Comments on: The Party of Scrooge http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-party-of-scrooge/ Health Care Policy and Reform Insights | NCPA Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:03:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Taxing the Poor — Again | John Goodman's Health Policy Blog http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-party-of-scrooge/comment-page-1/#comment-41241 Taxing the Poor — Again | John Goodman's Health Policy Blog Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:04:35 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/the-party-of-scrooge/#comment-41241 [...] to tax the poor to fund the State Children's Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP) program here and here. A Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) reenactment of the tobacco settlement is here. This is [...] [...] to tax the poor to fund the State Children's Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP) program here and here. A Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) reenactment of the tobacco settlement is here. This is [...]

]]> By: Tony Hesketh, M.D.(soon) http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-party-of-scrooge/comment-page-1/#comment-13988 Tony Hesketh, M.D.(soon) Sat, 18 Aug 2007 07:22:59 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/the-party-of-scrooge/#comment-13988 I truly appreciated this article. Much of it was well rationalized and thought provoking. But I must agree with Linda above - are 8 out of 10 kids enough? Is covering the remaining 2 kids worth the crowd-out and lower quality care (by your standards)? And as for the tobacco tax - wouldn't it be justified for the lowest fifth pay for the care that will be benefiting this same demographic? I would also like to make an observation about Medicare Advantage as this is a common bone of contention among politicians. The cuts to Medicare Advantage outlined by the House Bill are often used (or rather, misused) as a soundbite by Republicans - it is common to hear that these cuts will negatively impact seniors' quality of and access to care. However, Medicare Advantage is currently well over-funded, and studies have shown that this overpayment has not been reflected in improved quality of care nor physician reimbursement. In many cases, traditional fee-for-service patients receive better care. I thoroughly enjoy being exposed to all sides of this issue. Please keep up the great work. I truly appreciated this article. Much of it was well rationalized and thought provoking. But I must agree with Linda above – are 8 out of 10 kids enough? Is covering the remaining 2 kids worth the crowd-out and lower quality care (by your standards)? And as for the tobacco tax – wouldn’t it be justified for the lowest fifth pay for the care that will be benefiting this same demographic?

I would also like to make an observation about Medicare Advantage as this is a common bone of contention among politicians. The cuts to Medicare Advantage outlined by the House Bill are often used (or rather, misused) as a soundbite by Republicans – it is common to hear that these cuts will negatively impact seniors’ quality of and access to care. However, Medicare Advantage is currently well over-funded, and studies have shown that this overpayment has not been reflected in improved quality of care nor physician reimbursement. In many cases, traditional fee-for-service patients receive better care.

I thoroughly enjoy being exposed to all sides of this issue. Please keep up the great work.

]]> By: Luis J. Gonzalez http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-party-of-scrooge/comment-page-1/#comment-13407 Luis J. Gonzalez Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:18:40 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/the-party-of-scrooge/#comment-13407 Thank you for your interesting article. You are right and the ways things are going with the Democratic controlled Congress, things will get worse and eventually we will wind up having "universal health care." But what can I as a citizen do?? Thank you for your interesting article. You are right and the ways things are going with the Democratic controlled Congress, things will get worse and eventually we will wind up having “universal health care.” But what can I as a citizen do??

]]> By: John B. Sullivan, MD, MBA http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-party-of-scrooge/comment-page-1/#comment-13130 John B. Sullivan, MD, MBA Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:52:27 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/the-party-of-scrooge/#comment-13130 I am troubled by your editorial regarding the children's health insurance program. No doubt about it, America has no health care system to compare to Canada's. Waits for both private pay and government covered patients in the USA are long, probbably as long as any wait yoiu may anecdotally identify in Canada. Most physicians in Arizona would prefer an end to the managed care for- profit insurance system because it is more miserable than the goverenment systems we endure. Universal health care is a necessity and can be in the form of a hybrid: government, private for prfit and private not-for-profit. As a health care administrator in Tucson, Arizona and as a physician, I can assure you that medicaid (AHCCCS) patients receive care as fast and equal to any person in a private plan. And the government plans pay more and cost less to administer than the "privates." You have no rational or financial basis for your argument, just ideology. Please prepare yourself for universal care. I am troubled by your editorial regarding the children’s health insurance program. No doubt about it, America has no health care system to compare to Canada’s. Waits for both private pay and government covered patients in the USA are long, probbably as long as any wait yoiu may anecdotally identify in Canada. Most physicians in Arizona would prefer an end to the managed care for- profit insurance system because it is more miserable than the goverenment systems we endure. Universal health care is a necessity and can be in the form of a hybrid: government, private for prfit and private not-for-profit. As a health care administrator in Tucson, Arizona and as a physician, I can assure you that medicaid (AHCCCS) patients receive care as fast and equal to any person in a private plan. And the government plans pay more and cost less to administer than the “privates.” You have no rational or financial basis for your argument, just ideology. Please prepare yourself for universal care.

]]> By: Linda Pejchar http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-party-of-scrooge/comment-page-1/#comment-13129 Linda Pejchar Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:47:35 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/the-party-of-scrooge/#comment-13129 How can you sleep at night? You are saying it's okay if 2 out of 10 kids don't receive health care? What if those were your kids? I am trying to help a woman with a 6 year old...she works 40 hours a week, her husband has disability of 1,000 a month and they bring in $580 more than can qualify for insurance, not only for the mother but for the child. The total household income for a family of 3 cannot exceed $2800 a month. Before taxes etc they bring home $28,580. You tell her what she is to do? Why is it that the US is the ONLY developed country in THE WORLD that does not provide health care to all of its citizens? It's ok to spend a trillion dollars on a disastrous war in Iraq but not ok to provide the basic of all human needs...access to healthcare. What is your 'innovative private-sector solution' to millions of mothers and children like this? How can you sleep at night? You are saying it’s okay if 2 out of 10 kids don’t receive health care? What if those were your kids? I am trying to help a woman with a 6 year old…she works 40 hours a week, her husband has disability of 1,000 a month and they bring in $580 more than can qualify for insurance, not only for the mother but for the child. The total household income for a family of 3 cannot exceed $2800 a month. Before taxes etc they bring home $28,580. You tell her what she is to do? Why is it that the US is the ONLY developed country in THE WORLD that does not provide health care to all of its citizens? It’s ok to spend a trillion dollars on a disastrous war in Iraq but not ok to provide the basic of all human needs…access to healthcare.

What is your ‘innovative private-sector solution’ to millions of mothers and children like this?

]]> By: Regina Herzlinger http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-party-of-scrooge/comment-page-1/#comment-13128 Regina Herzlinger Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:45:43 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/the-party-of-scrooge/#comment-13128 This is really great! This is really great!

]]> By: Jim Brankin http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-party-of-scrooge/comment-page-1/#comment-13011 Jim Brankin Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:29:55 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/the-party-of-scrooge/#comment-13011 Great job. Keep up the good fight. Great job. Keep up the good fight.

]]> By: Vijay Goel, M.D. http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-party-of-scrooge/comment-page-1/#comment-12844 Vijay Goel, M.D. Tue, 31 Jul 2007 22:50:45 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/the-party-of-scrooge/#comment-12844 Terrific article. As I mention in my blog, which cites your article, the SCHIP expansion focuses on an entitlement that doesn't affect the day-to-day lives of children. Looking to meaningfully improve the long-term health of children requires an examination of many other aspects of their lives-- and our neglect of nutrition in schools, physical education programs, and healthy habits are much bigger targets that can fundamentally change the economics afor our future generation's health needs (as well as allow them to live fuller, more fulfilling lives). Terrific article. As I mention in my blog, which cites your article, the SCHIP expansion focuses on an entitlement that doesn’t affect the day-to-day lives of children. Looking to meaningfully improve the long-term health of children requires an examination of many other aspects of their lives– and our neglect of nutrition in schools, physical education programs, and healthy habits are much bigger targets that can fundamentally change the economics afor our future generation’s health needs (as well as allow them to live fuller, more fulfilling lives).

]]> By: David J. Lenihan http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-party-of-scrooge/comment-page-1/#comment-12739 David J. Lenihan Mon, 30 Jul 2007 16:16:05 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/the-party-of-scrooge/#comment-12739 Excellent editorial…..as usual. Excellent editorial…..as usual.

]]> By: House Republican staffer http://healthblog.ncpa.org/the-party-of-scrooge/comment-page-1/#comment-12737 House Republican staffer Mon, 30 Jul 2007 16:10:25 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/the-party-of-scrooge/#comment-12737 Another point you should make is that the Democrats are making promises that they can't keep. The Senate bill slashes funding for SCHIP in 2013, because they didn’t have enough to pay for the ten year costs (funding allotment goes from $8 B to $400 M). House Democrats will face the same problem, because their bill is currently $76 B short of being budget neutral over 10 years. Democrats are promising to expand health insurance, but it’s actually a huge bait and switch, because they fail to provide for the true costs of their massive SCHIP expansion. Bottom line is more kids will eventually lose health insurance coverage under the Dem bills. Another point you should make is that the Democrats are making promises that they can’t keep. The Senate bill slashes funding for SCHIP in 2013, because they didn’t have enough to pay for the ten year costs (funding allotment goes from $8 B to $400 M). House Democrats will face the same problem, because their bill is currently $76 B short of being budget neutral over 10 years. Democrats are promising to expand health insurance, but it’s actually a huge bait and switch, because they fail to provide for the true costs of their massive SCHIP expansion. Bottom line is more kids will eventually lose health insurance coverage under the Dem bills.

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