Companies Tell Employees to Find Their Own Health Insurance Policies

"Walgreen’s is the latest firm to drop an in-house health insurance plan. It will pay workers a flat rate. Workers will then have to find a decent plan. Workers will soon find how slim the pickings are. This may make insurance companies more competitive. But there is a huge problem. Large companies got low rates because everyone was insured. The law of large numbers took over. High-risk employees were offset by all the low-risk employees. Now each person will be considered as a separate applicant. High-risk people will be identifiable. Obamacare says that they must get coverage. But will they? We don’t know yet. The health care insurance exchanges are not ready for prime time yet." Continue reading

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Media Buries Psychiatric Drug Connection to Navy Shooter

"Alexis 'had been treated since August by the Veterans Administration for his mental problems.' Alexis also suffered from PTSD, blackouts and anger issues – all of which are treated with SSRI drugs. The most common form of treatment for PTSD is Paroxetine, which is listed as the number 3 top violence-causing drug by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP). Despite it being reported that prescription drugs were found in the apartment of ‘Batman’ shooter James Holmes days after the Aurora massacre, it took nine months to find out exactly what those drugs were. Like Columbine killer Eric Harris, Holmes had been taking Zoloft, another SSRI drug linked with violent outbursts." Continue reading

Continue ReadingMedia Buries Psychiatric Drug Connection to Navy Shooter

Media Buries Psychiatric Drug Connection to Navy Shooter

"Alexis 'had been treated since August by the Veterans Administration for his mental problems.' Alexis also suffered from PTSD, blackouts and anger issues – all of which are treated with SSRI drugs. The most common form of treatment for PTSD is Paroxetine, which is listed as the number 3 top violence-causing drug by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP). Despite it being reported that prescription drugs were found in the apartment of ‘Batman’ shooter James Holmes days after the Aurora massacre, it took nine months to find out exactly what those drugs were. Like Columbine killer Eric Harris, Holmes had been taking Zoloft, another SSRI drug linked with violent outbursts." Continue reading

Continue ReadingMedia Buries Psychiatric Drug Connection to Navy Shooter

Georgia congressman complains: ‘I’m stuck here making $172,000 a year’

"A Georgia Republican congressman was caught complaining about what he described as a low salary in a closed-door meeting with fellow party members concerning the Affordable Care Act. During a discussion concerning a possible exemption for lawmakers and staff members from taking part in the state health exchanges mandated by the new law, Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) reportedly lamented that aides can become lobbyists 'and make 500,000 a year. Meanwhile I’m stuck here making $172,000 a year.' USA Today reported that Gingrey’s net worth is estimated to be between $3 million and $7.6 million, while the median household income in Georgia is $49,736." Continue reading

Continue ReadingGeorgia congressman complains: ‘I’m stuck here making $172,000 a year’

FDA rewrites opioid narcotic labels to limit use for pain

"The new guidelines will not place formal new restrictions on prescriptions by physicians who treat patients for pain, but administration officials announcing the change made clear they hope to chasten physicians who prescribe the medications for anything other than ongoing, intractable pain. The revision made by the FDA would not just remove 'moderate pain' from the agency’s list of approved uses for the medications: It aims to get patients and their physicians to focus not only on levels of pain, but on how long it can be expected to persist and what alternatives exist to relieve it." Continue reading

Continue ReadingFDA rewrites opioid narcotic labels to limit use for pain

Police Officer Fired for Repeated Use of Taser on Senior With Alzheimer’s

"Doug Martin, an officer in Peru, Ind., had been summoned to Miller's Merry Manor on June 17, 2012, after a nurse called 911 for help in transporting a patient who had hit his roommate, a nurse and a nursing assistant. Martin and his partner, Officer Jeremy Brindle, entered the Alzheimer's ward to find 64-year-old James Howard sitting in a chair, wearing socks and nothing else. Howard refused the officers' command to lie on a gurney and advanced toward Brindle, who tried to handcuff Howard. When Brindle lost control of one of Howard's wrists, Martin yelled 'Taser' and deployed it on Howard's torso. Martin zapped Howard five times for a total of 31 seconds." Continue reading

Continue ReadingPolice Officer Fired for Repeated Use of Taser on Senior With Alzheimer’s

Health Insurance Premiums Continue To Rise Under Obamacare

"Yesterday the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a report that claims to highlight how Obamacare is working for Americans—but in reality, it actually shows how the law has fallen short of candidate Obama’s promises. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then one chart in the report tells the tale. Figure 3 of the HHS report (below) highlights what happened when insurers requested to increase premiums by more than 10 percent—triggering a new rate review process established under Obamacare. While some of these premium increases were modified or withdrawn, nearly three in five (57.8 percent) were approved 'unmodified' by regulators." Continue reading

Continue ReadingHealth Insurance Premiums Continue To Rise Under Obamacare

Health Insurance Premiums Continue To Rise Under Obamacare

"Yesterday the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a report that claims to highlight how Obamacare is working for Americans—but in reality, it actually shows how the law has fallen short of candidate Obama’s promises. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then one chart in the report tells the tale. Figure 3 of the HHS report (below) highlights what happened when insurers requested to increase premiums by more than 10 percent—triggering a new rate review process established under Obamacare. While some of these premium increases were modified or withdrawn, nearly three in five (57.8 percent) were approved 'unmodified' by regulators." Continue reading

Continue ReadingHealth Insurance Premiums Continue To Rise Under Obamacare

Obamacare will question your sex life

"'Are you sexually active? If so, with one partner, multiple partners or same-sex partners?' Be ready to answer those questions and more the next time you go to the doctor, whether it’s the dermatologist or the cardiologist and no matter if the questions are unrelated to why you’re seeking medical help. And you can thank the Obama health law. Doctors and hospitals who don’t comply with the federal government’s electronic-health-records requirements forgo incentive payments now; starting in 2015, they’ll face financial penalties from Medicare and Medicaid. The Department of Health and Human Services has already paid out over $12.7 billion for these incentives." Continue reading

Continue ReadingObamacare will question your sex life