Category: Health Care

Say Hello to Polio

The polio vaccine developed by Dr. Salk and colleagues is licensed in the U.S. Before the polio vaccine, the disease had been a major cause of disability in children. About 16,000 cases of polio (paralytic poliomyelitis) occurred each year in the U.S. in the 20th century compared with none in 2020.

An attorney connected to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, filed a petition on behalf of an activist group asking the Food and Drug Administration to suspend or withdraw approval of a polio vaccine for children.

Senator Elizabeth Warren sounds the alarm about Donald Trump’s idiotic decision to put conspiracy theorist RFK Jr. in charge of the Department of Health and Human Services.

She didn’t pull any punches…

“Say goodbye to your smile and say hello to polio — that’s what’s on the horizon if Robert F. Kennedy Jr. becomes the Secretary of Health and Human Services,” Warren wrote on X along with a video.

“You know I would laugh if it weren’t so scary,” she said in the clip. “Donald Trump just picked RFK Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. This is a man who wants to stop kids from getting their polio and measles shots.”

“He’s actually welcoming a return to polio a disease we nearly eradicated,” she continued. “But it doesn’t stop there. RFK Jr. also doesn’t believe fluoride should be in your water and that’s what keeps your teeth from rotting.”

“You can’t make this stuff up!” she added.

Affordable Health Care

Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old Ivy League graduate accused of gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in front of a New York City hotel last week is probably guilty.

Mangione’s hatred for the health insurance industry and health care in the United States has brought people cheering him as a folk hero. Singers have posted songs about him. On TikTok, folk singer Joe DeVito posted a song. Merchandise, including sweatshirts, wine tumblers and hats emblazoned with the words, began making their way around online storefronts, though some have since been removed, the Washington Post reported.

For as many jokes internet users cracked casting the suspected shooter as a “folk hero,” others pointed to the systemic wealth inequality governing a society in which UnitedHealthcare reported over $16 billion in operating profits in 2023.

On a personal side my daughter’s healthcare (California Care – part of ACA) has denied coverage repeatedly. The cost of her Dexilant is $500 a month but by accident we learned that she can buy the medication from a Canadian pharmacy for $92 a month. It’s not a generic.

At the very least Luigi Mangione has brought the health care industry to a forefront. Will anything change? Probably not. Making money is more important than affordable health care.

Health Insurance in the USA

This week’s fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has unleashed a wave of public feeling — exasperation, anger, resentment, helplessness — from Americans sharing personal stories of interactions with insurance companies, often seen as faceless corporate giants.

In particular, the words written on ammunition found at the shooting scene — “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” echoing a phrase used to describe how insurers dodge claim payouts — amplified voices that have long been critical of the industry.

Currently, depending on the market segment you’re looking at, Kaiser, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Health Net, Aetna, United (group), and AARP (Senior) are the main carriers in California.

According to insurancebusinessmag these are the highest paid CEOs of the largest companies in the United States.

Will the killing of Brian Thompson change anything about the for profit health insurance companies? NO!

Lower Medicare Pharmacy Prices

President Joe Biden posting on Facebook. Think about this when you are voting!

For years there’s been no check on how high or how fast Big Pharma can raise drug prices.

Let’s call this for what it is: a rip-off.

That’s why Kamala and I finally beat Big Pharma with the first 10 drugs selected for Medicare price negotiation – and we’ll continue fighting back.

‘I wonder how much this moron will pay’

Matthew Perry had tried for years to stay sober but had a lifelong addiction to alcohol and other drugs. In Perry’s last days one doctor texted another doctor “I wonder how much this moron will pay” and “lets find out,” according to an indictment filed in court.

My question is where were his friends? I guess he had no friends from the program “Friends.” This reminds me of the death of Whitney Houston who also died from a drug overdose. Then there is the case of Michael Jackson who also died from an injection of anesthetic given by a doctor.

Sadly we have a nation of addiction.

Failed Federal Government

Here’s a reality check…

Inflation and the cost of everything is up.

Real wages are down. Is it any wonder that labor unions are on the rise?

Child poverty rate is up

Credit card debt and defaults are at record levels. Many people use their credit card when they run out of cash.

Inflation is clearly not under control. Gasoline in Los Angeles rose 20 cents a gallon since the beginning of September. My oatmeal now at the same price but a smaller amount in the package.

Medicare trustees say the Part A program will begin running deficits again in 2025, drawing down the trust fund until it depleted in 2031. Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care.

The combined Social Security trust funds – which help support payouts for the elderly, survivors and disabled – are projected to be unable to pay out full benefits in 2034.

There has been no legislation to save Social Security and Medicare.

Neither the Democratic Party nor the Republican Party have proposed any legislation to address these issues. Instead the Democrats focus on climate change and abortion rights while the Republicans focus on protection against LGBTQ people, illegal immigration, and enabling everyone to own a gun. None of those issues, while important, effect many Americans.

The fact is that the rich get richer and the rest of us are still confronted with a minimum wage that has not changed since July 24, 2009. That is $7.25 per hour. There is no national health insurance plan. Going to jail ensures that you will have a roof over your head, food to eat and health care.

What a great country!

Drug Company Greed

I am totally surprised that so little has been written about a new law that permits Medicare to negotiate the prices of 10 commonly used drugs that are a major expense for senior citizens.

Topping the list Eliquis, Jardiance, Xarelto, Januvia, Farxiga, Entresto, Enbrel, Imbruvica. Eliquis alone is used by over 3 million people. For my wife, on Medicare, until she reached the Donut Hole the price was about $50 for a 30 day supply of Eliquis. Then it jumped to about $250 as she was partially in the Hole. YIKES! As I understand the billing structure the next month the cost would be about $500. The doctor changed the prescription to Pradaxa and assured us that this alternative would work. BTW The drugs on the list announced Tuesday accounted for $3.4 billion in out-of-pocket costs for Medicare patients last year.

Meanwhile drugmakers and trade associations have filed eight lawsuits challenging the Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare drug price negotiation program. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. makes Eliquis. Their gross profit for the twelve months ending June 30, 2023 was $34.799 Billion.