Nurses General Nursing
Published Dec 9, 2006
h.r.6420 title: to amend the internal revenue code of 1986 to impose an excise tax on certain medical care providers that fail to provide a minimum level of charity medical care, and for other purposes. sponsor: rep thomas, william m. [ca-22] (introduced 12/8/2006) cosponsors (none) latest major action: 12/8/2006 referred to house committee. status: referred to the house committee on ways and means.
title: to amend the internal revenue code of 1986 to impose an excise tax on certain medical care providers that fail to provide a minimum level of charity medical care, and for other purposes.
sponsor: rep thomas, william m. [ca-22] (introduced 12/8/2006) cosponsors (none)
latest major action: 12/8/2006 referred to house committee. status: referred to the house committee on ways and means.
search results - thomas (library of congress)::
the text of the bill has not been published yet, but this looks like one more step towards universal health care. what do you think?
sunnyjohn
2,450 Posts
.... I keep hearing the argument that if you work hard and plan well you will never go hungry or be without insurance but anyone with just the slightest bit of life experience will tell you that it just doesn't work that way. ......
......
:yeahthat: So true.
outcomesfirst, BSN, RN
148 Posts
Oh my goodness yes, I am so spoiled while I sit here in pain from the DDD and DJD in spine and DJD of bilat knees.Cant have needed surgery , no health insurance!!Not enough money for my meds.Need groceries, may have to try to get a ride to the food pantry, since my car got reposessed. Couldnt afford COBRA.Gone BROKE waiting to be approved for Social Security Disability. This thread has evolved into foolish pratter about how spoiled and lucky we are, ask those who are not so lucky right here in this country, see what they have to say, jeesh.
Just curious Ingelein, not trying to disparage you or anything and let me say at the start - I am sorry for your troubles. From other posts you seem intelligent, thoughtful and concerned, so I have just a few questions to try to understand what seems to be a frequent occurrance, especially with nurses. And if you have posted this elsewhere, I don't think I have seen it. So here goes:
When did you find out about your degenerative diseases?
What have you been doing to treat them?
Are you otherwise healthy? Weight, diet, no-smoking, no substance abuse?
Do/Did you have any savings? Retirement? Investments?
Do you have any family support? Are you supporting a family?
Did you work before? How did you lose your job? Can you work now? In the future?
I appreciate the information. Bad things happen to good people. Sharing this information helps everyone to understand. I use to know of an organization that specifically helps nurses. I am going to dig in my files and see if I can find it. Good Luck and best wishes.
blueyesue
566 Posts
I keep hearing the argument that if you work hard and plan well you will never go hungry or be without insurance but anyone with just the slightest bit of life experience will tell you that it just doesn't work that way.
Education and hard work does not guarantee you a problem free life. With respect to you, if you do work hard and plan well, you may run into obstacles, but you have an excellent chance of pulling through. If however you are an able bodied citizen, and choose to be lazy, not further your education, and live off others, you have a higher chance of going hungry and have a much lower chance of "making it." This is common sense.
GardenDove
962 Posts
I don't think basic healthcare should be predicated on one having furthered their educations. Higher education is not a basic responsiblity that a citizen owes society. Some people aren't as intellectually gifted, but still deserve a place in society. We need waitresses, cooks, housekeepers, janitors, 7/11 attendants, etc. We need field workers and gardeners. We're better off if these people have access to healthcare.
Our current system isn't meeting their needs very well. There are huge gaps in healthcare in the United States. Can you believe, now the government is talking about a space station on the moon by 2020, yet your local citizen who works at the 7/11 doesn't have health insurence.
I hear you. I wish we could all have insurance. I don't know, maybe the system of sharing medical costs is the answer. Something similar to this:
When his wife spent a week in Georgetown University Hospital's intensive care unit last year recovering from life-saving brain surgery, Joe Huff never worried about who would pay her $120,000 hospital bill, even though his family has no health insurance.Huff, a 52-year-old Laytonsville, Md. real estate agent, said he trusted that a bill-sharing cooperative of evangelical Christians he joined 10 years ago -- and to which he faithfully mailed a $346 monthly check -- would come through, just as it had when the youngest of the couple's seven children was hospitalized with spinal meningitis two years ago.After a $250 deductible, Huff said, Christian Care Medi-Share paid for everything. "We also got about 20 cards and letters from people saying they were praying for us," he added.Huff and his family are among the 60,000 members of Medi-Share, the largest of a little-known group of nonprofit organizations that market themselves as faith-based alternatives to health insurance.The half-dozen plans, which claim a total membership of more than 120,000 Americans, are especially popular in the South.The appeal of these "church plans," as they are known in the insurance industry, is both economic and religious. Because their monthly cost is roughly half that of conventional health insurance premiums, they appeal to those who find medical insurance difficult or impossible to afford. And because their membership is strictly limited to evangelical Christians certified as regular churchgoers by their pastors, they cater to people opposed to "subsidizing high-risk, sinful lifestyles," in the words of Medi-Share's Web site.
When his wife spent a week in Georgetown University Hospital's intensive care unit last year recovering from life-saving brain surgery, Joe Huff never worried about who would pay her $120,000 hospital bill, even though his family has no health insurance.
Huff, a 52-year-old Laytonsville, Md. real estate agent, said he trusted that a bill-sharing cooperative of evangelical Christians he joined 10 years ago -- and to which he faithfully mailed a $346 monthly check -- would come through, just as it had when the youngest of the couple's seven children was hospitalized with spinal meningitis two years ago.
After a $250 deductible, Huff said, Christian Care Medi-Share paid for everything. "We also got about 20 cards and letters from people saying they were praying for us," he added.
Huff and his family are among the 60,000 members of Medi-Share, the largest of a little-known group of nonprofit organizations that market themselves as faith-based alternatives to health insurance.
The half-dozen plans, which claim a total membership of more than 120,000 Americans, are especially popular in the South.
The appeal of these "church plans," as they are known in the insurance industry, is both economic and religious. Because their monthly cost is roughly half that of conventional health insurance premiums, they appeal to those who find medical insurance difficult or impossible to afford. And because their membership is strictly limited to evangelical Christians certified as regular churchgoers by their pastors, they cater to people opposed to "subsidizing high-risk, sinful lifestyles," in the words of Medi-Share's Web site.
Evangelical Faithful Band Together to Pay Each Others' Medical Expenses | theledger.com
Maybe other groups of people could form something similar. I don't know. Hopefully we will find the answer soon.
To Add: Here is the breakdown of costs:
Medi-Share since 1993 - The Official Site; Affordable, Biblical, Healthcare sharing program.
MultipurposeRN
194 Posts
Forgive me, I haven't read very many posts. In regards to this proposed law, our hospital has a disproportionate share of charity as it is.
CRNAorBust
83 Posts
No matter what this law entails in its details our government is way out of line . We've been bordering on Socialism for a long long time. The common good is not the RIGHT good. When will people realize that you can't do all things for all people. Many people have to do the right things for THEMSELVES. And if they can't and someone can lend them a hand then fine. But once the government starts dictating who when and how those who can't help themselves should be helped that's a HUGE loss of FREEDOM. Helping others at the cost of personal choice is NOT what our founding fathers had in mind.
Just my 02 cents.
Simplepleasures
1,355 Posts
Just curious Ingelein, not trying to disparage you or anything and let me say at the start - I am sorry for your troubles. From other posts you seem intelligent, thoughtful and concerned, so I have just a few questions to try to understand what seems to be a frequent occurrance, especially with nurses. And if you have posted this elsewhere, I don't think I have seen it. So here goes:When did you find out about your degenerative diseases?What have you been doing to treat them?Are you otherwise healthy? Weight, diet, no-smoking, no substance abuse?Do/Did you have any savings? Retirement? Investments?Do you have any family support? Are you supporting a family?Did you work before? How did you lose your job? Can you work now? In the future?I appreciate the information. Bad things happen to good people. Sharing this information helps everyone to understand. I use to know of an organization that specifically helps nurses. I am going to dig in my files and see if I can find it. Good Luck and best wishes.
Was LPN in LTC for 27 years, squeeky clean record, lost my job because I refused to falsify a document, was promptly fired, reported employer before and after firing to the state,am protected by whistleblower law, have case in the court system.
DDD,DJD started in earnest about 5 years before I was fired, progressivly worsened, but was still able to work on my dementia unit as it was less physical than other types of units.
After being fired tried to work two different jobs( I believe they did not even check my references for these jobs, these places were on a "fast track" with the state).Applied to MANY other LTC with dementia units, was not hired( this was very unusual, I had never been turned down for a job in all the 27 years I was a nurse) .I do believe I am blackballed.I tried to stay at the two LTCs ,but could not keep up physically, not comparable to my last job.
I applied for Social Security Disability after getting MRI of spine and Xrays of knees that showed severe damage Have other conditions ,controlled by meds, just found out I now have cataract in good eye, blind in other one. No drugs, no smoking, but am overweight.Free clinic is great but they dont do many procedures due to cost.
Went through meager savings, no investments,no retirement, moved to low income apartment,car repossed,my children supporting me 100%. I was divorced with four children to support, couldnt go back for RN , no time or money, all but one of my kids graduated from college, one is in apprentship.
I sometimes think that maybe I should have caved in, just did what my employers wanted me to do( falsify document),but then I think that this was really a blessing in disguise, it got me out of the LTC dungeons and I was left with my morals intact.I guess alls well that ends well, I hope my story ends well.
pickledpepperRN
4,491 Posts
Bless you ingelein. You deserve the finest care. I believe everyone does but especially a nurse who has cared for countless patients and raised successful children who love you.
I know I am not truly free when Gods children are dying for lack of care. Not saying I have the answer but as a compassionate civilized people we need to work on it.
Fact Sheet: Giving Uninsured Working Families Access to Affordable Health Care
Press Release - Increasing Ranks of Uninsured Working Families Highlights Need for AHPs, Access to Quality Health Care, Republican Leaders Say
Bless you ingelein. You deserve the finest care. I believe everyone does but especially a nurse who has cared for countless patients and raised successful children who love you.I know I am not truly free when Gods children are dying for lack of care. Not saying I have the answer but as a compassionate civilized people we need to work on it.Fact Sheet: Giving Uninsured Working Families Access to Affordable Health CarePress Release - Increasing Ranks of Uninsured Working Families Highlights Need for AHPs, Access to Quality Health Care, Republican Leaders Say
Ingelein, Thank you for sharing your story. I am so sorry for all your trouble! I will pray for you to regain your health and I hope you win your case. I was able to find the information about the organization (it was in a stack of AJN journals (June 2006). The organization is Nurses House and can be found at Nurses House: A National Fund for Nurses in Need - Home Page . Unfortunately, it is dedicated to RNs only ( a result of the original bequest in the 1920's that established the organization) they help RNs nation wide. I urge you to contact them with your situation, I am sure they will be able to guide you. In the mean time, please contact your local university or college. Find out who the dean of the school of nursing is and schedule an appointment with her - be patient, you may have to be flexible with time, or they may ask you to meet with an admission chair or professor. I say university because they have access to all kinds of resources to assist you to continue your education and profession - the key is to get in there, explain your situation and get the help you need. You must continue your education and get your RN, you are far too valuable a resource to lose. You are still a young woman with the power to succeed beyond your dreams! There are many roles begging for your experience and knowledge that will be less physically demanding, where you can make a positive contribution and be rewarded for your efforts! :icon_hug:
Isn't it ironic, if there was universal health care, you might already be on the road to recovery? Hang in there, you can get past these troubles. God Bless!
talaxandra
3,037 Posts
1) I still don't understand how improving the common good disadvantages anyone. As previously discussed, with a government-funded system, the per capita use is less while more poeple are covered.
2) As those if us who have lived with a government-funded sytem have said before, this doesn't equate to the government "dictating who when and how those who can't help themselves should be helped." Those who choose to do so can still have private coverage or choose to pay extra and "go private" for specific procedures etc. And I'm guessing that people who currently have substandard, or even no health care won't feel their rights have been abridged.
