A Reading Labor Day Weekend

I read two John Grisham books over the weekend. The first, "The Associate," an intriguing novel about the workings of some of the biggest firms in the U.S. Not a pretty sight. The twists and turns of the story caught my attention so much, I could hardly put the book down. A worthy read!

The second was The Summons." This is an interesting novel about the workings of families and highlighted the nuances of the practice of law in the State of Mississippi, many details of which I didn't know. Plus arson, burglary and murder to round out the law details with an unexpected ending. Also, a worthy read!

How was your weekend?

Fickle Favre At It Again

The NFL reports Favre is on his way to the Twin Cities again. Glad he's Minnesota's problem and very glad the Packers have a superior quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, rather than the fickle, capricious, narcissistic prima donna like Brett Favre. Minnesota can have him. How can they plan for games without knowing who the team leader is until mid-August or later?

Alan

Have a Pet in Your Life

During the past 41 years of our marriage, Diane and I have had six outstanding cats. Most of them were "saved," or came out of the woods at our Town of Delafield home. Each one, in his or her own way, substantially enriched our lives.

Right around Valentine's Day this year, I had a meeting at the Wisconsin Humane Society in Milwaukee where I am a volunteer. I was a few minutes early and still feeling bad about the death of our 17 year old cat, Arnie, who died of heart failure around Christmas. Any of you who have experienced a death of a trusted pet, know how hard it is to get over it.

I wandered into the Cat Condo area of the Humane Society and came across Oliver. Oliver was about six months old and surrendered by a woman who had health issues and could no longer take care of him. He picked up his right paw as to say, "Hey, you. Take me home." I fell for it and asked staff to put a "hold" on him until Diane could meet him. She came in with me the next day and then decided to go through the adoption process which was thorough and seamless. The rest is history.

He has been an outstanding pet and addition to our household. Since the death of Arnie, we thought we'd wait a year or so about getting another cat. Oliver was born a year ago today near Wautoma, WI. He was transfered from the local Humane Society to the Wisconsin Humane Society in Milwaukee where he was adopted by his first owner.

He has brought countless hours of fun, love and entertainment into our lives. He is celebrating his first birthday with us today. Nothing out of the ordinary is planned for today. Everyday is a celebration to have him in our lives.

If you don't have a pet, I'd highly recommend your get one...and the Wisconsin Humane Society is a great place to start.

Alan

Thoughts on February 25 Health Care Summit

Thoughts on February 25 Health Care Summit

On February 25th, our country will have a great opportunity to improve the way health care is delivered in America. Under the glare of bright lights with cameras rolling in realtime, Washingtoncrats of all stripes will have an opportunity to vastly improve the ways we obtain and pay for health care.

Re-reading my August 20 blog on this subject, http://alangaudynski.blogspot.com/2009_08_01_archive.html, has many of the points which could be addressed at the upcoming summit.

I think success could be achieved if they agree to discuss three or four points, and then go to address the others in future sessions of Congress.

In addition to reviewing the 12 points in my plan and others, the Congress would do well to send a bipartisan panel to study the Swiss Health Plan.

Their plan is completely private, with 99 percent of the population covered, with over 240 approved competing plans to choose from, with excellent outcomes, using only 11 percent of that country's gross national product (GNP), compared to our 17-18 percent.

Here is a review of my 12 points:

1. Tort reform. Make lawsuits more realistic. To reduce or stop frivilous lawsuits, make the plaintiffs and their attorneys pay all legal fees and expenses if they lose.

2. Set national, not state standards for health insurance.

3. Open purchasing of health insurance to approved plans in any states.

This would reduce mandated benefits and allow purchasers the power to purchase the type of coverage they want.

4. Re-institute community/age rating. This would put pressure on providers to keep charges lower and improve outcomes.

5. Remove the pre-existing condition provision and include the risk in the community/age rating system.

6. Develop a better triage system in our hospitals so people with no or dimished insurance do not seek primary care from and emergency room,

but from a companion urgent care clinic.

7. Providers could send charges for illegal immigrant care to the State Department which would pay the providers out of the foreign aid given to the immigrants' country of origination. (Controversial, but current system is bankrupting many of our hospitals).

8. Develop a better tax incentive program which encourages 100 percent compliance of the purchase of health insurance.

9. Develop premium lowering incentives for people who really improve their own health.

10. Develop an easily transportable, confidential, electronic medical record sytem.

11. Every adult should have to declare their advanced directives as a condition of coverage, with the option of changing them annually.

12. Take personal responsibility for maintaining and improving your own health.

This is a great opportunity to pu partisanship aside and take three or four baby steps to begin the reform process, rather than blow up what we have and start from scratch.