REPRIEVE FOR AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
The Trump/Ryan Health Care Act has been
side-lined for now for the wrong reason – only because a minority group within
the Republican Party refused to vote for it as they wanted even more draconian measures – not because the Act was a
travesty against efforts to provide reasonable health care for the vast majority
of American citizens.
How about the rest of the Republican
Representatives, or some of them, meeting with some Democrat Representatives –
they could actually try to examine the ACA aka Obama Care to adjust for more cost effectiveness and
efficiency. Some adjustments were
expected to be necessary after that legislation was implemented. Congress could actually perform some
meaningful work to earn the salary we hired/elected them to do.
LOSS
Schmidley's Scribblings daughter reports her mother has passed away. I've enjoyed visiting this blogger who offered a true elder's perspective, garnered from years of significant work in our government and a master's degree in history obtained in her seventies. She was grounded in contemporary life but respected the influence of previous generations she explored in her genealogy. Her observations were concise, evidencing humor with a sharp wit. I only knew her through a few years of blogging, but I'll miss her photos, stories, commentary on the world we live in.
I hate that we have to keep such close track of what is going on in D.C. right now so we can lend our voices and dollars when needed. I don't see that changing in my life time unless we're able to overturn Citizen's United to get big money out of politics. With this recent health care vote that was supposed to happen the Kohl brothers were the carrot and the stick behind the republicans.
ReplyDeleteSorry the blog world lost what sounds like a great voice. Sounds like she lived a good life and will be missed.
Yes, I understand the Kohl brothers were pledging campaign funds for their future election to Republicans who would vote against the bill. The billionaire battles between Trump and Kohl -- having little or nothing to do with considering how to provide health care for the people.
DeleteI think this bill was bad. Rand Paul in the Senate had a better one from what I could tell and that might yet be put forth now. The situation with ACA is also untenable with premiums out of sight (try paying $20,000 a year for a couple with a $6000 deductible) for those in some states and not really fully coverage for someone with catastrophic health issues. One couple I know, in Oregon, faced one of those with him having a stroke that left the need for continuing rehab and an inability to work maybe ever again. They had to sell their home and rental (they were doing well in our culture before this) and basically a catastrophic illness still bankrupts people. Some of it is the high cost of medical care. Some is the weird regulations that got put into ACA, like not allowing people to buy whatever insurance they might want. In Arizona, we would not be able to buy the supplement we have to Medicare-- that company wasn't allowed to sell there and some Arizona counties have no companies they can buy. What the heck was that about???
ReplyDeleteI don't think Dems should be crowing over this, as they are, but buckling down to fix what they admit is a flawed plan that is evidently about to get worse. The fact that they are not in the majority should not let them off the hook for governing responsibly especially for those who most need help. What we saw with the Repubs and now the Dems is neither party is willing to help the other do what is best for the country. Patriots not!
Definitely some changes in the ACA have been needed as was expected when the bill passed, but unless the Republicans are willing to work with the Democrats to make those adjustments we can expect little.
DeleteNeither party will work with the other and it's a disgrace. Health care should not ruin someone's life and they need to do something to get costs down. Those who are fortunate enough to have insurance don't realize how high some things have gone. And meanwhile Congress gets their healthcare without worrying about it.
DeleteUntil the Republican's stated goal to "repeal and replace" ACA/Obama Care is revised to allow some adjustments, or some of them are willing to work with the Democrats to make needed changes, some of the insured incurring financial inequities will continue to suffer. Surely the Republicans could do so now, then -- if and when they ever come up with that perfect health care plan they have professed for years to be developing, it could be submitted. That seems a much more responsible action to take if they care about the people as they claim.
DeleteI think there is blame to go around. My daughter was speaking about the problem they'd had getting insurance for their employees in the veterinary clinic they own. In the beginning, ACA encouraged, by giving money, co-ops to start up as a way to keep costs down. They had joined one. Except after a few years, the co-op needed more funds to keep going. The Repubs would not go along with that and the co-op failed-- forcing them out and back into the market at a high cost. They were ones who did not have to give their employees insurance but they always had and felt it was a moral obligation. The thing is the one they had joined wasn't a co-op as much as another federal program if starting it up wasn't enough to keep it going.
DeleteRegulations like not allowing insurance companies to cross some state lines as well as even some county lines is something insurance regulators in the states wanted for their power.
ACA did not rein in prescription costs by allowing bargaining for Medicare. On it went with this feeding that, or this state adding to the pot and that one not. At this point, I understand dems want to lay all the blame in repubs but they both feed at the trough of lobbyists. The recent bill by the GOP was terrible and deserved to go down but the problem with what Obama began is still ongoing and bankruptcies are occurring as they did before when catastrophic illness strikes. If they could take insurance companies out of the game and do like Medicare, allowing people to purchase more than the basics if they chose, it would cause a big loss of jobs and be a hit to one sector of the economy but it'd do a lot for the ordinary people.
These stories are perfect examples that once plans are implemented is when we really know how well they work. We were told with ACA this would be the case. Clearly some of what was thought would be the outcome, has not been -- so -- that's the goal -- fix it! These are issues our legislators should be focused on finding ways to address and correct.
DeleteI don't know about everyone else, but I let out a sigh of relief when I saw that ACA was staying and they didn't vote for that other farce. I agree, now is the time to iron out the problems with it.
ReplyDeleteIf the people's welfare was of primary concern the health care situation would be resolved.
DeleteI too will miss Dianne Schmidley. She was never afraid to say exactly what she believed, but presented opinions in a respectful way. We probably commented on each others posts for six or seven years. RIP Dianne.
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting us know of Schmidley's death. I'm sure that her blog fans will miss all that she was to the blogosphere.
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Yes, thank you. I just tried to click on to Diane's blog and saw that I couldn't. I used to love her comments and she will be missed.
ReplyDeleteAs to the ACA. President Obama knew that changes needed to be made but at least it is a beginning. Why is it that so many other countries give health care to ALL their people and we seem to only look at the money end? It's disgraceful.
Just checked the link above and on my sidebar to Diane's blog and her blog is still there.
DeleteI'm so very sad to lose Dianne from our blogging world. I loved "talking" to her and seeing her posts. She will be greatly missed by all of us.
ReplyDeleteI'm worried about the ACA because now #45 says he's going to let it "explode."
As for ACA, that's his usual bluster and scare tactics about anything he opposes. Informed discussion I've heard says that is not going to happen.
DeleteAt least one Republican (maybe two) said that they should try to work with Democrats. Maybe even call them and ask for some advice. What a novel approach to governing. Trump blamed the Dems for not trying to kill their own legislation (?)
ReplyDeleteWouldn't that be a unique idea -- will take courage that any of the Republicans would risk their leader's wrath to refine the ACA.
DeleteTrump is trying to wreck American healthcare in his particular way. Jeremy Hunt (Health Secretary) is trying to wreck the NHS in his particular way - starve it of funds until it's on its knees and he can argue that the only way to save it is to privatise the whole thing.
ReplyDeletePrivatizing our health care is a likely goal as you note.
DeleteThe first time Diane visted me here, her daughter came along to inspect. It was really rather funny. Yes, she will b e more than missed. We here will miss David too.
ReplyDeleteInteresting -- I remember the concern I had about meeting in person a blogger I might know only on their blog -- have received cautions and instructions from my children, too. Glad you were able to meet which I gathered from comments you all developed a warm friendship.
DeleteI see that the GOP is trying to revamp healthcare again and this time it is even worse. Amazing, just amazing.....
ReplyDeleteYes, I read there's concern that many services will be so watered down, including protections for those with pre-existing conditions, as to render health insurance pretty worthless.
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