The federal government in general and the Obama administration in particular has been fond of health care legislation. Right after taking office, President Barack Obama signed the Stimulus Bill which included the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health / HITECH Act, which mandated electronic medical records.
Then in 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) health care legislation was signed into law. ACA, also known as health care reform or Obamacare has caused a .lot of controversy including calls for repeal and Supreme Court review.
So what Health Care Legislation is Next?
Then there is the friendly pseudo government group: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC falls under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The CDC focuses on disease prevention and control (especially infectious diseases and food borne pathogens and other microbial infections), environmental health, occupational safety and health, health promotion, injury prevention and education. And their reach extends globally, outside the United States.
Now the CDC is after the baby boomers
QUOTE
ATLANTA — With “baby boomers” believed to account for 75% of the hepatitis C infected population in the U.S. — the CDC is recommending that everyone ages 47 to 67 be tested for infection.
The CDC estimates that some two million Americans born from 1945 to 1965 are infected with HCV — that’s about 3% of the boomer generation. But because many years usually elapse before noticeable symptoms develop, most don’t know they are infected.
The CDC said one-time HCV testing of all “baby boomers” “could identify more than 800,000 additional people with hepatitis C, prevent the costly consequences of liver cancer and other chronic liver diseases, and save more than 120,000 lives.”
“CDC believes this approach will address the largely preventable consequences of this disease, especially in light of newly available therapies that can cure up to 75% of infections,” the agency said in a statement issued Friday.
Most boomers do not have the risk factors that, until now, the CDC had used as the basis for testing recommendations. Those risk factors include use of illegal injected drugs, receiving blood products or organ transplants before HCV testing became routine, known exposures to HCV, presence of hepatitis symptoms, and all patients with HIV.
Infection with HCV often leads to liver cancer. However, the recent introduction of HCV protease inhibitors, including telaprevir (Incivek) and boceprevir (Victrelis), has made the disease more manageable, possibly even curable.
The recommendation will be open for public comment from May 22 to June 8, after which the CDC will release a final version.
The CDC also set Saturday, May 19, as “National Hepatitis Testing Day,” and announced that it would make a total of $6.5 million in grants to make testing available to specific populations including Asian-American Pacific Islander communities (which have high rates of hepatitis B infection) and injection drug users, as well as members of the “boomer” generation.
Do you have an opinion on Hepatitis testing?
If you have an opinion about the CDC requiring Hepatitis C testing, you have until June 8 to speak up. Visit http://www.regulations.gov/#!home and search for “CDC-2012-0005-0001”
The CDC only makes recommendations. But it is a government agency. Is more health care legislation coming?
Got concerns about your heart?
There’s a solution you may not have heard of…
External Counter Pulsation (ECP) Machine
A non-invasive, non-surgical heart disease treatment therapy.
If your doctor is not offering ECP technology,
Send your doctor to
The United States is in trouble – economically and one could argue politically as well. The U.S. Congress is a wonderful legislative system, in theory. But. politics has become a dirty word. The political news would suggest that the system has gone awry. Regardless of political party, both Republicans and Democrats seem to be more focused on business of politics and being re-elected than they are on the best of doing what’s best for the country. Now the political campaigns are underway. Incumbent candidates are trying to convince the American people that the public’s interests and needs and wants have been served. And of course, that they will do better next time.
A Sustainable Future?
I love my country. Despite the negative political news, the United States government has lots of pluses. I want myself and all other Americans to survive and thrive. What’ the best way of having a sustainable future for the United States? Recycle!
Consider the idea of replacing them all and starting fresh.
For years I thought about starting a business, but couldn’t come up with any good business ideas. Now that many people in the United States are out of work, a hot topics are home based business and startup business ideas.
Statistics say that children today will probably work in jobs that have not even been created yet. The world is changing fast.
Well, an oldie and goodie for some in the over 50 crowd is marijuana. Not necessarily selling pot or growing weed – just plain old smoking it. But where’s the money in marijuana?
Did you know about the shortcomings and defects of the following biblical characters?
Abraham was too old Isaac was a daydreamer Jacob was a liar Joseph was abused Noah was a drunk Moses was a stutterer Samson had long hair and was a womanizer Gideon was afraid Jonah ran from God Leah was ugly Rehab was a prostitute Naomi was a widow John the Baptist ate bugs Martha worried too much Timothy had an ulcer Peter denied JESUS And Lazarus was dead!
Bible references are from June 20, 2010 Father’s Day address
by George C. Fraser, Chairman & CEO of FraserNet, Inc.
(I may have missed some of them, but you can
contact Hillside International Truth Center
to order the CD or DVD of George Fraser’s
entire talk / sermon.)
The United States has immigration laws. Many, if not most American support developing a strategy for stopping the flood of illegal immigrants. Americans have been calling for immigration reform. Unless you’ve been in a cave, you’ve heard the news that Arizona has a new immigration law. It seems to do the same as thing as the US Federal immigration law. But there are protest against the Arizona law.
Is there a reason to protest?
Check out this very clever email I received.
(It’s got the chain letter nonsense at the end of it (which I hate,
but decided to publish the ending as is.)
Does it accurately explain the mentality of the protestors?
Recently large demonstrations have taken place across the country protesting the fact that Arizona is addressing the issue of illegal immigration.
Certain people are angry
that the US might protect its own borders, might make it harder to sneak into
this country and, once here, to stay indefinitely.
Let me see if I correctly
understand the thinking behind these protests. Let’s say I break into your house. Let’s say that when you discover me in your house, you insist that I leave.
But I say,
‘No! I like it here. It’s better than my house. I’ve made all the beds and washed the dishes and did the laundry and swept the floors. I’ve done all the things you don’t like to do. I’m hard-working and honest (except for when I broke into your house).
According to the protesters:
You are Requiredto let me stay in your house.
You are Requiredto feed me.
You are Requiredto add me to your family’s insurance plan.
You are Requiredto educate my kids.
You are Requiredto provide other benefits to me & to my family.
(My husband will do all of your yard work because he is also
hard-working and honest, except for that breaking in part).
If you try to call the
police or force me out, I will call my friends who will picket your house carrying signs that proclaim my RIGHTto be there.
It’s only fair, after all, because you have a nicer house than I do, and I’m just trying to better myself. I’m a hard-working and honest, person, except for well, you know, I did break into your house and what a deal it is for me!!!
I live in your house, contributing only a fraction of the cost of my keep, and there is nothing you
can do about it without
being accused of cold, uncaring, selfish, prejudiced, and bigoted behavior.
Oh yeah, I DEMAND
that you learn MY LANGUAGE!!! so you can communicate with me.
Why can’t people see how
ridiculous this is? Only in America! If you agree, pass it on ( in English). Share it if you see the value of it.
If not blow it off……… along with your future Social Security funds, and a lot of other things.
What’s the African Perspective?
In 1992 I visited four nations in West Africa: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, and Benin. One thing that struck me was how spiritual the Africans were and how in tune they were to nature. Although they may embrace Christianity or other religions, they don’t abandon their naturalistic beliefs. Africans were resourceful. They learned to make use of plants and trees in their environment for building homes and curing diseases. George Washington Carver, who was of black African descent, invented many things. And what was his secret? He tapped into the wisdom of God, the maker of all things. According to George Washington Carver http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/g/george_washington_carver.html: “I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.”
George Washington Carver
American Indian Tribes
The American Indians are another group that embraced and honored the earth. The president of the Sioux Tribe is organizing a meeting of the National Congress of American Indians to discuss BP’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill and its impact. Perhaps they will come up with an enlightened spiritual way to clean up the oil spill or otherwise deal with the environmental crisis the spill has caused. Based on the American Indian traditions, I’m sure they will incorporate tribal wisdom.
Tribal Wisdom of Elders
In tribal cultures the elders are honored. Even if the elder has passed on, homage is still paid. They recognize the wisdom that comes from going to sleep and getting up many days. As the old saying goes “stuff happens”. So the longer we’ve been here on this earth, the more stuff we’ve walked thru and survived. Hopefully us over 50 senior folk have learned from our mistakes. The British Petroleum’s current wisdom is to use the same techniques that were unsuccessful with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill back in the 70s.
Clean Up Oil Spill
We’re all one tribe, one race – the human race. And there is one earth. So, when it comes to environmental issues, we’re all in this together. Perhaps we need to convene a tribe of seniors from all cultures to weigh in on the oil spill clean up.
Business and religion do mix. Many successful business professionals in corporate America and I would venture to say all entrepreneurs and small business people, do a lot of PRAYING.
Ensuring you have adequate cash flow and marketing and innovating are things people do. But things spiritual is what really moves and motivates people.
Although I would put myself in the Christian category, I believe spirituality is much more important than religion. There is one God, regardless of how we as humans name our higher power. I have met powerful spiritual beings from all walks of life.
But there is value in connecting with people of like mind. That’s what church and networking organizations and social media is all about. If you’re interested in connecting with Christian Women, then you’ll want to attend these 2 virtual events.
The Christian Women United in Business (CWUIB) is launching this week with free virtual events on LinkedIn.
Once again I was at a business event where it was recommended that we send a text message to business contacts. In fact, the story was told that one business person requested that a text message be sent to him while he was in the middle of a business meeting. And why did everyone think this was a good idea? In any and every given situation, it is acceptable to check for and respond to a text message.
Phone texting is in. I am amazed at the thumb dexterity of those that do text. Perhaps part of the fascination with texting is attaining mastery over the keyboard. It is apparently quick and efficient for the expert texters to communicate.
In the state of Georgia, legislation is being considered to ban texting while driving. (While they are at it, they should also limit cell phone use while driving.) And the anti-texting law would apply to all drivers, not just teenagers. I am amazed that any adult would think it’s a good idea to text and drive. A couple of people operating public transit trains were fired for texting on the job. Keep your eyes on the road! Have we all gone crazy?
Anyone else over 50 who doesn’t even know how to text message?
I have never sent a text message. I do have a cell phone. And, I have received text messages. But I was delighted to find out that I could turn the text message feature off. If a text message was free, it would be one thing. But the cell phone, blackberry, iphone and other device providers, have those pesky little charges for text messages. Charges for something that was of no value. It was a cost benefit decision for me.
Are there good uses for Texting?
I’ve heard someone saying that the elderly could text for help in a crisis. Not sure it’s feasible for the senior population to text. I’m a long ways from being elderly, but I don’t text. And, in a crisis situation, you’re only likely to do something that you’re totally comfortable with. So, probably not a good use for texting.
Then there is the earthquake tragedy in Haiti. That is a good use of texting.
Wyclef Jean, a musician from Haiti, has arranged for
$5 donations to be made by texting “YELE” to 501501 or a
$10 donation by texting “HAITI” to 501501.
$10 donations can also be made to the Red Cross by texting “HAITI” to 90999.
Not sure how this works, but I assume the cell phone companies will make the donation and add the charge to your cell phone bill.
I’m not ready to turn the texting capability back on my cell phone yet. We’ll see what develops.
Anyone with more than 1/40th black blood was considered black and was subject to the discrimination that was directed toward blacks or Negroes. All of us in the nation watched the news and TV coverage of black people being beaten and dragged and water hosed, just because they wanted to have the same rights as white Americans.
Barack Obama is now the 44th President of the United States of America. We have overcome. Not just the Negro, the black, the African American. But the entire United States nation has overcome. Yes, there are the bigots and racists. There will always be narrow minded people. But bigotry and racism does not define us as a nation anymore. No longer does bigotry, racism and prejudice drive our policies and actions and laws.
The hot issue now is the recession and our economic woes. And the ripple effects are felt globally. Putting politics aside, I’m hoping the country can focus on the business of healing our economy. Barack Obama is our new president and leader, but he cannot solve problems alone. We all must help with the restoration to economic health.
President Barack Hussein Obama: We love you, we bless you, we support you. I know the nation joins me in wishing you well.
