Palin unveils health priorities
Published Thursday, December 4, 2008
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Stumble It!ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Gov. Sarah Palin has unveiled plans she says are aimed at improving the health and well-being of Alaskans.
Among goals announced Thursday is the creation of a commission to address availability and quality of health care across a state burdened by high medical costs because of its isolation and small population. There are no HMOs here or other significant managed health care that hold down prices in other states.
Palin said Thursday that Alaskans also must take personal responsibility for their level of health wherever they can, and not look to government to make them healthy. Before announcing her package of proposals Thursday, she noted that government is not the sole answer.
"There is no silver bullet," she said. "If there was a silver bullet defining and meeting the challenges in these areas, then other states, too, wouldn't be facing the challenges that Alaska faces. No state has that silver bullet."
Among goals are a $2 million pilot preschool program and development of a Web site effort called "Live Well Alaska" to offer suggestions in such health-related areas as diet and exercise as well as tips to quit smoking.
The preschool program will "help prepare our young students, some presently quite ill-equipped and prepared for K-12 education," Palin said. "It will help them intellectually, physically and socially be ready for K-12."
Other goals include spending $250,000 toward better access and screening and diagnosis of disorders such as autism and fund obesity prevention programs.
Palin said she also will support expanding eligibility for Denali KidCare, a state health insurance program for underprivileged children and pregnant women.
The program, funded by federal and state money, would be available for families making up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level instead of the current 175 percent. The higher level would be a return to the eligibility ceiling implemented by an earlier administration.
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THAT'S IT????? Another commission? Just another stall tactic to avoid actually doing something. How long must we "study" the fact that there isn't adequate care and the costs are too high? It's time to do something about it. PERIOD. The only thing positive about this report is extending Denali KidCare with more reasonable eligibility requirements. Throw away 500 mil on spec but don't fund programs that just might keep people alive. Way to go.
Exercise and Diet there is no magic bullet. Do not smoke and moderate other bad habits. If you are too lazy to take care of yourself then maybe you should not burden the rest of us.
Pat
Pat: I agree people must do their best to stay healthy. But, cancer does not care if you are fit or failing. There are so many diseases that are not tied to just obesity. Would you turn your back on a parent with small children that contracts lukemia? Just let them die because you don't want to help pay for it? If that's your true attitude, I feel sorry for you.
The idea to increase the funding for Denali Kid care is a good one. I'm not sure about the emphasis on preschool or the need for yet another commission, which costs tens of thousands of dollars for what?
Palin said she also will support expanding eligibility for Denali KidCare, a state health insurance program for underprivileged children and pregnant women.
OK, I have to say something. The state pays out alot on Denali KidCare. They could save buttloads of money if they eliminate all the children and pregnant women that are already covered 100% by the Federal Government. If they get Denali KidCare, Then Denali KidCare pays 100% to the Native Clinic. This program should only be for people who do not have insurance, or who are under-insured and meet the financial part of it. I have children who are Native, I had to fight with CAIHC because they were trying to force me to apply for it. They said they would do it for me and I said no you won't. My children also have health insurance through IBEW. I know a woman who's son has CAIHC plus Aetna plus his fathers insurance plus Denali KidCare. Excuse me, but is there something wrong with this picture? I know people who do not have insurance, they make to much to get help and not enough to make it. They cannot get Denali KidCare for their children. The whole system needs fixed.
My nephew had lukemia, he past away at the age of 10, had it not been for St. Judes he wouldn't had made it that far.
So... instead of looking at the outlandish prices for health care in Alaska, pass a bill that gives the money to pay the unreasonable prices for care of children and let the parent die... Sounds like it will create a lot of parentless children.
We need to push the governor and demand that quality health care is provided at a reasonable cost. For example, here in the Interior we have allowed a monopoly to drive up the cost so much that even those with insurance can't afford it. How many people have to die from mistakes and lack of care before we realize that disease and injuries can impact anyone, even the physically fit people who think they are immune. All it takes is a knee injury for you to face $50k or more in hospital bills for a surgery that may or may not help.
mcfox--you said it.
So what do you suggest as a solution? Should health care be nationalized or should free market competition be promoted. Less regulation, or more?
roadie - whatever it takes to make sure that no one who really needs health care is denied it.
Sadly, this will probably entail more regulation. Then again, a health insurance industry based on free market competition hasn't been helping out me, or anyone else I know. Too many people I know, myself included, when we get sick, calling for a doctor's appointment is the *very* last resort. Like, unless I'm on my deathbed, I'll just call in sick to work for a few days, get some over-the-counter medicine, and cross my fingers. A doctor's appointment??? Are you kidding me??? Way, wayyyy too expensive. And I *have* health insurance. I can only imagine the same scenario for people who don't.
Angryalaskan, you make some very valid points. They need to close some of the loopholes in Denali Kid Care. I know a family that makes well over $100,000 a year that qualifies because they don't count a step-parent's income. We have a lot of state programs that have such loopholes. Parents who adopt or have foster children are allowed to take state-paid out-of-state vacations for each child plus parents, once a year! Those benefiting from government-funded programs should not enjoy luxuries that the average working person cannot afford.
On the other hand, those low-income adults who legitimately qualify for Medicaid (Denali Kid Care is part of the Medicaid program) have a very hard time finding providers in Fairbanks (and probably elsewhere too) who accept Medicaid. The same is apparently true of Medicare.
There is too much inequity in our government programs, and not enough accountability as to how the money is being spent.
We should fix the programs we have before we start worrying about starting new ones.
I have medicaid and insurance thru my work, and I can say that without either I wouldn't be able to goto docs. As is I cant afford my medication, even after co-pays. I have cancer in remission, heart issues and thyroid/hormonal issues. I am 23. My big problem is that I now need to see a specialist, and there aren't any within the state. I don't think my insurance is going to pay for this, so I am effectively ##$$%% unless I can buy a plane ticket and take a trip on my own dime to see a doc who, I pray, can help me. All too often docs aren't able to though, so I have been trying to learn and guide my family doc... but that almost got me killed. I am scared. I may have to move out of alaska not for financial reasons, but because I cannot find adequate health care up here.
Agreed, we should take responsibility for our personal health (eating well, losing weight), but we also need to take responsibility for our healthcare system. Because you can be the healthiest person ever and still get cancer, still get in a car accident, still get pneumonia.
Alaskans have done a lousy job creating a good healthcare system. You can't easily see a doctor anymore, it's an NP or PA. Why? It's cheaper. And while these people are important and helpful, they don't replace MD's. A lot of us get stuck with large bills for simple things, even when we have insurance. Why? Because unlike in other places where the gaps in health insurance are filled by programs that ask a large number of people to pay a small amount into the system in return for improved coverage, Alaska's "system" is simply market based.
We shouldn't complain about our system, because we created it. If you want change, advocate to attract more physicians to Alaska, set aside some money to pay for healthcare in a way that makes sense, and realize that you get what you pay for. Otherwise, keep rejecting state sponsored healthcare reforms and regulation of the insurance companies, and please don't complain when your NP sends you to Anchorage to see a specialist for every little ailment, and your insurance doesn't cover you because the tumor has been there for 3 years and is therefore a pre-existing condition.
No silver bullet? Man, what are we going to do about these werewolves? :(
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