts Have Spoken. Will the Politicians Listen?
This letter was posted to the ACNM website and represents the joint efforts of a lot of organizations involved with women's health and women's rights. For a look at the posts that came before, check out my LJ blog which has been around longer.
December 1, 2009
Dear Senator:
The undersigned organizations committed to protecting and improving women's health appreciate efforts to advance health care reform that works towards improving access to quality, affordable and comprehensive health care for all Americans. To that end, we urge your support for Senator Mikulski's Women’s Health Amendment, which will help ensure that health care reform meets women's needs.
The Women's Health Amendment will ensure that women have access to key preventive services they need throughout their lives by strengthening the bill's existing protections. A May 2009 report by the Commonwealth Foundation found that nearly half of women delayed or avoided preventive care due to cost—a serious women's health issue that any health care reform plan must address.
While the current bill takes important steps toward improving access to preventive health care by making those recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) available with no or limited cost sharing, USPSTF recommendations do not fully account for the range of preventive services a woman’s doctor may recommend or that a woman may need. The Women's Health Amendment will allow HRSA to develop evidence-based guidelines to help bridge critical gaps in coverage and cost-sharing for preventive health services, the same approach the bill takes to address gaps in preventive services for children. This needed change is intended to make women's unique health care needs – from family planning and well-woman visits to breast cancer screening and preconception counseling that promotes healthier pregnancies and optimal birth outcomes-- more accessible and affordable for women.
As you consider health care reform legislation, we urge you to vote in favor of the Mikulski Women's Health Amendment that will help millions of women receive essential health care.
Sincerely,
National Women’s Law Center
Advocates for Youth
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
American Civil Liberties Union
American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM)
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
American College of Radiology (ACR)
American Medical Women’s Association
American Nurses Association (ANA)
American Psychological Association
Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs
Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN)
Break the Cycle
Center for Reproductive Rights
Family Violence Prevention Fund
Jewish Women International
March of Dimes
Maryland Women's Coalition for Health Care Reform
Medical Students for Choice
National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF)
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy
National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC) - HPV Cancer Coalition
The National Coalition for LGBT Health
National Council of Jewish Women
National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association (NFPRHA)
National Institute for Reproductive Health
National Latina Health Network
National Organization for Women (NOW)
National Partnership for Women & Families
National Women's Health Network
Ovarian Cancer National Alliance
OWL - The Voice of Midlife and Older Women
Physicians for Reproductive Choice & Health (PRCH)
Raising Women's Voices for the Health Care We Need
Reproductive Health Technologies Project
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS)
YWCA USA
And this action alert was sent out by the APHA to it's members. They have been active in fighting the Stupak amendment, and the last word I heard was that the Nelson amendment was also defeated.
Senate debate began today on the Nelson Amendment to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which would significantly impact women who can't afford to purchase separate supplemental coverage for abortion services.
Please take the time to send this message to your Senators today urging that they vote NO when the Senate votes on the Nelson Amendment.
Thank you,
APHA Government Relations
I still don't see how it's fair to ask women to pay extra for premiums in the event they need or want and abortion, when men don't have to pay extra premiums in the event they need treatments for erectile dysfunction. Then again, I've never been (and never will be) a politician.
Please contact your Senators and voice your opinion-whatever it is.
My Livejournal blog is at: http://cmoleti-cnm.livejournal.com/
December 1, 2009
Dear Senator:
The undersigned organizations committed to protecting and improving women's health appreciate efforts to advance health care reform that works towards improving access to quality, affordable and comprehensive health care for all Americans. To that end, we urge your support for Senator Mikulski's Women’s Health Amendment, which will help ensure that health care reform meets women's needs.
The Women's Health Amendment will ensure that women have access to key preventive services they need throughout their lives by strengthening the bill's existing protections. A May 2009 report by the Commonwealth Foundation found that nearly half of women delayed or avoided preventive care due to cost—a serious women's health issue that any health care reform plan must address.
While the current bill takes important steps toward improving access to preventive health care by making those recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) available with no or limited cost sharing, USPSTF recommendations do not fully account for the range of preventive services a woman’s doctor may recommend or that a woman may need. The Women's Health Amendment will allow HRSA to develop evidence-based guidelines to help bridge critical gaps in coverage and cost-sharing for preventive health services, the same approach the bill takes to address gaps in preventive services for children. This needed change is intended to make women's unique health care needs – from family planning and well-woman visits to breast cancer screening and preconception counseling that promotes healthier pregnancies and optimal birth outcomes-- more accessible and affordable for women.
As you consider health care reform legislation, we urge you to vote in favor of the Mikulski Women's Health Amendment that will help millions of women receive essential health care.
Sincerely,
National Women’s Law Center
Advocates for Youth
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
American Civil Liberties Union
American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM)
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
American College of Radiology (ACR)
American Medical Women’s Association
American Nurses Association (ANA)
American Psychological Association
Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs
Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN)
Break the Cycle
Center for Reproductive Rights
Family Violence Prevention Fund
Jewish Women International
March of Dimes
Maryland Women's Coalition for Health Care Reform
Medical Students for Choice
National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF)
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy
National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC) - HPV Cancer Coalition
The National Coalition for LGBT Health
National Council of Jewish Women
National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association (NFPRHA)
National Institute for Reproductive Health
National Latina Health Network
National Organization for Women (NOW)
National Partnership for Women & Families
National Women's Health Network
Ovarian Cancer National Alliance
OWL - The Voice of Midlife and Older Women
Physicians for Reproductive Choice & Health (PRCH)
Raising Women's Voices for the Health Care We Need
Reproductive Health Technologies Project
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS)
YWCA USA
And this action alert was sent out by the APHA to it's members. They have been active in fighting the Stupak amendment, and the last word I heard was that the Nelson amendment was also defeated.
Senate debate began today on the Nelson Amendment to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which would significantly impact women who can't afford to purchase separate supplemental coverage for abortion services.
Please take the time to send this message to your Senators today urging that they vote NO when the Senate votes on the Nelson Amendment.
Thank you,
APHA Government Relations
I still don't see how it's fair to ask women to pay extra for premiums in the event they need or want and abortion, when men don't have to pay extra premiums in the event they need treatments for erectile dysfunction. Then again, I've never been (and never will be) a politician.
Please contact your Senators and voice your opinion-whatever it is.
My Livejournal blog is at: http://cmoleti-cnm.livejournal.com/
Sunday, November 29, 2009
A New Blog
I've started this blog in order to increase my visibility and coordinate with my other friends and followers on Blogger. For now, I will be cross posting between this site and my LJ site. Feel free to leave a message on either, or both.
Please be patient while I get the profile up to date and the page looking the way I want it. Between swine flu vaccinations, marketing, health care reform efforts and writing, I don't have a lot of spare time.
Please be patient while I get the profile up to date and the page looking the way I want it. Between swine flu vaccinations, marketing, health care reform efforts and writing, I don't have a lot of spare time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
