The ASA executive committee supports the Healthcare Reform bill.
Do you agree or not?
Will you remain a member of the ASA?
Do you agree or not?
Will you remain a member of the ASA?
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ASA Exec Comm suports HR
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And to think I gave to the ASAPAC this year.
I don't know all the details of the bill....so it is hard for me to say whether the ASA's support is justified or not.
so my votes: perhaps to first part.
second part: yes.....no one else speaks for us in dc
so my votes: perhaps to first part.
second part: yes.....no one else speaks for us in dc
The ASA is supporting it because changes have been made to the house bill that are favorable to your pocket.
U.S. House of Representatives
This coming Saturday, the House is tentatively slated to vote on the new H.R. 3962, the "Affordable Health Care for America Act." The bill is a significantly modified version of H.R. 3200 previously adopted by the House Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor Committees.
Most notably for ASA, H.R. 3962 includes a public plan that has moved away from payment rates tied to Medicare rates for physician services, and instead provides provisions toward freely negotiated rates. This significant change has been ASA's top priority, and ASA members are to be congratulated for their tremendous grassroots efforts urging Congress to reject a public plan tied to Medicare payment rates.
As part of the debate on H.R. 3200, ASA strongly supported a proposed amendment by Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) that would have de-linked a public plan option from Medicare payment rates for anesthesia services. Now that H.R. 3962 includes negotiated payments allowing anesthesiologists to be paid at commercial/private insurance levels, Rep. Johnson's amendment is essentially moot. ASA is extremely grateful to Rep. Johnson for her leadership on this important issue, and to ASA members for their hard work supporting the Johnson amendment. The support it generated ultimately helped move House leadership away from a public plan tied to Medicare rates.
More universally, the new bill includes a number of important health insurance reforms that would expand access to insurance coverage and ensure broader fairness to patients by health plans. ASA is extremely supportive of these provisions, which include guaranteed issuance, guaranteed renewability, no lifetime or annual limits on care, the elimination of pre-existing condition prohibitions, and other reforms. H.R. 3962 would also create a health insurance "exchange" through which certain individuals could purchase health plans.
All told, these health insurance provisions would reduce the percentage of uninsured patients to 4 percent of the population—a tremendous improvement for patients and physicians.
ASA is also pleased that H.R. 3962 would remove the anti-trust exemption for health insurers and add enhanced requirements on insurers to direct more premium resources directly toward patient care and away from excessive executive compensation and investor profits. This beneficial language would help level the playing field among providers and insurers.
While H.R. 3962 does not include a fix to the Sustainable Growth Rate formula (SGR), House leaders have reiterated their commitment to achieving needed reforms. They plan to move forward with a new free-standing SGR bill, H.R. 3961, based on the SGR reforms that ASA supported in H.R. 3200. ASA supports H.R. 3961 to reform the SGR, avoid a 21 percent cut in January 2010, and establish a pathway to future positive Medicare updates.
H.R. 3962 includes thousands of health-related provisions. Legislation of this magnitude and complexity is not without flaws. However, I believe it represents a positive step forward in strengthening our health care system without adversely impacting our specialty.
Saturday's vote, while important, is by no means the end of this process. We expect many more twists and turns before health care reform legislation eventually becomes law.
U.S. Senate
I do not support the Healthcare Reform bill - for God sake - what is in that bill???? So I don't agree with the ASA.
I'm not a member of the ASA - I will be when they will kick out the CRNA-s from this organization.
2win
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deleted126335
CRNA members of ASA Support the ASA anesthesia care team statement. I welcome them all along with their membership dues.
Hate to hijack this thread and I apologize - but I think that we need a clarification.
The CRNA-s members of the ASA are in the same time member of the AANA. And I am almost 100% sure that all CRNA-s are AANA members. AANA ( their terrorist organization) is against us (no need I hope for further clarification...).
The AANA is AGAINST anesthesia care team. So Dr, doze I want them out - why are their members in the same organization with us - in the same time backstabbing us??? Just to "benefit " for our educational meeting , learn from us and after that to claim that they are EQUAL???
IT IS JUST PLAIN STUPID TO ALLOW THEM TO BE MEMBERS OF THE ASA!
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deleted126335
CORRECTION: I should have said they sign a statement on their application saying that they support the ASA anesthesia care team statement.
The ASA is stupid.
Why should they (in our name) support a 1.3 trillion dollar health care plan that is written on over 2,000 pages? This law is bad, bad, bad. It will screw our country over in more ways than one.
I'm embarrassed to be associated with a group that supports this atrocity simply because now they perceive they are getting a piece of the pie. Bastards in washington. Thieves.
You want health care reform? Here's what we need, and most of this was included in the Republicans proposal:
1) Level the playing field for purchasing insurance with your own, pre-tax income. You know why people lose their insurance when they lose their job? Because they JOB is buying their insurance! There is no reason for that. NONE! Why should my job decide which healthcare I need? They should pay me a salary, and i should choose my own health care plan, and pay for it with my own money.
2) Give tax deductions for contributions to health care savings accounts
3) Start turning illegal-aliens without a means to pay, away at the doors. If they get health care, and then don't pay, ship them back. Sorry, we can't afford to take care of all the 3rd world countries' health care issues.
4) Tort reform. It works.
That's about it. I could write this whole plan up in about 5 pages. No special interests. No more govt intrusion in our lives. Freedom, accountability, and choice.
F the ASA
Why should they (in our name) support a 1.3 trillion dollar health care plan that is written on over 2,000 pages? This law is bad, bad, bad. It will screw our country over in more ways than one.
I'm embarrassed to be associated with a group that supports this atrocity simply because now they perceive they are getting a piece of the pie. Bastards in washington. Thieves.
You want health care reform? Here's what we need, and most of this was included in the Republicans proposal:
1) Level the playing field for purchasing insurance with your own, pre-tax income. You know why people lose their insurance when they lose their job? Because they JOB is buying their insurance! There is no reason for that. NONE! Why should my job decide which healthcare I need? They should pay me a salary, and i should choose my own health care plan, and pay for it with my own money.
2) Give tax deductions for contributions to health care savings accounts
3) Start turning illegal-aliens without a means to pay, away at the doors. If they get health care, and then don't pay, ship them back. Sorry, we can't afford to take care of all the 3rd world countries' health care issues.
4) Tort reform. It works.
That's about it. I could write this whole plan up in about 5 pages. No special interests. No more govt intrusion in our lives. Freedom, accountability, and choice.
F the ASA
Arch Guillotti
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Cotributions to health care savings accounts already exist using pretax dollars.
We will never turn away folks who need healthcare. Illegal aliens are a complicated problem with no easy solution.
We can turn away the illegal aliens at the door but they will just return but this time it will be in dire conditions. I don't know what the illegal alien answer is but turning them away at the door is not a solution, IMHO. Maybe some of you can but I can't refuse to treat someone in need, no matter what their situation is.
So why do so many of us support the ASA but not the AMA?
So why do so many of us support the ASA but not the AMA?
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Agree completely. It is easy to talk the talk about these situatiosn but it is harder to walk the walk. Though it is apinful, sometimes we have to suck it up and in doing so we prevent more costly debacles down the road.
Does anyone really believe that illegals are the reason that our healthcare is so costly. I live and work in SW Colorado where we have a large population of illegal aliens. I can say that in my community they are not a major concern.
My other observation is the cost of supplies to hospitals. Every single item we use is so overpriced that it boggles the mind. How many times a day do you hear how much something costs in the OR?
My other observation is the cost of supplies to hospitals. Every single item we use is so overpriced that it boggles the mind. How many times a day do you hear how much something costs in the OR?
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deleted50478
The Pelosi bill DECREASES allowable contributions to health savings accounts. It raises taxes on the middle class which the liar in chief promised not to do.
There is an easy solution to illegal immigration. Verify social security numbers. Harsh punishment for anyone who employs illegals. Prevent illegals from getting jobs. They'll leave on their own.
No, illegals aren't a huge part of the problem with heathcare costs, but that's no excuse for ignoring criminal activity.
Back on the original topic: The government is willing to sell out the future for political gains today. Why should the ASA be any different?
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Sounds good NOLA but I have a hard time turning these people back and telling them to "go home". Have you seen where they come from? They come here to work and they will do any work necessary while americans sit on their as*es for hand outs and claim that the work is beneath them. These illegals risk everything, leave their families, leave their homes, are called names and all they want to do is work. If we would offer them citizenship they would grab it up happily so that they can work even more. Sure there are some bad apples in the bunch but they are rare compared to the ones that have no better option. I don't blame them whatsoever. If the lazy a** americans would do the work that these people will do then I'd say send them home until all the americans are employed. But americans are lazy and they want handouts. The reason doctors income is under attack is because americans believe that anyone making more money than them needs to be reigned in. They don't want to work hard on their own to get were others have, they just want to complain that "doctors make too much". Illegals are not the problem. We are.
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deleted50478
I have seen where they live, and I think they are mostly good people. None the less, I think they should all be denied work and thereby forced to go home. If we want to allow more immigrants, then we can increase the numbers of permits and increase legal immigration. We shouldn't reward people for breaking the law when there are millions of people who would like to come here legally who are just as good as people and often even poorer than the illegal immigrants.
I agree that Americans are becoming dependent on the government / pathetic because they can. The expansion of government healthcare only worsens this problem. I oppose it in principal regardless of it's impact on my salary because a few extra dollars aren't worth having my country ruined.
I don't disagree with you on this point, NOLA.
If illegals were not here, your beloved New Orleans wouldn't be as far along after Katrina as it is now. I don't see how those illegals that helped to rebuild NO and get it back on its feet are ruining our country.
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deleted50478
I wasn't saying illegals are ruining this country. I was saying that communists/socialists are trying to ruin this country. (healthcare takeover, bank takeover, GM bailout, cash for clunkers, homebuyer credit, attempts at government control of the media/press, etc.)
If they weren't provided for cradle to grave by the government (fellow citizen taxpayers), and if construction salaries weren't undercut by cheap illegal labor, more native New Orleanians would have been rebuilding here instead of illegal immigrants.
Not to mention it's just the right thing to do. If we force all the illegals out then this country will stand still. I'm not endorsing people coming here illegally, but damn these people sacrifice a lot just to come and work their asses off. Not to mention all the greedy friggin' Americans who take advantage and profit from them every step of the way. I hope I never have to turn anyone away from the hospital door who needs my help.
I still don't understand why the ASA came out in support of this. Better than bill 3200, but this could still be deadly to all hospital based physicians. If it gets the votes it will pass ASA or not. Why not oppose it until the 'negotiated' rates are in deed negotiated?
most of you have very little experience with illegals. the country will not "stand still" if they are forced to return home. most of them are drains on our economy. we're not talking about the day laborer who builds houses or picks tomatos. We're talking about maria with 6 kids all born in the usa on the tax-payers dime. now she's enrolled on every social program known to man.
you want to help people? end all social programs. it encourages laziness and ensures they will never rise above the basest level of existence.
when you go to yellowstone they tell you not to feed the bears. why is that? because they know if you help the bears, even when the bear is really really hungry you are actually hurting that bear, and bears everywhere. why do we treat humans differently? the principle is the same!
and yes, if you come use a hospital and you're not a citizen, that may be fine. I won't turn anybody away either. But i'll be the first person to put them on a bus headed back home. you want to help those people? help them get governments like ours (used to be) that allows for industry, hard-work, opportunity. capitalism. it was our lack of government involvement that made the USA a different country on the american continent.
you want to help people? end all social programs. it encourages laziness and ensures they will never rise above the basest level of existence.
when you go to yellowstone they tell you not to feed the bears. why is that? because they know if you help the bears, even when the bear is really really hungry you are actually hurting that bear, and bears everywhere. why do we treat humans differently? the principle is the same!
and yes, if you come use a hospital and you're not a citizen, that may be fine. I won't turn anybody away either. But i'll be the first person to put them on a bus headed back home. you want to help those people? help them get governments like ours (used to be) that allows for industry, hard-work, opportunity. capitalism. it was our lack of government involvement that made the USA a different country on the american continent.
You lecture to this forum like you have all the answers (so do I at times but I'll be the first to admit that I don't). But I have lived with both the illegals (currently) and the legal folks who drain our society more than all of the immigrants Mexico can send us. New Orleans was one of the worst areas for the freeloaders I have ever seen, Detroit was pretty bad as well. The illegals that come to my hospital are not nearly as irresponsible as the people in our major cities who are "legal". So Maria has 6 kids. At least she and her husband are working their tails off and there kids will too. The big city folks that rape our system are having 6 or more kids to 6 or more men who will never work and their kids won't either. Seriously, you are attacking the wrong people. I'd like to send one deadbeat to every country that we get a hard working illegal from. That would change this country dramatically. We tell every country that we will take their citizens but for everyone they let come our way, we send them one of ours.
NOLA, I misunderstood you about who was ruining our country. But you can't tell me that if we didn't allow the illegals to rebuild N.O. that those that were living there wold have done it. The gov't there is so dysfunctional that even if you could get those people to work the gov't would have stepped in and f*cked it all up. I love N.O. I'm from N.O. and I understand N.O. N.O. is the epitome of what is wrong with this country.
But I will say this. My last visit during the ASA showed me how nice N.O. can be. I love that town.
And I won't say that it took one hell of a storm to flush that toilet like ALL of my friends say.
I never said illegals were the only problem. but unlike the inner-city low-lifes that rape our system, illegals we can do something about. Take away their jobs, take away their housing, and make damn sure they don't get any government handouts.
The inner-cities are a whole different issue with a whole different solution. In that case, we need an entirely different approach to the way we "help" them. But its probably never going to happen. Like I said earlier... we're smart enough to know you don't feed the bears at yellowstone. we should be smart enough to realize the same principle applies to humans.
Arch Guillotti
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What does it decrease the contribution to?
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Cash for Clunkers is ruining the country??? The government trying to sway the media is nothing new.
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deleted50478
They're cut in half. I think it was from $5000 to $2500, but I might be off on that.
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well I would like to see a link. If it is true that is pitiful.
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deleted50478
Not 'cash for clunkers' so much as the governments idea that they can solve our problems, that it's acceptible for them to redistribute wealth, and that they can always spend more than they take in. They don't solve our problems. Their attempts to solve problems usually make things worse. I think Keynesian economics has proven to be a failure but they can't even stay true to this failed theory. They don't cycle between deficits and surpluses, they just spend like a ******ed, spoiled, drunk, teenager with a credit card whether we are in an economic downturn or expansion.
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deleted50478
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c111:1:./temp/~c111ZspLTy:e400562:
SEC. 532. LIMITATION ON HEALTH FLEXIBLE SPENDING ARRANGEMENTS UNDER CAFETERIA PLANS.
(a) In General- Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (i) and (j) as subsections (j) and (k), respectively, and
(2) by inserting after subsection (h) the following new subsection:
`(i) Limitation on Health Flexible Spending Arrangements-
`(1) IN GENERAL- For purposes of this section, if a benefit is provided under a cafeteria plan through employer contributions to a health flexible spending arrangement, such benefit shall not be treated as a qualified benefit unless the cafeteria plan provides that an employee may not elect for any taxable year to have salary reduction contributions in excess of $2,500 made to such arrangement.
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Hey all... just found this (sorry for those who have already seen it) but I thought I would post it for those who haven't come across it yet...
"H.R. 3962 Q and A with ASA President Alex Hannenberg, M.D."
http://www.asahq.org/Washington/2009-11-5FAQonReform.pdf
Thanks for the link guitarguy. Here's the question I'm still having trouble with:
ASA Q&A said:
I still don't see how this guarantees that public plan payments will be comparable to commercial insurers. What's to prevent the "negotiated rate" from being as bad (or worse) than Medicare rates? Who will be at the table negotiating these rates?
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deleted50478
It can be as bad as Medicare rates but not worse. At best, it will be below the average insurance rate. If you trust the government as much as I do, you expect 'negotiations' to produce the medicare theft rate.
"(a) Negotiation of Payment Rates-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall negotiate payment for the public health insurance option for health care providers and items and services, including prescription drugs, consistent with this section and section 324.
(2) MANNER OF NEGOTIATION- The Secretary shall negotiate such rates in a manner that results in payment rates that are not lower, in the aggregate, than rates under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, and not higher, in the aggregate, than the average rates paid by other QHBP offering entities for services and health care providers.
(3) INNOVATIVE PAYMENT METHODS- Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as preventing the use of innovative payment methods such as those described in section 324 in connection with the negotiation of payment rates under this subsection."
