Monthly Archives: March 2017

HEALTH CARE (THE MORNINGS AFTER)

by in Democratic Party, health care, ISSUES, NEWS, POLITICS, Repeal, republican Party, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

COMPRROMISE

This article could easily be about the “mourning” after but the morning after characterization should suffice. The Trump administration should understand that you have to accept defeat so that you can appreciate ultimate victory. Let’s have a dialogue about what happened, is happening, and should happen with respect to “America Health Care” legislation. Despite the fact that I am the only one speaking we can still have a dialogue. I write and you read.

If the intent of the “Freedom Caucus” is to do nothing and bring Government to a halt, then they are doing a terrific job. If the “Freedom Caucus” believe doing nothing will metamorphose into a Landmark decision, then my feedback is, awake from that delusion. Each “Freedom Caucus” member should stop collecting pay checks and deposit said funds to the Health Care entity of choice until satisfactory legislation is signed by President Trump.

To Speaker Ryan, ask not what the Republican Party can do for you but what you can do for the Republican Party. Your required action should be self-evident. The Administration and the Party need to move Forward. Please do the right thing. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

After seven years of discontent the Affordable Health Care proposal on the table is inadequate. I find it difficult to believe that this is the best Republican Party Law makers can draft. It is possible that the principal architect is mentally inebriated from being too close to the project for that period of time. It is possible that the principal architect is subconsciously locked into his understanding and interpretation of the issue that it is impossible for him to construct a satisfactory plan.

What happened: The issue was misunderstood and therefore the almost submitted resolution was doomed to failure. The good President knew that. Now that he understands the issue and the process, I am confident he will take two steps back and the needed step forward. As a reminder. the question was and still is, how do we provide Health Insurance for millions of Americans who are uninsured and in some cases underinsured.

The reason we have a Health Insurance issue is because most Americans have coverage which is connected to their employment. Some of the uninsured are no longer employed and Cobra is too expensive. Others are employed but their Health Insurance is too expensive and simply cannot afford it.

Republican and Democratic Party Law Makers should step back and reevaluate. Sometimes you can get so close to a project that it is impossible to see the forest from the trees. This is where the Principal architect and those close to him are. The frame work of the almost submitted plan can be maintained but before a satisfactory resolution is reached, there will need to be significant Re-write and Amendments.

Each time affordable access to Health care is discussed, cynics and the dis-ingenuous raise the subject of Entitlements. Leave entitlements alone. Such discussion only muddies the water, clutter the table, or create distraction.  Leave entitlements alone. People either paid for or earned their entitlements. Therefore, that subject is irrelevant. There is no need to steal from Peter to pay Paul. However, there is need to reduce your commitment to Peter so that you can address “Affordable Health Care”. The bottom line is can you provide assistance regarding Health Care for your citizens. I think you can. Let’s do it. Not doing it is not an option.

What is happening: the “Freedom Caucus” and Democratic Party are basking in their nothing victory. Both groups are enjoying a “NOTHING BURGER”. I encourage them to wipe that grin off their faces and start working. If they do not, their constituents should Repeal and Replace everyone of them.

What should happen: Truth be told, drafting a satisfactory “Affordable Health Care” proposal is a challenging Project but not insurmountable. People need to step back and assess the situation, respectfully compromise, map a resolution, and then move forward to remedy. It seems to me mapping a resolution should include but not limited to the following bullets:

  • Do not fix or legislate on what is not broken. Citizens who are employed and like their Insurance should be left alone. However, leave the door open should their status change.
  • Those employed but underinsured should be included in the plan.
  • Those employed but cannot afford to be insured should be granted access and provided for consistent with Direct Primary Care entities like Atlas MD.
  • Those unemployed and not insured should be granted access and provided for consistent with Direct Primary Care entities like Atlas MD.
  • For those unemployed and not insured or employed but cannot afford, the Government should develop a partnership with local Clinics to service these individuals and reimburse clinics on a pre-determined or defined scale.
  • Government should encourage Direct Primary Care entities like Atlas MD and local Clinics to engender solid relationships with Local and Regional Hospitals for support or advanced procedures.
  • If unemployment status changes, then individuals should declare and contribute to the cost of their care.
  • Cost for care should = (Historical average Dollar benefits/ current Annual Salary) * Cost for each Service
  • If the above is not maintained and ultimately satisfied, then the annual amount for each Tax Year should be withheld from Refund.

Are we there yet? It will be a tragedy if Law Makers cannot focus long enough to Repeal and Replace the current fiasco known as “Affordable Health Care”. Any legislation with the word Mandate will fail to deliver according to expectations. There seems to be a fixation on the word mandate to the extent that it continues to be a part of Legislation from the Clinton era to now.

Will someone put the word Mandate back into the Dictionary. Equally relevant, any legislation which tries to give more than the necessary credence to Insurance companies will fail to deliver according to expectations.

Law Makers need to determine how much and what involvement should Insurance companies have in the development of the ultimate document. If Insurance companies are given a major role in the crafting of the ultimate document, it will fail to deliver consistent with the real need of the people. Do not expect Insurance companies to assist in the legislation of equitable and in some cases free Health Insurance for the people.

Yes, in some cases based on a means test or affordability scale some of my fellow Americans will require free Health Insurance and Care. And why not. If you can go abroad and provide free Health Care, then why not do it for our citizens. Charity begins at Home.

No Insurance company is about to craft legislation that will take money out of their pockets willingly. That is just not good business practice. However, this matter is not about the business of Health Insurance. It is about the people and their need for affordable Health Insurance devoid of complicated verbiage. Insurance companies will not lose money. Sure, they may lose money on the Health Insurance line item but they will make it up on another line. Do not believe that the Health Insurance companies only sell Health Insurance. The current White House Administration should know that very well.

Now is the time to repeal the current fiasco known as “Affordable Health Care”. Timing is everything. The Republican Party and the newly elected Administration must seize the moment and act accordingly but with more forward thinking. Everyone is consumed with the cost to Government. I agree that is important but we are not there yet. The current stage is the draft. The current stage is the Pro Forma. No plan is complete without revision. There will be time enough for counting, when the deal is done.

Millions of Americans are, or soon to be without Health Care because they cannot afford Health Insurance. I realize that Legislators feel the need to provide input and be part of the Legislation and that is awesome but let’s get on with the provision. I hope the “Freedom Caucus” and Democratic Party are aware of that reality.

Where will the money coming from? The money comes from a reduction of each current line item on the budget reduced by what you think provision of Health Insurance will cost. Any detail discussion of this premise is unnecessary in this article. The best Financial person in the Administration should be able to take what I just wrote and convert it into a revised budget.

LEGISLATION

 

HEALTH CARE (THE WAY FORWARD)

by in BUDGET, health care, ISSUES, republican Party, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Health Care Debacle Top

After seven years of discontent the Affordable Health Care proposal on the table is inadequate. I find it difficult to believe that this is the best Republican Party Law makers can draft. It is possible that the principal architect is mentally inebriated from being too close to the project for that period of time. It is possible that the principal architect is subconsciously locked into his understanding and interpretation of the issue that it is impossible for him to construct a satisfactory plan.

From the start the issue was misunderstood and therefore each submitted resolution was doomed to failure. The question was and still is, how do we provide Health Insurance for millions of Americans who are uninsured and in some cases underinsured.

The reason we have a Health Insurance issue is because most Americans have coverage which is connected to their employment. Some of the uninsured are no longer employed and Cobra is too expensive. Others are employed but their Health Insurance is too expensive and simply cannot afford it.

Perhaps Law Makers should step back and reevaluate. Sometimes you can get so close to a project that it is impossible to see the forest from the trees. This is where the Principal architect and those close to him are. I suppose the frame work of the idea can be maintained but before a satisfactory plan is reached, there will need to be significant Re-write and Amendments.

Each time affordable access to Health care is discussed, cynics and the dis-ingenuous raise the subject of Entitlements. Leave entitlements alone. Such discussion only muddies the water, clutter the table, or create distraction.  Leave entitlements alone. People either paid for or earned their entitlements. Therefore, that subject is irrelevant. The bottom line is can you provide assistance regarding Health Care for your citizens. If you cannot, then we should shut up.

Truth be told, drafting a satisfactory “Affordable Health Care” proposal is a challenging Project but not insurmountable. People need to step back and assess the situation, map a resolution, and then move forward to remedy. It seems to me mapping a resolution should include but not limited to the following bullets:

  • Do not fix or legislate on what is not broken. Citizens who are employed and like their Insurance should be left alone. However, leave the door open should their status change.
  • Those employed but underinsured should be included in the plan.
  • Those employed but cannot afford to be insured should be granted access and provided for consistent with Direct Primary Care entities like Atlas MD.
  • Those unemployed and not insured should be granted access and provided for consistent with Direct Primary Care entities like Atlas MD.
  • For those unemployed and not insured or employed but cannot afford, the Government should develop a partnership with local Clinics to service these individuals and reimburse clinics on a pre-determined scale.
  • Government to encourage Direct Primary Care entities like Atlas MD and local Clinics to engender solid relationships with Local and Regional Hospitals for support or advanced procedures.
  • If unemployment status changes, then individuals should declare and contribute to the cost of their care.
  • Cost for care should = (Historical average Dollar benefits/ current Annual Salary) * Cost for each Service
  • If the above is not maintained and ultimately satisfied, then the annual amount for each Tax Year should be withheld from Refund.

Are we there yet? It will be a tragedy if Law Makers cannot focus long enough to Repeal and Replace the current fiasco known as “Affordable Health Care”. Any legislation with the word Mandate will fail to deliver according to expectations. There seems to be a fixation on the word mandate to the extent that it continues to be a part of Legislation from the Clinton era to now.

Will someone put the word Mandate back into the Dictionary. Equally relevant, any legislation which tries to give more than the necessary credence to Insurance companies will fail to deliver according to expectations.

Law Makers need to determine how much and what involvement should Insurance companies have in the development of the ultimate document. If Insurance companies are given a major role in the crafting of the ultimate document, it will fail to deliver consistent with the real need of the people. Do not expect Insurance companies to assist in the legislation of equitable and in some cases free Health Insurance for the people.

Yes, in some cases based on a means test or affordability scale some of my fellow Americans will require free Health Insurance and Care. And why not. If you can go abroad and provide free Health Care, then why not do it for our citizens. Charity begins at Home.

No Insurance company is about to craft legislation that will take money out of their pockets willingly. That is just not good business practice. However, this matter is not about the business of Health Insurance. It is about the people and their need for affordable Health Insurance devoid of complicated verbiage. Insurance companies will not lose money. Sure, they may lose money on the Health Insurance line item but they will make it up on another line. Do not believe that the Health Insurance companies only sell Health Insurance. The current White House Administration should know that very well.

Now is the time to repeal the current fiasco known as “Affordable Health Care”. Timing is everything. The Republican Party and the newly elected Administration must seize the moment and act accordingly but with more forward thinking. Everyone is consumed with the cost to Government. I agree that is important but we are not there yet. The current stage is the draft. The current stage is the Pro Forma. No plan is complete without revision. There will be time enough for counting, when the deal is done.

Millions of Americans are, or soon to be without Health Care because they cannot afford Health Insurance. I realize that Legislators feel the need to provide input and be part of the Legislation and that is awesome but let’s get on with the provision.

Where will the money coming from? The money comes from a reduction of each current line item on the budget reduced by what you think provision of Health Insurance will cost. Any detail discussion of this premise is unnecessary in this article. The best Financial person in the Administration should be able to take what I just wrote and convert it into a revised Balance Sheet.

Health Care Debacle Bottom

Health Care Debacle

by in ELECTIONS, health care, Illegal Immigration, ISSUES, Repeal, republican Party, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

 

 

Health Care Debacle Bottom

Are we there yet? It will be a tragedy if Law Makers cannot focus long enough to Repeal and Replace the current fiasco known as “Affordable Health Care”. Any legislation with the word Mandate will fail to deliver according to expectations. There seems to be a fixation on the word mandate to the extent that it continues to be a part of Legislation from the Clinton era to now. Will someone put the word back into the Dictionary. Equally relevant, any legislation which tries to give more than the necessary credence to Insurance companies will fail to deliver according to expectations.

Law Makers need to determine how much and what involvement should Insurance companies have in the development of the ultimate document. If Insurance companies are given a major role in the crafting of the ultimate document, it will fail to deliver consistent with the real need of the people. Do not expect Insurance companies to assist in the legislation of equitable and in some cases free Health Insurance for the people. Yes, in some cases based on a means test or affordability scale some of my fellow Americans will require free Health Insurance and Care. And why not. If you can go abroad and provide free Health Care, then why not do it for our citizens. Charity begins at Home.

No Insurance company is about to craft legislation that will take money out of their pockets willingly. That is just not good business practice. However, this matter is not about the business of Health Insurance. It is about the people and their need for affordable Health Insurance devoid of complicated verbiage. Insurance companies will not lose money. Sure, they may lose money on the Health Insurance line item but they will make it up on another line. Do not believe that the Health Insurance companies only sell Health Insurance. The current White House Administration should know that very well.

Now is the time to repeal the current fiasco known as “Affordable Health Care”. Timing is everything. The Republican Party and the newly elected Administration must seize the moment and act accordingly but with more forward thinking. Everyone seems to be consumed with the cost to Government. I agree that is important but we are not there yet. The current stage is the draft. The current stage is the Pro Forma. No plan is complete without revision. There will be time enough for counting, when the deal is done.

Millions of Americans are, or soon to be without Health Care because they cannot afford Health Insurance. I realize that Legislators feel the need to provide input and be part of the Legislation and that is awesome but let’s get on with the provision.

The question was and still is, how do we provide Health Insurance for millions of Americans who are uninsured and in some cases underinsured. The time is right for the Republican Administration to Repeal “Affordable Health Care “as is constituted and develop a constructive provision. Keep it simple, probably 20 pages.

Somewhere along the way Journalism and Law Schools determined that numerous pages of verbiage is the way to address and explain resolution to important issues. Fortunately, the opposite is true and has withstood the test of time. In essence, Keep It Simple.

Draining the swamp is still in order for Republicans and Democrats alike. The Administration needs to be cautious not to go down the path of the Republican establishment. The Administration needs to develop a path consistent with Conservative Republicans. The current Pro Forma needs work and revision. Yes, it would be terrific to gain the support of House Leadership but their Agenda is not that of Conservative Republicans on this issue. Their agenda has been to the market place and Conservative Republicans are not interested. The Administration needs to work on revision of Repeal and Replace so that it meets the expectations of Conservative Republicans. Current proposal is a mouth with missing teeth. Pardon the analogy.

We have a Health Insurance issue because most Americans have coverage which is connected to their employment. Some of the uninsured are no longer employed and Cobra is too expensive. Others are employed but their Health Insurance is too expensive and simply cannot afford it. A true provision must address how Self-employed or individuals will be able to acquire Health Care at an affordable price.

It is not Health Care that needs reform. It is the cost, access, and availability of Health Insurance that needs reform. Choosing Health Care is analogous to deciding which car to buy.  However, one must first have money or access to make that decision. In this case money or access inclusive of applicable discounts is Health Insurance.

Health Care, is the availability of Medical Goods and Services including buildings and equipment whose sole purpose is to preserve, maintain, prolong health, and ultimately life. Health Insurance is the free or affordable access to Health care.

Each time affordable access to Health care is discussed, cynics and the dis-ingenuous raise the subject of Entitlements. Leave entitlements alone. Such discussion only muddies the water, clutter the table, or create distraction.  Leave entitlements alone. People either paid for or earned their entitlements. Therefore, that subject is irrelevant. The bottom line is you can provide assistance regarding Health Care for your citizens or you cannot. If you cannot, then we should shut up.

Citizens are not the same as residents and certainly not the same as Illegal immigrants. You can be a resident and not a citizen. If you are an illegal immigrant, you do not qualify as a resident and definitely not a citizen. Seems to me that definition should be disclosed and made clear in the provision of “Affordable Health Care”. Perhaps, this why the Legislation or agreements thereon is taking this long. In one sentence, I just eliminated two groups of people. That should definitely reduce the projected cost. Census says there are 300 million people in country but not all are citizens.

Let’s get on with the “Affordable Health Care” provision. Quit talking and stalling. There is nothing to it but to do it. Are we there yet?

Health Care Debacle Top

Term Limits for Members of Congress

by in ISSUES, NEWS, POLITICS, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

term-limits-top1

It is time to enact Term Limits for members of Congress, Senators and Representatives alike. I propose a maximum of 8 consecutive years. It is time to get rid of the stagnation on Capitol Hill. The stagnation is so enormous that the stench has permeated country and preventing progress. This once vibrant nation with ideas flowing like water has been reduced to the fluid motion of molasses.

If the Presidency is limited to two terms in fear of undue influence, then Senators and House members should be limited in like manner for the same reason. Members of congress are entrenched in their political ideology and refuse to open their minds and compromise for the good of the people.

Once stagnation sets in, interest is no longer that of the people but for self. Self motivated Senators and House members become career politicians. Career politicians become impediments to forward thinking ideas. Career politicians become obstructionists and their interest is that of the Lobbyist they represent.

Career politicians fail to realize when the merits of their ideas are no longer relevant. Their constant objective is to return to the failed policies of the past hoping that Americans with short memories have forgotten.

The current Tax cuts has not produced any significant new Jobs in the last 8 years.  The unemployment rate is evidence of that. There is no indication whether by Inductive or Deductive reasoning that continued Tax cuts will enable the creation new jobs. If Tax cuts did not create jobs in the last 8 years and specifically between 2008 and 2010 then what is the reasoning behind continued great expectation. The American people are hungry for a resolution.

We need a flow of new people and ideas on Capitol Hill. In the past I encouraged a previous minority leader in the House of Representative to retire to Ohio, find a rocking chair, and sip on his favorite beverage. That encouragement was followed and at last check he is having a great time. Quite candidly, I wish other politicians on Capitol Hill would do the same and retire to their State or another Country. The time to enact Term Limits is now.

Leon T.

term-limits-top