randork.com

WSJ Opinion: What the Pelosi Health-Care Bill Really Says →

By BETSY MCCAUGHEY (www.defendyourhealthcare.us)

Ms. McCaughey is chairman of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths and a former Lt. Governor of New York state.

• Sec. 202 (p. 91-92) of the bill requires you to enroll in a “qualified plan.” If you get your insurance at work, your employer will have a “grace period” to switch you to a “qualified plan,” meaning a plan designed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. You’ll have to enroll in a qualified plan as soon as any term in your contract changes, such as the co-pay, deductible or benefit.
• Sec. 303 (pp. 167-168) makes it clear that, although the “qualified plan” is not yet designed, it will be of the “one size fits all” variety. The bill claims to offer choice—basic, enhanced and premium levels—but the benefits are the same. Only the co-pays and deductibles differ. You will have to enroll in the same plan, whether the government is paying for it or you and your employer are footing the bill.
• Sec. 59b (pp. 297-299) says that when you file your taxes, you must include proof that you are in a qualified plan. If not, you will be fined thousands of dollars. Illegal immigrants are exempt from this requirement.
• Sec. 412 (p. 272) says that employers must provide a “qualified plan” for their employees and pay 72.5% of the cost, and a smaller share of family coverage, or incur an 8% payroll tax. Small businesses, with payrolls from $500,000 to $750,000, are fined less.
• Sec. 1302 (pp. 672-692) moves Medicare from a fee-for-service payment system, in which patients choose which doctors to see and doctors are paid for each service they provide, toward what’s called a “medical home.” The medical home is this decade’s version of HMO-restrictions on care. A primary-care provider manages access to costly specialists and diagnostic tests for a flat monthly fee. The bill specifies that patients may have to settle for a nurse practitioner rather than a physician as the primary-care provider. Medical homes begin with demonstration projects, but the HHS secretary is authorized to “disseminate this approach rapidly on a national basis.” A December 2008 Congressional Budget Office report noted that “medical homes” were likely to resemble the unpopular gatekeepers of 20 years ago if cost control was a priority.
• Sec. 1114 (pp. 391-393) replaces physicians with physician assistants in overseeing care for hospice patients.

The auto bailouts didn't benefit us. Here's why a public option won't either. →

Long Beach Winter Rains Could Cause Flooding

The following information was included with my November 2009 utilities bill from the city of Long Beach, CA.

Flood Safety

If you live in a flood zone, there are several actions you can take to minimize injury during a flood:

• Turn off all electric circuits at the fuse panel or disconnect the switch. If this is not possible, turn off or disconnect all electrical appliances.
• Shut off the water service and gas valves in your home.
• Evacuate the flood hazard area in times of impending flooding or when advised to do so by police or fire officials.
• Do not cross a flowing stream when water is above your knees. Keep children away from flood waters such as rivers, ditches, culverts and storm drains, even when it is not raining.
• If your vehicle stalls in high water, abandon it immediately and seek higher ground.

Property Protection

Protect your property in advance. Here’s what you can do to avoid future damage.

• If time permits, move essential items and furniture to the upper floors of your home.
• Elevate or relocate electrical panel boxes, furnaces, water heaters, and washers/dryers.
• Install basement floor drains, interior and exterior backwater valves and interior floodwalls around utilities.
• Keep materials like sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting and lumber handy for emergency waterproofing.
• Locations that distribute sand bags can be obtained by calling the Emergency Preparedness Hotline at (562) 570-5252. Sand must be purchase separately at hardware stores.
• References on floodproofing are available at the Main Library, 101 Pacific Avenue, or by calling (562) 570-7500.
• Call Planning and Building at (562) 570-6651 to obtain floodproofing permits or copies of recorded elevation certificates.
• Always check with Planning and Building before you alter, re-grade, build on, or add fill on your property. If you see building or filling without a City permit sign posted, call (562) 570-6651.

McCain Presses Obama on Pledge About Public Funds →

Remember this:

McCain said Obama a year ago “signed a piece of paper” vowing a fundraising truce with the Republican nominee. “I committed to public financing. He committed to public financing.

Climate change data dumped →

SCIENTISTS at the University of East Anglia (UEA) have admitted throwing away much of the raw temperature data on which their predictions of global warming are based.

It means that other academics are not able to check basic calculations said to show a long-term rise in temperature over the past 150 years.

Ten Timeless Persuasive Writing Techniques →

1. Repetition
2. Reasons Why
3. Consistency
4. Social Proof
5. Comparisons
6. Agitate and Solve
7. Prognosticate
8. Go Tribal
9. Address Objections
10. Storytelling

Ash-id rain.

Smoke from California fires.

Ran into Nick Arrojo from TLC’s What Not To Wear at the mall today.

Volunteer Dad at A&M

Dad called from Texas where he is volunteering for the American Red Cross and helping folks after Hurricane Ike. They have a shelter set up at Texas’ A&M University and he helps man it from 8 AM until 8 PM. Usually, he has to sleep on a cot, but at A&M, they put him up in a dorm room. Not bad, he reports.