Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

So, now, the House Republicans want to delay the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act for one year in exchange for avoiding a government shutdown. What, exactly, do they think will be different in a year?

Will they find a “nice” way to strip health-insurance coverage from almost 24 million previously uninsured people (mostly children and young adults)? Will they develop a plan to replace the ACA since the situation prior to the legislation was simply unsustainable? Mind you, we have yet to see a plan--or even any ideas--for an alternative after three and a half years. How will they deal with the increasing budget deficits because of out-of-control healthcare costs and the extra $29 billion lost in taxes on medical devices over the coming years?

And where do they get the insane idea that they‘re representing the “will of the American people?” Poll after poll shows that Americans like the provisions of the ACA (under whatever name you want to use). And even more people want Congress to stop messing around with a government shutdown and a debt-ceiling crisis. The people spoke in the last election; one tiny fraction of neo-conservatives doesn‘t get to hold the government or the American citizens hostage while they have a temper tantrum because they lost the election.

Maybe they are under the delusion that they‘re somehow going to win such large majorities in Congress in the 2014 elections that they can override the president‘s veto of their defunding of the ACA. <shrug>

Whatever they‘re smoking, I don‘t want to inhale the second-hand smoke.

What an Ill-Informed Moron

Ted Cruz has a bad habit of only hearing the part of a story he wants to hear.

Student Cited by Ted Cruz Cruz As Proof of Obama's Failure Is Actually Grateful For Obamacare
The Huffington Post | September 27, 2013

All This Would Be Funny If It Wasn't So Crazy

Just maybe I had a little something to do with this blog post and the on-air segment on The Rachel Maddow Show later that night. Ya never know . . .

'All this would be funny if it wasn't so crazy'
The Maddow Blog | September 26, 2013

GOP Fears American Appreciation of Obamacare
The Rachel Maddow Show | September 26, 2013

Large Companies Innovate with Health-Benefit Programs

I love reading how large employers are taking charge of improving their employee health-benefit programs. Kudos to General Electric!

As Some Companies Turn to Health Exchanges, G.E. Seeks a New Path
The New York Times | September 26, 2013

Would Ya Stop it Already?

You’re not going to “defund” the ACA nor will a government shutdown affect the implementation of the health exchanges. Now can we please stop all the budget and debt-ceiling bluster and GET BACK TO WORK!

Government Shutdown Won't Stop Obamacare
Yahoo News | September 26, 2013

Barack and Bill, Together Again . . . for Healthcare

The last two Democratic presidents got together for a little healthcare discussion.

Obama, Clinton promote healthcare reform ahead of October 1 start
Reuters | September 24, 2013

It‘s About Time Someone Acknowledged It

What every intelligent political or ACA observer has realized for a long time: 

GOP Desperate to Defund ObamaCare Now Because They Know Its Popularity Is About to Skyrocket
Huffington Post | September 20, 2013

ACA Isn’t Actually Affecting Hiring As Much as Claimed

Despite “conventional wisdom,” the Affordable Care Act isn’t affecting job creation as much as some folks would like us to believe.

Employers Actually Plan to Hire More Full-Time Workers As Obamacare Rolls Out

ThinkProgress | September 11, 2013

‘Chief of Explaining Things’ at It Again, Thankfully

Thanks to his obvious skill at explaining ideas clearly, the White House asked former president Bill Clinton to talk about the Affordable Care Act (ACA)  in an attempt to get the message out to the general public. So Clinton made the economic case for implementing and improving the ACA on Wednesday morning at the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Personally, I'd love to see Clinton do a series of one- or two-minute public-service announcements on the most important aspects of the ACA. Actually, it would be great if other celebrities joined in.


Clinton’s Simple Case For Obamacare: ‘It’s Better Than The Current System’
The National Memo | September 4, 2013

ACA to Reduce Heart Disease Deaths?

Between 25-33% of all deaths from heart attacks and stroke could be avoided with better preventive measures, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) researchers predict. More people will have access to healthcare coverage and preventive care through the Affordable Care Act. Healthcare providers should talk with their patients about healthy habits at every visit and follow patients‘s progress.


CDC Predicts Obamacare May Help Reduce The Number Of Americans Dying From Heart Disease
Think Progress | September 3, 2013

CDC Vital Signs: Preventable Deaths from Heart Disease and Stroke
CDC | September 2013

Military Same-Sex Spouses Eligible for Benefits Today (UPDATED)

Today the same-sex spouses of military service members become eligible to receive a range of federal benefits including military I.D. cards, healthcare coverage, housing allowances, and survivor benefits.

Military Same-Sex Spouses Eligible for Benefits Today
Human Rights Campaign | September 3, 2013

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UPDATE: Unless you‘re a member of the National Guard in Texas or Mississippi, who are denying benefits—or making them hard to get—because of their states‘ gay-marriage bans.

Texas, Miss. National Guards Won't Give Same-Sex Benefits at Some Sites, Cite Gay-Marriage Ban
Washington Post | September 3. 2013

Go Ravens! Go Maryland!

The Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens will help Maryland promote new insurance options under the Affordable Care Act, state officials announced Tuesday. It‘s the first official partnership formed with a sports franchise to encourage participation in President Obama‘s signature healthcare law.

Maryland is among the states working hardest to make the new healthcare law a success. The state also launched a new advertising campaign Tuesday to raise awareness of new coverage options through the state‘s insurance exchange, Maryland Health Connection.

I‘m proud to be a Marylander!

Super Bowl Champion Ravens to Promote ObamaCare in MD
The Hill | September 3, 2013

Aetna‘s “Our Healthy” Campaign

Aetna, one of the largest health insurance companies in the U.S., launched a new marketing campaign—“Our Healthy”—today, which highlights the company’s goal of cutting billions of dollars of expenditures through so-called Big Data, electronic health records, and other technologies as well as encouraging better coordination among healthcare providers.

According to the Institute of Medicine‘s The Healthcare Imperative: Lowering Costs and Improving Outcomes (2011), the healthcare system wastes $760 billion dollars a year as a result of consumer fraud, unnecessary procedures, and excessive administrative costs. Aetna‘s goal is to bring human resources professionals, health care providers, policy maker, and even consumers together to try to reduce these wasteful expenses.

With Change Coming, Aetna Targets Employers
The New York Times | September 3, 2013

Better Late Than Never, Michigan

Michigan's Senate passed the Medicaid expansion bill at the last minute. The expansion covers those who fall within 133% of the federal poverty line, or up to $15,281 a year for a single person without children. The current income eligibility standard is 37% of the poverty level for jobless parents and 64% for working parents. That equates to $7,226 and $12,500, respectively, for a single parent with two children.

Michigan's Medicaid Expansion a Relief for Hospitals Giving Unpaid Care
The Detroit Free Press | September 2, 2013

Fanning the Flames of Anti-LGBT Fire in Russia

Since Putin‘s already pissed at the U.S. for considering military action in Syria, what better way to irritate him even more than by meeting with representatives of the LGBT community in St. Petersburg during the G20 summit? And in return . . . Putin wants to send a Russian delegation to lobby Congress during the debate on military action in Syria.

Boys will be boys.

Obama to Meet Gay Activists in Russia
The Hill | September 2, 2013

Obama to Meet with LGBT Activists While in Russia
BuzzFeed | September 2, 2013

Obama to Meet with Russian Gay Rights Activists During G20 Summit
Huffington Post | September 3, 2013