Friday, September 30, 2011

Post from marvhagedorn at CHUMLY

Not sure my comments on recent Healthcare Insurance Exchanges were seen on my Facebook page, so will repost them here:

The issue that brought us to "Obamacare" (aka the ACA bill) was that we can no longer afford to continue on the same path we are on for healthcare, we can't continue to do what we've always done, we need a new process. Prices are going up for care by ~2.5% per year... we (private citizens, employers and states) have run out of room to continue these increases.

Obamacare has changed everything, I believe for the worse as it doesn't focus on cost drivers, as well as included mandates for a Federally approved, or run, Healthcare Insurance Exchange program in each State. A resource that would allow a consumer to "shop" for insurance that would fit their situation is a good idea, think of it like an Orbitz website for airline tickets. That's not a bad idea and would create more competition to provide the best prices for the consumers... that said, the Obamacare bill creates many federal strings within the Healthcare Exchange program for it to be "approved" that cause me grave concern over it's cost to our citizens in the long run. First and foremost, it will add ~100,000 more people on the Idaho's Medicare program at costs in the hundreds of millions in state revenue that we don't have nor can afford. It doesn't resolve the cost component of the delivery of healthcare, yet creates another level of bureaucracy that does not address the problem of availability or quality.

I can see value in a properly set up Healthcare Insurance Exchange, but not as a Federal or State run program and certainly not with the use of funds authorized for grants within the Obamacare bill... not when the Idaho State Legislature and Executive branch were the first in the nation to stand tall in opposition to the ACA bill and elected to sue the feds over its implementation. What kind of message do we send the courts when on one hand we are in a legal battle to overturn the bill, while having our other outstretched hand asking for these grants to implement the Obamacare requirements? (Set forth in an arbitrary timeline within the same bill we are trying to overturn!)

I have been studying this issue for months and now have spent the 7 hours yesterday drinking from a firehose learning about the requirements set forth in the bill and the efforts now underway within the Dept. of Insurance and Dept. of Health and Welfare to meet those requirements. I don't see us focused on the issue of cost, delivery, availability and quality to our citizens, rather an effort to meet deadlines and directives in a bill the majority of us believe to be unconstitutional. In a bill that is now before the Supreme Court where it could be overturned. In a bill that all but one of the current Presidential candidates for the 2012 election have vowed to undo. I have concerns that we are trying to create a silk purse out of a pigs ear by rushing to meet the deadlines within this bill and not building what Idaho needs to meet it's challenges of providing good healthcare for Idahoans in the future. If Healthcare Exchanges are a good thing, then let's see a non-profit, or for-profit, business plan for a self sustaining program that can be taken to a bank that would provide a loan or could be bonded to support... I see the state playing a role in some sort of capacity ensuring all providers are treated equally so to provide a level playing field, but not running this program ourselves.... no, this is something the private sector can do much better than government.

We also need to ask Doctors, hospitals, insurance carriers and all those involved in the process of providing healthcare to "open the kimono" enough so that each can understand the others roadblocks to working together to provide cost effective, quality healthcare available to the vast majority of the public.... while still enabling those businesses providing those services to still make a reasonable profit and serve their communities.

Can it be done?
http://chumly.com/n/c91482

Post from marvhagedorn at CHUMLY

Making great progress in rewriting the Idaho Transportation Access Management plan for our state highways. The old plan is just not working and is impeding economic development. Also attended a very productive meeting between ACHD and Meridian City leaders in discussions regarding critical decision points for the city split corridor construction.
http://chumly.com/n/c8ed4a

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Post from marvhagedorn at CHUMLY

I wished I'd been able to spend more time with this man, he truly is one of my heros: www.militarytimes.com/blogs/broadside/2011/09/29/f...ullen
http://chumly.com/n/c85f04

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Post from marvhagedorn at CHUMLY

Interesting ATV Taskforce meeting at the Capital yesterday, fairly balancing user needs with resources and education of users is key...
http://chumly.com/n/c74191

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Post from marvhagedorn at CHUMLY

"It's not enough just to replace bad leadership, we must replace bad leadership with good leadership" Tea Party Founder Judson Phillips
http://chumly.com/n/c66868

Monday, September 26, 2011

Post from marvhagedorn at CHUMLY

Under the new redistricting agreement, it looks like I will be located in the new Western Ada county and Kuna areas with John V and Russ F!
http://chumly.com/n/c5d2a8

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Post from marvhagedorn at CHUMLY

Great weekend camping at CJ Strike. Too windy to take the boat out, but found a couple fish at the dock!
http://chumly.com/n/c59939

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Post from marvhagedorn at CHUMLY

Attended a good mid-year brief from ACHD then the awards ceremony for the official "End of Chip Seal" season! Good job to all the crews!
http://chumly.com/n/c3db0a

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Post from marvhagedorn at CHUMLY

A lot of interesting tours yesterday on the Southern Legislative tour. Did you know we have a huge poly bag recycle plant in Jerome?
http://chumly.com/n/c29610

Monday, September 19, 2011

Post from marvhagedorn at CHUMLY

Cool tour of Clear Springs Foods last evening. They raise ~7 million lbs of Trout at any one time here in Idaho to ship all over the nation!
http://chumly.com/n/c24422

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Post from marvhagedorn at CHUMLY

Good volunteer/mentor training and then a great "get to know you" potluck with Wyakin Warrior mentors, volunteers and our Warriors today!
http://chumly.com/n/c1f305

Friday, September 16, 2011

Post from marvhagedorn at CHUMLY

Time for Bronco Nation to fire up! Channel 206 on DirecTV (ESPN)
http://chumly.com/n/c16680

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Post from marvhagedorn at CHUMLY

From an old shipmate: "How much coke did charlie sheen do? Enough to kill 2 and a half men." Thanks for the laugh Bob!
http://chumly.com/n/c070d6

Post from marvhagedorn at CHUMLY

Great meetings today with our Wyakin Warrior team. Warriors are in class and we are looking at now opening a Veterans Service Center at BSU!
http://chumly.com/n/c052cf

Monday, September 12, 2011

Post from marvhagedorn at CHUMLY

One measure of leadership is the caliber of people who choose to follow you. ~ Dennis Peer
http://chumly.com/n/bf2b60

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Post from marvhagedorn at CHUMLY

What a great ceremony at the Idaho Veteran's Memorial today. 54 Idahoans have given their lives since 9-11-01 in service to all of us, remembering them and those that continue to protect our way of life is the least we can do...
http://chumly.com/n/be8d0d

Friday, September 9, 2011

Post from marvhagedorn at CHUMLY

JFAC August Report:


http://chumly.com/n/bd7beb

Post from marvhagedorn at CHUMLY

Some great meetings yesterday, in particular our efforts on Veteran and Idaho suicide/crisis hotlines. We are making some great progress!
http://chumly.com/n/bd7318

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Post from marvhagedorn at CHUMLY

August state revenues missed projections by $8.7m (4.4% short).


http://chumly.com/n/bd50a0

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Post from marvhagedorn at CHUMLY

US Debt visualized, this should scare all of us! usdebt.kleptocracy.us
http://chumly.com/n/bcb1c1

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Post from marvhagedorn at CHUMLY

Wonderful service for Kevin Orr of Kuna, saw lots of my old AMAT friends. We were a big family "back in the day". Rest well my friend...
http://chumly.com/n/bc4ed0

Monday, September 5, 2011

Post from marvhagedorn at CHUMLY

Spent a great weekend in Cascade topped by a dinner with our friend Ken Roberts on Saturday. He is one busy fella!
http://chumly.com/n/bbe669

Friday, September 2, 2011

Post from marvhagedorn at CHUMLY

Kevin and I worked together for many years, we were good friends. He was a good man... in God's hands now. www.idahostatesman.com/2011/09/01/1782606/fatal-cr....html
http://chumly.com/n/baa85b