Dr. Government

Patients’ advocates ask Supreme Court to decide medical value of marijuana

"A group that advocates on behalf of medical marijuana patients has asked the nation’s highest court to decide whether marijuana is a dangerous drug with no medical value. Americans for Safe Access on Monday appealed a District of Columbia Circuit Court decision that upheld marijuana’s federal Schedule I status. In their appeal, ASA contends the D.C. Circuit Court was wrong to equate 'currently accepted medical use' with only FDA-approved studies. The D.C. Circuit Court also 'simply ignored that marijuana has an extremely low abuse potential relative to other controlled substances, despite having been presented voluminous evidence,' according to the appeal." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPatients’ advocates ask Supreme Court to decide medical value of marijuana

Ron Paul: Let Market Forces Solve Organ Transplant Crisis

"Ten-year old cystic fibrosis patient Sarah Murnaghan captured the nation's attention when federal bureaucrats imposed a de facto death sentence on her by refusing to modify the rules governing organ transplants. Even though Sarah's own physician said she was an excellent candidate to receive an adult organ transplant, government officials refused to even consider modifying their rules. Fortunately, a federal judge intervened so Sarah received the lung transplant. But the welcome decision in this case does not change the need to end government control of organ donations and repeal the federal ban on compensating organ donors." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRon Paul: Let Market Forces Solve Organ Transplant Crisis

The Truth About SwedenCare

"As a Swede currently living in the United States, with actual experience of Swedencare, I must reply to the delusions propagated by professor Robert H. Frank in his June 15 article titled 'What Sweden Can Teach Us About Obamacare.' It is surprising to read something so out of line with basic economic theory from an economics professor. But theory aside, it would have sufficed for professor Frank to have taken a field trip down to the nearest public emergency room to have his illusions irreparably shattered. The reality is that Swedish healthcare is the perfect illustration of the tragedy of central planning. It is expensive and — even worse — it kills innocent people." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Truth About SwedenCare

Restaurant Shift: Sorry, Just Part-Time

"Rod Carstensen, owner of 11 Del Taco restaurants around Denver, began in April converting his mostly full-time workforce into one comprising mostly part-time help to minimize his health-care costs. He estimates the costs could have climbed by as much as $400,000 a year without the change. Mr. Carstensen had 180 full-time and 40 part-time workers and is in the process of switching to 80 full-time and 320 part-time workers who clock no more than 28 hours per week. He is plowing ahead despite the Obama administration's reprieve, he said, because 'we need to get there anyway, and it will take until January 1, 2015, to make this transition.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRestaurant Shift: Sorry, Just Part-Time

Oregon Prosecutors Still Wasting Resources on Medical Cannabis

"There has been hope throughout the Oregon cannabis community that the passage of House Bill 3460 would end the wasteful and harmful prosecutions of medical cannabis providers that have plagued certain parts of Oregon. Unfortunately, according to The Oregonian, two prosecutors have already stated that they will continue to move forward with these costly and harmful prosecutions. If these cases go to trial, hopefully jury members will know that House Bill 3460 passed, providing the rules and regulations necessary for medical cannabis dispensaries to clearly operate within the law. These cases scream for 'jury nullification' to me." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOregon Prosecutors Still Wasting Resources on Medical Cannabis

Walk-in clinics gaining popularity

"Nontraditional healthcare sites such as urgent care centers and retail clinics are gaining popularity with consumers looking to avoid the long waits and high prices of the doctor's office or emergency department. The trend is expected to continue as the Affordable Care Act's full implementation looms and concerns grow over a shortage of primary care physicians. Visits to the country's three largest retail clinics — CVS Caremark's MinuteClinic, Walgreen's Take Care Health and Kroger's Little Clinic — have skyrocketed in recent years. Their popularity, a report found, is due to their convenience, accessible hours and low cost. The average cost of a visit is about $78." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWalk-in clinics gaining popularity

A Rare – and Encouraging – Glimpse at How a Free Market Could Work in the Health Sector

"I’ve already cited the case of a North Carolina doctor who decided to use market-based pricing, and I’ve shared a very powerful video from Reason TV about a hospital in Oklahoma that’s doing the same thing. Now we have a free market revolution by a doctor in Maine: Dr. Michael Ciampi took a step this spring that many of his fellow physicians would describe as radical. The family physician stopped accepting all forms of health insurance. In early 2013, Ciampi sent a letter to his patients informing them that he would no longer accept any kind of health coverage, both private and government-sponsored. He posted his prices on the practice’s website." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingA Rare – and Encouraging – Glimpse at How a Free Market Could Work in the Health Sector

Ohio Dept. Of Insurance: Obamacare To Increase Premiums By 88 Percent

"Last week, the Ohio Department of Insurance announced that, based on the rates submitted by insurers to date, the average individual-market health insurance premium in 2014 will come in around $420, 'representing an increase of 88 percent' relative to 2013. 'We have warned of these increases,' said Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor in a statement. 'Consumers will have fewer choices and pay much higher premiums for their health insurance starting in 2014.' According to actuarial firm Milliman, the two biggest drivers of the increase are (1) risk pool composition changes and (2) Obamacare’s required expansion of insurance benefits." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOhio Dept. Of Insurance: Obamacare To Increase Premiums By 88 Percent

Burn your Obamacare card

"Without premium payments by millions of young adults under 40, Obamacare can’t work. Younger Americans make up the bulk of the uninsured today because health insurance simply costs too much relative to their needs. If they don’t obey the mandate, premiums will be higher than expected in the new government 'exchanges,' people will be driven away, and a vicious cycle will set in, ending in the scheme’s failure. This suggests an opportunity. If all of us, especially millennials, were to become health care draft resisters, we could hasten Obamacare’s inevitable collapse and pave the way for a patient-centered system." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBurn your Obamacare card

Virginia health centers get $2.5M to ‘promote Obamacare on taxpayer dime’

"Virginia health centers will receive 22 federal grants totaling more than $2.5 million to enroll clients in Obamacare, part of a $150 million national campaign. The largest recipient is the New Canton-based Central Virginia Health Services, which will get $266,020. On a per-capita basis, the 51 new hires in Virginia would be paid an average of $49,000. Skeptics say the overhead costs are emblematic of the Obamacare program. 'There are over 1,200 community health centers throughout the country who are getting a chunk of $150 million in outreach funding for the rollout of Obamacare,' said Ben Domenech at the conservative Heartland Institute." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingVirginia health centers get $2.5M to ‘promote Obamacare on taxpayer dime’