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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 37 to 61 of 107. Go back in thread:
Posted by emmanuel98 on June 28, 2012, at 20:37:00
In reply to Re: Welcome USA To Socialism Healthcare Bill Passed, posted by emmanuel98 on June 28, 2012, at 20:34:25
I get really, really angry about turning this forum into a political debate. Keep your politics to yourself. This is not what this forum is for.
Posted by emmanuel98 on June 28, 2012, at 21:00:05
In reply to Re: Healthcare Bill Deemed Constitutional » psychobot5000, posted by Dinah on June 28, 2012, at 19:06:14
> Whoops, you're right about Carter's tax rates. It was 70% and he did reduce the capital gains tax. But I'm right about his interest rates.
The top rate was raised under Nixon. Reagan reduced it to 28%, then raised it again after the deficit proved too huge. Carter had no control over interest rates. The Fed did that all on its own under Paul Volcker. The idea was to control inflation by driving interest rates up, putting the economy in a recession and driving wages down. This is why Carter didn't get reelected. But enough of this. I teach college level economics and health economics. I get angry at how little most people know, yet how much they think they know.
Posted by Dinah on June 28, 2012, at 21:20:17
In reply to Re: Healthcare Bill Deemed Constitutional, posted by emmanuel98 on June 28, 2012, at 21:00:05
I thought the top marginal rate was still 28% when he left office? I thought the 28% was a bit low, but it was accompanied by a lot of tax reform and reduction in deductions. So the drop from 50% to 28% wasn't as dramatic as it sounds.
I never said Carter instituted the rates. I said they were too high in his administration, which was the first administration where I was of an age to care about such things. I thought then and think now that 70% is too high.
If you think I'm ignorant, so be it.
Posted by Phillipa on June 28, 2012, at 21:24:17
In reply to Re: Agreed, posted by Phillipa on June 28, 2012, at 20:18:20
5 Misused and Overused Practices
From: Medscape Family Medicine
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5 Misused Practices: AAFP Guidance
An Interview With Glen Stream, MD, MBI
Questionable Practices From ACP
An Interview With Steven Weinberger, MD
Are You Choosing Tests Wisely? A Challenge From the ABIM Foundation
Expert Interview With Christine K. Cassel, MD
Slideshow
Breaking 10 Old Habits: From ACP and AAFP
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1. Don't obtain screening exercise ECG testing in individuals who are asymptomatic and at low risk for coronary heart disease.
ACP Issues Guidelines for Diagnostic Imaging for Low Back Pain
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Early Imaging of Low Back Pain Unnecessary, Harmful
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New Rhinosinusitis Guidelines Discourage Antibiotics
Diagnosing and Treating Rhinosinusitis: New Guidelines
Antibiotics Not Necessary or Helpful for Acute Sinusitis
3. Don't use dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) screening for osteoporosis in women younger than 65 or in men younger than 70 with no risk factors.
USPSTF Issues Osteoporosis Screening Update
Women May Get Unneeded Osteoporosis Screening
Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry in Clinical Practice
4. Don't order annual ECGs or any other cardiac screening for low-risk patients without symptoms.
2010 ACCF/AHA Guideline for Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk in Asymptomatic Adults: Executive Summary
Screening for Cardiovascular Risk in Asymptomatic Patients
ECG Screening Finds High Risk People, But Benefits Not Clear
No Benefit of CCTA Screening in Asymptomatics
5. Don't perform Pap smears on women younger than 21 or who have had a hysterectomy for non-cancer disease.
Cervical Cancer Screening: A Guideline Synthesis From AHRQ
Updated Guidelines Released for Cervical Cancer Screening
Updated Guidelines for Cervical Cancer Screening: Less Is More
Posted by sleepygirl2 on June 28, 2012, at 21:27:09
In reply to Re: Healthcare Bill Deemed Constitutional, posted by emmanuel98 on June 28, 2012, at 21:00:05
Wow, thanks for that emmanuel.
You answered a question of mine a long time ago...about why it is that heavily populated states, with large metropolitan areas tend to be democratic verses republican.
I was listening to the radio today, with people expressing their opinions, and I just don't know what to think. It's because I just don't understand the economics of it all, in combination with social interests.
Posted by Dinah on June 28, 2012, at 21:27:36
In reply to P.S., posted by emmanuel98 on June 28, 2012, at 20:37:00
Boy, I agree with that. Until the post about Phillipa, I was content to gripe about the increased cost to myself. And my fear about what this would mean to therapy and to diabetic supplies that my insurance company does not pay for. I'm reasonably sure my medication deductibles eat up most of that $2500. And recent policy changes have left office copays so high.
I've always hated politics on Babble.
Posted by Dinah on June 28, 2012, at 21:37:21
In reply to Today After See A Trend?, posted by Phillipa on June 28, 2012, at 21:24:17
I've been seeing this for a while now!
I have no idea what it means, but I've noticed the trend for.... Hmmm... I'm lousy with time.
Posted by iforgotmypassword on June 28, 2012, at 21:43:13
In reply to Re: Welcome USA To Socialism Healthcare Bill Passed » novelagent, posted by europerep on June 28, 2012, at 15:58:06
> > I have difficulty with believing you don't know what socialism means.
>
> That's the only part of your post that I'd disagree with. Philippa has a history of posting unqualified nonsensical b*llsh*t.
>please. this is a mental health forum. you just can't attack people like that. please. i happen to disagree with her *adamantly*, as i do with enough people, it seems. let's show each other some respect, some of us are sick. in the end, it has to be safe to be wrong here, and to learn, or we are doing f all to help each other.
Posted by Phillipa on June 28, 2012, at 21:45:14
In reply to Today After See A Trend?, posted by Phillipa on June 28, 2012, at 21:24:17
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/article/what-kind-of-socialist-is-barack-obama/
Posted by Phillipa on June 28, 2012, at 21:58:43
In reply to Re: Today After See A Trend? » Phillipa, posted by Dinah on June 28, 2012, at 21:37:21
Dinah less testing means less dianosis and less money spent. Why (sarcastically said) would a female over 65 need an obgyn exam anymore. Goodness cancer could be found and if found means that treatment would be needed. It's to me like the ostrich with head in hole. What we don't know can't hurt us? My 50 year old male neighbor has a history of intestinal cancer in his family he did get a colonoscopy at 50 as was advised at time and polyps were found and removed and biopsied. Cost his insurance company money. Thankfully they were benign. But what if no colonoscopies were done as a test for occult blood is deemed good enough the polyps wouldn't have been found removed and biopsied. And if they had been allowed to stay would they have turned cancerous in a few years? Now they are saying colonoscopies can cause perforation of intestines so they are not necessary. Could go on and on. Mammograms in England even after Cancer every three years after first one done. It does get worse. Phillipa
Posted by johnLA on June 28, 2012, at 22:04:22
In reply to Re: Welcome USA To Socialism Healthcare Bill Passed » europerep, posted by Dinah on June 28, 2012, at 17:31:28
i, too, wanted to stay out of this...
i was a public school teacher for 27 years. i had continuos employer supplied health coverage from the time i was 22. i never thought anything about it until i got sick and could no longer work...
now, since i came down w/severe depression over 2 years ago i have had to pay for my own insurance. for now i am a bit lucky, in california we have extended cobra benefits; 36 months. still, this is taking-up about 20% of my current income. (i'm on early retirement at 50% of my planned pension.) i do not qualify for any social security (medicare/etc) benefits because in california teachers do not pay in to social security. i am legally disabled at this point. i am very very worried about what will happen when my cobra runs out. again, i do not qualify for any government funded healthcare at this point.
i looked for cheaper coverage. never got the chance; no way any insurance company was going to offer me coverage due to my health history. so, like i said, i am lucky that at least i have the cobra coverage for now.
i am luckier than many. 40 million americans are without health coverage. many of these are actually working middle class people. this is just not right. i am not saying president obama's plan is the best, but FINALLY a national discussion is happening on healthcare. this is good i believe and long overdue.
you can get caught-up in all the politics due to this being an election year. i could give rat's *ss about that. nobody knows what a potential national healthcare plan will look like in 2 years. much debate/discussion/compromise i believe will take place in the congress, senate and the white house over he next 2 years. i am hopeful that this will lead to getting more people insured in this country.
regardless, if some of that discussion/debate leads to reform that allows for greater access to insurance that is affordable and inclusive i can see this as only a positive.
some final thoughts; the number 1 reason people file for bankruptcy in this country is due to medical costs. not loss of job. 2. i find it ironic that it is the 'law' to have car insurance. why no complaints there? by far a greater expense to this country publicly is caused by those without health insurance, not uninsured motorists.
sorry, last one. the ceo of my health insurer earned 125 million dollars last year. i am all for a free market, but when is enough enough? part of that 125 million came from almost 20% of my limited income. this is the guy who also decides not to insure sick kids. doesn't seem right.
again, i would highly recommend that you do not get caught-up in the rhetoric that will be played-up by both campaigns on this issue leading-up to the presidential election. it's a very easy issue for both candidates to exploit.
in the end, i believe those with health insurance will see no real difference. both in cost, coverage, taxes, etc. i am hoping that those 40 million of us who do not have insurance will see a change; a chance to get insurance that does not break the bank, has no pre-existing restrictions, and offers the health care every american deserves.
john
Posted by emmanuel98 on June 28, 2012, at 22:06:28
In reply to Re: Today After See A Trend? » Dinah, posted by Phillipa on June 28, 2012, at 21:58:43
> Dinah less testing means less dianosis and less money spent. Why (sarcastically said) would a female over 65 need an obgyn exam anymore. Goodness cancer could be found and if found means that treatment would be needed. It's to me like the ostrich with head in hole. What we don't know can't hurt us? My 50 year old male neighbor has a history of intestinal cancer in his family he did get a colonoscopy at 50 as was advised at time and polyps were found and removed and biopsied. Cost his insurance company money. Thankfully they were benign. But what if no colonoscopies were done as a test for occult blood is deemed good enough the polyps wouldn't have been found removed and biopsied. And if they had been allowed to stay would they have turned cancerous in a few years? Now they are saying colonoscopies can cause perforation of intestines so they are not necessary. Could go on and on. Mammograms in England even after Cancer every three years after first one done. It does get worse. Phillipa
Why is all this worse? This has nothing at all to do with Obamacare and everything to do with recent studies in health care, from medical journals. Colonosopies are now recommended every ten years instead of every five. Mammograms every two or three years instead of every year. Pap smears not at all for women over 60 and PSA tests not at all at any age. This is all based on evidence that most cancers are not aggressive and that those that are aggressive will kill you whether found early or late. This may suck, but it's the truth. And again, Obamacare has nothing to do with any of this. The medical profession itself has been issuing these new guidelines based on extensive studies.
Posted by johnLA on June 28, 2012, at 22:24:41
In reply to Re: Today After See A Trend?, posted by emmanuel98 on June 28, 2012, at 22:06:28
as a former teacher, i respect another teacher that can explain complex information clearly, without drama and just the right amount of passion.
let me know if you ever need some info on film, art, or music history. ;)
john
Posted by Phillipa on June 28, 2012, at 22:33:23
In reply to what about the 40 million that are uninsured?, posted by johnLA on June 28, 2012, at 22:04:22
John extremly well written and correct. And true lots of debate changes will take place over next two years. So in essense agree with you. Oh and never knew that about California teachers. Now we need to stop this Ceo stuff. I applaud you post. Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on June 28, 2012, at 22:38:34
In reply to Re: Today After See A Trend?, posted by emmanuel98 on June 28, 2012, at 22:06:28
Emmanuel I merely see a correlation with the healthcare policy as the headlines were also in this same newsletter. It's listed as cost saving measures. Guessing only time will tell with this. Lets all stick together unity is important. Phillipa
Posted by SLS on June 28, 2012, at 23:56:11
In reply to Welcome USA To Socialism Healthcare Bill Passed, posted by Phillipa on June 28, 2012, at 12:37:06
...I am tempted to respond to your subject line, Phillipa. However, I feel that this is the wrong forum in which for me to do that. Actually, I would probably avoid posting along a thread like this altogether for my lack of sufficient knowledge to apply to these issues. They do seem rather complex.
I looked up the word "socialism", just to refresh my memory.
- Scott
Posted by sigismund on June 29, 2012, at 0:48:09
In reply to Re: Welcome USA To Socialism Healthcare Bill Passed » novelagent, posted by europerep on June 28, 2012, at 15:58:06
>This whole debate is nothing but a joke, at the expense of poor and ill American citizens.
Thank you thank you thank you
Posted by sigismund on June 29, 2012, at 0:51:09
In reply to Re: Today After See A Trend?, posted by Phillipa on June 28, 2012, at 21:45:14
PJ, Obama is a conservative, but not of the Fox news sort.
Posted by sigismund on June 29, 2012, at 1:01:02
In reply to Re: Healthcare Bill Deemed Constitutional » psychobot5000, posted by Dinah on June 28, 2012, at 19:06:14
The price of oil went up, maybe tripled. Interest rates here were near 20% around 1980. Military spending (Vietnam) may have had an impact, I don't know. It wasn't Carter.
Posted by Dinah on June 29, 2012, at 1:23:05
In reply to Re: Healthcare Bill Deemed Constitutional » Dinah, posted by sigismund on June 29, 2012, at 1:01:02
Hey look. If you want to think that Carter was competent or even brilliant on the economy, that's ok by me. If you like 70% tax rates, I can only wish you all the luck in the world to make enough money to be in one.
This is really outside my sphere of interest.
Posted by SLS on June 29, 2012, at 5:59:02
In reply to Re: Healthcare Bill Deemed Constitutional » sigismund, posted by Dinah on June 29, 2012, at 1:23:05
I'm sure people have heard the adage regarding the difficulties involved in discussing religion or politics. I hope feelings aren't hurt nor people alienated from each other along this thread. Perhaps it would be more productive to contact your local legislator or political action committee to get your political views acknowledged and promoted. Fortunately, we have free speech, including the right to vote. Would anyone be interested in redirecting this thread to the Politics board? Perhaps it has already reached an amicable closing.
- Scott
Posted by europerep on June 29, 2012, at 7:25:22
In reply to Agreed » ron1953, posted by Dinah on June 28, 2012, at 19:14:13
> *ssh*l*.
Ah, good old hypocrisy. For some reason, probably having to do with politeness, you have to censor yourself in calling me an 'asshole', yet you have no problem to deny poor citizens of your country access to healthcare, if it would mean that you *may* lose some money in the process.
I'd also be curious about what you dislike about the way this healthcare reform was passed. Voted in through the Senate with a supermajority and the House with a majority and upheld by the US Supreme Court looks to me like the gold-standard of passing legislation. If you refer to the fact that Republican concerns weren't met by Democrats, I would remind you of everything from "death panels" to the absurd references to "socialism" as we have witnessed in this thread. You cannot negotiate with a party that rolls out that type of rhetoric to attack a piece of legislation that they themselves supported not long ago.
I will say two more things: I do actually apologize if people were offended by what I said, although I do believe that the core of what I said is true and despite the relatively strong feelings I have toward those who would deny others, potentially including me, the healthcare they need but can't pay for. Secondly, I hope people won't take my comments as blanket statements about the USA. I think the USA is a great country with lots of great people who have made the world a better place - but I am shocked not only at how radical the Tea Party ideas are, but also at how far they have made their way into the mainstream political discussion. Of course I believe in democracy and free speech, so I wouldn't want to censor anyone or anything, but I find this very worrisome nonetheless.
Posted by europerep on June 29, 2012, at 7:29:42
In reply to Re: Welcome USA To Socialism Healthcare Bill Passed » europerep, posted by sigismund on June 29, 2012, at 0:48:09
> >This whole debate is nothing but a joke, at the expense of poor and ill American citizens.
>
> Thank you thank you thank youThank you :)
You're always the much calmer participant in discussions, and you make *excellent* points all the time. I'll get there too one day ;)
Posted by Dinah on June 29, 2012, at 8:57:15
In reply to Re: Agreed » Dinah, posted by europerep on June 29, 2012, at 7:25:22
You misunderstand. Everything.
Including why I said what I said to Ron. I have no reason to call you anything at this point. Keep insulting me, and I will keep being completely indifferent to your opinion of me. I know my feelings, and I don't need to accept your stereotypes of me. You know, I know few people who really oppose stereotyping. They only care who they stereotype.
What I detest is seeing people being unkind to others. Oddly enough, even if those others are completely indifferent to the rudeness.
Not enough people, in my opinion, give a d*mn about what they see in front of them. Apparently different people have different ideas of what compassion ought to be. Oddly enough, I don't think it's compassionate to accuse others of posting unqualified b*llsh*t. Or of endorsing such statements.
Keep it up against me. Wanna call me any other names? Want to think I belong to the tea party? Go right ahead. You are so far off the mark, it can't touch me.
Posted by Dinah on June 29, 2012, at 8:59:12
In reply to Unofficial Please Be Civil » europerep, posted by iforgotmypassword on June 28, 2012, at 21:43:13
You were far nicer than I was.
I was upset.
I honor you.
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