O.T.: Will We Ever Have Health Police?

[SaltLakeJan]

We probably will get some form of President Obama's Health Care. What form will it take, how much is it going to cost us, and what will the costs do to our country fiscal deficit? If we have a few extra pounds (or more) will we have to lose weight to keep our health insurance? Will we have to declare if we eliminate "junk foods" or do we exercise on a regular basis?

The President statement regarding obesity:"IT'S NOT WORTH THE WEIGHT: OBESITY'S TOLL ON US BUDGET"

-- As President Obama moves to overhaul the health-care system, he reveals reveals that fat Americans are taking a super-sized bite out of the nation's budget. A crisis in obesity is placing a heavy burden on the nation's health costs, with annual medical spending on an obese person $1,400 higher than on someone of normal weight, according to a new study published in Health Affairs. "Unless you address obesity, you're never going to address rising health-care...N.Y. Post 8-29-2009"

The pending Senate Health committee has included a section to develop standards for the measurements of males and females.

"“The purpose of this section is to determine the best way to collect data on health outcomes, broken down amongst women and men, not to define gender,”HZ Spokesman Nicholas Pappas responded. “Collecting this type of information helps us to more fully and accurately measure the health status of different populations and identify any disparities.”

So, are we going to have to report to a Health Policeman to determine if our measurements meets those approved by the committee? What else will we have to do to "Measure Up" This committee has already determined the normal body mass index BMI range is 18.5 to 24.9.

Everyone of us who has extra pounds would like to lose them, but it is not easy. We all would like to improve our health, & we prove it on a daily basis by our dedicated use of cpap

We do have a clue of how the seniors will be treated under the ravaged Medicare. Using the prioritized list of those who will receive the flu vaccine (if there is a shortage). First to Pregnant women. Next to health care workers. Then people caring for infants under six months of age. Followed by children & young adults to 24 years of age. The next to receive the vaccine are people aged 24 to 65 years of age with underlying health conditions.

There is no mention of people over the age of 64, getting the vaccine with or without medical conditions. It was noted that the omission is in line with Obama's administrative plan to "minimize" health care for the elderly. I started Medicare this year, I do not feel elderly, My grandma lived to almost 100 years of age. Her Mother died at 101. I have the potential to live as long as they have . . . if I get medical care when I need it.

Obama's 49th birthday is this week, he is 16 years younger than me. However, he will get privileged care when he is 65 . . . care that he plans to withold from us. Do you think if we had truly Universal Health care - one plan for all citizens, with no exceptions, that Obama would be willing to be treated as he is treating us?

From what I read the health coverage will require that we meet specified health standards. Does this include "not smoking," "exercise", "proper weight"? I don't have a clue?

If we wind up with Obama's health plan, what do you think will be included? And, what will it cost this country, the estimated cost is a triillion dollars, borrowed dollars. This amount added to our present deficit is frightening.

Jan

[Wulfman]

Jan,

I think in various ways we already HAVE this.......mainly enforced through insurance company data, defined by their actuarial accountants and statisticians......and the medical files that are kept by the physicians and hospitals.

Maybe they'll come up with another "Czar" position for this. (if they don't already)

I'm more concerned about the direction this country is going......FINANCIALLY.


Den

[Goofproof]

As usual, I'm sure the House and Senate, will have their own separate healthcare standards and benefits. Jim

[SaltLakeJan]

Den wrote:

I think in various ways we already HAVE this.......mainly enforced through insurance company data, defined by their actuarial accountants and statisticians......and the medical files that are kept by the physicians and hospitals.

Den, I do to agree with your concept, but I believe it will be "Policed" in ways that are totally unknown in the USA.

I'm more concerned about the direction this country is going......FINANCIALLY.

Because of your post I edited my thread to include the prime part of proposed Health Care. . . The debt that our great-grandchildren will be struggling to pay. It could well bring the fiscal collapse of this nation.

Thanks, Jan

[Julie]

The reason for the prioritized list of who gets flu shots is because this H1N1 flu, unlike previous strains, attacks young people before older ones, and pregnant women are at risk as the disease is very hard on them. It has NOTHING to do with whatever kind of health care you have or not!

[DreamStalker]

We lost our 4th amendment rights during the last administration so as Den said .... it is already too late to stop the government snoop police.

Allowing the health insurance industry to continue to profit by keeping us sick is obviously NOT working.

Scaring people into keeping the status quo by fabricating future health policies that clearly do not exist does not help either.

Perhaps if people would give their solutions to the problem rather than scaring people from coming up with solutions would improve the situation.

As for national debt ... where were all the fiscal conservatives when we were racking up the debt so we could play with smart bombs and bunker busters destroying and rebuilding Muslim nations? Where were they when they were giving tax cuts and bailouts to banking and wall street ceos? Where were they when they were voting for all of their ear marks?

[Slinky As A Guest]

Amen, DreamStalker, where in the h*ll WERE they?? Talk about two -faced ..... !!!!!

And just as an aside, since when did we become historic Russian and developed a need for "czars"??? Who the heck came up w/that term for an American government position?? The first American "czar" was the "drug czar" wasn't it? Snort.

[SaltLakeJan]

hI Jim
Our Senators and Representatives will be going back to their home territories during August. It would be interesting to watch them squirm if they are asked why they have a better health plan than they are planning for the people.
Jan

[DreamStalker]

hI Jim
Our Senators and Representatives will be going back to their home territories during August. It would be interesting to watch them squirm if they are asked why they have a better health plan than they are planning for the people.
Jan

The reason they have a better health plan is because it is payed for with tax dollars by tax payers ... sounds kind'a socialistic

[SaltLakeJan]

Julie:
I got my information on the affect of Swine Flu on those over 65 from the Centers of Disease Control.

"CDC is issuing updated interim guidance daily in response to the rapidly evolving situation. This includes updated interim guidance for clinicians on how to identify and care for people who are sick with novel H1N1 flu now that more widespread illness has been detected in the United States. CDC recommends that testing and antiviral treatment be prioritized for those with severe respiratory illness and those at highest risk of complications from seasonal influenza. This includes children younger than 5 years old, pregnant women, people with chronic medical conditions and weakened immune systems, and people 65 years and older"

Jan

[DreamStalker]

That is because everyone knows that if we let those over 65 die off ... that will fix the looming national debt problem ... Soylent Green comes to town.

Why raise taxes when we can just recycle the old retired farts who no longer contribute to the economy and drain our resources. Now that is an innovative health plan.

[6PtStar]

Well since I fall into that "Old Retired Fart" catagory i'm glad I got my heart rebuild before National Health Plan because I am definately not young enough to be worth the cost to the goverment even if I did pay my way into the system for 40 years!!

Jerry

[midnightdweary]

The answer to the original question, in my opinion, is yes. However, it will be sometime into the future, say 8 or 10 years.
As I have alluded to before, it is because of the rapid progress of genetics, and because of the progress of mapping the humane genome. Instead of me trying to explain it, here is a very good article of the probable future.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/204227

The big word now, and the one you will hear more of is "personalized medicine". But this is not necessarily a negative thing.
For instance, suppose it could be found out that one's DNA could predict the likelihood of developing OSA (especially central).
Would it not be wise to have some sort of advisory board to coax those persons to take some preventive precautions. By that time, perhaps some inplant, such as the Inspire II device will be available, which triggers the hypoglassal nerve to respond to allow a person with to breathe during an apnea event.

Also, think of the well-over 10 million or persons with OSA who are still undiagnosed and the untold millions of dollars now spend because of lost hours of work, accidents because of sleep related incidents, premature deaths, etc. I realize that the ethical aspects of this are mind-boggling, but its probably a certainty down the road sometime. That is, the genetic structure of people placed into a bank of data somewhere, so the appropriate measures could be taken.

Its interesting to think about, but also somewhat scary.
I probably won't be around then. (I'm 70, and still working)

[alnhwrd]

What happens when bureaucrats are in charge of health care decisions.

http://www.katu.com/news/specialreports/26119539.html

Its not a scare tactic if its the truth.

[DreamStalker]

What happens when bureaucrats are in charge of health care decisions.

http://www.katu.com/news/specialreports/26119539.html

Its not a scare tactic if its the truth.

They already are in charge. Read the link you just posted.

It doesn't matter if they are government bureaucrats or private insurance bureaucrats ... when there are profits to be made or limited finite resources to go around, not everyone gets to live forever.

So the question should be what happens when a private insurance bean counter decides you are not profitable to keep alive and what happens when a non-profit government bean counter decides there are not enough resources? Which bean counter offers the most life to the most living? Because I (like most people I know) am not wealthy, I will always rate low on the for profit bean counter's mind ... therefore, I would place my bet on the not for profit bean counter.