Healthcare for children S Chip

[Pupart]

I signed the petition. Will you?

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/469109231?z00m=10482251

[gackle]

While I think it's important for everybody to be able to have access to affordable health care and there are serious issues with our health care system today, I think the SCHIP program is a way to convert our health care system to socialized medicine. Think about it - the next generation will grow up expecting our government to pay for their health care. History has shown that governments most successfully change things slowly over time, not with sweeping changes. This is my personal observation of the SCHIP program and as a result will welcome a Bush veto.

[Pupart]

Socialized medicine does not scare me, even though Bush and his ilk would like it that way. They are good at fear tactics , but many are catching on.

What scares me is big greedy corporations buying politicans, because they
need big $$$ for their elections. Meanwhile, the average American is taken to the cleaners!

It's insane!

While I think it's important for everybody to be able to have access to affordable health care and there are serious issues with our health care system today, I think the SCHIP program is a way to convert our health care system to socialized medicine. Think about it - the next generation will grow up expecting our government to pay for their health care. History has shown that governments most successfully change things slowly over time, not with sweeping changes. This is my personal observation of the SCHIP program and as a result will welcome a Bush veto.

[cptacek]

I agree with Gackle. I am against socialized medicine. I'm glad he vetoed it.

[poundwise]

Facts are fun.

The original SCHIP was a bipartisan program designed to provide health coverage for poor children. The bill presented by Congress represents a substantial change and massive expansion.

• SCHIP provides benefits to children in households with an annual income of up to $42,000. The new plan raises that $20,000 to $62,000 (this is poor?) while, at the same time, redefining a child to include 21 year old adults.

• 77% of the children affected by the proposed expansion already have private insurance.

• It is estimated that between five and six million children currently eligible for SCHIP or Medicaid are not yet enrolled.

Instead of such expansion and dramatic change to the program, shouldn't the focus be on renewing the program and making changes to insure that more people, who do need it, are able to take advantage of it?

This veto was the right thing to do. Congress needs to renew the SCHIP program with less radical changes and additions. Not pursue their own agenda under the guise of helping poor children.

[gackle]

Socialized medicine does not scare me

What is it about socialized medicine that doesn't scare you?

[Scanner]

I am not saying I am against it - I haven't studied this particular issue that much.

But I found an ominous statistic that only 47% of children in CHIP were getting preventative services.

So, if poor parents aren't going to take their poor kids to the doctor, what's the use in covering them? For when there's an asthmatic crisis at the ER? For when there's a diabetic crisis at the ER?

I say you need to weave in accountablitiy. IF you fail to achieve some minimum standards with yoru children in the system, then your copay/co-insurance/premium goes up.

While I am not scared of socialized medicine either, as a moderate, I may have to side with conservatives here and say just throwing money at this isn't the answer.

[Pupart]

$62,000 (this is poor?)

~~~~~~~~~~~~
I guess it all depends on where you live.
I live in Fairfax Co in the state of Virginia.
The average family income is 99 thousand a year.
Many make much more. Many much less, but the prices reflect the average.
$62.000 in this part of the country isn't living high on the hog!

[Pupart]

What is it about socialized medicine that doesn't scare you?

What is there to be scared of?
Canada, Germany, France, and many other places in the world have health care for all their citizens.
I know people in some of these countries. They have no complaints, but I am sure if one wants to, they can find people who will complain .
Nothing is perfect, but the big greedy corporations who buy politicans is dreadful for the middle class in this country!

[boefixepa]

I'm with poundwise...and who ever else mentioned that they were glad it was stopped.

I agree the system is broke, but throwing more money at it is no way to fix it.

Neither is creating more dependence on government programs.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILTY PEOPLE!!!!

[m3racer]

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILTY PEOPLE!!!!

I couldn't have stated it any better.

[m3racer]

What is there to be scared of?
Canada, Germany, France, and many other places in the world have health care for all their citizens.
I know people in some of these countries. They have no complaints, but I am sure if one wants to, they can find people who will complain .
Nothing is perfect, but the big greedy corporations who buy politicans is dreadful for the middle class in this country!

The quality of health care in those countries lag farrrrr behind the US. Just see how long it takes for someone to get a CT scan in Canada...it's a joke. Bottom line is this....as a society should we pay for everyone that does not have the financial means to access health care? Is it our responsibility as tax payers? The American health care system has numerous problems that can not be solved with one bill.

[Scanner]

It's funny this should come up.

I resigned as a provider for NJ Horizon Health, which is the state medicaid service in NJ, today. I know this program is weaved into the CHIP program as it used to be Horizon Mercy.

What was the "tipping point" for me was a patient called up, said her husband was agorophobic, and wanted to come into an empty waiting room. I turned them away, for fear of getting hit by the Crazy Bus.

I had to send a certified letter and list the reason I am resigning.

I'll post my letter here for your pontification:


October 17, 2007

Attn: XXX XXXXXXXX
Horizon NJ Health
210 Sylvia Street
West Trenton, NJ 08628

Dear Ms. XXXXXXXXX:

I am respectfully writing to you to ask you to terminate the contract between my office and your insurance company. As per our conversation you asked me to list the reason for exit so the “bean counters” and “managers” could discuss it at a meeting with donuts and bagels and stuff.

I could divide it into 3 reasons, in no particular order:

1. The reimbursement is $8.25 for chiropractic manipulation and $60 for E/M. While it is actually refreshing to see Horizon recognize chiropractors perform E/M (yeah. . .we actually just don’t lay patients down and crack them, ha, ha), that level of reimbursement is too low for business operations and is frankly unfair to the other insurance companies and patients paying full price. It’s not fair to cost shift upon them. I am forwarding a copy of this letter with regards to the bad faith lawsuit with chiropractors, Horizon and E/M.

2. Maybe more insulting than the low reimbursement is the requirement that I pre-certify the care so I can receive reimbursement. I know you have to keep track of where money is going. . .but how much is it costing you to keep track of $8? I mean. . .iza just a country chiropractor and you guys have MBA’s from ivy league universities and stuff but I would imagine this is not great business practice.

3. Maybe most damaging. . .it goes beyond money and I have seen this in the medical offices I come in contact with (so it’s not just a chiropractic phenomenon). Doctors are now starting to “classify” patients. A class system is starting to emerge. In other words, sad to say, your members are being branded. I found myself saying, “Oh. . .we have a NJ Horizon Health patient coming in. Don’t let them interfere with the paying patients.”

And that’s a bad place to be, whether you are a chiropractor, family doctor, lab, x-ray facility or pediatrician. I wish insurance companies didn’t make this integrity challenge upon doctors but I guess this is 2007. Maybe a class system will be the eventual result.

I wish your company luck in making money.

Sincerely,



XXXX XXXXXXXX, DC

Cc: ANJC Insurance Relations



My office manager said it had my weird sense of humor in it and I should forward it to the local paper.

Anyway, this is just the provider perspective. As you can tell, I could care less from a business standpoint if they scrapped the whole golddarn thing.

I understand though that this program is a link for the poor receiving basic healthcare and the healthcare I give my community is not basic (unless you have chronic back pain. . .then I'm your best friend).

[Pupart]

I'm with poundwise...and who ever else mentioned that they were glad it was stopped.

I agree the system is broke, but throwing more money at it is no way to fix it.

Neither is creating more dependence on government programs.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILTY PEOPLE!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There are so many instances where a family has been responsible and tragedy has struck and they are unable to pay medical bills and
high insurance premiums.
There are people who get laid off from jobs they have had for years and find themself in a bad situation.
Yeah, forgot about money to help them!
Keep throwing the money at this damn war that is only making matters worse!
Those of you who are so worried about the governemnt spending should be up in arms about the perks these pompous legislators are giving themselves at our expense! Where is your outrage about that?
You want to talk about RESPONSIBILITY!!
Where in the hell is it with those in Washington?? BUSH ESPECIALLY!!!!

And for the person who mentioned getting a cat scan in Canada, I know several people who live there and are very happy with their health care.

[Scanner]

Keep throwing the money at this damn war that is only making matters worse!

Now with that I agree. The Conservatives have spent money like it's going out of style.