“Health Insurance Reform” is not communism

So when I arrived at work today, I noticed that there was something different going on. Apparently Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) was having a town hall meeting to discuss “Health Insurance Reform – What’s In It for You?”

What I noticed first was a group of vehicles from the local news agencies congregating in a parking lot near the Ohio State University Medical Center Biomedical Research Tower. Everything seemed relatively peaceful, I noticed that there were a preponderance of supporters of the proposed health care reforms. Then again Columbus Ohio has traditionally been a rather liberal “blue” city. There were a few detractors, but everybody seemed to be getting along just fine. One thing I noticed was that the more liberal participants had professionally printed signs while the more conservative leaning participants had handwritten signs that were hard to read.

I did not attend the meeting (I do have a job you know…) but it did get me to think about health care reform.

One thing that I think is clear about this whole debate is that the current way that health care is funded in the United States just flat out doesn’t work. I work as a physician, and I deal with health care insurance companies on a daily basis. We see many patients that do not have insurance, not because they don’t want insurance but because it’s not available to them. They still get health care, it’s just that the hospital doesn’t get paid for it. In order for hospitals to function they need to have revenue. This isn’t about making tons of money or making shareholders happy, this is about providing basic services.

The right-wing-nut-job Faux-News commentators have painted this debate as a fight against “socialized medicine.” It seems that the point is being way missed here. It is irresponsible to play on the average persons fears of losing their freedom as a way to be categorically contrary to the current administration. The goal here is not, and has never been to take away peoples freedom. It is about providing access to care.

Again I want to restate the way health care is funded in the United States doesn’t work. It needs to be fixed. I have a strong suspicion that most of the people that are against health-care reform really don’t know what’s being proposed.

The changes currently being considered are health insurance reform. Pres. Obama is not gathering a Red Army to turn us all into Communists, although the frothing at the mouth right-wing-nut-jobs on Faux News would want you to think so. Here are some examples of what the health-insurance reform bill is proposing:

• No discrimination for pre-existing conditions
• No exorbitant out-of-pocket expenses, deductibles or co-pays
• No cost sharing for preventative care
• No dropping of coverage for the seriously ill
• No gender discrimination
• No annual or lifetime caps on coverage
• Extended coverage for young adults
• Guaranteed insurance renewal as long as the policyholder pays premiums in full

Note the stark absence of what Sarah Palin described as “Obama’s Death Panels.” The bill addresses end- of-life-decision counseling, not counseling to end lives. (Are you kidding me? BTW – isn’t it ironic that she is pro-death penalty?)  As far as I’m concerned Sarah Palin is not an authority on anything, however I think she does have a voice amongst the ultra-conservative. It is just flat out irresponsible to make up something as dramatic as “Obama’s Death Panel.” Unfortunately it may be a more persuasive argument to some because it is more emotional than the long boring 1000 page document of this bill. Good thing that a lot of conservatives are distancing themselves from her.

I hope that the debate on this very important issue, which affects us all, is held at a higher level. People are smarter than that and deserve better. The average American is capable of understanding the subtleties and nuances of our policies, and I think as a nation we are capable of compromise.

Peak

Peak

Kindle + iPhone = Ahhhhh!

My two favorite devices are now in sync! I just downloaded the Kindle for iPhone application.

I don’t think this will replace the Kindle device. It will however give you access to your books wherever you happen to be. I have often found myself with unexpected downtime wishing that I had a book to read. Since I always have my iPhone with me, problem solved!

Now I haven’t tried this yet, but I also think that you can have access to your account on two different iPhones. This gives my wife access to my books as well. This has been an issue with using an electronic book.

You can download books with the iPhone application as well. The book that have already been purchased are all accessible with all of your bookmarks and highlights. However, you are not able to add new highlights.

It also lacks the ability to look up definitions for words.

Like I said, it is not going to replace the Kindle itself, but is a good complement to it!

Cannon and 12th

Actual bowling

Men’s Locker Room

Christmas Morning

Shadows

Emergency

We are made of star stuff

Photo by Image Editor, a Flickr.com user

I’m reading the book Death From the Skies by Phil Plait. This is a book written by an astronomer outlining all of the ways that the Earth can be destroyed by astronomical events. To me, this book is a fun vehicle to learn about astronomy. Phil Plait writes with the boyish enthusiasm of a b movie sci-fi geek. You can almost hear him beaming and making SPLOOOSCH! explosion sounds!

That being said, a bit of perspective that I obtained from the book is that all of the elements that occur in nature were formed in explosions of ancient dying stars. As Carl Sagan said “we are made of star stuff.”

Our solar system was formed from a disk of space debris that converged to form the sun, planets, asteroids etc. The part that blows my mind is that every atom and molecule that I consist of was part of that disk. I was formed out of the same stuff that formed the Earth. So were you. So was this computer. So was the Empire State building. So was that big Jesus statue on a hill over-looking Rio de Janeiro. Everything!

We are all made out of the same stuff. I bet that if everyone were taught this, and understood it, we would not be so focused on our differences.

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