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)
Health Care
August 2009
Before You Move to France, or Even Cuba
Yes, it's true that the United States is one of the few industrialized nations in the world that does not have some form of nationalized health care. For that, thank your lucky stars. If you move to France, you would be moving to a country whose health care system has been ranked number one by the World Health Organization. You would also be paying close to 20 percent of your income for health insurance. (more)
Health Care
August 2009
Townhall Turnout Shows Debate Isn't Over
On Tuesday night, over two hundred people gathered at McKinley High School for Charles Djou's health care forum. I was granted the opportunity to speak about Hawaii's failed experience with employer mandated insurance. Dr. Linda Rasmussen imparted key information about the need for tort reform while Bruce Bottorff of the AARP defended Obama's support for expanding government in the health care sector. (more)
Health Care
August 2009
How Obama's Health Care Will Affect Your Coverage
President Obama promised during his campaign that "the time has come for universal health care in America. . . by the end of the first term of the next president, we should have universal health care in this country." Many rejoiced at this significant promise, and many others balked. (more)
Health Care
August 2009
Good Health, Lower Costs for Fortune 500 Company
I will agree to disagree with people who believe Americans have a "right" to health care. In my humble opinion, there is no law or clause that entitles anyone to health care provided by the government. (more)
Health Care
July 2009
Prepaid Health Care Act Can't Fool Mainstream Media
The universal health care bandwagon is not lacking for supporters, yet a backlash within the mainstream media has been brewing. Hawaii's Prepaid Health Care Act (PHCA), which has been in effect since 1974, requires employers to provide health insurance for employees working 20 or more hours per week. (more)
Health Care
June 2009
Hawaii's Prepaid Health Care Act
and Far-Reaching Costs
Health insurance is widely regarded as the key to accessing vital health care service, and those without insurance are regarded as less likely to access timely and necessary care. To that end, in 1974, Hawaii became the first state to mandate employer-provided insurance through the Prepaid Health Care Act. (more)
Health Care
June 2009
Hawaii’s Prepaid Health Care Act and its Far-Reaching Costs
New Policy Brief Explains Hawaii's Health Coverage Monopoly
New GRIH study 'Hawaii’s Prepaid Health Care Act and Far-Reaching Costs' explores devastating effects on employment and the rate of covered residents in the state that government health plans can have. (more)
Health Care
January 2009
Hawaii Drops Universal Children’s Health Care Plan
An economic downturn and ensuing budget cuts have forced Hawaii to abandon the nation’s first universal health care program for children, Keiki Care, after only seven months. (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
