kbordson

side note: not all career fields have 40hour work weeks. salaried employees or sub-contractors don't get paid overtime. not all occupations have the ability to unionize. People still get hurt and to to the ER or have babies on holidays.... Not that those aren't "good ideas" - and there have been good ideas from BOTH sides. So to discuss that let me bring up some of my stepfathers, John L. Merkt submitted bills (NOT saying that I agree with his bills; prior to his death, he and I would civilly discuss those issues) - Seatbelt laws and motorcycle Helmet use in Wisconsin - Increased the drinking age in Wisconsin - Len Bias Law Yes, you could argue that those were passed with bi-partisian efforts - but those were HIS "babies" that he pushed. And he was a Republican.

ok... did you even really READ it?! I would cut and paste his post directly to your arguments to show that your comments do NOT seem directed to his idea AT ALL - but I don't want to waste that bandwidth on something you won't read anyway. Read it. Think about it. THEN POST. m'kay.

Commenting on the "payment by procedure".... I actually prefer a system based on physician productivity, Relative Value Units ("RVU"). But the current system has different "charges" for the same procedure based on the insurance company of the individual. (which I don't like, because then physician "cherry pick" the insurance companies they like) The other option is payment of physicians by salary. But both options have problems. I currently am in the salary category (beginning a new group in a month) I like the salary - not cuz I'm lazy, but rather, I'm restarting my patient population so not a lot of "productivity" in the next couple of months. And once I am productive again, when I'm done counseling most of my patients on conservative, medical and surgical management of problems and then discuss the risks and benefits of those options. MANY prefer to try conservative or medical options. But SURGERY should still be an option... even for those women that say "I WANT A C-SECTION!!" (and no medical indication) But basing salary on RVU's would encourage physicians to be "productive" but does encourage increased focus to those "high value" activities (like surgeries)

Wasn't me. I only dance in my own back yard nekkid.

Good point. Or make the end of year on July 1 to discourage unnecessary visits in July... the most DANGEROUS time to be in the hospital!!! (start of new residents/interns)

Other thought.... I really do like the high deductible. But maybe it should be a sliding scale. For many $3000 might not lead to bankruptcy, but for some it might. Especially if the injury occurred on December 28th. ER visit, emergency surgery... release on Dec 31st. New year.... BAM - another 3k deductible for rehab. Have the deductible based on income. But... then the arguments about giving your financial information for getting health care comes in to play again.....

Intelligence and Situational Awareness would be the "Best Home Defense" Which weapon to use... depends on the situation. Is it a domestic dispute? - taser. Is it a personal attack? (co-worker or other known assailant that intends to HARM and even KILL ... not a steal issue) - 1911A1 or shotgun Is it a random burglary? (neighborhood kids looking for quick cash) - a dog Is it a targeted home invasion? (and no... I don't mean "The Russians are COMING!"... was the house "scoped" / "cased" and specifically identified as a target) - Each one has different needs and strategies.

Initial impression: I like it. Other issues - actual benefits, ie what is "covered"? Is this "health care" or does it include dental/vision/medications, what about "alternative" techniques/procedures (chiropractic, accupuncture). What if you don't use all the money for that year, can you "roll it over" to the next or is the money forfeit? will this "encourage" / "force" a standardized billing system for the medical field (right now... there is NO standardization... a lab test can vary between $6 and $25 depending on whether your insurance plan will only pay "this" amt... and the lab "writes off" the rest - and instead tacks it on the next) Will this be met with "you can't tell me what to charge"! Who decides the "standard billing charges"? - a VERY respectable starting point (better that that other plan that I read) but it won't address the issue with the rapidly escalating COST of medical care.

How did we go from an news report of a relatively reasonably done journal article to beating this anecdotal case of a tragic death to death?

PARTY LIKE A COW ON A STOLEN UFO!!!

Agreed. Thank for saying it so clearly.

Several comments in this thread did make me stop and think. 1. Why the "rightous" indignation about a U.S. President winning an International award of Peace? -comments listed included that he was nominated too soon on day 11 of his Presidency (no big "peace" acts during those 2w that I'm aware of, but if this was given as an inspiration to continue to work toward peace, then, as nerdgirl noted, that is NOT unprecedented.) that there are "better qualified" (Nobel Peace Prize Nominees - personally Ingrid Betancourt, French-Colombian ex-hostage would have gotten my vote) and some other random grumbling (which means... that I started a list and got to two....) 2. Should he accept it? (it has been previously refused in 1973 by Le Duc Tho as he did not believe peace had been reached in Vietnam.) Are there any implications of conflict of interest (and before you start yelling "hater"... think about it. He is the standing President for the United States of America. If he accepts $1million, from a foreign country for "peace" will that influence how he might preform in his office. I'm not saying that he SHOULDN'T be a peaceful President, but unfortunately there IS a place for defense.... and even aggression and war. Will this in any way limit his ability to fulfill that or will it even give an "appearance" of conflict?) If he declines, the money goes back - but his name is still entered. I personally feel it would be more noble on his part to very respectfully decline.

He's ok with that. His battle is for the "general population" to get everything that someone else has. Military has "x" - "We should get it too!." Congress has "y" - "That's not fair." And while maybe they "should" and maybe "it's not fair." That is how it currently is. He has shown that he is willing to try to shake that status quo. Even if it means insulting those that have given him that very freedom to do so. However.... what he hasn't spelled out is the limits and the payment schedule for said "I want mine." ER visits? Disability/Accidents? Self inflicted or accidents due to hazardous activities? Preventative? Vaccinations? Malignancy screening? HPV testing for everyone? Illness/Infective diseases? STD's? Prenatal care? Contraception? Infertility? IVF/ICSI, PGD? Chronic medical conditions? PREVENTABLE chronic medical conditions (chronic medical conditions d/t obesity, smoking or other lifestyle choices)? Bariatric surgery (it can help with chronic medical conditions) Abdominoplasty (if he/she has now lost all that weight, what do you do with all the excess skin)? Breast augmentation/reduction (s/p mastectomy for malignancy, back pain, self image)? Rhinoplasty (OSA, chronic sinusitis, self image)? Medications? Selective lists? Generic only? WHERE are those limits? And ... who pays? The U.S. is so indebted to foreign countries right now that we have NO money in the bank for domestic concerns. Could we "balance the budget"? Should we live within the means of that budget? Who pays to build the hospitals or clinics? Who pays for the bills of those facilities? Electrical, water, gas, even cable and internet... Who pays for the the equipment in that facility? Lab, radiology, beds, wheelchairs, surgical suites, sterile instruments, non-sterile supplies... Who pays for the wages of the employees in that facility? Physicians, nurses, lab techs, pharmacist, surgical assist, IT, security, medical records, cafeteria, housekeeping/grounds keep... And when (or "if") it all becomes "free" - will "the people" be mature enough to respect that and not run to it just because "it's free" (with the personal experience on that... I have my opinions) But... good sir, Lawrocket.... yes, he is willing to insult the military members because 1. It's his right. 2. It's easier to come up with quick cries than to realize that the problem is a lot bigger than just "I want mine."

I do.... I get my high speed internet through my cable company. but... some of the issues with hulu are that due to different broadcasting rights, things get put up ... and then pulled. or there are certain timeframes that something can be up.

LOVE IT!!! Who needs cable?!

It's not a "dry sense of humor".... I'm not British (but I do like Torchwood) (and... short of giggling and batting my eyes like an ignorant lil cow ((sorry lisah)) how can I convey that I'm not REALLY trying to be mean or hateful)

It's not a "dry sense of humor".... I'm not British (but I do like Torchwood) (and... short of giggling and batting my eyes like an ignorant lil cow ((sorry lisah)) how can I convey that I'm not REALLY trying to be mean or hateful)

I also could add: Married..... to an international arms dealer. (but... it was VERY FUN to use that to make that rather persistent guy suddenly NOT SO PERSISTENT.)

Please I'm a married man! We'll have to keep this forbidden love affair of ours a secret! We'll give each other nick names. You'll be Smokey and I'll be El Bandito, that's Spanish for The Bandit. And you can dress up in that beer garden girl costume and carry big jugs of beer and I'll dress as the Matador.....I even have the cape. GGGGrrrrr ummm..... just to clue you in, sherlock My HUSBAND was an international arms dealer. Seriously.

well then..... ok. Just don't REALLY shoot yourself in the head with your next divorce, m'kay.

Where I'm considered conservative, errr, at least moderate. There are places where EVERYONE can be "normal"!!

Andy.... come on. You're what, 19? How much trouble could you have gotten into already?

Shush! Go make ME a sammich!! ME?!!!! You don't know what you're asking. I could probably somehow BURN your sammich. I'm not kept around for my domestic abilities.

Uh oh, I better get V to the doctor. Viagra is big business! And the though of perhaps helping women out with their sex drive has been a very serious drive for pharmaceutical companies. But women being more complicated then men, who would have guessed, don't necessarily respond the same as men to cretin drugs like Viagra. And as I recall the article was stating that it was perfectly normal for some women to have zero sex drive. Whooooooosh! And that's pretty funny since V is a perky boobied, flat bellied lady. I don't think that Shah knew about whom John was referring. I think that he might have assumed that "V" stood for viagra.... not Valinda.

Come on.... that's for "chicks" "I just made love"?! If it was for guys, it might say "scored" or "bang" or ....