Motion picture health and welfare , Ray. my total bill (including the infection, was 130,000 bucks. AS I recall my insurance paid about 80K, I paid $500. Charlie --- On Sat, 9/5/09, rayilynlee <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > From: rayilynlee <[log in to unmask]> > Subject: Re: Federalist Papers > To: [log in to unmask] > Date: Saturday, September 5, 2009, 2:38 PM > I have to admit, I have never read > The Federalist Papers and can't find the book in my > library. perhaps, Charlie, you could quote some > significant passages for us. They were never among the > required 600+ plus history book reading list for my > Masters, I guess and while teaching I pretty much taught the > finished product itself and its history. > > I like Medicare -it along with my secondary > provided by the school district forced to give it to me by > the teachers union, paid for my 2 DBSs - no paperwork at > all. You know how much a DBS costs I am > sure. What kind of insurance paid for yours, Charlie? > > I do read and watch ALL sides and I always have. > > Ray > > Rayilyn Brown > Director AZNPF > Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation > [log in to unmask] > > -------------------------------------------------- > From: "Black Charles" <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Wednesday, September 02, 2009 5:52 AM > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Subject: Re: Faux News > > > My suggeestion is to listen and read as much as > you can from all sides. With all the rhetoric flying around, > thats hard to do. > > > > Some observaations: > > 1.We are headed for bankrupcy, high inflation will be > the first indicator. > > 2. The Federal government has NO demostrated expertise > in running big programs. See the post offiice, VEterans > health care and MEdicare as examples. > > 3. the CBO estimates that by 2015 (I think) the > INTEREST ONLY on our debt will be 306 BILLION per year. > > > > Ray; > > > > the Constitution is a great document to be sure. I > think though that the courts and the > Congress have trampled states rights and the limitations > designed into it. One only needs to read the writings of our > founding fathers to become aware of that! > > > > Charlie > > > > --- On Wed, 9/2/09, rayilynlee <[log in to unmask]> > wrote: > > > >> From: rayilynlee <[log in to unmask]> > >> Subject: Faux News > >> To: [log in to unmask] > >> Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2009, 2:20 AM > >> Tess > >> > >> my big argument with Glenn Beck of Faux News is > that > >> he calls progressives socialists, communists, > Marxists, etc > >> and condemns the movement in the early 20th > century > >> that brought us the initiative, referendum and > recall on the > >> state level, and on the national level the direct > election > >> of senators, the vote for women, the FDA, etc. > >> > >> No one is calling him on his big distortion of the > facts. > >> > >> Apparently lies work as people believe him. At a > Tea > >> Party Rally today I saw a "Glenn Beck for > President" sign. > >> > >> Ray > >> > >> Rayilyn Brown > >> Director AZNPF > >> Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation > >> [log in to unmask] > >> > >> > -------------------------------------------------- > >> From: "tess owens" <[log in to unmask]> > >> Sent: Tuesday, September 01, 2009 7:46 AM > >> To: <[log in to unmask]> > >> Subject: Re: Healthcare throughout the world > >> > >> > Thank you Ray! How refreshing, an informative > and > >> useful article that > >> > addresses the health care issue, without the > slanted > >> and derogatory right wing > >> > hype. > >> > My family appreciates your input on the list > and how > >> you advocate for change! > >> > > >> > > >> > Big Thanks! > >> > hugs to you and Spike > >> > Tess > >> > ps > >> > regarding: > >> > "PT Barnum Was Right" > >> > News Hounds > >> > We watch FOX so you don't have to. > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > Fox News Proves That PT Barnum Was Right! > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > There is an old adage, attributed to PT > Barnum, that > >> "there's a sucker born every minute." History > informs > >> > us that it was spoken in connection with > Barnum's > >> Cardiff Giant hoax. > >> > It seems that Fox News is a good example of > Barnum's > >> wisdom as there > >> > was one such sucker born recently. > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > Earlier this week, I reported on > >> > Tennessee Democrat, Fred Hobbs, who suspected > that > >> Barack Obama was > >> > connected to terrorism because he heard it on > Fox > >> News. Well, it seems > >> > that in a letter of apology, to the > Tennessee > >> Democratic Executive Committee, Mr. Hobbs realizes > that he > >> got schnookered: > >> > > >> > > >> > "I was not as well prepared as I should have > been when > >> speaking with reporters, > >> > > >> > and I should have taken more time to research > Senator > >> Obama's positions. My > >> > comments did reflect questions I had after > what I had > >> seen reported on > >> > Fox News, but I should have taken some time > to check > >> the accuracy of > >> > what I saw on television before speaking > publicly. My > >> statement that Senator Obama "may be > terrorist-connected" > >> was incorrect, and I apologize for making it." > >> > > >> > > >> > Too bad other Fox viewers aren't checking > for > >> accuracy; because, if > >> > they did, they would discover that they, too, > are > >> being punked by a > >> > bunch of carnival barkers and clowns who, > literally > >> speaking, represent > >> > the greatest "show" (hoax) on earth. > >> > > >> > > >> > Tip of the hat to Think Progress > >> > > >> > ;) > >> > > >> > > >> >> Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:11:54 -0400 > >> >> From: [log in to unmask] > >> >> Subject: Re: Healthcare throughout the > world > >> >> To: [log in to unmask] > >> >> > >> >> Thanks, Ray, for this informative > article. I > >> think posts like this are > >> >> excellent because they focus on > information and > >> informed commentary, rather > >> >> than regurgitation of hyped-up scare > tactics and > >> orchestrated > >> >> misinformation. It is well for us to > recheck > >> our facts from multiple > >> >> sources and be prepared to offer some > rebuttal for > >> all the junk that is > >> >> flying around out there. > >> >> > >> >> Rick Mcgirr > >> >> > >> >> -----Original Message----- > >> >> From: Parkinson's Information Exchange > Network > >> >> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > >> On Behalf Of rayilynlee > >> >> Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 2:54 AM > >> >> To: [log in to unmask] > >> >> Subject: Healthcare throughout the world > >> >> > >> >> Healthcare Facts > >> >> > >> >> By T.R. Reid > >> >> > >> >> Sunday, August 23, 2009 > >> >> > >> >> <> As Americans search for the cure > to what > >> ails our health-care system, > >> >> we've overlooked an invaluable source of > ideas and > >> solutions: the rest of<> > >> >> the world. All the other industrialized > >> democracies have faced problems > >> >> like ours, yet they've found ways to > cover > >> everybody -- and still spend > >> >> far less than we do. > >> >> > >> >> <> I've traveled the world from > Oslo to > >> Osaka to see how other developed > >> >> democracies provide health care. Instead > of > >> dismissing these models as<> > >> >> "socialist," we could adapt their > solutions to fix > >> our problems. To do that, > >> >> we first have to dispel a few myths about > health > >> care abroad: > >> >> > >> >> 1. It's all socialized medicine out > there. > >> >> > >> >> <> Not so. Some countries, such as > Britain, > >> New Zealand and Cuba, do provide > >> >> health care in government hospitals, with > the > >> government paying the bills.<> > >> >> Others -- for instance, Canada and Taiwan > -- rely > >> on private-sector > >> >> providers, paid for by government-run > insurance. > >> But many wealthy<> > >> >> countries -- including Germany, the > Netherlands, > >> Japan and Switzerland -- > >> >> provide universal coverage using private > doctors, > >> private hospitals and<> > >> >> private insurance plans. In some ways, > >> health care is less "socialized" > >> >> overseas than in the United <> > States. > >> Almost all Americans sign up for > >> >> government insurance (Medicare) at age > 65. In > >> Germany, Switzerland and the > >> >> Netherlands, seniors stick with<> > private > >> insurance plans for life. > >> >> Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of > Veterans > >> Affairs is one of the planet's > >> >> purest examples of government-run > >> >> health care. > >> >> > >> >> 2. Overseas, care is rationed through > >> limited choices or long lines. > >> >> > >> >> <> Generally, no. Germans can sign > up for > >> any of the nation's 200 private > >> >> health insurance plans -- a broader > choice than > >> any American has. If a<> > >> >> German doesn't like her insurance > company, she can > >> switch to another, with > >> >> no increase in premium. The Swiss, too, > can choose > >> any insurance plan in<> > >> >> the country. > >> >> In France and Japan, you don't get a > choice > >> of insurance provider; you have > >> >> to use the one designated for your > company or your > >> industry.<> But patients > >> >> can go to any doctor, any hospital, any > >> traditional healer. There no U.S. > >> >> -style limits such as "in-network" lists > of > >> doctors or <> > >> >> "pre-authorization" for surgery. You pick > any > >> doctor, you get treatment -- > >> >> and insurance has to > pay.<>Canadians have > >> their choice of providers. In > >> >> Austria and Germany, if a doctor > diagnoses a > >> person as "stressed," medical > >> >> insurance pays for weekends at a health > >> spa.<> > >> >> <><> As for those notorious > waiting > >> lists, some countries are indeed plagued > >> >> by them. Canada makes patients wait weeks > or > >> months for nonemergency care, > >> >> as > >> >> a way to keep costs down. But studies by > the > >> Commonwealth Fund and others > >> >> report that many nations -- Germany, > Britain, > >> Austria -- outperform the<> > >> >> United States on measures such as waiting > times > >> for appointments and for > >> >> elective surgeries. In Japan, > >> waiting times are so short that most > >> >> patients don't bother to make an > appointment. One > >> Thursday morning in Tokyo, > >> >> I called the<> prestigious > orthopedic clinic > >> at Keio University Hospital to > >> >> schedule a consultation about my aching > >> shoulder. "Why don't you just drop > >> >> by?" the receptionist said. That same > afternoon, I > >> was in the surgeon's > >> >> office. Dr. Nakamichi<> recommended > an > >> operation. "When could we do it?" I > >> >> asked. The doctor checked his computer > and said, > >> "Tomorrow would be pretty > >> >> difficult. Perhaps some day next > >> week?" > >> >> > >> >> 3. Foreign health-care systems are > inefficient, > >> bloated bureaucracies. > >> >> > >> >> <>Much less so than here. It may > seem to > >> Americans that U.S.-style free > >> >> enterprise -- private-sector, for-profit > health > >> insurance -- is naturally<> > >> >> the most cost-effective way to pay for > health > >> care. But in fact, all the > >> >> other payment systems are more efficient > than > >> ours. <>U.S. health insurance > >> >> companies have the highest administrative > costs in > >> the world; they spend > >> >> roughly 20 cents of every dollar for > >> nonmedical<>costs, such as paperwork, > >> >> reviewing claims and marketing. France's > health > >> insurance industry, in > >> >> contrast, covers everybody and spends > about > >> 4<> percent on administration. > >> >> Canada's universal insurance system, run > by > >> government bureaucrats, spends 6 > >> >> percent on administration. In Taiwan, > a<> > >> leaner version of the Canadian > >> >> model has administrative costs of 1.5 > >> percent; one year, this figure > >> >> ballooned to 2 percent, and the > opposition > >> <>parties savaged the government > >> >> for wasting money. The world champion at > >> controlling medical costs is > >> >> Japan, even though its <>aging > >> population is a profligate consumer of > >> >> medical care. On average, the Japanese go > to > >> the doctor 15 times a year, > >> >> three times the U.S. rate. They<> > have twice > >> as many MRI scans and X-rays. > >> >> Quality is high; life expectancy and > recovery > >> rates for major diseases are > >> >> better than in the United<> States. > And yet > >> Japan spends about $3,400 per > >> >> person annually on health care; the > United > >> States spends more than $7,000. > >> >> > >> >> 4. Cost controls stifle innovation. > >> >> > >> >> <>False. The United States is home > to > >> groundbreaking medical research, but > >> >> so are other countries with much lower > cost > >> structures. Any American who's<> > >> >> had a hip or knee replacement is standing > on > >> French innovation. Deep-brain > >> >> stimulation to treat depression is a > Canadian > >> breakthrough. Many of the<> > >> >> wonder drugs promoted endlessly on > American > >> television, including Viagra, > >> >> come from British, Swiss or Japanese > labs.<> > >> Overseas, strict cost controls > >> >> actually drive innovation. In the United > >> States, an MRI scan of the neck > >> >> region costs about $1,500. In Japan, > the<> > >> identical scan costs $98. Under > >> >> the pressure of cost controls, Japanese > >> researchers found ways to perform > >> >> the same diagnostic technique for > >> >> one-fifteenth the American price. (And > Japanese > >> labs still make a profit.) > >> >> > >> >> 5. Health insurance has to be cruel. > >> >> > >> >> <> Not really. American health > insurance > >> companies routinely reject > >> >> applicants with a "preexisting condition" > -- > >> precisely the people most<> > >> >> likely to need the insurers' service. > They employ > >> armies of adjusters to > >> >> deny claims. If a customer is hit by a > truck and > >> faces big medical bills, > >> >> the insurer's "rescission department" > digs through > >> the records looking for<> > >> >> grounds to cancel the policy, often while > the > >> victim is still in the > >> >> hospital. The companies say they have to > do this > >> stuff to survive in a tough > >> >> business. Foreign health insurance > >> companies, in contrast, must accept > >> >> all<> applicants, and they can't > cancel as > >> long as you pay your premiums. > >> >> The plans are required to pay any claim > submitted > >> by a doctor or hospital > >> >> (or health spa), usually within tight > time limits. > >> The big Swiss insurer<> > >> >> Groupe Mutuel promises to pay all claims > within > >> five days. "Our customers > >> >> love it," the group's chief executive > told me. The > >> corollary is that > >> >> everyone is mandated to buy insurance, to > give the > >> plans an adequate pool of > >> >> rate-payers.<> The key difference > is that > >> foreign health insurance plans > >> >> exist only to pay people's medical bills, > not to > >> make a profit. The United > >> >> States is the only developed country that > lets > >> insurance companies profit > >> >> from basic health coverage.<> In > many ways, > >> foreign health-care models are > >> >> not really "foreign" to America, because > our > >> crazy-quilt health-care system > >> >> uses elements of all of them. For Native > Americans > >> or veterans, we're > >> >> Britain: The government<> provides > health > >> care, funding it through general > >> >> taxes, and patients get no bills. For > people who > >> get insurance through their > >> >> jobs, we're Germany:<> Premiums are > split > >> between workers and employers, and > >> >> private insurance plans pay private > doctors and > >> hospitals. For people over > >> >> 65, we're Canada:<> Everyone pays > premiums > >> for an insurance plan run by the > >> >> government, and the public plan pays > private > >> doctors and hospitals according > >> >> to a set fee<> schedule. And for > the tens of > >> millions without insurance > >> >> coverage, we're Burundi or Burma: In the > world's > >> poor nations, sick people > >> >> pay out of > >> >> pocket for medical care; those who can't > pay > >> stay sick or die. > >> >> > >> >> <> This fragmentation is another > reason that > >> we spend more than anybody else > >> >> and still leave millions without > coverage. All the > >> other developed<> > >> >> countries have settled on one model for > >> health-care delivery and finance; > >> >> we've blended them all into a costly, > confusing > >> bureaucratic mess.<> Which, > >> >> in turn, punctures the most persistent > myth of > >> all: that America has "the > >> >> finest health care" in the world. We > don't. In > >> terms of results,<> almost > >> >> all advanced countries have better > national health > >> statistics than the > >> >> United States does. In terms of finance, > we force > >> 700,000 Americans<> into > >> >> bankruptcy each year because of medical > bills. In > >> France, the number of > >> >> medical bankruptcies is zero. Britain: > zero. > >> Japan: zero. Germany: zero. > >> >> > >> >> <>Given our remarkable medical > assets -- the > >> best-educated doctors and > >> >> nurses, the most advanced hospitals, > world-class > >> research -- the United<> > >> >> States could be, and should be, the best > in the > >> world. To get there, though, > >> >> we have to be willing to learn some > lessons about > >> health-care administration > >> >> from the other industrialized > democracies. > >> >> > >> >> > T.R. Reid, a former Washington Post > reporter, > >> is the author of "The > >> >> > >> >> > Healing of America: A Global Quest > for > >> Better, Cheaper, and Fairer > Health > >> >> > >> >> > Care," to be published Monday. > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> Rayilyn Brown > >> >> Director AZNPF > >> >> Arizona Chapter National Parkinson > Foundation > >> >> [log in to unmask] > >> >> > >> >> > >> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > >> >> To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > >> mailto:[log in to unmask] > >> >> In the body of the message put: signoff > parkinsn > >> >> > >> >> > >> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > >> >> To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > >> mailto:[log in to unmask] > >> >> In the body of the message put: signoff > parkinsn > >> > > >> > > >> > _________________________________________________________________ > >> > Get back to school stuff for them and > cashback for > >> you. > >> > http://www.bing.com/cashback?form=MSHYCB&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MSHYCB_BackToSchool_Cashback_BTSCashback_1x1 > >> > > >> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > >> > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > > mailto:[log in to unmask] > >> > In the body of the message put: signoff > parkinsn > >> > >> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > >> To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > >> In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > >> > > > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:listserv@listserv.utoronto..ca > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn