Interactive Map of how states are Implementing Health Care Reform

Here's an interactive map that illustrates how the states are implmenting the Affordable Care Act (PPACA).  Interesting to view the differences.

Interactive Map

Patients in the Dark on Medical Costs, Study Finds

Wow - do yout think???  I've always encouraged my clients to shop for things like big tests, like  MRIs and Colonoscopies.  If you can get an anwer at all, what I find is that variances between facilities can be larg e.  For MRIs, it can vary $500 -- $1200 for the one test depending on where you go. It's ludicrous that in America we got to get medical services and either never ask what things cost, or just assume we'll find a way to pay.  do we do that at restaurants? NO!   Many medical tests are unnecessary anyway & they scare people into getting them - no questions asked.  There should be uniform 'base price' lists for certain procedures & that's it - very simple.  Read about the ABC broadcast about this issue here:

Patients in the Dark on Medical Costs, Study Finds

Docs Unhappy with Health Care Reform

Interesting snippet about how doctors are feeling about health care reform and regulations in general.  There is a lot of anticipated anxiety from physicians about the pending measurement system that will determine Medicare payouts based on "results" rather than the current fee for service model.  To date, no one is sure how measurements will be determined and how disparate groups of physicians can be compared to one another.  I'm sure that we'll see much more related to these issues in the coming months.  Stay tuned . . . . .

Docs unhappy with Health Care Reform

Brownback wants Federal Aid for KS to help with Tornado damage

It's stunning that a Governor who is so "anti-government" suddenly is begging for Federal aid.  What happened to "pulling yourself up by your bootstraps"?  When it comes to other social safety nets, they continually cry that they don't want goverment interference.

I guess "big government" is appropriate when it benefits only you & your state specifically - to hell with everyone else, or the greater good.

Take this for instance:

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/01/17/3376262/brownback-tax-plan-hits-poor-hardest.html

Brownback finds aid appropriate only when it suits HIM.  Not even for the benefit of the needy or the poor  - that is not his objective. His objective always seems to be a private agenda or a political one . .  . I don't get it.  What is it you really stand for???

This is a guy who refused the federal money to set up their own state health exchange.  Now, in return for his belligerance, he'll get the opposite of what he wanted- when the exchanges are being formed, the Federal Government will come in & give them exchanges (that they may not find desireable) and then they will have to find KS money to pay for them, instead of receiveing readily available aid.  All this to 'MAKE A POINT'.

Sometimes, I really wonder where we 've gone politically in this country - are these guys really representing the people or just their own private agendas?  Shame on you Brownback for not taking care of the people of KS. . . . . .