Category Archives: Healthcare reform
Alabama’s Budget and Healthcare: A Plea for Sanity
Alabama, instead of going for a trickle-down economy, has settled on a suck–the-poor-dry scheme. We have the lowest overall state taxes but the highest income tax on the poor. While trying to run our state on the backs of the … Continue reading
Filed under Alabama legislative session 2012, Healthcare reform
Talking Points for Madison County in Response to Alabama Department of Mental Health (DMH) plan 2012
Talking Points for Madison County in Response to Alabama Department of Mental Health (DMH) plan 2012 (Please add to this for your county by working with your local NAMI Chapter) The DMH is planning to close 4 large regional … Continue reading
HR 676, Part 7: Women’s Reproductive Health Should NOT Be Managed By Chicken Farmers
Before I get to mental health, which I promise is really coming soon, I’m going to reflect on how the current uproar in Alabama and other states over women’s reproductive rights might call for some careful editing of HR 676, … Continue reading
HR 676, Part 6: Long Term Care
This week’s section of HR 676 (Improved and Expanded Medicare for All) is Section 203—Payment for Long Term Care. For long-term care, which includes in-home, nursing home and community based care, each region will get a lump sum amount … Continue reading
Filed under HR 676 Analysis
HR 676, Part 5: Budget Nuts and Bolts
Title II of HR 676 is “Finances”—let’s look at Subtitle A, Budgeting and Payments. A little dry, but very relevant, considering Alabama’s current budget squeeze and the threat to the 40% of Alabama children covered under our Medicaid! First, there … Continue reading
Filed under Children's Issues, HR 676 Analysis
HR 676, Part 4: Room for Negotiation in Medicare for All?
I’m hard at work trying to keep our state legislature from throwing our Medicaid money away, but I promised to do a breakdown on HR 676, Medicare for All. This week let’s take up Section 104. Here it is, short … Continue reading
Filed under HR 676 Analysis
We Have a Situation: Alabama’s Children Menaced by Out of State Vultures
My nurse has a phrase for various non-medical snafus, from a child showing up for his checkup a day early to a small snake that once slipped in through the back door. “Dr. A,” she says calmly, “we have a … Continue reading
Filed under Children's Issues, Insurer tricks
HR 676, Part 3: Who Gets to Play?
Hope everyone had a happy New Year celebration! Ready to jump right back in to reading HR 676, the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act? In a couple of months, the Supreme Court will be hearing arguments about our … Continue reading
Filed under HR 676 Analysis, Insurer tricks
New $25 annual fee: followup visit
To follow up my post a few days ago on the new fee charged by Huntsville Hospital– the fee is only with doctor’s offices owned by Huntsville Hospital, not with the inpatient unit, lab, radiology or other services. There are … Continue reading
Filed under Hospital and Physician Costs
Huntsville Hospital’s New Annual Fee: Will Your Health Insurance Become Meaningless?
I’m writing an extra piece this week, because I just found out about a new $25 annual fee Huntsville Hospital has started charging [at its outpatient physician offices]. I had planned to get up early and do some serious cleaning, … Continue reading
Filed under Hospital and Physician Costs
