Utah Death Squad

You may be tired of me harping on this, but it’s important. It’s important because people are being killed. People are dying.
The GOP members of the Utah Legislature continue to “do business” behind closed doors, regarding Medicaid in our state. They do a lot of business this way, maybe so they can sequester themselves against the actual will of the citizens, as they are wont to do. Alos, the vote is secret, so unless your legislator discloses this/her vote, you won’t know if they are representing our wishes, as they are elected to do.
Once again, they were unable to unite on a partial Medicaid expansion plan, having rejected the generous full expansion plan offered by the Federal Government through the Affordable Care Act (ACA),over two years ago. Two plans proposed by Gov. Gary Herbert have failed to gain the support of his own political party.
Depending upon who you believe (Speaker Hughes or Rep. King), Utah taxpayer money has been lost to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.
That’s what they always discuss when addressing this, and other social service issues: What’s it gonna cost?” Every time the state and federal governments want to cut costs, it is to the detriment of the elderly, poor, and disabled. Rarely do we hear of the individuals, the people, the families, that are ion need and suffering because they make too little, but just enough to not be eligible for Medicaid help. Legislative decisions have human consequences.
Please. This is about people. Sick people. People in pain & distress. People who are dying. Can’t you remove the dollar signs from your eyes long enough to see that?
Governor, Speaker Hughes, those who voted against and the dozens who refuse to disclose their vote: PLEASE! Admit your mistake and take the federal ACA deal. The crosses planted yesterday on the south lawn of the capitol show you how many people have died waiting for insurance coverage they can afford. Your continued resistance to helping the poor and needy of Utah will cause more deaths. You are the Utah Death Squad.

One big obstacle to healthcare access, perhaps the biggest, is insurance companies. I was recently denied an MRI ordered by my neurologist. Once I complete 4 weeks of physical therapy, they may reconsider if there is no improvement. (I have already undergone physical therapy for the problems I’m experiencing, but my insurance co. doesn’t know that because they were not my provider at the time.) Medicaid/Medicare gets billed for those visits, and then will get billed for the MRI. Great money making scheme,  Arches (not my insurance co.) is increasing some of their insurance premiums by 300%! This is according to KUTV’s feature, “Get Gephardt.” 
Well, I guess we get what we deserve in a capitalist society that turned medical care into a business rather than the social service it ought to be.
Contact your legislators. Ask how they voted on full Medicaid expansion, Healthy Utah, and Healthy Access Plus. Ask that they support full expansion. Let your voice be heard. Most of them, sadly not all, will listen and reply.
Stay well
---RGR
RGR on Facebook 
More on this blog’s topic:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/state-medicaid-report-kaiser
http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/7374-
http://kutv.com/news/local/rehab-instead-of-prison-will-be-difficult-after-utah-rejects-medicaid-expansion
http://www.sltrib.com/home/3088326-155/advocates-keep-up-pressure-for-medicaid

Technorati Tags: Rio Grande Reporteport,homelessness,Medicaid,heath care,medical care,medical insurance,Utah,Salt Lake City,Utah Legislature,Governor Gary Herbert,Speaker Greg Hughes,poverty,Affordable Care Act

Photo credit: Salt Lake Tribune
Cartoon by Pat Bagley

"My Kind Of America" With Jack Black

As politicians insist upon copyright infringement of incensed artists...

A bit of humor from Jack Black and Stephen Colbert on The Late Show.

Access Denied

Yesterday, in a closed door vote (again) Utah Governor Gary Herbert’s new Medicaid Expansion plan, Healthy Access, was defeated by a 56-7 vote.

Our governor, and our legislators, and the dominant Utah GOP keep saying that they want all people of Utah to have health care, but three years after the Affordable Care Act (ACA), our state still hasn’t been able to come up with an alternative to proposed full expansion offered by our federal; government. Millions upon millions of dollars, Utah tax money, has gone to states which did expand under ACA.
Why can’t the dominant party even approve the plans they put forth? Why are poor working Utahans still without basic insurance?
Early in the argument whether to take the federal option, one argument against was that Utah already had plenty of charitable organizations to pick up the slack, or as the phrase has been coined, “Cover the Gap.” The largest organizations mentioned were churches, along with some other service providers. So it seems the legislature and leadership of Utah don’t believe it is the job of government to care for its people. It is the job of churches and charities.
Exactly who do they think has been taking up the slack in the past? Providing medical treatment and drugs for the homeless, indigent, poverty stricken, and the working poor is an expensive endeavor, and most service providers are strapped for cash to run essential programs as it is. Most of these orgs are volunteer oriented, that is to say most workers don’t receive a dime for their work. Any added burden to these efforts would be difficult.
Governor, I would love to live in a world where, because everyone realises their duty to their fellow people, and so everyone is taken care of. We could. But we don't. So we have government programs for that.
And the last time I sought help from the dominant religion through the SLC Ninth Ward, I ended up on the street again, so I suggest caution, unless you have no problem with converting to the dominant religion. Besides, the UT GOP aren’t finished thumbing their nose at our president yet.

Latest news reports say the issue is tabled until the 2016 Legislative Session. Meanwhile, people wait, grow sicker, and die.
That there is even a question about healthcare access being granted to all citizens surprises me in such a “moral” environment.
In other news, those of us (such as myself) who depend upon Social Security Income of some kind, will get no cost-of-living increase in January. Major reason cited? Low gas prices. How many people living on social security income/disability even have the means to owns a car?
So, as wars rage on (President will not pull Afghanistan troops now as promised) and prices of everything go up, the elderly, poor, and disabled get screwed. The rich, and corporations, continue to run The USofA, and our leaders at all levels give us the finger.
Election next year. Vote wisely.
Political cartoons by Pat Bagley.
Meeting at SLC Public Library tonight:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1069177716425871/
Click the links to READ MORE:
http://kutv.com/news/local/republican-caucus-votes-56-7-not-to-expand-medicaid-in-utah
http://fox13now.com/2015/10/14/utah-lawmakers-agree-to-revisit-medicaid-expansion-alternatives-in-2016-legislative-session/
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Technorati Tags: Rio Grande Report,blog,Salt Lake City,Utah,health care,Utah legislature,medicaid expansion,Affordable Care Act,Healthy Utah,Healthy Access