Williston, ND Active Issues

rwaitman · Senior Member

Health Care Bill

Steve Powell · Guru

Thanks for the insight, Jib. Hard to tell who the big winner is going to be. I am certainly wanting to sneak a peak into someone's crystal ball, much like most people.

I have a friend who just bought into the 7 day clinics in eastern ND and the word from him isn't so good. He's concerned on several levels. I know his main concern is that he's now a small business owner...taxes, taxes, taxes. Number two, his business is healthcare so I'm sure the "newness" of the bill probably has him concerned as well.

Jibslider · Senior Member

Steve, I can tell you that the overall bill that will be provided to patients and insurance companies from medical providers will not go down. Doctors, pharmacists, etc will continue to charge a premium for their services and pharmaceutical companies will continue to over charge for their products.

The problem begins early on in the medical providers education. 7+ years of higher education costs a ton of money and colleges and universities around the country are obviously increasing tuition prices yearly (sometime a 30% increase like in CA). It's very common for doctors to come out of school with over $200,000.00 of student loans to pay back. I think more of an eye needs to be put on higher education institutions that are charging ridiculous $$ to their students. Sure, Obama is going to increase the amount of federal loans and grants available to students, but that will do nothing to curb tuition increases.

Another problem in this country is medical liability insurance (malpractice insurance). I think everyone knows that the US is a litigious happy country.

Who was the big winner in the new health care bill? You might think the uninsured, but it's looking like the big pharmaceutical companies are the big beneficiaries here. With their strong lobby in Washington, they were able to swing a pretty sweet deal that will continue to pad the wallets of phara executives. For example, measures that were directed to help curb the cost of medications were taken out of the bill at the 11th hour. The industry is expects a $30 BILLION 10 year NET gain!!

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2011469133_apushealthoverhaulpharmasbigwin.html

Steve Powell · Guru

The one question I can't seem to find the answer to...does this healthcare plan STOP the medical inflation?

Doesn anyone else see something wrong with this sentence?

"Businesses will incur a new tax if they offer high-end health benefits, estimated to bring in $20 billion in revenue in 2019. Large employers also incur penalties if they don't offer health benefits at all."

rwaitman · Senior Member

Jibslider wrote:

rwaitman wrote:

Jibslider wrote:

I'm really happy about the Health Care bill.

I'm glad one of us is...

;o)

Actually, my wife, who is completing her Doctoral thesis and will, Good Lord willing, once she has defended it, graduate as a Doctor of Nurse Practitioner this fall, is pretty nervous about the health care bill.

She is an active Advanced Oncology Nurse Practitioner, and they, providers of all levels, in her office are extremely apprehensive. Additionally, she gives regular talks and lectures at many different locations around the country, and this apprehension is not uncommon from coast to coast.

We can only hope for the best.

R

Yes, but the same types of providers are also applauding the bill from coast to coast. I'm pretty sure than most health care providers are split 50-50 just like the rest of America.

fair assessment Jib.... I think it is a little more 55-45 my favor, but your point is well taken....

hope things are well with you...

;o)
R

Jibslider · Senior Member

rwaitman wrote:

Jibslider wrote:

I'm really happy about the Health Care bill.

I'm glad one of us is...

;o)

Actually, my wife, who is completing her Doctoral thesis and will, Good Lord willing, once she has defended it, graduate as a Doctor of Nurse Practitioner this fall, is pretty nervous about the health care bill.

She is an active Advanced Oncology Nurse Practitioner, and they, providers of all levels, in her office are extremely apprehensive. Additionally, she gives regular talks and lectures at many different locations around the country, and this apprehension is not uncommon from coast to coast.

We can only hope for the best.

R

Yes, but the same types of providers are also applauding the bill from coast to coast. I'm pretty sure than most health care providers are split 50-50 just like the rest of America.

rwaitman · Senior Member

Jibslider wrote:

I'm really happy about the Health Care bill.

I'm glad one of us is...

;o)

Actually, my wife, who is completing her Doctoral thesis and will, Good Lord willing, once she has defended it, graduate as a Doctor of Nurse Practitioner this fall, is pretty nervous about the health care bill.

She is an active Advanced Oncology Nurse Practitioner, and they, providers of all levels, in her office are extremely apprehensive. Additionally, she gives regular talks and lectures at many different locations around the country, and this apprehension is not uncommon from coast to coast.

We can only hope for the best.

R

vko · Senior Member

That's great. Since I have been paying my own Health since 18 years old. I have a great dianosour policy. And since my sis has gone thru Breast Cancer,should I wait or should I do preventative care. Or should I wait for Obama Care? You should pick as Obama is. And tell me Why.

-- Edited by vko on Tuesday 30th of March 2010 08:50:07 PM

Jibslider · Senior Member

I'm really happy about the Health Care bill.

dakotadj · Veteran Member

What is North Dakota going to do to entice young Doctors to come practice in the state when we have lines standing outside for appointments and medical procedures. Can our government spend additional tax payers money to ensure we have adequate doctors to take care of all the Health care needs they want Americans to have. I"m taking bets there are a shortage of them right now and it will get worse. Since I will be a resident of ND in about a year, I will be hounding those that "represent" me in short order. Maybe we should set aside some of that "OIL MONEY" for roads and doctors.. Offer incentives to the North Dakota residents who want to practice medicine.

vko · Senior Member

Who is "really" happy about this Health Care Bill? It was so massive, that the big Corporation's, didn't even understand it. As far as I am concerned, it is the most horrible bill against the elderly and small Companies that are trying to survive. It will affect each and every one of you, your Parent's, your Children, your business's, etc. etc. etc. And the way they did it, is just beyond being right and sticking it to you all. And Pelosi and Reid and the rest do NOT have to go on it. Too Bad for the working ants. It will raise every tax that anyone can think of, to pay the School's for their teacher's or every City office to pay their employee's, our state Government, and our Federal Government. Oh well, as Randy said , I guess we'll just accept it.

Sue Evans · Senior Member

THANK YOU A BUNCH. biggrin I can better research the class of devices. This bill is so massive. I am sure that is not new news to you.

Jibslider · Senior Member

OK, so I am between patients so I do have time to do some research for you. smile

The excise tax on medical device manufacturers was passed in the latest HR bill, but it needs to get passed by the Senate (which it probably will). What happens is it delays the tax by three years to 2013 and converts the industry fee to an excise tax on the first sale for use of medical devices at a rate of 2.3 percent.

Exempts from the tax Class I medical devices, eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, and any device of a type that is generally purchased by the public at retail for individual use. The tax is tax-deductible and would apply to sales of covered devices that occur after Dec. 31, 2012.

I hope this help out.

Jibslider · Senior Member

I don't have time to point you to a specific source other than a CNN article that states some of the exceptions (http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/23/health.care.timeline/) just do a "find" for contact lenses.

I work with contact lenses and eyeglasses each every day (both are medical devices), and the leaders of my profession is where I received my information.

Sue Evans · Senior Member

Like I said earlier, I have not read all the amendments yet. The health care bill is massive. The version I had read did not provide any exemptions for certian medical devices. It was a blanket tax on medical devices which led me to research the list of devices. Perhaps you can help me out, where did you find the exemption list? I like to be accurate.

Jibslider · Senior Member

Sue Evans wrote:

Conrad, Pomeroy and Dorgan have not heard the people of ND for a long time. They only visit our state. Pomeroy has had emails, phone messages, faxes and snail mail. All of this answered by others. Many have requested a "read the bill" issue. I did. I have not read all the new amendments. I am aware of the Bismark Bribe. I disagree with the Feds taking over all student loans to subsidize health care. I don't see how they can give us our bank when we as a republic already had this. The health care bill is many taxes. I see they added loans on for college. This is horrid. It is control. The FDA is allowed to call everything from a tampon to a toothbrush a medical device and add an extra 2.5% tax on these items to assist with this bill. The price on every contact lens, bandage, condom, the list is endless - will go up.

Perhaps if I become a politician speaking out of both sides of my mouth I would deserve to hear from the people in a manner in which Pomeroy did. I do believe in term limits. Serving the people in your community or state in this venue should never be considered a career. It is a duty many of us who can, should fulfill. Even our ND laws recognizes this.

I will admit I did not join in, nor did Justin in the phone issue. Justin left his phone in the motel room. I handle my letter issues in a different manner.

I can tell you for a fact that the health care bill will not increase the cost of contact lenses... which are a medical device. My not humble, but very strong opinion.

stacyslap · Veteran Member

Steve, I haven't looked at the rest of the site but it just gives perspective on how much the farm subsidies bring to our area. Whether they are a good or bad thing is for everyone to discuss. I am not really familiar with which farms are just family farms and which are commercial on there either so I couldn't tell you what type of operations are getting the most dollars.

Steve Powell · Guru

Stacy, that site has me confused. smile

First it says hooray for cutting subsidies, but then it says it's because of global warming reasons.

Talk about a roller coaster of thoughts and emotions. biggrin

stacyslap · Veteran Member

http://farm.ewg.org/

You can look up what farms got subsidies on this website.

Sue Evans · Senior Member

Wow, now that is understanding!!

Steve Powell · Guru

Interesting information from http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2007/06/How-Farm-Subsidies-Harm-Taxpayers-Consumers-and-Farmers-Too

If this is true, and correct me if it is not true, have our Senators been doing us a dis-service?

Farm subsidies are intended to alleviate farmer poverty, but the majority of subsidies go to commercial farms with average incomes of $200,000 and net worths of nearly $2 million.
Farm subsidies are intended to raise farmer incomes by remedying low crop prices. Instead, they promote overproduction and therefore lower prices further.
Farm subsidies are intended to help struggling family farmers. Instead, they harm them by excluding them from most subsidies, financing the consolidation of family farms, and raising land values to levels that prevent young people from entering farming.
Farm subsidies are intended to be consumer-friendly and taxpayer-friendly. Instead, they cost Americans billions each year in higher taxes and higher food costs.

Steve Powell · Guru

Wouldn't farm subsidies be considered a form of corporate welfare?

vko · Senior Member

Questions and Answers from AARP Forum

Q: Where can men over the age of 60 find younger, sexy women who are interested in them?
A: Try a bookstore, under Fiction.

Q: What can a man do while his wife is going through menopause?
A: Keep busy. If you're handy with tools, you can finishthe basement. When your done, you'll have a place to live.

Q: Someone has told me that menopause is mentioned in the bible. Is that true? Where can it be found?
A; Yes. Matthew 14:92. "And Mary rode Joseph's ass all the way to Egypt"

Q:How can you increase the heart rate of your over 60-year-old husband?
A: Tell him you're pregnant.

Q: Seriously! What can I do for these crow's feet and all those wrinkles on my face?
A: Go braless. It will usually pull them out.

Q: Why should 60-plus-year old people use valet parking?
A: Valets don't forget where they park your Car.

Q: Is it common for 60plus year old to have problems with short term memory storage?
A:Storing memory is not a problem, retrieving it is the problem.

Q: Where should 60 plus year old look for eyeglasses?
A: On their foreheads.

Q: What is the most common remark made by 60 plus years olds when they enter antique stores.
A: "Gosh, I remember these!"

Smile, You've still got your sense of humor, RIGHT? Enjoy all.

Sue Evans · Senior Member

Conrad, Pomeroy and Dorgan have not heard the people of ND for a long time. They only visit our state. Pomeroy has had emails, phone messages, faxes and snail mail. All of this answered by others. Many have requested a "read the bill" issue. I did. I have not read all the new amendments. I am aware of the Bismark Bribe. I disagree with the Feds taking over all student loans to subsidize health care. I don't see how they can give us our bank when we as a republic already had this. The health care bill is many taxes. I see they added loans on for college. This is horrid. It is control. The FDA is allowed to call everything from a tampon to a toothbrush a medical device and add an extra 2.5% tax on these items to assist with this bill. The price on every contact lens, bandage, condom, the list is endless - will go up.

Perhaps if I become a politician speaking out of both sides of my mouth I would deserve to hear from the people in a manner in which Pomeroy did. I do believe in term limits. Serving the people in your community or state in this venue should never be considered a career. It is a duty many of us who can, should fulfill. Even our ND laws recognizes this.

I will admit I did not join in, nor did Justin in the phone issue. Justin left his phone in the motel room. I handle my letter issues in a different manner.

vko · Senior Member

I live on a farm, I no longer care what Dorgan - Conrad - Pomeroy, can do for me. I have always taken care of the farm... But, these good ole boy's sold us down the road. And talk to real big farmers in 58801, that actually farm, they too are not happy. These three boys need to go home. They have out stayed their welcome. This is the first time in my life I will be voting straight Republican.

Jibslider · Senior Member

JustinMattern wrote:
...Oh and on Conrad, please enlighten us on how he is good for North Dakota?

-- Edited by JustinMattern on Sunday 21st of March 2010 01:45:19 PM

Are you serious? Two words, farm subsidies. Regardless on how you feel about farm subsidies, the guy is the biggest supporter of farm subsidies in congress. If that isn't good for the North Dakota farmers, I'm not sure what is.

Let's talk about something that affects the companies currently surrounding 58801: oil and natural gas exploration. Regardless on how you feel about expanding exploration on and off shore, Conrad is consistently one of the top supporters of expanding natural resource exploration.

How many committees does Conrad sit on... and chair?

Saying that Kent Conrad has and does nothing good for North Dakota, is like saying Jared Allen has done nothing good for the Minnesota Vikings.

JustinMattern · Newbie

Yea by golly it did help biggrin

, after we did that about 30 mins later he went on tv and said he needed to talk to people before he decided on a vote either way, whereas before we did it he stated he would vote yes on the Health care bill. So yes we did make a difference.

Some people need to pull their heads out of the sand and look around a bit.

Oh and on Conrad, please enlighten us on how he is good for North Dakota?

-- Edited by JustinMattern on Sunday 21st of March 2010 01:45:19 PM

Jibslider · Senior Member

vko wrote:

It's just too bad we have to wait until 2012 to throw Conrad out.

Good luck with that one. It would be a damn shame if Conrad gets voted out of office with all of the work he does on the national stage day in and day out. ND should be happy they have a senator who is such a leader in the national stage as he.

BBLB · Newbie

Mattern,

Sounds like a childish prank. Do you really think that you did any good. How would Sue (I believe that I read somewhere that you are her campaign manager) like it if a large group of people did that to her.

I am not saying I am a Pomeroy fan. I am just saying it sounds like you all acted like a bunch of teenagers.

vko · Senior Member

It's just too bad we have to wait until 2012 to throw Conrad out.

stacyslap · Veteran Member

Jibslider wrote:

JustinMattern wrote:

...help us in getting our country back!

Hahahaha!

Whom is us? Not everyone is of the same opinion as you.

Jibslider · Senior Member

JustinMattern wrote:

...help us in getting our country back!

Hahahaha!

JustinMattern · Newbie

Sue and I are at the GOP convention in Grand Forks. Around noon the speaker gave all of us (around 1500 delegates and 500 guests) Pomeroys office phone number to tell him not to vote, but all we got was a answering machine.

So about 15 minutes later he got on the mic and said call this number, Its Pomeroys cell phone number smile

So almost 2000 people all at once called his cell phone and filled his mailbox in seconds, then he answered and asked "how did you get this number " and hung up. So then almost 2000 people all text'd him over and over until he turned his cell phone service off and got a new number biggrin

Good stuff lol.

Berg handley got the nomination for Congress, Hoeven handley got the nomination for Senate, Wayne Stenjem was Nominated for Attorney General, which is where he is now.

Being Sue and I first time as delegates and new to the convention we were impressed with the whole day. We were told it was the biggest turnout for a convention ever. It was a very interesting, exciting and educating experience. To see many people parading around the whole room after each nominie finished their speech's, dancing, hooting and hollaring, whistling, was very exciting and contagis lol.

As we leave tomorrow, in our minds we hope our votes will count and help us in getting our country back!

Steve Powell · Guru

Yeah, I know we've been down this road, but I needed some therapy. biggrin

vko · Senior Member

Been there - done it - not going there again. smile

rwaitman · Senior Member

Steve Powell wrote:

I'm sitting here scratching my head...it's painfully obvious the majority of the people don't want this to pass as it is. Congressmen and Senators phones are ringing off the hook from people that are against it. Democrats are quitting office because they know their constituents don't want it but are being pressured to sign onto it. The administration knows if this bill is not passed before Easter vacation they will probably never get it passed because the people don't want it. So why on earth are they pushing this so hard? The constituents don't want it.

OK, rip away, I have big shoulders...

It's ugly. My wife is a health care provider (DNP). She works in an office where the Doctors are Christian, Jewish, and Muslim. They all voted for Obama....and now they are rethinking that thought.

Can you say Barf! Rolf! Hurl Chunks! Toss your cookies!? That's how I feel
...and that's all I'm gonna say about that. Well, for now anyway.

;o)

Steve Powell · Guru

I'm sitting here scratching my head...it's painfully obvious the majority of the people don't want this to pass as it is. Congressmen and Senators phones are ringing off the hook from people that are against it. Democrats are quitting office because they know their constituents don't want it but are being pressured to sign onto it. The administration knows if this bill is not passed before Easter vacation they will probably never get it passed because the people don't want it. So why on earth are they pushing this so hard? The constituents don't want it.

OK, rip away, I have big shoulders... biggrin