....the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found an odd feature in the 230-page bill: Coverage would be more expensive for older people and folks who are sick.
And it would not bar insurers from excluding preexisting conditions....
...."Some provisions of the legislation would tend to decrease the premiums paid by all insurance enrollees, while other provisions would tend to increase the premiums paid by less healthy enrollees," the CBO analysis says....
In an effort to bring attention to their bill, Republicans in Congress held a rally with teabaggers, rounded up by Michele Bachmann. The most serious part of yesterday's demonstration on the announcement of the Republican bill was that the GOP has aligned itself with right wing loon, Rep. Michele Bachmann and the teabaggers. Bachmann was recently called "captain crazy" by another Republican lawmaker, according to a story at Raw Story.
>>> It looks like Republican candidates in Ohio are courting Republicans. Although to win, Republican candidates need to have Republicans, Democrats, and Independents vote for them. However, with some Republican candidates showing up at teabagger meetings, they seem to be playing to the far right of their own party. This strategy could backfire.
**** In a vote yesterday, Roll Call Vote 863, some members of the House voted against a bill to help in the diagnosis of cancers and serious diseases. In a recent posting at SNM.org, scientists and doctors ask for support for this bill:
SNM is asking members to contact their Member of Congress to urge them to cosponsor the American Medical Isotope Production Act of 2009 (H.R.3276), recently introduced by Congressman Edward Markey (D-MA).
The recent supply interruptions of Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) from foreign vendors and the lack of a reliable supplier of Mo-99 in the United States is severely affecting patient access to safe and effective medical treatment. The supply of Mo-99 is essential to medical imaging as Technetium-99m (Tc-99m), the radioactive ingredient required for imaging, is made from Mo-99 as it decays. Patients rely on imaging for early detection of cancer, heart disease, stroke or debilitating neurological conditions. The Mo-99 shortage is putting patients' lives are at risk as numerous nuclear medicine professionals across the country are forced to delay or cancel imaging procedures.....
However, some lawmakers voted against the bill. Apparently, these lawmakers don't care about seriously ill patients.
Clerk of the House:
HR 3276---
QUESTION: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended
BILL TITLE: American Medical Isotopes Production Act of 2009
400 YEAS, 17 NAYS
Here are the 17 NAYs from the House of Representatives (all Republicans):
Broun (GA)
Campbell
Chaffetz
Conaway
Flake
Hensarling
Jordan (OH)
Kingston
Lamborn
Paul
Pence
Poe (TX)
Rooney
Royce
Sensenbrenner
Shadegg
Westmoreland
These 17 Republicans should be ashamed of themselves for trying to slow down the medical diagnostic process. How dare they vote against a bill to help patients get immediate help for life threatening problems?