Once again I have finally sat down to blog. I don't know how long this will be tonight as I am just writing down whatever goes through my brain tonight. I guess its random Thoughts time.
Its a drizzly foggy night out and I may try to get some interesting pictures in a little bit. I am going to try and stop down the camera and get some long exposure images and see if I can come up something interesting. I may have to put the polarizing filter on too. I haven't gotten and gotten myself a Neutral density filter yet but I need one or maybe 2 so I can start taking some long exposures during the day.
I also need to find myself an AC adapter for the camera so i can do those kind of shots without sucking down the battery.
The house unveiled their version of the health-care reform bill. It weighs in at just a hair under 2000 pages. Who knows what lies in this monstrosity of a bill.
One of the best sources I have seen for what's going in Washington is Jamie Dupree.
I would honestly agree that we should have a way to provide at least routine check-ups and perhaps non-emergency, non-catastrophic care for reasonably cheap prices.
Now this is admitedly my arm-chair quarterbacking, but it seems as if there is a multi-prong problem preventing the care from being delivered at reasonable cost.
1)On the whole consumers don't see the whole cost. For the majority of Americans the costs are hidden behind insurance co-pays and percentages or Government care such as Medicare and Medicaid.
2) Insurance premiums (paticularly Mal-practice) rates are astronomically high because there is no limit on the non-medical costs of a suit. I think there should be compensation for costs of care and lost compensation, but the punitive and emotional damage awards send the costs of suits so high that insurance becomes almost prohibitively expensive. These costs are then passed through the system.
3) For those who do NOT have insurance or government assistance, the cost is extremely high. As a result they default on paying and the costs they incur are passed on through the system to the rest of us. This tends to be a positive feedback loop that continues to drive prices higher.
So what to do?
I don't know all the answers. Some things seem like they would help. For one, enact TorT reform. Enable "cafe" pricing. This way consumers know the costs up front and can shop for better prices.
Encourage high-deductible HSA type accounts. Perhaps through tax breaks for insurance plans. This will further encourage consumers to save insurance for catastrophic health issues. If people have to pay for the care out of their own pockets it will put pressure on providers to lower costs as to encourage competition.
Allow insurance plans to cross state lines. Allow consumers to build a custom policy by buying various types of coverage and exclude others. A single young male hardly needs his policy to handle maternity or OB/GYN care. He also probably doesn't need care for various other ailments that usually hit only older people. Of course this leads to the possibility that someone will be caught with something that isn't covered. But if you have a fall-back to a comprehensive catastrohic plan it can help.
To encourage people who are not covered or are insufficiently covered or are in financial trouble to not default on their bills offer a Low or Zero interest loan to cover the costs. there would have to be penalties for defaulting on this, but it could shift the cost off health-care initially and help bring down prices.
Just a few thoughts
Saw this today on one of my mailing lists and thought it was cool. Solar System Modeler
On other thoughts...
The chorus of one of the songs of TSO's new Album "Night Castle" has me intrigued.
What do you make of them?
I AM THE WAY
I AM THE LIGHT
I AM THE DARK INSIDE THE NIGHT
I HEAR YOUR HOPES
I FEEL YOUR DREAMS
AND IN THE DARK I HEAR YOUR SCREAMS
DON’T TURN AWAY
JUST TAKE MY HAND
AND WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR FINAL STAND
I’LL BE RIGHT THERE
I’LL NEVER LEAVE
AND ALL I ASK OF YOU
Yvette and I talked about the other night and we wonder if this is referential to Jesus.
I don't know. It does seem to point that way but its hard to say.
Anyway, I am going to wrap this up for the night.
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