Health Care

Hagan on Medicare Reimbursement: Why Isn't Congress Budgeting Soundly Looking Longer-Term?

kbolton — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:46:44 -0600

GREENSBORO, NC- State Senator and U.S. Senate Candidate Kay Hagan (D-Guilford) today urged Congress to come up with a solution to ensure that a 10 percent cut in reimbursements for doctors who care for Medicare patients is not realized when Medicare begins processing these claims in two weeks.

Elizabeth Edwards Responds: Why Are People Like Me Left Out?

admin — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:28:51 -0600

Elizabeth Edwards
originally published on Think Progress

I freely admit that I am confused about the role of overnight funding in repurchase markets in the collapse of Bear Stearns. What I am not confused about is John McCain’s health care proposal. Apparently Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a senior policy advisor to McCain, thinks I do “not understand the comprehensive nature of the senator’s proposal.” The problem, Douglas, is that, despite fuzzy language and feel-good lines in the Senator’s proposal, I do understand exactly how devastating it will be to people who have the health conditions with which the Senator and I are confronted (melanoma for him, breast cancer for me) but do not have the financial resources we have. In very unconfusing language: they are left outside the clinic doors.

Senator McCain likes to start speeches with a litany of questions that, presumedly, less plain-spoken politicians would refuse to answer. Well, here are some questions he does not ask but, as that plain-spoken politician, he might want to answer:

McCain's Health Care Plan Would Overburden Business

kbolton — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:09:11 -0600

Washington, DC - John McCain says he will stand up for America's small businesses and that "[e]ntrepreneurs are at the heart of American innovation, growth and prosperity."

Gov. Easley Proposes Funding To Help Vulnerable North Carolinians

admin — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:15:38 -0600

Recommendations Would Give Health Care To More Children, Increase Access To Child Care

Gov. Mike Easley said today his 2008-09 budget proposal will recommend spending an additional $31 million to help those who often are overlooked by society but are the most in need. The budget the governor will present to the General Assembly next week will provide additional funds for: health insurance for children in need through the Health Choice program; assistance to those at the greatest threat of foreclosure on their homes; increased aid to those in need of child care; and job-site inspections and assistance to workers in the state’s poultry industry.

Gov. Easley Calls For Changes To The State’s Mental Health Services

admin — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 10:53:18 -0700

Gov. Mike Easley today announced a three-part plan to return accountability to the state’s mental health system and make it more responsive to the needs of patients and their families. He will ask the legislature to give the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services clear authority over the local management entities (LMEs) created by the 2001 reform legislation, change the law to require all deaths in hospitals be reported to the state, and expand the state’s mobile crisis teams that provide hospital services across the state.

“Secretary Dempsey Benton needs to be the one to evaluate the LMEs, to appoint the LME directors, and be able to fire the LME directors, and to do that in a timely fashion. He does not have that authority today,” said Easley. “We need to allow the secretary to reduce the number of LMEs to avoid variations in quality of care and to make it possible to hold these programs accountable. It also would reduce significantly the administrative cost.”

President Bush, Please Take Dick Cheney When You Leave the White House

jlynch — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:52:58 -0700

President Bush, please take Dick Cheney with you when you leave the White House.

Cloaked in secrecy, Vice President Dick Cheney met today in a closed meeting with the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce.

“While we might not know what they talked about, the evidence is clear that the Bush-Cheney economic policies have failed North Carolina,” said NCDP Chair Jerry Meek.

“A recession is looming and it costs more to put fill our gas tanks, heat our homes, and pay for health care when illness strikes,” Meek said.

In 2001, gas was $1.37 per gallon. Now it costs $3.09 per gallon. Americans could heat their homes for as low as $1.40 per gallon. Now it costs $3.39.

Health care insurance premium costs for families have doubled from $6,230 in 2001 to $12,106 per household today.

“North Carolinians work hard to secure a better future for their children and grandchildren,” Meek said. “But the Bush-Cheney Administration has diminished that with irresponsible policies and an unquenchable thirst for debt.”

Bush Vetoes Heath Insurance for Children (again)

admin — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 16:10:36 -0700

Jennifer Loven, Associated Press

President Bush vetoed legislation Wednesday that would have expanded government-provided health insurance for children, his second slap-down of a bipartisan effort in Congress to dramatically increase funding for the popular program.

It was Bush's seventh veto in seven years - all but one coming since Democrats took control of Congress in January. Wednesday was the deadline for Bush to act or let the bill become law. The president also vetoed an earlier, similar bill expanding the health insurance program.

Bush vetoed the bill in private.

In a statement notifying Congress of his decision, Bush said the bill was unacceptable because - like the first one - it allows adults into the program, would cover people in families with incomes above the U.S. median and raises taxes.

Grand Obstruction Party Blocks Bipartisan Non-Controversial Bills

DIYDemocracy — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:59:50 -0700

Bush Republicans have engaged in unprecedented obstruction. They have used every delaying tactic available to them, including filibusters and secret holds. But Bush Republican efforts to block floor consideration of even bipartisan and non-controversial bills clearly reveals their strategy: block everything.

Below is a list of the non-controversial, bipartisan bills blocked by Bush Republicans this morning.

ALS Registry Act. S. 1382, which would authorize $75 million for fiscal 2008 to create a registry with the Centers for Disease Control to collect and analyze data on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The bill was passed out of committee and has 67 bipartisan co-sponsors.

Where is Liddy on SCHIP?

ahg0606 — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:54:05 -0700

Elizabeth Dole was against expanding the State Children Health Insurance Program before she was for it.

Dole endangered the health of 123,000 North Carolina children when she voted six times this year against fully funding the program.

Last week, she was among 28 senators who sent a letter asking Senate leadership to expand SCHIP.

“Elizabeth Dole is playing election year politics with the health of our children,” said NCDP Chair Jerry Meek.

“When Dole had the chance, in fact six chances, to provide quality access to health care for children, she did nothing,” Meek said. “She chose to stand by President Bush’s failed policies rather than stand up for North Carolina children and families.”

World AIDS Day

admin — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 09:28:34 -0700

Living with HIV/AIDS isn’t easy.

There are good days and bad days. There are days when one’s dreams feel within reach. And there are days when there isn’t enough energy to take the dog for a walk, cook a simple meal, or read a bedtime story to a child.

There are days when co-workers understand that you have to leave work a little early to go to treatment. And there are days when the stigma and isolation of having HIV/AIDS feels too much to bear.

And then there’s World AIDS Day.

World AIDS Day occurs on Dec. 1. It’s a time to celebrate the lives of the estimated 29,500 North Carolinians who live with the disease each day. It’s also a day to reflect on how much more we have to do in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.

North Carolina Democrats are committed to making each day count by passing a state budget this year that provides:

* More than $235,000 to expand public health lab testing, including HIV testing for pregnant women.
* $2 million for local health departments, historically black colleges and universities, and other community organizations for HIV counseling, testing, and early medical interventions.