My stance on Issues : 31-68 Part 2
# Topic ProCon.org #39;s Questions 31 Environment Should drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) be allowed? 32 Environment Are humans substantially responsible for global climate change? 33 Environment Should the Clean Air Act be amended to exclude carbon dioxide (CO2) from regulation? 34 Euthanasia Physician-assisted Suicide Should euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide be legal? 35 GMO Food Should genetically modified foods have mandatory labeling? 36 Gun Control Should most adults have the right to carry a concealed handgun? 37 Gun Control Are more federal regulations on guns and ammunition needed? 38 Health Care Are the March 2010 federal health care reform laws ("Obamacare") good for America? 39 Health Care Should there be a federal mandate for individuals to have health insurance? 40 Health Care Should Medicare be amended to include a voucher system for health care? # Topic ProCon.org #39;s Questions 41 Health Care Should all Americans have a right (be entitled) to basic health care? 42 Immigration Should undocumented immigrants have access to social services such as Medicaid, welfare, or public education? 43 Immigration Should E-Verify, the federal government #39;s electronic employment verification system, be mandatory for all employers? 44 Immigration Should state and local law enforcement be empowered to enforce federal immigration laws? 45 Immigration Should the US continue to build a physical barrier, such as a fence, along the US-Mexico border ...From:Bridget MorganViews:3 0ratingsTime:27:09More inPeople Blogs

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My stance on Issues : 31-68 Part 2 - Video

Health Care Reform
"Health Care Reform" written by Sal Espana. Performed at No Shame Central Coast on Oct. 26, 2012 by Kurtis Addison, Suzy Newman, and Wendy-Marie Forester.From:cerebralhumorViews:0 0ratingsTime:03:50More inComedy

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Health Care Reform - Video

Health Care: Plain Simple - "How Health Insurance Works for You"
Here #39;s a quick reminder about why it #39;s so important to have health insurance. It #39;s social media-friendly, so send it to someone you care about!From:HMSAnowViews:0 0ratingsTime:01:21More inNonprofits Activism

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Health Care: Plain

Vote Tim Golden, A Senator Who Works Hard For Us!
Prior to his election to the Senate, Tim Golden served four terms in the Georgia House of Representatives before his election to the State Senate in 1998. Golden served as an aide to former US Senator Sam Nunn and was a long-time aide to former US Congressman Charles Hatcher. He also served as Staff Director for the US House Small Business Subcommittee on Energy and Agriculture in Washington, DC While a member of the House of Representatives, Golden served on the Ways and Means Committee, the Banks and Banking Committee, and the University System of Georgia Committee. During his service in the House, Golden earned a reputation for being an ardent supporter of education. In 1993 he led a successful three year battle in the General Assembly to make Valdosta State a "regional university" and was honored with the school #39;s "Distinguished Alumnus" award that same year. He has secured over $75 million in construction projects at Valdosta State. A supporter of technical education as well, Golden has secured over $35 million in bond projects at South West Georgia Technical College in Thomasville and Valdosta Technical College in Valdosta since 1999. Rural health care concerns spurred Golden to author the "Rural Georgia Physicians Shortage Act" in 1995. It provides tax credits to physicians who choose to practice in one of Georgia #39;s rural counties. Golden was named the "1995 Legislator of the Year" by the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians for his efforts, and in 2006, the ...From:Tim GoldenforSenateViews:0 0ratingsTime:00:31More inNews Politics

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Vote Tim Golden, A Senator Who Works Hard For Us! - Video

Firefighters trump Tommy Thompson #39;s 911 card
wikipedia: Tommy Thompson earlier in life,is a United States Republican politician who was a long-serving state legislator in Wisconsin, the 42nd Governor of Wisconsin from 1987 to 2001, and US Secretary of Health and Human Services from 2001 to 2005. After his time in the Bush Administration, Thompson was an advisor with two health care lobbying firms and sat on the board of 22 organizations. -------------------------------- Tammy Baldwin #39;s opinion of Tommy Tommy Thompson: He wasn #39;t working for you at the lobbying firm, and he #39;s not working for you now. Tommy Thompson left Wisconsin behind and joined A powerful DC lobbying firm. He didn #39;t lobby for you mdash; he lobbied for Big Oil and the drug and insurance companies, helping them get their way in Washington and raking in more than $13 million. And now he wants to help them again mdash; on your dime. He #39;d turn Medicare over to the insurance companies. He #39;d protect tax breaks for Big Oil and companies that ship Wisconsin jobs overseas. He #39;d give millionaires like himself a $265000 tax cut. And you #39;d pay the price. Tommy Thompson left Wisconsin and got rich working for Washington special interests. http://www.tammybaldwin.comFrom:wordgeezerViews:1 0ratingsTime:14:34More inEducation

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Firefighters trump Tommy Thompson's 911 card - Video

Apple Beet Juice Recipe - *Blood Juice*
rawglow.com Enjoy this Apple Beet Juice Recipe *Blood Juice* made with the Omega Vert 350 Juicer. Apple Beet Juice Recipe - "Blood Juice" (Makes approx 20 ounces about 2 servings) 4 apples (I used a mixture of Fuji and Granny Smith) 1 small red beet or a half or a quarter of a large red beet 1 small piece of ginger (size depends on desired spiciness) Put all ingredients through your favorite juicer. I used my trusty Omega Vert 350.This juice tastes amazing, but since this beet juice recipe is high in natural sugar it is meant as an occasional treat and not as an everyday drink. Hope you enjoyed this beet juice recipe! PS FYI don #39;t go overboard on the beet juice, a little goes along way. If you have a prior medical condition you might want to be aware of some of the possible beet juice side effects http://www.everynutrient.com if you drink too much beet juice. Disclaimer: Information provided on this site is for educational purposes only. The information is not given as medical advice, nor is it intended to propose or offer to propose a cure for any disease or condition. Before starting any new diet, exercise, or treatment program please consult with your health care provider.From:glowrawViews:11 0ratingsTime:03:01More inHowto Style

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Apple Beet Juice Recipe - *Blood Juice* - Video

Raw Pudding Recipe with Cashews and Spirulina
http://www.rawglow.com Raw pudding with cashews and spirulina, looks funky but tastes divine! Great for Halloween, I call it "toxic sludge pudding". 1 cup cashews (soaked overnight in water, drained, and rinsed before use) 1/2 cup coconut water 3 tablespoons raw honey 2 tablespoons coconut oil 2 tablespoons raw carob powder 1 tablespoon spirulina powder Seeds from 1 vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Blend all ingredients in a powerful blender such as a Vitamix until smooth and creamy. Drizzle over fruit or use as a dip for pieces of fruit such as apple slices or strawberries. This raw pudding is a rich recipe so a little goes a long way. PS I have to thank my friend Shana Dean shanadean.wordpress.com for the inspiration for this raw pudding recipe. I would #39;ve never come up with it on my own! *Information provided on this site is for educational purposes only. The information is not given as medical advice, nor is it intended to propose or offer to propose a cure for any disease or condition. Before starting any new diet, exercise, or treatment program please consult with your health care provider.From:glowrawViews:4 0ratingsTime:03:58More inHowto Style

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Working as an allied health care professional in the US and Canada
What it is like to work as a healthcare professional in North America.From:EllieSLPViews:0 0ratingsTime:09:11More inPeople Blogs

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Working as an allied health care professional in the US and Canada - Video

The 2012 Presidential Election Debate:How It Should Have Started.
This is why so many people do not vote. No entertainment. Disclaimer: This video is made for comedic purposes only. Extra tags:First Presidential Debate Barack Obama Mitt Romney Complete Full Election 2012 Governor Republican Democrat Domestic Policy Economy Jobs Entitlements Social Security Medicare Obamacare Affordable Health Care Act Recession Recovery Role Government Policy Issues Michelle Debt Jim Lehrer PBS Denver Economics Plan Federal News Politics USA America United States Campaign Vote Joe Biden Paul Ryan Conservative Liberal Congress Senate "Barack Obama (US President)" Education Funny Comedy Parody Guile #39;s theme street fighter soundtrack video game nes snes nintendo genesis arcade segaFrom:Tomasz SobocinskiViews:1 0ratingsTime:00:48More inComedy

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The 2012 Presidential Election Debate:How It Should Have Started. - Video

ChiroTube ADHD Chiromercial
Over 2 million children suffer from ADHD in the United States. Nervous system stress may worsen ADHD symptoms. Chiropractic care may help your child overcome ADHD. See more chiropractic videos at chirotube.com This information is not used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. For educational purposes only. Please consult with a qualified health care provider.From:ChiroTubeChannelViews:1 0ratingsTime:00:48More inScience Technology

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ChiroTube ADHD Chiromercial - Video

LG Communication PodCast
Personal and Professional Health Care Communication HCS/350: Health Care Communication University of Phoenix -- College of NursingFrom:lgalindo0472Views:1 0ratingsTime:09:08More inEducation

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From Pullman to Puyallup, gubernatorial candidate Jay Inslee has trumpeted prevention-based health care for state employees as a way to save hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

But now the Democrat has cut his cost-savings estimate by as much as two-thirds, raising new questions about the feasibility of his vow to boost education spending without raising taxes.

Campaign staffers insist the proposal would still generate significant savings. But some government officials, health-care experts and union leaders say that isn't clear without further study.

Inslee and his Republican opponent, Rob McKenna, agree that controlling health-care costs is crucial to adequately funding education without new taxes, as both have pledged.

McKenna wants to cap health-care spending and raise the share of premiums paid by employees unless they switch to a consumer-directed plan, which pairs higher deductibles with health-savings accounts. Persuading unions to accept those changes could be a challenge.

Inslee's plan would shift state employees to a health-care system similar to the one adopted in 2005 by King County, which lowered costs through wellness programs, greater use of generic drugs and other strategies. Inslee has said it could save between $300 million and $455 million a year if implemented statewide.

However, his campaign recently discovered that King County actually saved only a third of what Inslee has been saying on the campaign trail. Because the state savings estimates are based on the county's experience, the campaign has scaled back its numbers.

"If you want to argue that $200 million or $100 million in savings to the state is insignificant, I think everybody in the world would argue with you," said Sterling Clifford, a campaign spokesman. "Frankly, if it's $50 million, it'll be helpful."

State health officials also note they've already adopted parts of King County's system, would have trouble doing some other aspects of it and, of course, would have to negotiate changes with many labor unions.

"There are 100 moving parts in this type of discussion," said Lou McDermott, the director of the public-employees benefits division of the state Health Care Authority. "None of it is simple."

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Inslee scales back expected savings from a centerpiece of his platform

GALLIPOLIS Early last week, health care patients in Gallia County became the first to enroll in a pilot program that officials hope will eventually be utilized by health care facilities throughout the nation to combat prescription drug abuse and improve patient safety.

The program, being launched through a public-private partnership between regional health care provider Holzer Health System and CrossChx, a company based in Gallipolis, is known as the Biometric Enrollment and Verification Prescription System and will allow doctors to compare health records from multiple sources to help determine the eligibility of a patient to receive a prescription for medication.

CrossChx (pronounced cross checks) will provide the technology to track health information and will, specifically, use biometrics, or the identification of an individual through his or her inherit traits in this case, fingerprints to allow prescribers to receive real-time patient information.

Participants in the program will be patients of Holzer and, according to officials, positive response has already been felt among the patients of the urgent care unit who began signing up last Monday.

Reportedly, Holzer and CrossChx have committed $900,000 in resources to the program, and the State of Ohio will provide $500,000 from the Childrens Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) through performance bonuses that Ohio achieved for increasing enrollment and retention of eligible children in Medicaid.

During a press conference last week, Orman Hall, director of the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services, spoke about the epidemic that is prescription drug abuse and the possibility that exists within the pilot program to help combat this issue.

According to Hall, during the span between 1997 and 2010, a 10-fold increase in the use of prescription opiates can be seen within the overall health care system, and, during that period, a 400-percent increase in the number of opiate overdoses can also measured.

Hall, who also reported on his recent trip to a neonatal intensive care unit at a health care facility in Columbus, spoke about his hope that the program can make a difference in the shocking statistics surrounding prescription drug abuse.

Just this past week, I had an opportunity to visit the neonatal intensive care unit at Grant Hospital in Columbus and Grant Hospital is saying that 30 percent almost one out of every three of those babies in that unit their mothers were addicted to opiates and their babies are withdrawing from prescription opiates or heroin, Hall said. So, the problem is severe and this is one of a number of steps that we believe are going to make a profound difference in how our state is combating the problem of both opiate and prescription drug addiction in Ohio.

CrossChx Chairman Sean Lane, who is also the founder of BTS (Battlefield Telecommunications Systems), made remarks during the conference and spoke about how the technology used by his companies on the battlefield can now be utilized locally to combat the abuse and diversion of prescription drugs.

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Gallia first to enroll in Rx pilot program

In their quest for efficiency, some Central Massachusetts hospitals are following in the steps of an industry that could not seem more different: manufacturing.

Medical administrators are running Lean or Six Sigma initiatives in Worcester and other locations, using management techniques long associated with automakers to ferret out waste and maybe save money.

Its an arduous process, openly dismissed by a large nurses union and frequently unsuccessful, according to experts. Yet some administrators say it could prove critical to hospitals as employers, insurers and government push to control medical spending.

Theres always something new to get at. Theres always more waste, said Dr. Charles E. Cavagnaro, president and chief executive of Wing Memorial Hospital, a 74-bed hospital in Palmer that is part of the Worcester-based UMass Memorial Health Care system. Will it get expense out? I believe so.

Lean and Six Sigma refer to methods of improving work processes. Lean typically involves identifying the steps used to bring a product or service to a customer and then eliminating those steps that do not add value. Lean is associated with production innovations at Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp., which encouraged kaizen, or improvement.

Six Sigma was developed by electronics maker Motorola Inc. in the 1980s to reduce variations in manufacturing that lead to defective products. Experts in Six Sigma earn black belt or green belt distinctions.

Chip Caldwell, president of the St. Augustine, Fla., consulting firm Caldwell Butler & Associates, estimates that 50 percent to 60 percent of U.S. hospital and health care systems have launched Lean or Six Sigma initiatives, up from about 10 percent just five years ago. Thats partly because health care administration is a small industry in which individuals hear or read about others initiatives, he said, but also because of financial pressures.

Everyone is expecting reimbursements to drop dramatically, said Mr. Caldwell, who sits on the American Society for Qualitys health care panel. More people will be insured, he said, but theyre going to be insured at the Medicare rate, which at todays rates is an 11 percent loss in the average U.S. hospital.

Launching Lean or Six Sigma is no simple task. Dr. Cavagnaro prepared by taking an online course from Villanova University, then in mid-2011 visited ThedaCare, a community hospital system in northeastern Wisconsin known nationally for its Lean efforts. Since then, Dr. Cavagnaro said, Wing Memorial Hospital started a process improvement department with three Lean black belt experts. He also took about 25 hospital staffers to ThedaCare in June for a two-day symposium.

One Lean effort at Wing Memorial that involved separating patients in the emergency department so some flow faster to care has already reduced patient waiting times by more than 5 percent, he said. Another focusing on billing for radiology procedures has reduced denials from insurers by more than 80 percent and brought additional payments to the hospital, he said.

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'Lean' approach to health care

O-ba-ma-care those four syllables form a fighting word during this presidential campaign.

Some 42 percent of Kentuckians say the future of the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) is one of their top two issues in the presidential election, according to a poll by the non-profit Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. Of those polled, 45 percent think Republican Mitt Romney will do a better job with health care, compared to 40 percent who favor health-care reform architect Barack Obama.

"Kentuckians remain very concerned about health care and health insurance," said Susan Zepeda, chief executive officer for a Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky.

That concern stretches from the family room to the board room. Mark Turner, senior vice president of communications, said a Commerce Lexington poll this summer showed "a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the law." He said "a very large majority" were unsure of the effect or expected it to have a negative effect.

Phil Greer, owner of Greer Companies in Lexington, is sure.

"It's going to be a catastrophe," he said.

Greer has 6,000 employees at 30 restaurants, but he still sees his Lexington-based company as a family business. And for Greer and his son, Lee, Obamacare is a looming disaster overall, but as business owners they are particularly concerned about a government mandate that businesses offer employees insurance or pay a penalty.

The Greers offer health insurance to full-time employees, but father and son worry the cost will rise as more employees sign on to meet the requirement of an individual mandate. Lee Greer said costs of individual insurance plans will inflate because Obamacare requires that insurance companies match the minimum offerings of state-sponsored plans.

Beyond that, he said, the increase in health care will eat deeply into the company's profits. But, he said, employees in companies like his that already operate with a slim profit margin will suffer the most as they find their hours reduced to cover the increased cost of insurance.

Ultimately, he said, Obama care will raise the cost of everyday living, further hurting those at the bottom of the wage scale. Even the Greers' Cheddar's restaurants, which target the middle class with good food at low prices, will have to raise prices. "I'm either going to have to close my doors or raise my prices," Phil Greer said.

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Voters Voices: Kentuckians, like candidates, grapple with health care issues

Inslee downscales health care savings proposalBy Brian M. RosenthalThe Seattle Times

From Pullman to Puyallup, gubernatorial candidate Jay Inslee has trumpeted prevention-based health care for state employees as a way to save hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

But now the Democrat has cut his cost-savings estimate by as much as two-thirds, raising new questions about the feasibility of his vow to boost education spending without raising taxes.

Campaign staffers insist the proposal would still generate significant savings. But some government officials, health care experts and union leaders say that isnt clear without further study.

Inslee and his Republican opponent, Rob McKenna, agree that controlling health care costs is crucial to adequately funding education without new taxes, as both have pledged.

McKenna wants to cap health care spending and raise the share of premiums paid by employees unless they switch to a consumer-directed plan, which pairs higher deductibles with health-savings accounts. Persuading unions to accept those changes could be a challenge.

Inslees plan would shift state employees to a health care system similar to the one adopted in 2005 by King County, which lowered costs through wellness programs, greater use of generic drugs and other strategies. Inslee has said it could save between $300 million and $455 million a year if implemented statewide.

However, his campaign recently discovered that King County actually saved only a third of what Inslee has been saying on the campaign trail. Because the state savings estimates are based on the countys experience, the campaign has scaled back its numbers.

"If you want to argue that $200 million or $100 million in savings to the state is insignificant, I think everybody in the world would argue with you," said Sterling Clifford, a campaign spokesman. "Frankly, if its $50 million, itll be helpful."

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Inslee downscales health care savings proposal

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The following is a statement by Our SALUD:

Today Our SALUD (Somos Aliados Latinos Unidos por la Dignidad - Latino Allies United for Dignity), a health care watchdog coalition, demanded on the eve of the nations largest health care consolidation effort, a halt to a merger vote pending an investigation into a lawsuit surrounding patient care provided by the largest unlicensed LA-based HMO.

Joined by dozens of community members and the attorney representing a class action lawsuit against the HMO, Our SALUD will march outside of Governor Jerry Browns L.A office today, asking the Governor, state regulators and California lawmakers to take action on what will be an unlawful partnership and an intolerable abandonment of obligations by the California Department of Managed Health Care.

On Wednesday, HealthCare Partners medical group (HCP), a Torrance-based physician group managing 675,000 patient lives will ask their Board of Directors to complete the $4.42 billion merger with DaVita, Inc., a publicly-traded, non-physician controlled, out of state corporation. DaVita, a company that provides dialysis nationwide, has already gained their Board of Directors support for the merger. It is unclear whether the Board of Directors for either company have been made aware of the medical malpractice and class action lawsuits pending against HealthCare Partners, and that they will be held personally liable for the damages caused to patient Juan Carlos Jandres, and others in the class. Upon merging with DaVita, HCP will be allegedly in violation of the Business and Professions Code which prevents non-physicians from making decisions that affect patient care.

Today, patients and their caregivers are asking Governor Jerry Brown to explain how an unlicensed HMO can serve our communities with no oversight or regulation? How is it that a medical group makes $2 billion a year with no oversight by the DMHC? Peoples lives are at stake, Alma Marquez, Co-Founder, Our SALUD said. Juan Carlos Jandres knows firsthand what is at stake. He had to fight for the care he needed, had to pay for it himself, and, as a result, has suffered horrific surgeries removing many of his facial bones and now requires a facial prosthesis so he can go to work every day and make a living. He is a young man. This is not right.

Today, Randy McMurray of the Cochran Law Firm, will file a preliminary injunction asking the court to delay the merger until HCP obtains a license from the DMHC. The law firm is the same firm that has filed a class action and medical malpractice case against HealthCare Partners medical group. The firm claims they have found a long standing disregard for managed care laws and a substantial failure in oversight and regulation by the California Department of Managed Health Care.

HealthCare Partners acts like an HMO by creating a contracted network of hospitals, but is not licensed by the DMHC to provide medical and hospital services in California. HCP then forces patients to their substandard network of community hospitals to avoid the cost associated with other quality hospitals in the patients health plan network. This was the situation that allegedly caused Juan Carlos Jandres his medical crisis.

HCP has grown exponentially for years without regulation, putting Los Angeles and Orange County patients and hospitals at a disadvantage. Hospitals are stripped of their ability to enter into contracts with HPC because they are unlicensed and patients are limited to a much narrower network of care thereby inhibiting a patients physical and professional access to quality healthcare. Other medical groups in the region are put at a disadvantage as HCP isnt following regulations and can undercut deals made with the region's managed care organizations.

Letters insisting these questions be answered and addressed have been sent to the DMHC and to Governor Brown.

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New Health Care Watchdog Coalition Urges DMHC to Put Patients Over Profits

CALGARY, Oct. 17, 2012 /CNW/ - In a report released today by The School of Public Policy, authors Herb Emery, David Still and Tom Cottrell show that even with modest increases in health spending due to population aging, Canadian Medicare under the current pay-as-you-go funding model for Canadian is unsustainable.

This model sees government allocate current tax revenues to cover current health costs, with nothing put aside for projected rising health-care costs arising from the aging baby boom generation. The authors calculate that these implicit liabilities for pay-as-you-go Medicare effectively double the level of indebtedness of the provincial and Territorial governments.

It's not the size of the health care liabilities that is the only problem. Who will pay for them is the bigger issue. "The pay-as-you-go model has become like a Ponzi scheme, where those who got in early enough make out nicely, while those who arrive late stand to suffer a serious financial blow if they agree to pay the taxes required to pay for Medicare," the authors write.

The authors quantify the effective doubling of lifetime taxes paid for the same levels of health care services between boomers and grandchildren of the boomers. Given the tax increases and pension benefit reductions the baby boomers have imposed on younger generations of Canadians, boomers are counting on "do as I say, not as I do" policy to ensure that they will have access to necessary medical services. To sustain Medicare, the federal and provincial governments will need to shift the burden of paying for baby boomer health care bills off of the bank accounts of their children and grandchildren.

One option that the authors identify is a pre-funding model where people are charged today for future health-care liabilities. Unfortunately, the window has already closed on this option, as the authors contend that future liabilities have already become too great and it is too late to collect sufficient taxes from baby-boomers now aged 45 to 65.

The only way to sustain Medicare at this point is for governments to focus on health promotion and reforms to health service provision that will reduce overall health-care costs. Examples include encouraging home care for the elderly and palliative care; reducing the prevalence and severity of chronic disease in the population; and changing how chronic diseases are managed to reduce reliance on doctors and hospitals.

It was ten years ago that they were proposed by the Romanow Commission, the Kirby Commission and the "Mazankowski Report". The failure to act on the recommendations of these commissions intended to ensure the sustainability of publicly funded health care in Canada may have been the biggest mistake the baby boomers have made to date that will cost them dearly in their "Golden Years".

The report can be found at http://www.policyschool.ucalgary.ca/publications

Video with caption: "Video: CAN WE AVOID A SICK FISCAL FUTURE? THE NON-SUSTAINABILITY OF HEALTH CARE SPENDING WITH AN AGING POPULATION ". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20121017_C7965_VIDEO_EN_19534.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20121017_C7965_PHOTO_EN_19534.jpg&clientName=The%20School%20of%20Public%20Policy%20%2D%20University%20of%20Calgary&caption=Video%3A%20CAN%20WE%20AVOID%20A%20SICK%20FISCAL%20FUTURE%3F%20THE%20NON%2DSUSTAINABILITY%20OF%20HEALTH%20CARE%20SPENDING%20WITH%20AN%20AGING%20POPULATION%20&title=THE%20SCHOOL%20OF%20PUBLIC%20POLICY%20%2D%20UNIVERSITY%20OF%20CALGARY&headline=Report%3A%20Canadian%20Health%20Care%20System%20%26quot%3BUnsustainable%26quot%3B%20As%20Is

SOURCE: The School of Public Policy - University of Calgary

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Report: Canadian Health Care System "Unsustainable" As Is

President Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney first debated Medicare on Oct. 3.

President Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney first debated Medicare on Oct. 3.

Medicare, the federal health insurance program for about 50 million senior and disabled Americans, is simultaneously one of the most popular and imperiled programs in America.

Its participants and their relatives tend to be highly satisfied with the generous health benefits it provides. But some 78 million baby boomers are now beginning to qualify for the program at a rate of an estimated 10,000 every day.

The first presidential debate earlier this month in Denver had an entire segment devoted to the subject of health care. And it's almost certain to come up in tonight's debate in New York.

But it wasn't the 2010 health law that the candidates brought up first in the last debate. It was Medicare. Specifically, each candidate went after what he saw as the weaknesses of the other candidate's plan.

Here's what President Obama had to say:

"The idea, which was originally presented by Congressman Ryan, your running mate, is that we would give a voucher to seniors, and they could go out in the private marketplace and buy their own health insurance. The problem is that because the voucher wouldn't necessarily keep up with health care inflation, it was estimated that this would cost the average senior about $6,000 a year."

Romney countered with a critique of what President Obama's health law would do to Medicare:

"For current retirees he's cutting $716 billion from the program. Now, he says by not overpaying hospitals and providers, actually just going to them and saying we're going to reduce the rates you get paid across the board, everybody's going to get a lower rate."

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Medicare: Where Presidential Politics And Policy Collide

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) California's top health care official told lawmakers Tuesday she is confident the state can eliminate a health insurance program serving more than 860,000 children from low-income families without disrupting the quality of their care.

Lawmakers held a hearing in the state Senate wanting to know if the administration is prepared to make the transition without disrupting children's medical care. California is eliminating its Healthy Families program and moving those children into the state's Medicaid program in an effort to save a projected $73 million a year.

"We do not want to throw no pun intended the babies out with the bathwater," said Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco.

California Health and Human Services Secretary Diana Dooley said in an interview Monday that the shift will help streamline children's health care and reduce government complexities. But state lawmakers and children's advocates are concerned about the possibility of having children's medical services disrupted.

Assemblyman Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, said he is concerned about the number of doctors willing to accept more Medi-Cal clients. State officials estimate that health providers will receive about 15 percent less under Medi-Cal, which is California's version of the federal Medicaid program for the poor.

"My main concern is that those children continue to have access to the care they need," Pan, a pediatrician, said in an interview Monday. "Ultimately it's about the quality of care."

The Department of Health Care Services has issued a strategic plan that proposes to move all 863,000 children enrolled in Healthy Families into Medi-Cal by Sept. 1, 2013. Families are expected to be moved in four phases, depending on whether their doctors and health plans already accept Medi-Cal. The state plans to start notifying parents next month.

According to the state, eliminating Healthy Families is projected to save the state $13 million this fiscal year and $73 million annually once the transition is completed.

"We recognize these are austere times. The state employees who took a 5 percent pay cut took the pay cut as loyal dedicated public servants," Dooley said. "I believe (health providers) will continue to serve even though there will be a reduction. It does require some sacrifice, not from the children, but will require sacrifice from the people who provide care."

Sen. Ed Hernandez, the Baldwin Park Democrat who is the chairman of the Senate Health Committee, said he questions whether the administration can ensure enough health providers and whether the state will receive the federal waiver it needs to make the change.

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Health shift will affect 860,000 Calif. children