Dr. Government

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 →

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Boston bomb victims who cash survivor checks lose state health insurance

"Months after the Boston Marathon bombing, J.P. Norden is still recovering from losing his leg, but he can’t cash a $1.2 million check provided to survivors because he would lose his state health insurance for the poor. Norden, and his brother Paul, both had legs amputated and received identical checks as part of the $60 million being distributed by One Fund charity. They told The Washington Post that they are very aware they would quickly use up the $1.2 million with their ongoing medical expenses." Continue reading →

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The Left’s New Attack on Self Insurance: Obamacare Sleaze?

"It starts with a brief description of the ERISA law that allows self insurance – including the fact that those who self insure escape the costly and corrupt state-level mandates that cause regular insurance policies to be needlessly expensive. While ERISA traditionally was something that only big firms could utilize, many small employers are now looking at self insurance as a way of providing health insurance to their employees without getting dragged into the costly swamp of Obamacare. Needless to say, the left is unhappy about this development because Obamacare only 'works' if a large amount of people are forced to join the infamous exchanges." Continue reading →

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White House leans on industry for bottled water push

"First Lady Michelle Obama is launching her new Drink Up initiative at an event Thursday in Watertown, Wisconsin. According to the White House, the American Beverage Association and International Bottled Water Association are both promoting the effort. The two associations are the major lobbying forces inside the Beltway for both the bottled water and beverage association. According to the visitor's logs, one of the American Beverage Association's lobbyists, Susan Neely, visited the White House several times. The American Beverage Association is a lobbying heavyweight that has spent $680,000 so far in 2013. The bottled water association has spent $60,000 so far in 2013." Continue reading →

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Minnesota Obamacare exchange disclosed personal info of at least 2,400

"While MNsure officials said the mistake was quickly resolved and was the first security breach, the incident highlights concerns of those who have hounded the state for years about privacy issues surrounding the online-based health insurance exchanges. The new marketplaces are a key vehicle for implementing the federal health law, often called Obamacare. Users of the exchange will need to provide sensitive information, including Social Security numbers, that will be sent to a federal hub to verify such things as citizenship and household income. This information will determine whether consumers using MNsure qualify for public health programs or tax credits that will lower premiums." Continue reading →

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Billionaire: Part-Timers Will Near 50% of Workforce Due to ObamaCare

"On the McLaughlin Group this weekend, Mort Zuckerman, real estate billionaire and owner of the New York Daily News and of U.S. News & World Report stated: 'Part-time employment is going to grow from 25 percent of the workforce to close to 50 percent of the workforce in part because of the problems of healthcare obligations.'" Continue reading →

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Thai doctor: “I’m not a slave to insurance companies or regulations…”

"People often presume that the medical care in the developed West is the best in the world. But over the years, it’s become a centralized, bureaucratic mess. In Thailand, private medical care is excellent, efficient, and tremendously cost effective. Many of the international hospitals are more like five-star hotels and luxury shopping malls. And there’s very little waiting. The quality of the care is also first rate. Many of the doctors were trained at western universities and fellowships. One of the physicians I met yesterday received her MD in Singapore, plus a Masters degree and PhD in her field at a top university in California, and then another fellowship at Harvard." Continue reading →

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Obamacare Regulations Are 8 Times Longer Than Gutenberg Bible

"The 109 final Obamacare rules that have been published in the Federal Register so far take up 10,516 pages in the register. These pages carry an average of about 1,000 words each. So, the final Obamacare regulations published so far amount to approximately 10,516,000 words. The Department of Health and Human Services filed the majority of the regulations. But other federal agencies that have filed final Obamacare regulations include the Department of Labor, the Internal Revenue Service, the Office of Personnel Management, the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Defense, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Social Security Administration, and Veterans Affairs." Continue reading →

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Obamachow: Is National Food Insurance The Next Big Idea?

"John Goodman of Southern Methodist University, a leading voice for free market medicine, has asked us to imagine what our groceries stores would look like if they were run like the medical system. In this piece, we will take his observations and add some of our own. As you enter the store, note that there will be no prices posted. In addition, the price you pay will vary according to who you are and how you will pay. You’ll have to come in during office hours because the store will close on weekends and holidays. What you want probably won’t be on the shelf. You will be told to come back later. If you do find what you want, you will have to wait to pay, perhaps a long time, [..]" Continue reading →

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Rite Aid joins promotion effort for Obamacare

"Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius made the announcement Monday alongside Rite Aid CEO John Standley in New Jersey, where the feds will operate the health insurance exchange after Gov. Chris Christie rejected creating a state-run one. CVS Caremark in July announced plans to inform uninsured customers about the law. CVS pharmacies will host trained 'navigators,' who are funded by the health law to educate people about their coverage options. Walgreens also announced plans over the summer to team up with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association to educate customers in its stores." Continue reading →

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