Keith Olbermann talks ot Bernie Sanders
Showing posts with label President Obama Health Care Reform. Show all posts
Showing posts with label President Obama Health Care Reform. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Vote Republican - Not Me - Here's Why
Voting Republican will be a very bad thing for Florida and the rest of our county. The Republicans came into office with a surplus of billions of dollars, the economy was good, and the people were feeling good about themselves.
After eight years of Republican control we lost the surplus and went 1.3 trillion dollars in debt, the economy was a total disaster, put us into two Wars that we should have been in and no one feels good about good about anything.
Then we elect President Obama and the very first thing the Republicans put on their agenda is “Make Obama Fail” at all costs and it’s the only thing on their agenda. If this is the mentally of the people that you want in office then you have only one choice, vote Republicans. Americans are better than that.
Just look at what the Republicans have picked for office, Christine O’Donnell for Delaware, Sharon Angle for Nevada, Rand Paul for Kentucky, and there are more ridiculous people. If this is the best that the Republican Party can do what is next? These people do not have a clue on what to or how to help the American People or our country. These are very good examples of how our school system has failed over the years. Another good example of the failed schooling system is the amount of people that believe what the Republicans saying and what they are doing to destroy our country. They believe the stuff that the Republicans make up, no common sense at all. The Republican does not want people that have an education just so they can keep power so they make all kinds of money from Wall Street Banker, Insurance Companies, Oil Companies and more.
The Republicans have been blocking each and everything that would help the American People. They have blocked;
• the money from the Republican Failed Wall Street Bankers,
• have blocked each and every unemployment claim that the unemployed needs to live on,
• have blocked every bill that would put American People back to work,
• have blocked every bill that would get money to small businesses,
• in fact the Republicans have block anything that was and is good for the American People.
President Obama went into office on January, 2009 and was handed an economy that was worse than the Depression of the 30’s. No one person could ever bring our economy into a forward motion within two years and especially with the treasonous actions of the Republican Party.
The Republicans lied about Health Care Reform Bill to keep it from passing and if they repeal Health Care Reform if they get back in power. They have said this many times over. What is it that they will repeal, if they took back power, well, the answer is:
They will be appealing:
1. Providing Small Business Health Insurance Tax Credits - Effective January 1, 2010
Up to 4 million small businesses are eligible for tax credits to help them provide insurance benefits to their workers. The first phase of this provision provides a credit worth up to 35% of the employer’s contribution to the employees’ health insurance. Small non-profit organizations may receive up to a 25% credit.
2. Allowing States to cover more People on Medicaid - Effective April 1, 2010
States will be able to receive federal matching funds for covering some additional low-income individuals and families under Medicaid for whom federal funds were not previously available. This will make it easier for states that choose to do so to cover more of their residents.
3. Relief for Four Million Seniors who hit the Medicare Prescription Drug “Donut Hole”.
First checks mailed in June, 2010, and will continue monthly throughout 2010 as seniors hit the coverage gap.
An estimated 4 million seniors will reach the gap in Medicare prescription drug coverage known as the “donut hole” this year. Each such senior will receive a $250 rebate.
4. Cracking Down on Health Care Fraud - Many Provisions Effective Now
Current efforts to fight fraud have returned more than $2.5 billion to the Medicare Trust Fund in FY 2009 alone. The new law invests new resources and requires new screening procedures for health care providers to boost these efforts and reduce fraud and waste in Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP.
5. Expanding Coverage for Early Retirees - Applications for employers to participate in the program available June 1, 2010.
Learn more about the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program.
Too often, Americans who retire without employer-sponsored insurance and before they are eligible for Medicare see their life savings disappear because of high rates in the individual market. To preserve employer coverage for early retirees until more affordable coverage is available through the new Exchanges by 2014, the new law creates a $5 billion program to provide needed financial help for employment-based plans to continue to provide valuable coverage to people who retire between the ages of 55 and 65, as well as their spouses and dependents.
For more information on the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program, visit http://www.errp.gov/
6. Providing Access to Insurance for Uninsured Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions - National Program Established July 1, 2010
A Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan will provide new coverage options to individuals who have been uninsured for at least six months because of a pre-existing condition. States have the option of running this new program in their state. If a state chooses not to do so, a plan will be established by the Department of Health and Human Services in that state. This program serves as a bridge to 2014, when all discrimination against pre-existing conditions will be prohibited. Learn more about the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan.
7. Putting Information Online - Effective July 1, 2010
The law provides for an easy-to-use website where consumers can compare health insurance coverage options and pick the coverage that works for them.
8. Extending Coverage for Young Adults - Effective health Care plans beginning on or after September 23, 2010
Under the new law, young adults will be allowed to stay on their parent’s plan until they turn 26 years old. (In the case of existing group health plans, this right does not apply if the young adult is offered insurance at work.) Some insurers began implementing this practice early. Check with your insurance company or employer to see if you qualify. Learn more about the young adults insurance policy.
9. Providing Free Preventive Care - Effective health Care plans beginning on or after September 23, 2010
All new plans must cover certain preventive services such as mammograms and colonoscopies without charging a deductible, co-pay or coinsurance.
Learn more about preventive care benefits.
10. Preventing Insurance from Rescinding Coverage - Effective for Health Care plans years beginning on or after September 23, 2010
In the past, insurance companies could search for an error, or other technical mistake, on a customer’s application and use this error to deny payment for services when he or she got sick. The new law makes this illegal. After media reports cited incidents of breast cancer patients losing coverage, insurance companies agreed to end this practice immediately.
Learn about how the law curbs insurance cancellations.
11. Appealing Insurance Company Decisions - Effective for new plans years beginning on or after September 23, 2010
The law provides consumers with a way to appeal coverage determinations or claims to their insurance company, and establishes an external review process.
12. Eliminating Lifetime Limits on Insurance Coverage - Effective for Health Care years beginning on or after September 23, 2010
Under the new law, insurance companies will be prohibited from imposing lifetime dollar limits on essential benefits, like hospital stays.
Learn about how the law eliminates lifetime limits.
13. Regulating Annual Limits on Insurance Coverage - Effective for Health Care years beginning on or after September 23, 2010
Under the new law, insurance companies’ use of annual dollar limits on the amount of insurance coverage a patient may receive will be restricted for new plans in the individual market and all group plans. In 2014, the use of annual dollar limits on essential benefits like hospital stays will be banned for new plans in the individual market and all group plans.
Learn about how the law regulates annual limits.
14. Prohibiting Denying Children Based on Pre-Existing Conditions - Effective for Health Care years beginning on or after September 23, 2010 for new plans and for existing Group Plans
The new law includes new rules to prevent insurance companies from denying coverage to children under the age of 19 due to a pre-existing condition.
Learn how the law protects children with pre-existing conditions.
15. Holding Insurance Companies Accountable for Unreasonable Rate Hikes - Grants will be awarded beginning 2010
The law allows states that have, or plan to implement, measures that require insurance companies to justify their premium increases to be eligible for $250 million in new grants. Insurance companies with excessive or unjustified premium increases may not be able to participate in the new health insurance Exchanges in 2014.
Learn how the law ensures value and accountability for your premiums.
16. Rebuilding the Primary Care Workforce - Effective 2010
To strengthen the availability of primary care, there are new incentives in the law to expand the number of primary care doctors, nurses and physician assistants, including funding for scholarships and loan repayments for primary care doctors and nurses working in underserved areas. Doctors and nurses receiving payments made under any State loan repayment or loan forgiveness program intended to increase the availability of health care services in underserved or health professional shortage areas will not have to pay taxes on those payments.
17. Preventing Disease and Illness - Funding begins 2010
A new $15 billion Prevention and Public Health Fund will invest in proven prevention and public health programs that can help keep Americans healthy – from smoking cessation to combating obesity.
18. Strengthening Community Health Centers - Effective 2010
The law includes new funding to support the construction of and expansion of services at community health centers, allowing these centers to serve some 20 million new patients across the country.
19. Payments for Rural Health Care Providers - Effective 2010
Today, 68% of medically underserved communities across the nation are in rural areas, and these communities often have trouble attracting and retaining medical professionals. The law provides increased payment to rural health care providers to help them continue to serve their communities.
20. Prescription Drug Discounts - Effective January 1, 2011
Seniors who reach the coverage gap will receive a 50 percent discount when buying Medicare Part D covered brand-name prescription drugs. Over the next ten years, seniors will receive additional savings on brand-name and generic drugs until the coverage gap is closed in 2020.
21. Free Preventive Care for Seniors - Effective January 1, 2011
The law provides certain free preventive services, such as annual wellness visits and personalized prevention plans, for seniors on Medicare.
22. Bring Down Health Care Premiums - The Rebate Program begins January 1, 2011
To ensure premium dollars are spent primarily on health care, the new law generally requires that at least 85% of all premium dollars collected by insurance companies for large employer plans are spent on health care services and health care quality improvement. For plans sold to individuals and small employers, at least 80% of the premium must be spent on benefits and quality improvement. If insurance companies do not meet these goals because their administrative costs or profits are too high, they must provide rebates to consumers.
23. Addressing Overpayment to big Insurance Companies and Strengthening Medicare Advantage - Effective January 1, 2010
Today, Medicare pays Medicare Advantage insurance companies over $1,000 more per person on average than is spent per person in Original Medicare. This results in increased premiums for all Medicare beneficiaries, including the 77 percent of beneficiaries who are not currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. The new law levels the playing field by gradually eliminating this discrepancy. People enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan will still receive all guaranteed Medicare benefits, and the law provides bonus payments to Medicare Advantage plans that provide high quality care. Learn more about improvements to Medicare.
24. Improving Health Care Quality and Efficiency - Effective no later than January 1, 2010
The law establishes a new Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation that will begin testing new ways of delivering care to patients. These new methods are expected to improve the quality of care and reduce the rate of growth in costs for Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). By January 1, 2011, HHS will submit a national strategy for quality improvement in health care, including these programs.
25. Improving Care for Seniors After they Leave Hospital - Effective January 1, 2010
The Community Care Transitions Program will help high-risk Medicare beneficiaries who are hospitalized avoid unnecessary readmissions by coordinating care and connecting patients to services in their communities.
26. New Innovations to Bring Down Costs - Administrative Funding Becomes Available October 1, 2011
The Independent Payment Advisory Board will begin operations to develop and submit proposals to Congress and the President aimed at extending the life of the Medicare Trust Fund. The Board is expected to focus on ways to target waste in the system, and recommend ways to reduce costs, improve health outcomes for patients, and expand access to high-quality care.
27. Increases Services at Home and in the Community - Beginning Effective October 1, 2011
The new Community First Choice Option allows States to offer home and community based services to disabled individuals through Medicaid rather than institutional care in nursing homes.
28. Encouraging Integrated Health Systems - Effective January 1, 2012
The new law provides incentives for physicians to join together to form “Accountable Care Organizations.” In these groups, doctors can better coordinate patient care and improve the quality, help prevent disease and illness, and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions. If Accountable Care Organizations provide high quality care and reduce costs to the health care system, they can keep some of the money that they have helped save.
29. Understanding and Fighting Health Disparities - Effective March 2012
To help understand and reduce persistent health disparities, the law requires any ongoing or new Federal health program to collect and report racial, ethnic and language data. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will use this data to help identify and reduce disparities.
30. Providing New, Voluntary Options for Long-Term Care Insurance - Benefit Plan no Later than October 1, 2012
The law creates a voluntary long-term care insurance program – called CLASS -- to provide cash benefits to adults who become disabled.
31. Reducing Paperwork and Administration Costs - First Regulation Effective October 1, 2012
Health care remains one of the few industries that relies on paper records. The new law will institute a series of changes to standardize billing and requires health plans to begin adopting and implementing rules for the secure, confidential, electronic exchange of health information. Using electronic health records will reduce paperwork and administrative burdens, cut costs, reduce medical errors and, most importantly, improve the quality of care.
32. Linking Payment to Quality Outcome - Effective for payment for discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2012
The law establishes a hospital Value-Based Purchasing program (VBP) in Original Medicare. This program offers financial incentives to hospitals to improve the quality of care. Hospital performance is required to be publicly reported, beginning with measures relating to heart attacks, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care, health-care associated infections, and patients’ perception of care.
33. Improving Preventive Health Coverage - Effective January 1, 2013
To expand the number of Americans receiving preventive care, the law provides new funding to state Medicaid programs that choose to cover preventive services for patients at little or no cost.
34. Increasing Medicaid Payments for Primary Care Doctors - Effective January 1, 2013
As Medicaid programs and providers prepare to cover more patients in 2014, the Act requires states to pay primary care physicians no less than 100 percent of Medicare payment rates in 2013 and 2014 for primary care services. The increase is fully funded by the federal government.
35. Expand Authority Bundle Payments - Effective no later than January 1, 2013
The law establishes a national pilot program to encourage hospitals, doctors, and other providers to work together to improve the coordination and quality of patient care. Under payment “bundling,” hospitals, doctors, and providers are paid a flat rate for an episode of care rather than the current fragmented system where each service or test or bundles of items or services are billed separately to Medicare. For example, instead of a surgical procedure generating multiple claims from multiple providers, the entire team is compensated with a “bundled” payment that provides incentives to deliver health care services more efficiently while maintaining or improving quality of care. It aligns the incentives of those delivering care, and savings are shared between providers and the Medicare program.
36. Additional Funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) - Effective October 1, 2013
Under the new law, states will receive two more years of funding to continue coverage for children not eligible for Medicaid.
37. Establishing Health Insurance Exchanges - Effective January 1, 2014
Starting in 2014 if your employer doesn’t offer insurance, you will be able to buy insurance directly in an Exchange -- a new transparent and competitive insurance marketplace where individuals and small businesses can buy affordable and qualified health benefit plans. Exchanges will offer you a choice of health plans that meet certain benefits and cost standards. Starting in 2014, Members of Congress will be getting their health care insurance through Exchanges, and you will be able buy your insurance through Exchanges too.
38. Promoting Individual Responsibility - Effective January 1, 2014
Under the new law, most individuals who can afford it will be required to obtain basic health insurance coverage or pay a fee to help offset the costs of caring for uninsured Americans. If affordable coverage is not available to an individual, he or she will be eligible for an exemption.
39. Ensuring Free Choice - Effective January 1, 2014
Workers meeting certain requirements who cannot afford the coverage provided by their employer may take whatever funds their employer might have contributed to their insurance and use these resources to help purchase a more affordable plan in the new health insurance Exchanges. These new competitive marketplaces will allow individuals and small businesses to buy qualified health benefit plans. Starting in 2014, Members of Congress will be getting their health care insurance through Exchanges and all Americans will have the choice of buying insurance through them, too.
40. Increasing Access to Medicaid - Effective January 1, 2014
Americans who earn less than 133 percent of the poverty level (approximately $14,000 for an individual and $29,000 for a family of four) will be eligible to enroll in Medicaid. States will receive 100 percent federal funding for the first three years to support this expanded coverage, phasing to 90 percent federal funding in subsequent years.
41. Makes Care More Affordable - Effective January 1, 2014
Tax credits to make it easier for the middle class to afford insurance will become available for people with incomes above 100 percent and below 400 percent of poverty ($43,000 for an individual or $88,000 for a family of four in 2010) who are not eligible for or offered other affordable coverage. These individuals may also qualify for reduced cost-sharing (e.g. copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles).
42. Ensuring Coverage for Individuals Participating in Clinical Trials - Effective January 1, 2014
Insurers will be prohibited from dropping or limiting coverage because an individual chooses to participate in a clinical trial. This applies to all clinical trials that treat cancer or other life-threatening diseases.
43. Eliminating Annual Limits on Insurance Coverage - Effective January 1, 2014
The law prohibits new plans and existing group plans from imposing annual dollar limits on the amount of coverage an individual may receive.
44. No Discrimination due to Pre-Existing Conditions or Gender - Effective January 1, 2014
The law implements strong reforms that prohibit insurance companies from refusing to sell coverage or renew policies because of an individual’s pre-existing conditions. Also, in the individual and small group market, it eliminates the ability of insurance companies to charge higher rates due to gender or health status.
45. Increasing Small Business Health Insurance Tax Credits - Effective January 1, 2014
The law implements the second phase of the small business tax credit for qualified small businesses and small non-profit organizations. In this phase, the credit is up to 50 percent of the employer’s contribution to provide health insurance for employees. There is also up to a 35 percent credit for small non-profit organizations.
46. Paying Physicians on Value Not Volume - Effective January 1, 2015
A new provision will tie physician payments to the quality of care they provide. Physicians will see their payments modified so that those who provide higher value care will receive higher payments than those who provide lower quality care.
Now with everything moving in the right direction, why would anyone want to repeal all of this – only because of the bottom line, over money? The insurance companies were spending over a million dollars a day to stop Health Care Reform and the Republicans were benefiting from that and when they were losing the battle, then the insurance companies started spending two millions a day to defeat the Health Care Reform. You have got to ask yourself why insurance companies would spend that much money to defeat the Health Care Reform Bill. That’s easy, denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions and dropping people from insurance once a claim comes in, limit the amount of money spent on claims saves the insurance companies billions of dollars. No regulations make good sense for the insurance companies but not for the American People.
Now the Republicans are getting big bucks to defeat everyone that fought for Health Care Reform, Wall Street Reform and Oil Spill Regulations. That’s right; the money is coming from these people that cause the Oil Spill, Economy Collapse, and our failing Health Care System. How stupid do these people think we are?
After what the Wall Street Banker, Insurance Companies, the Oil Companies, and the Republicans have put us through, why would anyone vote for any Republican? It is time to get rid of all of them, period.
After eight years of Republican control we lost the surplus and went 1.3 trillion dollars in debt, the economy was a total disaster, put us into two Wars that we should have been in and no one feels good about good about anything.
Then we elect President Obama and the very first thing the Republicans put on their agenda is “Make Obama Fail” at all costs and it’s the only thing on their agenda. If this is the mentally of the people that you want in office then you have only one choice, vote Republicans. Americans are better than that.
Just look at what the Republicans have picked for office, Christine O’Donnell for Delaware, Sharon Angle for Nevada, Rand Paul for Kentucky, and there are more ridiculous people. If this is the best that the Republican Party can do what is next? These people do not have a clue on what to or how to help the American People or our country. These are very good examples of how our school system has failed over the years. Another good example of the failed schooling system is the amount of people that believe what the Republicans saying and what they are doing to destroy our country. They believe the stuff that the Republicans make up, no common sense at all. The Republican does not want people that have an education just so they can keep power so they make all kinds of money from Wall Street Banker, Insurance Companies, Oil Companies and more.
The Republicans have been blocking each and everything that would help the American People. They have blocked;
• the money from the Republican Failed Wall Street Bankers,
• have blocked each and every unemployment claim that the unemployed needs to live on,
• have blocked every bill that would put American People back to work,
• have blocked every bill that would get money to small businesses,
• in fact the Republicans have block anything that was and is good for the American People.
President Obama went into office on January, 2009 and was handed an economy that was worse than the Depression of the 30’s. No one person could ever bring our economy into a forward motion within two years and especially with the treasonous actions of the Republican Party.
The Republicans lied about Health Care Reform Bill to keep it from passing and if they repeal Health Care Reform if they get back in power. They have said this many times over. What is it that they will repeal, if they took back power, well, the answer is:
They will be appealing:
1. Providing Small Business Health Insurance Tax Credits - Effective January 1, 2010
Up to 4 million small businesses are eligible for tax credits to help them provide insurance benefits to their workers. The first phase of this provision provides a credit worth up to 35% of the employer’s contribution to the employees’ health insurance. Small non-profit organizations may receive up to a 25% credit.
2. Allowing States to cover more People on Medicaid - Effective April 1, 2010
States will be able to receive federal matching funds for covering some additional low-income individuals and families under Medicaid for whom federal funds were not previously available. This will make it easier for states that choose to do so to cover more of their residents.
3. Relief for Four Million Seniors who hit the Medicare Prescription Drug “Donut Hole”.
First checks mailed in June, 2010, and will continue monthly throughout 2010 as seniors hit the coverage gap.
An estimated 4 million seniors will reach the gap in Medicare prescription drug coverage known as the “donut hole” this year. Each such senior will receive a $250 rebate.
4. Cracking Down on Health Care Fraud - Many Provisions Effective Now
Current efforts to fight fraud have returned more than $2.5 billion to the Medicare Trust Fund in FY 2009 alone. The new law invests new resources and requires new screening procedures for health care providers to boost these efforts and reduce fraud and waste in Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP.
5. Expanding Coverage for Early Retirees - Applications for employers to participate in the program available June 1, 2010.
Learn more about the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program.
Too often, Americans who retire without employer-sponsored insurance and before they are eligible for Medicare see their life savings disappear because of high rates in the individual market. To preserve employer coverage for early retirees until more affordable coverage is available through the new Exchanges by 2014, the new law creates a $5 billion program to provide needed financial help for employment-based plans to continue to provide valuable coverage to people who retire between the ages of 55 and 65, as well as their spouses and dependents.
For more information on the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program, visit http://www.errp.gov/
6. Providing Access to Insurance for Uninsured Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions - National Program Established July 1, 2010
A Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan will provide new coverage options to individuals who have been uninsured for at least six months because of a pre-existing condition. States have the option of running this new program in their state. If a state chooses not to do so, a plan will be established by the Department of Health and Human Services in that state. This program serves as a bridge to 2014, when all discrimination against pre-existing conditions will be prohibited. Learn more about the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan.
7. Putting Information Online - Effective July 1, 2010
The law provides for an easy-to-use website where consumers can compare health insurance coverage options and pick the coverage that works for them.
8. Extending Coverage for Young Adults - Effective health Care plans beginning on or after September 23, 2010
Under the new law, young adults will be allowed to stay on their parent’s plan until they turn 26 years old. (In the case of existing group health plans, this right does not apply if the young adult is offered insurance at work.) Some insurers began implementing this practice early. Check with your insurance company or employer to see if you qualify. Learn more about the young adults insurance policy.
9. Providing Free Preventive Care - Effective health Care plans beginning on or after September 23, 2010
All new plans must cover certain preventive services such as mammograms and colonoscopies without charging a deductible, co-pay or coinsurance.
Learn more about preventive care benefits.
10. Preventing Insurance from Rescinding Coverage - Effective for Health Care plans years beginning on or after September 23, 2010
In the past, insurance companies could search for an error, or other technical mistake, on a customer’s application and use this error to deny payment for services when he or she got sick. The new law makes this illegal. After media reports cited incidents of breast cancer patients losing coverage, insurance companies agreed to end this practice immediately.
Learn about how the law curbs insurance cancellations.
11. Appealing Insurance Company Decisions - Effective for new plans years beginning on or after September 23, 2010
The law provides consumers with a way to appeal coverage determinations or claims to their insurance company, and establishes an external review process.
12. Eliminating Lifetime Limits on Insurance Coverage - Effective for Health Care years beginning on or after September 23, 2010
Under the new law, insurance companies will be prohibited from imposing lifetime dollar limits on essential benefits, like hospital stays.
Learn about how the law eliminates lifetime limits.
13. Regulating Annual Limits on Insurance Coverage - Effective for Health Care years beginning on or after September 23, 2010
Under the new law, insurance companies’ use of annual dollar limits on the amount of insurance coverage a patient may receive will be restricted for new plans in the individual market and all group plans. In 2014, the use of annual dollar limits on essential benefits like hospital stays will be banned for new plans in the individual market and all group plans.
Learn about how the law regulates annual limits.
14. Prohibiting Denying Children Based on Pre-Existing Conditions - Effective for Health Care years beginning on or after September 23, 2010 for new plans and for existing Group Plans
The new law includes new rules to prevent insurance companies from denying coverage to children under the age of 19 due to a pre-existing condition.
Learn how the law protects children with pre-existing conditions.
15. Holding Insurance Companies Accountable for Unreasonable Rate Hikes - Grants will be awarded beginning 2010
The law allows states that have, or plan to implement, measures that require insurance companies to justify their premium increases to be eligible for $250 million in new grants. Insurance companies with excessive or unjustified premium increases may not be able to participate in the new health insurance Exchanges in 2014.
Learn how the law ensures value and accountability for your premiums.
16. Rebuilding the Primary Care Workforce - Effective 2010
To strengthen the availability of primary care, there are new incentives in the law to expand the number of primary care doctors, nurses and physician assistants, including funding for scholarships and loan repayments for primary care doctors and nurses working in underserved areas. Doctors and nurses receiving payments made under any State loan repayment or loan forgiveness program intended to increase the availability of health care services in underserved or health professional shortage areas will not have to pay taxes on those payments.
17. Preventing Disease and Illness - Funding begins 2010
A new $15 billion Prevention and Public Health Fund will invest in proven prevention and public health programs that can help keep Americans healthy – from smoking cessation to combating obesity.
18. Strengthening Community Health Centers - Effective 2010
The law includes new funding to support the construction of and expansion of services at community health centers, allowing these centers to serve some 20 million new patients across the country.
19. Payments for Rural Health Care Providers - Effective 2010
Today, 68% of medically underserved communities across the nation are in rural areas, and these communities often have trouble attracting and retaining medical professionals. The law provides increased payment to rural health care providers to help them continue to serve their communities.
20. Prescription Drug Discounts - Effective January 1, 2011
Seniors who reach the coverage gap will receive a 50 percent discount when buying Medicare Part D covered brand-name prescription drugs. Over the next ten years, seniors will receive additional savings on brand-name and generic drugs until the coverage gap is closed in 2020.
21. Free Preventive Care for Seniors - Effective January 1, 2011
The law provides certain free preventive services, such as annual wellness visits and personalized prevention plans, for seniors on Medicare.
22. Bring Down Health Care Premiums - The Rebate Program begins January 1, 2011
To ensure premium dollars are spent primarily on health care, the new law generally requires that at least 85% of all premium dollars collected by insurance companies for large employer plans are spent on health care services and health care quality improvement. For plans sold to individuals and small employers, at least 80% of the premium must be spent on benefits and quality improvement. If insurance companies do not meet these goals because their administrative costs or profits are too high, they must provide rebates to consumers.
23. Addressing Overpayment to big Insurance Companies and Strengthening Medicare Advantage - Effective January 1, 2010
Today, Medicare pays Medicare Advantage insurance companies over $1,000 more per person on average than is spent per person in Original Medicare. This results in increased premiums for all Medicare beneficiaries, including the 77 percent of beneficiaries who are not currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. The new law levels the playing field by gradually eliminating this discrepancy. People enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan will still receive all guaranteed Medicare benefits, and the law provides bonus payments to Medicare Advantage plans that provide high quality care. Learn more about improvements to Medicare.
24. Improving Health Care Quality and Efficiency - Effective no later than January 1, 2010
The law establishes a new Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation that will begin testing new ways of delivering care to patients. These new methods are expected to improve the quality of care and reduce the rate of growth in costs for Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). By January 1, 2011, HHS will submit a national strategy for quality improvement in health care, including these programs.
25. Improving Care for Seniors After they Leave Hospital - Effective January 1, 2010
The Community Care Transitions Program will help high-risk Medicare beneficiaries who are hospitalized avoid unnecessary readmissions by coordinating care and connecting patients to services in their communities.
26. New Innovations to Bring Down Costs - Administrative Funding Becomes Available October 1, 2011
The Independent Payment Advisory Board will begin operations to develop and submit proposals to Congress and the President aimed at extending the life of the Medicare Trust Fund. The Board is expected to focus on ways to target waste in the system, and recommend ways to reduce costs, improve health outcomes for patients, and expand access to high-quality care.
27. Increases Services at Home and in the Community - Beginning Effective October 1, 2011
The new Community First Choice Option allows States to offer home and community based services to disabled individuals through Medicaid rather than institutional care in nursing homes.
28. Encouraging Integrated Health Systems - Effective January 1, 2012
The new law provides incentives for physicians to join together to form “Accountable Care Organizations.” In these groups, doctors can better coordinate patient care and improve the quality, help prevent disease and illness, and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions. If Accountable Care Organizations provide high quality care and reduce costs to the health care system, they can keep some of the money that they have helped save.
29. Understanding and Fighting Health Disparities - Effective March 2012
To help understand and reduce persistent health disparities, the law requires any ongoing or new Federal health program to collect and report racial, ethnic and language data. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will use this data to help identify and reduce disparities.
30. Providing New, Voluntary Options for Long-Term Care Insurance - Benefit Plan no Later than October 1, 2012
The law creates a voluntary long-term care insurance program – called CLASS -- to provide cash benefits to adults who become disabled.
31. Reducing Paperwork and Administration Costs - First Regulation Effective October 1, 2012
Health care remains one of the few industries that relies on paper records. The new law will institute a series of changes to standardize billing and requires health plans to begin adopting and implementing rules for the secure, confidential, electronic exchange of health information. Using electronic health records will reduce paperwork and administrative burdens, cut costs, reduce medical errors and, most importantly, improve the quality of care.
32. Linking Payment to Quality Outcome - Effective for payment for discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2012
The law establishes a hospital Value-Based Purchasing program (VBP) in Original Medicare. This program offers financial incentives to hospitals to improve the quality of care. Hospital performance is required to be publicly reported, beginning with measures relating to heart attacks, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care, health-care associated infections, and patients’ perception of care.
33. Improving Preventive Health Coverage - Effective January 1, 2013
To expand the number of Americans receiving preventive care, the law provides new funding to state Medicaid programs that choose to cover preventive services for patients at little or no cost.
34. Increasing Medicaid Payments for Primary Care Doctors - Effective January 1, 2013
As Medicaid programs and providers prepare to cover more patients in 2014, the Act requires states to pay primary care physicians no less than 100 percent of Medicare payment rates in 2013 and 2014 for primary care services. The increase is fully funded by the federal government.
35. Expand Authority Bundle Payments - Effective no later than January 1, 2013
The law establishes a national pilot program to encourage hospitals, doctors, and other providers to work together to improve the coordination and quality of patient care. Under payment “bundling,” hospitals, doctors, and providers are paid a flat rate for an episode of care rather than the current fragmented system where each service or test or bundles of items or services are billed separately to Medicare. For example, instead of a surgical procedure generating multiple claims from multiple providers, the entire team is compensated with a “bundled” payment that provides incentives to deliver health care services more efficiently while maintaining or improving quality of care. It aligns the incentives of those delivering care, and savings are shared between providers and the Medicare program.
36. Additional Funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) - Effective October 1, 2013
Under the new law, states will receive two more years of funding to continue coverage for children not eligible for Medicaid.
37. Establishing Health Insurance Exchanges - Effective January 1, 2014
Starting in 2014 if your employer doesn’t offer insurance, you will be able to buy insurance directly in an Exchange -- a new transparent and competitive insurance marketplace where individuals and small businesses can buy affordable and qualified health benefit plans. Exchanges will offer you a choice of health plans that meet certain benefits and cost standards. Starting in 2014, Members of Congress will be getting their health care insurance through Exchanges, and you will be able buy your insurance through Exchanges too.
38. Promoting Individual Responsibility - Effective January 1, 2014
Under the new law, most individuals who can afford it will be required to obtain basic health insurance coverage or pay a fee to help offset the costs of caring for uninsured Americans. If affordable coverage is not available to an individual, he or she will be eligible for an exemption.
39. Ensuring Free Choice - Effective January 1, 2014
Workers meeting certain requirements who cannot afford the coverage provided by their employer may take whatever funds their employer might have contributed to their insurance and use these resources to help purchase a more affordable plan in the new health insurance Exchanges. These new competitive marketplaces will allow individuals and small businesses to buy qualified health benefit plans. Starting in 2014, Members of Congress will be getting their health care insurance through Exchanges and all Americans will have the choice of buying insurance through them, too.
40. Increasing Access to Medicaid - Effective January 1, 2014
Americans who earn less than 133 percent of the poverty level (approximately $14,000 for an individual and $29,000 for a family of four) will be eligible to enroll in Medicaid. States will receive 100 percent federal funding for the first three years to support this expanded coverage, phasing to 90 percent federal funding in subsequent years.
41. Makes Care More Affordable - Effective January 1, 2014
Tax credits to make it easier for the middle class to afford insurance will become available for people with incomes above 100 percent and below 400 percent of poverty ($43,000 for an individual or $88,000 for a family of four in 2010) who are not eligible for or offered other affordable coverage. These individuals may also qualify for reduced cost-sharing (e.g. copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles).
42. Ensuring Coverage for Individuals Participating in Clinical Trials - Effective January 1, 2014
Insurers will be prohibited from dropping or limiting coverage because an individual chooses to participate in a clinical trial. This applies to all clinical trials that treat cancer or other life-threatening diseases.
43. Eliminating Annual Limits on Insurance Coverage - Effective January 1, 2014
The law prohibits new plans and existing group plans from imposing annual dollar limits on the amount of coverage an individual may receive.
44. No Discrimination due to Pre-Existing Conditions or Gender - Effective January 1, 2014
The law implements strong reforms that prohibit insurance companies from refusing to sell coverage or renew policies because of an individual’s pre-existing conditions. Also, in the individual and small group market, it eliminates the ability of insurance companies to charge higher rates due to gender or health status.
45. Increasing Small Business Health Insurance Tax Credits - Effective January 1, 2014
The law implements the second phase of the small business tax credit for qualified small businesses and small non-profit organizations. In this phase, the credit is up to 50 percent of the employer’s contribution to provide health insurance for employees. There is also up to a 35 percent credit for small non-profit organizations.
46. Paying Physicians on Value Not Volume - Effective January 1, 2015
A new provision will tie physician payments to the quality of care they provide. Physicians will see their payments modified so that those who provide higher value care will receive higher payments than those who provide lower quality care.
Now with everything moving in the right direction, why would anyone want to repeal all of this – only because of the bottom line, over money? The insurance companies were spending over a million dollars a day to stop Health Care Reform and the Republicans were benefiting from that and when they were losing the battle, then the insurance companies started spending two millions a day to defeat the Health Care Reform. You have got to ask yourself why insurance companies would spend that much money to defeat the Health Care Reform Bill. That’s easy, denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions and dropping people from insurance once a claim comes in, limit the amount of money spent on claims saves the insurance companies billions of dollars. No regulations make good sense for the insurance companies but not for the American People.
Now the Republicans are getting big bucks to defeat everyone that fought for Health Care Reform, Wall Street Reform and Oil Spill Regulations. That’s right; the money is coming from these people that cause the Oil Spill, Economy Collapse, and our failing Health Care System. How stupid do these people think we are?
After what the Wall Street Banker, Insurance Companies, the Oil Companies, and the Republicans have put us through, why would anyone vote for any Republican? It is time to get rid of all of them, period.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Ed Shultz "Is Jim DeMint Drunk With Power?
Jim DeMint and the Republicans are just flat out liars destroying our country. You need to realize the damage that is being done by these lies.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Ed Shultz on GOP Sicko's
President Obama on Health Care Reform and the GOP Refuses to quit the repeal process.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Friday, September 10, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Health Care Reform that the Republicans Want to Repeal
Health Care Reform Bill that the Republicans want to repeal is not good for the American People. Sure it may not be perfect, but can you show me anything in government that is perfect? The Patient’s Bill of Rights is out now and you will be able to see for yourself that it is good for the American People just like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, Fire Department, Police Department and the Armies and more.
The Republicans say that we cannot afford this but the reality is that we cannot afford not the Republican way anymore. They have had the time and resources to do something about Health Care and did nothing. Doing nothing is why President Obama is President today; make change to the way Washington works or the way it did not work.
The Patient’s Bill of Rights is just a start of a good thing for Americans and its part of that change that the Insurance Companies and the Republicans, bring financed by the Insurance Companies, were and still fighting. The Insurance Companies don’t want it because it will cut into their profits of billions of dollars and the Republicans are fighting it because it is bringing in millions of dollars to their campaign if they stick with Insurance Companies policies. This is flat out wrong.
Come in November you will have to make a choice of siding with big insurance companies and vote for repealing good Patient’s Bill of Rights or you can vote Democrats or Independent and keep the new laws into effect. This is not a hard choice giving the past experiences of the Republican Party of screwing the American People each and every way they can. All the Republicans want is Power. Power comes when you do the right thing for the American People and not for big Insurance Companies, big Bank, big Oil Companies and so. I believe you get the picture. Not doing the right thing is why the Republicans are out of power in the first place because the Republican Party totally thinks that the American People are just plain stupid.
The American People are not stupid and putting President Obama as our President is proof of that. The American People want real change period and they know that Republicans, big Oil Companies, big Banks and more are going to do everything they can to disrupt President Obama’s Agenda because it will take part of their billion dollar profit away from them.
The Republicans say that we cannot afford this but the reality is that we cannot afford not the Republican way anymore. They have had the time and resources to do something about Health Care and did nothing. Doing nothing is why President Obama is President today; make change to the way Washington works or the way it did not work.
The Patient’s Bill of Rights is just a start of a good thing for Americans and its part of that change that the Insurance Companies and the Republicans, bring financed by the Insurance Companies, were and still fighting. The Insurance Companies don’t want it because it will cut into their profits of billions of dollars and the Republicans are fighting it because it is bringing in millions of dollars to their campaign if they stick with Insurance Companies policies. This is flat out wrong.
Come in November you will have to make a choice of siding with big insurance companies and vote for repealing good Patient’s Bill of Rights or you can vote Democrats or Independent and keep the new laws into effect. This is not a hard choice giving the past experiences of the Republican Party of screwing the American People each and every way they can. All the Republicans want is Power. Power comes when you do the right thing for the American People and not for big Insurance Companies, big Bank, big Oil Companies and so. I believe you get the picture. Not doing the right thing is why the Republicans are out of power in the first place because the Republican Party totally thinks that the American People are just plain stupid.
The American People are not stupid and putting President Obama as our President is proof of that. The American People want real change period and they know that Republicans, big Oil Companies, big Banks and more are going to do everything they can to disrupt President Obama’s Agenda because it will take part of their billion dollar profit away from them.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
President Obama Slams Republicans and They Deserve It.
What is in the hell is wrong with the Republicans? They just keep trying to destroy our country and they just don't care about the American People. How can anyone ever put another Republican back in office after their failed leadership and the destruction of our economy? I do not ever want to go back to what have happened during Bush and his Gang years.
President Obama Slams Republicans with good cause. This time they have disrupted the money that over 7 million people need to live on because of the "Failed Republicans Policies". One thing for sure the Republicans are keeping to their agenda "Make Obama Fail" and they don't care who they hurt and what lies they have to tell during the process. The Democrats are not perfect but they sure in the hell are not destroying this country or the people. President Obama has done nothing but good for this country and the Republicans have done nothing but destroy our country and the people. Time to get President Obama the tools he needs to fix our country, get rid of the Republicans in November and replace them with Democrats or Independents, but No Republicans.
President Obama Slams the Republicans
Monday, May 10, 2010
Republicans Great Act "Greed"
Republicans again show the leadership that the American People do not need. In this case letting, the big oil companies get their way by not making it mandatory for emergency blowout valves on oil rigs out at sea as other countries require. Instead the Republicans let it go because of the big money poured into the Republican Party by oil companies and now look at the results, the spilling of oil into the Gulf.
The total limit of liability for the oil companies as of this moment is 75 or 775 million dollars which is most likely has reached its limits. Members of Congress are thinking to raise it to 10 Billion Dollars but that in its self is way below the cost of cleanup when some experts estimate that the cost will exceed 16 Billion Dollars. The real costs will never be accounted for because of the damage that we cannot see or estimate.
The question is not when but if Congress will ever get it about offshore drilling. There will always be accidents in oil rig drilling and in Nuclear Plants when cost is the most important factor over safety. Congress is only concerned about the donations and getting elected again to keep the high salary, excellent Health Care which all Republicans voted down for all Americans, and the power of the office.
The Republicans very same thinking of Wall Street Reform will bring down Wall Street Reform just like it brought down Health Care Reform. How much damage do you really want to see before you understand that this batch of Republicans is bad for America?
All of the decisions that the Republicans have made in the past nine years have brought our country down and disabled our economy. Their agenda of destroy the Obama Administration is very bad for our country. President Obama has asked the Republicans time over and over again to help but they flat out refuse to do. I really would like to know what drugs the Republicans are on. On one in their right mind would ever do the things that they been doing over the past year and a half.
These are all very good reasons to vote for Kendrick Meek for Florida Senator, Alex Sink for Florida Governor, Dave Aronburg for Attorney General, and any other Democrat for office. There are the Independents which there are some good ones that I do not know but Charlie Crist is one of them. I will not be voting for him because he will not help you if you e-mail him and ask for help. I have corruption documents proving corruption here in Florida and Charlie Crist will do nothing about it after he says that he will fight corruption. That is a flat out lie. I have contacted him many times and he refuses to do anything about it, in fact, he has not even looked at any of the papers that I have. If you were interested in fighting corruption and someone said he/she has proof of corruption here in Florida I would have sent some over to at least look at what that person has. Charlie Crist has done nothing.
The fact is one day I e-mail Dave Aronburg by mistake and he even responded to me personally. Then I told him about the corruption and he is having one of his assistant helping me. This is a very good reason why I am voting for Dave Aronburg for Attorney General. We need more people like Dave Aronburg that are interested in helping the people of Florida instead of helping their own careers. Helping people will help their careers in the long run. I cannot get a Republican to help anyone except themselves.
The total limit of liability for the oil companies as of this moment is 75 or 775 million dollars which is most likely has reached its limits. Members of Congress are thinking to raise it to 10 Billion Dollars but that in its self is way below the cost of cleanup when some experts estimate that the cost will exceed 16 Billion Dollars. The real costs will never be accounted for because of the damage that we cannot see or estimate.
The question is not when but if Congress will ever get it about offshore drilling. There will always be accidents in oil rig drilling and in Nuclear Plants when cost is the most important factor over safety. Congress is only concerned about the donations and getting elected again to keep the high salary, excellent Health Care which all Republicans voted down for all Americans, and the power of the office.
The Republicans very same thinking of Wall Street Reform will bring down Wall Street Reform just like it brought down Health Care Reform. How much damage do you really want to see before you understand that this batch of Republicans is bad for America?
All of the decisions that the Republicans have made in the past nine years have brought our country down and disabled our economy. Their agenda of destroy the Obama Administration is very bad for our country. President Obama has asked the Republicans time over and over again to help but they flat out refuse to do. I really would like to know what drugs the Republicans are on. On one in their right mind would ever do the things that they been doing over the past year and a half.
These are all very good reasons to vote for Kendrick Meek for Florida Senator, Alex Sink for Florida Governor, Dave Aronburg for Attorney General, and any other Democrat for office. There are the Independents which there are some good ones that I do not know but Charlie Crist is one of them. I will not be voting for him because he will not help you if you e-mail him and ask for help. I have corruption documents proving corruption here in Florida and Charlie Crist will do nothing about it after he says that he will fight corruption. That is a flat out lie. I have contacted him many times and he refuses to do anything about it, in fact, he has not even looked at any of the papers that I have. If you were interested in fighting corruption and someone said he/she has proof of corruption here in Florida I would have sent some over to at least look at what that person has. Charlie Crist has done nothing.
The fact is one day I e-mail Dave Aronburg by mistake and he even responded to me personally. Then I told him about the corruption and he is having one of his assistant helping me. This is a very good reason why I am voting for Dave Aronburg for Attorney General. We need more people like Dave Aronburg that are interested in helping the people of Florida instead of helping their own careers. Helping people will help their careers in the long run. I cannot get a Republican to help anyone except themselves.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
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