Any discussions directly related to the upcoming Presidential elections may be sent to this forum without notice.

The purpose of this is to provide plenty of space on Point/Counter-point for policy issues.

Thanks.

he he he this sticky is not locked. why no replies?

"directly related to the upcoming Presidential elections."

"Directly related" Obama directly related / Rev Wright NOT ????????????

Tough job this Mod thing.

Shadow of things to come if we end up with "Universal Health Care". Take the market out and you get lawyers and government employees dictating your health care 'needs'. Will eventually lead to unsupportable taxation levels or rationing of care (or both). The government can't cover veterans and elderly/poor as it is, why give them more control?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121004098363769749.html

California Sued Over Health-Care Cuts
By RHONDA L. RUNDLE
May 6, 2008; Page A20

A coalition of California hospitals, doctors, dentists and other health-care providers has sued the state to block a 10% cutback in payments to them for treating the poor who are covered by Medi-Cal, a joint federal and state program.

The $1.3 billion in cuts, set to take effect July 1, are included in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed 10% across-the-board reductions in the budget for state services. The governor has said the move is needed to close a fiscal 2009 budget deficit now approaching $20 billion.

"The governor fully understands the devastating impact of these cuts, which is why he continues to push for health-care reform and structural budget reform. Together, they will bring stability to Medi-Cal budgeting and ensure that the state never has to make such drastic cuts again," said a spokeswoman for Mr. Schwarzenegger.

According to the suit, filed in state court in Los Angeles Monday, California has violated state and federal law by failing to ensure that Medi-Cal reimbursement rates are sufficient for beneficiaries to have the same access to services as the general public. The suit seeks an injunction to thwart implementation of the cutbacks, which were passed by state lawmakers in February.

Medi-Cal's payments to doctors are lower than those in any of the other 49 states and the District of Columbia, said Dev GnanaDev, president-elect of the California Medical Association, one of the plaintiffs. State officials view Medi-Cal funds "as a pot of money they can steal from anytime things get tight," said Craig Cannizzo, a San Francisco lawyer representing the coalition.

A similar, but smaller, group of health-care providers sued the federal government in late 2003, when Mr. Schwarzenegger's predecessor, Gray Davis, proposed a 5% cutback in Medi-Cal reimbursements. The reductions were reversed after a month.

Mr. Cannizzo said that to obtain an injunction, the plaintiffs would file declarations from individual patients, doctors and other providers who will testify about current problems, as well as what will happen if the cuts go through. "The situation has gotten worse, and an extremely small number of providers are providing virtually all care," he said.

Dr. GnanaDev said that Medi-Cal typically pays $49.95 for a physician office visit. "A plumber gets paid more than that," he complained. Reimbursement for an emergency-room visit is about $400, or half the typical charge, he said. "Some small rural facilities are faced with almost immediate closure," if the cuts go through, said Charles Guenther, chief executive of Eastern Plumas Health Care District, which operates hospitals, clinics and skilled nursing facilities in the state.

Topics:

National Security, Food, Fuel, Housing...even basic innoculations and medicines...the basics...

We need another Washington or Lincoln...

Who will stand up and declare their strategy and policies...

quote:

Originally posted by strobelvets:


Who will stand up and declare their strategy and policies...

The bigger ??? is, who will do the above AND stay true to their word??

Remember the phrase, "Read my lips - NO NEW TAXES!!!"