The Ojai Post

Thank you for posting this evan, I have been wondering what happened...good to see that John Nelson, MD., was there...

Evan, looks like we got spammed by a Russian city's website! It is the website of Anapa--a beautiful resort town on the Black Sea in southern Russian Region of Krasnodar between the Ukraine and Georgia. Wonder why someone there posted on Ojai Post, especially about our very polite town hall on Health Care? Maybe a thumbs-up from a fellow resort town! The site is in Russian, but you can translate it at Google Language tools...verrrrry interesting!

Here is an interesting op ed by Paul Krugman that touches on this issue of what we are dealing with at health care forums around the country:

Missing Nixon

Of course we don't miss Nixon, but Paul Krugman may have it right that we miss the era of intelligent conservatives, who had a different view of policy but did seek to further the public interest in their own way, based on fact and rational discussion. Since Reagan, the right has gradually lost its intelligent voices honestly seeking the public good, to the point where today there may not be a voice in a position of influence on the right in this country that is more than a shill for private interests who have their tentacles in our tax dollars, and who happily will do us ill in favor of one more penny in their pocket.

It also is more than ironic that today, a Democratic majority and a progressive-backed President are being attacked for trying to pass what amounts to a weaker, more industry-friendly version of Richard Nixon's health care plan - a plan that in the early seventies was considered a sub-optimal option.

Nixon's plan, and the current Democratic plan consisting of individual mandates and lacking a public option, is basically what the Swiss have. The Swiss are a good example by and large of what used to be considered intelligent conservatism, and their rejection of the single payer public plans of their neighbors springs from the same ideological well of limited government and deference to an appropriately regulated and accountable market (through strong, independent courts and the like) that used to define intelligent conservatism.

And so, we lament. Now that we are debating plans, why aren't we looking to the decades of experience that the Europeans, Canadians and others have had with the various options under consideration? Leading Nixon-era conservatives would have done no less. Which policies achieve the best results, and the greatest overall public satisfaction, at the lowest costs? The answer to this question may not have ended the debate for an earlier era's conservative, but unlike the leading conservative voices of today, it would have been a relevant point of contention.

So, miss Nixon? Of course not. Miss conservatism? Frankly, few will miss the current version of it, which is a wholly bankrupted ideology. But I'm with Krugman, I think. While history I believe proves that conservatism of all stripes has lessened the countries that have succumbed to it, as long as we are going to have conservatives in the debate, can't those on the right get it together to allow whatever intelligent voices they have to rise to the top and be heard?

AllState Medical recently charged me $235 for a "Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask." It consists of a cheap polyethylene tube, some strapping, and a plastic interface.

I was in the plastics industry for 9 years and manufacturing for 2 years. I estimate the total cost of the materials at $6 or less, and other costs at less than $25. The price should have been no more than $39. With markup, maybe $79.

I might be a little high or low on my estimate, but the major problem is that the doctor's office referred me directly to AllState and they automatically shipped me a bunch of stuff I didn't need--filters, tubing, and so forth.

My insurance was charged a total of $413. After deductible, etc, I still have to pay $187.

I found the same mask on the internet for $69, less than a third of the AllSnake price. I'll have to ask my doctor why I wasn't told this before being put in the hands of AllSnake.

Something isn't right, and it's not directly to do with insurance or medical care, per se. The system simply makes it almost impossible to shop for services and care at competitive prices.

And the mask is a poor fit, too.

I called AllSnake and told them not to ship me any more crap.

Jeff

I attended this past Friday’s Heath Care town hall meeting at Chaparral Auditorium in Ojai. Sadly, it was a disappointing turnout. I truly anticipated more interest from the residents in this valley of 12,000. Those that did attend remained quite civil throughout the evening with only a few minor interruptions. The agenda was informative - led by presentations from three valley doctors in addition to the local Democratic Party official. Representatives of the Republican Party, along with our own city council, were invited but declined to appear. (Insert sarcastic comment here)

I am sure there will be a recap of the meeting on Wednesday’s front page of the Ojai Valley News so I will not go into detail about the evening’s specifics. Instead, I would rather present my opinion in literary form since my brief but unprepared moment behind the microphone did not convey the coherency of my conviction. (That’s why I’m a drummer and not a singer!)

First, I do not understand the difficulty in our bureaucracy when simplicity is the key. Unfortunately, special interests and the lobbyist that represent them constantly compromise that simplicity. Eliminating that obstacle throughout our government must be the first step. Nothing will ever get done “for the people” while these groups and corporations pay to craft our laws.

The majority agrees our health care system is failing. Some form of reform must take place. I do not claim to know the answers. Nor are the details of the five various versions floating about solidified. I only recognize what I’ve experienced myself or through family and friends. 75% of bankruptcies from medical or hospital debt occur from insured individuals. While families caring for an ailing member must become indigent and deplete their entire savings to be eligible for Medicare. It’s obvious our system is broken.

For my part, I would welcome a single-payer system. Their efficiency and cost effectiveness is proven. Our system spends $350 billion dollars a year in administrative costs alone wrangling the appropriate paperwork for various providers, haggling over claims and which procedures are/aren’t permitted. This encumbers not only doctors and medical groups but the insurance industry as well. Additionally, a single-payer system would not prevent you from seeing the doctor of your choice but, instead, enable it. Just ask anybody on government run Medicare. They are not restricted from seeing any doctor of their choice nor are they denied medically necessary procedures. They get the care they need and government foots the bill without standing between you and your doctor. However, as current HMO participants know, they can only visit doctors within their network whereas PPO patrons must locate a desirable doctor that accepts their brand of insurance. Clearly, the precincts propagated by opponents of a single-payer system already exist.

My desire would be a policy that does NOT: deny the doctor of my preference, exclude pre-existing conditions, reject required procedures (or enduring 18 months of pain waiting for their blessing) and limit their coverage to a defined payout amount (leaving me to cover the balance). Regrettably, the cost for such coverage would consume my entire income and that of all but the wealthiest Americans. Personal responsibility I accept but I do not comprehend “class healthcare”.

I don’t see the insurance industry providing that type of reform. Their profit-driven stockholders would never capitulate and risk their investment. Therefore, I see no other realistic solution but a single-payer system with the expense shared by ALL Americans. Coupled with administrative savings, any tax increase would be far less then current - and future - policy premiums and their associated exclusions. That is money in your pocket and healthcare for all.

Furthermore, It’s apparent that opponents of a single-payer system have not suffered a catastrophic injury or ailment. Until you do, you will not know they financial damage thrust upon you by your private insurance. Just don’t ask me to pull the knife from your back. I’m too busy removing the one they left in mine.

And don’t even get me started on Pharma. Nancy said, “Just say no.” Now, it’s just ask your doctor. Since when did they become the drug pushers our parents warned us about? The first step is to ban all pharmaceutical TV advertising (as has happened with other products). Marketing campaigns are hugely expensive to maintain – especially at their frequency. Not only will the price of their products decrease but you won’t have to explain to your adolescent children the details of E.D.

Obama's healthcare plan is commie propoganda! Glen Beck rocks!

Thanks for posting this here Patrick. I'll keep saying it: I'd rather have anyone BUT an insurance company deciding what's best for me.