Health Care
November 2009
What Health Care Reform Means- H.R. 3962
With the narrow passage of the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) in the House, it is up to the Senate to decide whether to approve major government expansion into our lives. Unfortunately, the bill is a thinly veiled, revised form of H.R. 3200, which sparked a storm of controversy earlier this year over its costs and projected devastating effects on the economy and private health insurers. (more)
Health Care
October 2009
Two Key Reform Proposals for Health Care in Hawaii
Hawaii's lawmakers continue to introduce reform schemes that focus on the uninsured population without instituting any provisions that would actually lower health care costs. Growth in managed care and regulations has resulted in the opposite of their intended effect. Market distortions in health care are reflected in greater administrative costs and declining physician reimbursement levels. Thus far, the state legislature has overlooked at least two key proposals for reform that would lower health care costs and increase access and quality of care in the state, namely medical tort reform and increasing physician reimbursement levels. (more)
Health Care
October 2009
Life and Death Medical Challenges in Maui
Ellen Bellerose rushed to Maui Memorial Medical Center's emergency room at her cardiologist's direction after she felt severe pain and pressure in her neck, chest and arms. As the pain intensified over the next two hours, she walked up to the counter three times to report difficulty breathing. She was told there were no beds available... (more)
Health Care
October 2009
Why Obama’s Public Option Would Lead to No Option
American citizens who value choice and freedom have done it again. They rallied enough to force President Obama to back away from single-payer health care following his election. This week, the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, announced that a public option is no longer an essential element in national health care reform. Despite these victories, the fact remains that a majority in Congress are intent on passing health care reform that would greatly increase the scope of government in the most personal aspect of our lives. Lawmakers are still turning to mandates and other regulatory means to cover the uninsured in the nation. (more)
Health Care
September 2009
Debunking More Misinformation on Health Care Reform
In his recent Honolulu Advertiser op-ed, Maui Democratic Party chairman Lance Holter deemed President Obama's health care reform an essential and patriotic plan. His rationale can be summed up as such: The American health care system is a mess because of too little government intervention, thus the solution is more government intervention. (more)
Health Care
September 2009
Baucus Health Care Bill Also An Epic Failure
Senate Finance Chairman, Max Baucus (D-Mont), introduced his health care bill, America's Healthy Future Act, yesterday. The bill shares many similarities with H.R. 3200 (America's Affordable Health Choices Act), right down to its misleading name and hefty price tag. (more)
Health Care
September 2009
The Latest on Obama's Health Care Reform
The grand, sweeping health care reform promised by President Obama during the 2008 election campaign now lies in shambles. Without any possibility of universal health care and the departure of the public option, Americans are feeling betrayed, elated,sad, or just plain confused. (more)
Health Care
September 2009
Cutting Costs and Choices for State Workers
State and county workers are in for a few changes to be made in their prescription drug plans next year on January 1. Trustees of the Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF) enacted reference-based pricing for three categories of drugs that will feature cheaper alternatives to alleviate rising costs. (more)
Health Care
September 2009
Conservatives for Patients' Rights Tour
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii joined Conservatives for Patients' Rights in a tour to alert the public about the dangers of more government control in health care. Several states (including Hawaii) have tried government-run health care and suffered enormous costs, and their experiences should serve as a valuable lesson for what not to do at the national level. (more)
Health Care
September 2009
Health Care and Life Expectancy Among Americans
Following my blog post about health care systems in France and Cuba compared with the United States, a wise reader, Joe Speroni, was compelled to write me an enlightening message concerning data for infant mortality rates and life expectancies. Many (including columnist Paul Krugman) make the mistake of correlating nationalized health care systems with long life expectancies (more)
Blogs
The Mystery of Hawaiian History
Correcting historical revisionism and misconceptions promoted by the Akaka Bill.
Hawaii Spendometer
How Fast Does The State Government Spend Your Money?
$9,122,166,121.47
