Offline

I'll be offline through mid-September.

But there are many groups involved in pushing health insurance reform forward. So....

If you haven't already, sign-up for updates from CPPP's Texas Voice for Health Reform, connect with the Austin chapter of Organizing for America, or check out what the Grey Panthers or Health Care for America, Now! are up to.

Web Beat: Short Sharp Science and NYT op-ed blog

This week's entry are re-posts from blogs I found interesting. Follow the links to view the original posts.

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After clicking on the link below and reading the New Scientist's blog, scroll down to check out the comments.

Socialised medicine and death panels: business as usual - Short Sharp Science - New Scientist
Shared via AddThis





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August 18, 2009, 11:45 pm
From State to State, Many Choices to Few
By Anne Underwood

The debate over whether the government should offer a public insurance plan is all about competition. How competitive is the private insurance market right now? It depends on where you live.

As a general rule, the larger, more densely populated states have the most choice — and even the biggest insurer controls only a minority share of the market. According to statistics from the American Medical Association, the leading insurance provider in California covers 24 percent of the population, while in New York the figure is 26 percent and in Florida, 30 percent.


But there are nine states where a single insurer covers 70 percent or more of the people. In Hawaii, one insurer covers 78 percent. In Alabama, it is 83 percent. And in at least 17 other states one insurer covers at least half the population.


Some members of the Senate Finance Committee, which is taking a lead on health care legislation, come from states where the insurance market is highly concentrated. The chairman, Max Baucus, is from Montana, where 75 percent of people are covered by one major insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana. For Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa, the figure is 71 percent, by Wellmark. For Senator Olympia J. Snowe, Republican of Maine, it is 78 percent, by WellPoint.

“For many Americans, the idea that they have a choice of health plans is about as mythical as unicorns,” said Jacob S. Hacker, a professor of political science at Yale.

But Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for the industry trade group, America’s Health Insurance Plans, argues that competition abounds. “In the top 40 metropolitan areas, there are eight or more health plans in every one of them,” he said.

I need a time-turner! And yes, that's an HP reference. ; )

ORIGINALLY POSTED: August 12, 2009
There are two great events happening Thursday evening, and if I could be in two places at once, then tomorrow (8/13) would be the day I'd use my time travelin' skills!

Haven't voiced your concerns yet or want to hear your neighbors' thoughts on health care reform? Go to the Texas Medical Association's (TMA's) town hall meet-up at 6:30 PM.


It was rumored that Senators Cornyn and/or Hutchinson would be in attendance, but neither US Senator for Texas will be at the meeting. Nevertheless, arrive early, grab some free refreshments, and get ready to participate in the health care reform talks! Click on the photo to visit TMA's website for more information about their regional town halls.

Want to learn money management lessons from the experts? Want to pass those skills on to teens, adults or seniors?
Get info on how to become a certified FLCCT educator at tomorrow night's Financial Literacy Coalition Central Texas Volunteer Orientation! Arrive by 5:30 PM at the Travis County Office of Texas AgriLife Extension Service. Click on the photo to read FLCCT's blog.

Hmm....be in the thick of another health care reform meeting or pick up the basics on FLCCT volunteer ops. ...I'll let ya' know which one I go with. : )
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POSTED: August 14, 2009

As you might have seen, if you follow me on Twitter, I was at last night's TMA town hall. By the time the town hall began, the meeting room was PACKED! We (my dude and I) arrived early though and found seats quickly.

The facilitator emphasized that the town hall was not going to be a debate (read: brawl) and the focus was on hearing everyone out (read: no hissing/booing). It appeared to work too, because no one was booed. Although, some people were cheered-on louder than others! --It was the folks in favor of reforming health insurance who were most loudly supported with energetic claps and whoops from the audience.

Those opposed to making changes to the health care system emphasized the right to not be "forced" to have health care coverage, the problem with third-party interference, the fear that people will not want to be doctor's if there are too many barriers (i.e., low Medicare reimbursement rates, malpractice litigation, red tape), and personal experiences with the "world-class health care" that they have right now. That last one, ignores that so many of us do not have access to that "world-class health care." Oh, and there was this one lady who said, "I want to keep my insurance...if someone doesn't have insurance, they need to decide what to do about that." -Wow, how self-centered can a person be?!

Those in favor of reforming the current health care system pointed out: the need for lower, reasonably priced health insurance premiums and prescription drugs; the importance of including people with pre-existing conditions rather than excluding them like so many insurance plans do; and their strong agreement that every American should have access to affordable health care. One women said it is immoral to deny affordable health care.

Based on claps and whoops, it is my guess the overwhelming majority of those in attendance support health insurance reform and agree that affordable access to health care is needed.

The video is a little sticky at some points (freezes up) but feel free to watch it here or at http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1979332

Hittin' the Streets in the Summer Heat

All the health insurance reform talk and sweltering days shifted my plans last month. But August and the coming months hold lots of promise!

For starters, I'm going to begin reaching out to neighbors offline -door knocking, phone calling, and the like. One of my hopes is to hold periodic precinct gatherings. I'm wondering what the first event should be. Hmmm.

Ideas that are percolating....

Travis County Sheriff's Office, Crime Prevention Seminar Series
Communities gain practical tools to combat crime through education and prevention. Seminars are free and interactive.
Topics covered include:-personal safety awareness -burglary prevention -crimes against children -identity theft -gang awareness -domestic violence awareness

National Night Out
National Night Out is Oct. 6, 2009. Neighborhoods must register by August 28! Questions regarding National Night Out can be directed to the City of Austin at (512) 974-4900 or www.cityofaustin.org/police (click Crime Prevention.)


Animal shelter presentations
The City of Austin is building a new animal services center. The facility will feature some exciting design and architectural elements to promote the health and happiness of the animals in our care. Neighborhood associations interested in learning more about the new animal services center, can schedule a free presentation from the Health Department.


If you've got ideas, send them to me via email! : )

~many thanks~