FOURTH DISTRICT DEMOCRAT

Vets' health care is safe and sound | Health Insurance Reform Reality Check

Vets' health care is safe and sound | Health Insurance Reform Reality Check

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM 4TH DISTRICT CO-CHAIR TIM MAULDIN

CONGRESSMAN TOM COLE HOLDS DISTRICT MEETINGS
PRESIDENT OBAMA URGES AMERICANS TO TELL CONGRESS TO SUPPORT HEALTH CARE REFORM
 
 
This week and next, Tom Cole is meeting with Fourth District Oklahomans.  President Obama urges us to meeting with our members of Congress to urge passage of Health Care Reform.
 
Below is Cole’s Town Hall Meeting schedule.  Also, you may wish to go to the following website to schedule an office visit:
 
http://advocacy.barackobama.com/healthcare/campaigns/1/office_scripts/17/offices/district
 
Two items of interest.  First, here is a current report from Families USA concerning those without health coverage in Oklahoma .  Second, a statement on the need for health care reform from the American Cancery Society’s Cancer Action Network.
 
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
COLE”S TOWN HALL MEETINGS
 
This series of town hall meetings will be held between August 4th and August 27th.  Please contact Cole's office in Norman at (405) 329-6500 for more information about the town hall meetings.
 
Tuesday, August 11th
12:00, noon
Moore Public Library, Meeting Room A
225 S. Howard Ave.
Moore, OK 73160
 
Thursday, August 13th
12:00, noon
Cameron University
CETES Conference Center
2800 W. Gore Blvd
Lawton, OK 73505
 
Wednesday, August 26th
5:30pm
East Central University
Estep Center
1100 East 14th Street
Ada, OK 74820
 
Thursday, August 27th
12:00, noon
Ardmore Public Library
320 E Street NW
Ardmore, OK 73401
 
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
 
 

In the debate over health care reform, it's time for specifics. The first of several bills aimed at overhauling our nation’s health care system has been introduced in Congress and as you’ve probably seen in the news, Congressional debate has begun.

ACS CAN is fighting to make sure any bill that comes through Congress helps all Americans obtain medical coverage that is adequate, affordable, administratively simple, and covers pre-existing conditions. The legislation must:
stop insurers from using pre-existing conditions, like cancer, as a reason to deny or limit coverage
ensure that people with a chronic or catastrophic disease, like cancer, are not financially ruined by the cost of care
place reasonable limitations on premiums and other patient out-of pocket costs
abolish annual and lifetime caps on dollars spent or access to services
place much greater emphasis on prevention
 
Will you stand up and support these principles? Write to your member of Congress today:

http://www.acscan.org/tellcongress

Sixty percent of cancer deaths could be prevented with the proper access to screening and preventive care.

As the voice for patients, all we care about at ACS CAN is saving lives. That means one of our top priorities is access to care.

As current proposals for health care reform are fleshed out and new proposals are released, ACS CAN is working hard to analyze relevant legislation. If it doesn't reflect our principles, we'll fight to change it.

You can make a difference today. Tell your member of Congress you support reform that creates preventative, accessible, and affordable health care:

http://www.acscan.org/tellcongress

We'll keep you posted every step of the way as the legislative process evolves.

Thank you for being part of the growing movement to make cancer a national priority.

Sincerely,

Daniel E. Smith
President, ACS CAN

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS LOCATED ON THIS FILE:

  Download Oklahoma uninsured

OKLAHOMANS WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE

Every year, the U.S. Census Bureau—in its Current Population Survey (CPS)—reports the number

of people who are uninsured. This widely quoted number is intended to offer an estimate of

how many people did not have any type of health insurance at any point in time during the

previous calendar year.

 

There are many people, however, who are uninsured for a portion of a

year but not for the entire year. Though these individuals may suffer severe

consequences to their health and their economic well-being as a result of being

uninsured, they are not included in the Census Bureau’s number.

 

In March 2009, Families USA released a new report,

which was designed to provide a comprehensive picture of how many Americans were directly

affected by the lack of health coverage in 2007-2008. That report contains national data, as

well as a detailed discussion of the methodology, and it is available online at www.familiesusa.

org. This fact sheet presents new state-specific data that mirror the national data in

at Risk

 

Americans at Risk: One in Three Uninsured,

Americans.

 

The Uninsured:

A Closer Look

 

Families USA • March 2009

 

State Population <65 3,093,000

Number Uninsured 1,122,000

Percent Uninsured 36.3%

 

Likelihood of Uninsured Oklahomans under

Age 65 Remaining Uninsured for Six or More

Months during 2007-2008

 

75.2%

6 months

or more

24.8%

less than

6 months

 

Non-Elderly Oklahomans

 

Without Health Insurance

In 2007-2008

 

 

CONGRESSMAN TOM COLE ' S DISTRICT MEETINGS

This week and next, Tom Cole is meeting with Fourth District Oklahomans.  President Obama urges us to meeting with our members of Congress to urge passage of Health Care Reform.
 
Below is Cole’s Town Hall Meeting schedule.  Also, you may wish to go to the following website to schedule an office visit:
 
http://advocacy.barackobama.com/healthcare/campaigns/1/office_scripts/17/offices/district
 
Two items of interest.  First, here is a current report from Families USA concerning those without health coverage in Oklahoma .  Second, a statement on the need for health care reform from the American Cancery Society’s Cancer Action Network.
 
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
COLE”S TOWN HALL MEETINGS
 
This series of town hall meetings will be held between August 4th and August 27th.  Please contact Cole's office in Norman at (405) 329-6500 for more information about the town hall meetings.
 
Tuesday, August 11th
12:00, noon
Moore Public Library, Meeting Room A
225 S. Howard Ave.
Moore, OK 73160
 
Thursday, August 13th
12:00, noon
Cameron University
CETES Conference Center
2800 W. Gore Blvd
Lawton, OK 73505
 
Wednesday, August 26th
5:30pm
East Central University
Estep Center
1100 East 14th Street
Ada, OK 74820
 
Thursday, August 27th
12:00, noon
Ardmore Public Library
320 E Street NW
Ardmore, OK 73401

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS LOCATED ON THIS FILE

HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL NOT YET GOOD ENOUGH

Mickey Hepner
The Edmond Sun

EDMOND — Now that Congress has entered its August recess, its members are fanning out across the nation seeking input from their constituents about proposed health care reform legislation. My suggestion? Keep working to make this bill better.

Most everyone agrees that some type of health care reform that makes health insurance more portable, more affordable and more flexible for all Americans is sorely needed. Of course, there are varying opinions on how to make this happen so everyone will have to make some compromises to get a bill passed. It seems, though, that Democratic leaders are insisting that at least three key provisions be included in the final bill: 1) An individual mandate to buy health insurance, 2) A public health insurance option and 3) An employer mandate to offer health insurance.

Personally, in the interest of compromise, I can support an individual mandate. I can tolerate a public option. However, an employer mandate is a non-starter as it would make health insurance even less portable for millions of Americans.

FEELING BLUE IN A RED STATE

Nancy Friedman/Steve Posner <scp-nef@eazy.net>	Sat, Aug 8, 2009 at 3:29 PM
To: geezeweb@gmail.com
Hi.    My purpose in reaching out to you is to suggest a fundraiser for your county’s Democratic party.  We have a supply of bumper stickers that read, “Feelin’ Blue in a Red State”.  They have a white background, the majority of the words are in black, the word “Blue” is in blue, and the word “Red” is in red.  An image is available upon request.   If you believe your members and supporters would agree with the sentiment, we would be willing to sell you whatever quantity you’d like for you to re-sell and keep the difference as a way to raise funds.  We would also accept a full return within 90 days, meaning that we’d take back whatever you didn’t sell, making this absolutely risk-free for you.  A number of Democratic organizations and other groups in Colorado, Iowa, North Carolina, Arizona, Florida, and Missouri have taken advantage of this offer.  Our prices are:   Up to 50 bumper stickers are $1.25 ea.  Shipping is $2.99. For 51 or more, the price is $1.00 ea. and shipping depends upon quantity.   They’re being re-sold for anywhere from $2.50 to $3.00 each.  I know one organization is selling them for $2.00 because they said they cared more about getting the message out than fundraising, but the other groups have had no problem getting more.   Please let me know if you’re interested.  The more cars this message appears on, the louder the collective voice.   Nancy Friedman PO Box 495 Evergreen, CO  80437         This is a solicitation.  Although we do not intend to send you further e-mails without invitation, you are welcome to reply and tell us not to contact you again, and we will respect your wishes.

---

HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL NOT YET GOOD ENOUGH

Mickey Hepner
The Edmond Sun

EDMOND — Now that Congress has entered its August recess, its members are fanning out across the nation seeking input from their constituents about proposed health care reform legislation. My suggestion? Keep working to make this bill better.

Most everyone agrees that some type of health care reform that makes health insurance more portable, more affordable and more flexible for all Americans is sorely needed. Of course, there are varying opinions on how to make this happen so everyone will have to make some compromises to get a bill passed. It seems, though, that Democratic leaders are insisting that at least three key provisions be included in the final bill: 1) An individual mandate to buy health insurance, 2) A public health insurance option and 3) An employer mandate to offer health insurance.

Personally, in the interest of compromise, I can support an individual mandate. I can tolerate a public option. However, an employer mandate is a non-starter as it would make health insurance even less portable for millions of Americans.

On the first point, there is a case to be made for requiring everyone to purchase health insurance — the so-called individual mandate. The uninsured are more likely to use emergency rooms, less likely to pay for their health care (paying for expensive health care is why the rest of us buy insurance in the first place).

The problem is that the cost of this uncompensated care gets passed on to those of us who have health insurance in the form of higher health care costs, and eventually higher health insurance premiums. Unfortunately, these higher health insurance premiums cause more people to go uninsured, further raising the cost of uncompensated care. By requiring everyone to purchase health insurance, the cost of uncompensated care falls, thereby decreasing health insurance prices.

The second point though is a bit more troublesome. There is real danger that a government-run health insurance plan would receive governmental subsidies (either directly or indirectly) over time in order to hold down health insurance prices. While these subsidies would certainly lower insurance prices, they would do so at the expense of taxpayers and provide the government plan with an unfair advantage in the market.

However, a public option plan that contains significant safeguards to require the public option be run like a private non-profit insurance company would avoid many of these problems. Consequently, it is possible (probably even necessary politically) that a beneficial final bill could include a public health insurance option, even if such a provisions makes the bill less perfect.

However, it is the third point — that employers should be mandated to offer health insurance to their employees — that should be the real sticking point. While demanding employers absorb some of the cost of health insurance might seem like a good idea to some, it only will perpetuate the biggest hurdle to insurance portability we have in our current system.

Currently, employer-sponsored health insurance is the most common manner through with people purchase health insurance. However, by tying health insurance to a job, people have to change their health insurance every time they change their job. Not only does this mean that workers have to go through the hassle of signing up for new insurance and learning about a new policy whenever they take a new job, but this also means that many people are forced to keep bad jobs so they can keep their good insurance.

Instead of making health insurance more portable, this provision would actually make it less so. Instead of addressing the problem, this provision actually makes it worse.

This is an historic opportunity for Congress to pass meaningful health insurance reform — the kind of reform that makes insurance more portable, more affordable and more flexible for all Americans. Passing such reform is going to require some compromise.

As much as I have the perfect solution in mind, I recognize that perfection is not a likely outcome of the legislative process. We should be willing to accept an imperfect bill, if it is still results in progress. Progress, in this case, means a proposal that makes health insurance more portable, more affordable and more flexible. However, any plan that makes us more reliant upon employer-sponsored health insurance fails the portability test. As a result, the current proposal is not yet good enough.

MICKEY HEPNER is an associate professor of economics at the University of Central Oklahoma.

FEELING BLUE IN A RED STATE

bumper sticker fundraiser 1 message

---

Nancy Friedman/Steve Posner <scp-nef@eazy.net>	Sat, Aug 8, 2009 at 3:29 PM
To: geezeweb@gmail.com
Hi.    My purpose in reaching out to you is to suggest a fundraiser for your county’s Democratic party.  We have a supply of bumper stickers that read, “Feelin’ Blue in a Red State”.  They have a white background, the majority of the words are in black, the word “Blue” is in blue, and the word “Red” is in red.  An image is available upon request.   If you believe your members and supporters would agree with the sentiment, we would be willing to sell you whatever quantity you’d like for you to re-sell and keep the difference as a way to raise funds.  We would also accept a full return within 90 days, meaning that we’d take back whatever you didn’t sell, making this absolutely risk-free for you.  A number of Democratic organizations and other groups in Colorado, Iowa, North Carolina, Arizona, Florida, and Missouri have taken advantage of this offer.  Our prices are:   Up to 50 bumper stickers are $1.25 ea.  Shipping is $2.99. For 51 or more, the price is $1.00 ea. and shipping depends upon quantity.   They’re being re-sold for anywhere from $2.50 to $3.00 each.  I know one organization is selling them for $2.00 because they said they cared more about getting the message out than fundraising, but the other groups have had no problem getting more.   Please let me know if you’re interested.  The more cars this message appears on, the louder the collective voice.   Nancy Friedman PO Box 495 Evergreen, CO  80437         This is a solicitation.  Although we do not intend to send you further e-mails without invitation, you are welcome to reply and tell us not to contact you again, and we will respect your wishes.

---

WE CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO FIX HEALTH CARE

By NANCY COFFER
Senior State Director
AARP Oklahoma
 
AARP believes health care is not a Democratic or Republican issue. As debate on health reform has intensified, we have seen the rhetoric increase from groups who want to block progress on health care reform by using myths and scare tactics.
 
Let me be clear: AARP has been working with both sides of the aisle – Democrats AND Republicans -- for the last two years to build political support to fix our broken health care system. AARP has not endorsed any comprehensive health care bill. We have endorsed bipartisan bills that would: create a pathway for generic biologic drugs for patients with diseases such as diabetes, cancer, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis and ALS; close the Medicaid Part D coverage gap, including a deal with the pharmaceutical industry to provide drugs at a discount for those in the doughnut hole; and create a Medicaid Transition Benefit to prevent costly hospital readmissions.
 
We would like to strengthen and improve Medicare by closing the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole,” ensuring patients’ access to their doctors and eliminating fraud and wasteful spending. We want to make sure all American can choose their doctor, their health insurance plan and where to receive care. AARP also believes it is essential that we end discrimination by insurance companies and prevent them from denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions or using age to price Americans age 50-64 out of affordable, quality health insurance.
 
AARP believes in responsible fiscal policy and we recognize that any final health care reform package should reduce the skyrocketing cost of health care, which in turn should reduce the federal deficit. The reality is the financial burden of health care will only get worse over time without action. If nothing is done, family premiums for employer-sponsored insurance will jump nearly 40% by 2012 and will almost double by 2016. The full cost will rise from an average of about $13,000 this year to over $24,000 in 2016.  For Medicare beneficiaries premiums have doubled since 2000. 
 
When one in three Americans say someone in their family skipped pills, postponed or cut back on needed medical care due to the cost; when countless bankruptcies are related to medical expenses; when the number of uninsured approaches 50 million; when government spending on health care programs rises so rapidly that it jeopardizes other priorities; and when employers struggle to pay for the costs of health care, the fact is, we can’t afford not to fix health care.
 
For people in Medicare, health care reform is about protecting the choice of doctor, keeping premiums fair, holding down health care and prescription drug costs, eliminating waste, fraud and abuse and improving care.
 
Republicans and Democrats agree that the status quo is unacceptable. We’re glad to see progress and we want to maintain the momentum on behalf of our members. This is just the first round in the legislative debate. AARP will continue working to ensure that a final bill is balanced, reduces health care costs and offers our members affordable quality health care. Throughout this debate, AARP pledges to help you find the facts about what health care reform means for you and your families. To get the facts about health reform, and learn about the latest myths and scare tactics, go to HealthActionNow.org.
 
 
 
Craig E. Davis
Associate State Director
AARP Oklahoma

126 N. Bryant Avenue
Edmond, OK 73034
405-715-4473
cedavis@aarp.org

LTG ASKINS HOSTS SMALL BUSINESS FORUMS

OKLAHOMA CITY – Lt. Governor Jari Askins teamed up with the Oklahoma Small Business Advocacy Committee and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce today to host a small business forum in Miami.  Askins spoke with regional small business owners Thursday at a town hall meeting at Miami’s Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College campus.

The forums, held around the state, feature educational seminars and presentations that provide information on the state agency resources available to small business leaders. These meetings allow experts and industry leaders to share their knowledge and expertise with business owners throughout Oklahoma.

At the Miami event, Dr. Jeff Hale, President of NEO A&M, began the forum with an opening presentation. Two sessions followed, one led by Rebecca Ross of Insure Oklahoma and Julie Niehoff, who highlighted the merits of electronic marketing. Another session featured panelists Judee Snodderly, Sam Vaverka and Kenny Quiggley, who discussed finance options during tough economic times.

Askins will interact with area businessmen and women at the meeting’s luncheon later today. During this open forum Askins aimed to connect small business owners directly to state government. “It is critical that we hear these business owners’ questions and concerns, and that our state government finds ways to address them,” Askins said. “This meeting allowed our entrepreneurs to identify their biggest hurdles and problems so we can work together to find a solution.”

The next event will be held at the Seminole State College inside the Haney Center on September 24th.

Press release