Atlasian National Healthcare Bill (Law'd)

[Fritz]

Do you have an amendment to propose to the amendment, Mr. PPT?  I'm inclined to vote in favor of it, but I'd be willing to hold off for a  bit if you have changes you want to propose.

Oh well, I guess not. 

Aye.

[MasterJedi]

Do you have an amendment to propose to the amendment, Mr. PPT?  I'm inclined to vote in favor of it, but I'd be willing to hold off for a  bit if you have changes you want to propose.

Oh well, I guess not. 

I meant amendmening the bill in general which I do not have an amendment as of now.

[afleitch]

Could the honerable Senator explain what he means by "best utilised"? What do you think is a poor utilization of medical resources?

Poor utilisation of medical resources would include non reconstructive cosmetic surgery. However the example I was alluding to is that the standard of healthcare is low in Cuba despite a high number of doctors due to poor infrastructure, poor investment in medicine etc. The promotion of good health among the population can also help; encouraging children to brush their teeth, people to eat healthily etc. The government goes not have to support this of course, it can simply be a 'culture of health.'

In doctors work better if they are supported; if they have the tools to do the job. Same goes with any profession.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Aye

[Purple State]

Aye

[MaxQue]

Aye

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Aye

Could the honerable Senator explain what he means by "best utilised"? What do you think is a poor utilization of medical resources?

Poor utilisation of medical resources would include non reconstructive cosmetic surgery. However the example I was alluding to is that the standard of healthcare is low in Cuba despite a high number of doctors due to poor infrastructure, poor investment in medicine etc. The promotion of good health among the population can also help; encouraging children to brush their teeth, people to eat healthily etc. The government goes not have to support this of course, it can simply be a 'culture of health.'

In doctors work better if they are supported; if they have the tools to do the job. Same goes with any profession.

I agree with what you are saying. Indeed we may be facing the opposite of Cuba were we have shortfalls in the number of certain doctors, especially primary care doctors. This needs to be addressed either here or soon after cause the brunt of the new demand created by this could aggrevate that problem. Despite the fact that so many are uninsured most of the primary care doctors are overbooked.

[Hash]

Aye

[tmthforu94]

Aye

[MasterJedi]

Aye

With 8 Ayes, 0 Nays and 0 Abstentions this amendment has passed.

[afleitch]

Aye FTR

[Bacon King]

Aye

Could the honerable Senator explain what he means by "best utilised"? What do you think is a poor utilization of medical resources?

Poor utilisation of medical resources would include non reconstructive cosmetic surgery. However the example I was alluding to is that the standard of healthcare is low in Cuba despite a high number of doctors due to poor infrastructure, poor investment in medicine etc. The promotion of good health among the population can also help; encouraging children to brush their teeth, people to eat healthily etc. The government goes not have to support this of course, it can simply be a 'culture of health.'

In doctors work better if they are supported; if they have the tools to do the job. Same goes with any profession.

I agree with what you are saying. Indeed we may be facing the opposite of Cuba were we have shortfalls in the number of certain doctors, especially primary care doctors. This needs to be addressed either here or soon after cause the brunt of the new demand created by this could aggrevate that problem. Despite the fact that so many are uninsured most of the primary care doctors are overbooked.

Now, I've not actually researched this topic, so I don't know if this country has a shortage of doctors and what relevance that would have on this bill. Still, assuming this is a potential problem, it could easily averted with simple measures. For example, the government could start subsidizing more/all medical school loans. The supply of doctors would then more accurately match the quantity demanded by the nation's healthcare industry.

[tmthforu94]

Aye

Could the honerable Senator explain what he means by "best utilised"? What do you think is a poor utilization of medical resources?

Poor utilisation of medical resources would include non reconstructive cosmetic surgery. However the example I was alluding to is that the standard of healthcare is low in Cuba despite a high number of doctors due to poor infrastructure, poor investment in medicine etc. The promotion of good health among the population can also help; encouraging children to brush their teeth, people to eat healthily etc. The government goes not have to support this of course, it can simply be a 'culture of health.'

In doctors work better if they are supported; if they have the tools to do the job. Same goes with any profession.

I agree with what you are saying. Indeed we may be facing the opposite of Cuba were we have shortfalls in the number of certain doctors, especially primary care doctors. This needs to be addressed either here or soon after cause the brunt of the new demand created by this could aggrevate that problem. Despite the fact that so many are uninsured most of the primary care doctors are overbooked.

Now, I've not actually researched this topic, so I don't know if this country has a shortage of doctors and what relevance that would have on this bill. Still, assuming this is a potential problem, it could easily averted with simple measures. For example, the government could start subsidizing more/all medical school loans. The supply of doctors would then more accurately match the quantity demanded by the nation's healthcare industry.

This is also one issue that has caused me to worry on this bill. With so many new patients, will there be enough doctors to cover them all, and will people who really need to see the Doctor have to be put on a long waiting list, even though they need to see him A.S.A.P.?

[Lief 🗽]

Aye

Could the honerable Senator explain what he means by "best utilised"? What do you think is a poor utilization of medical resources?

Poor utilisation of medical resources would include non reconstructive cosmetic surgery. However the example I was alluding to is that the standard of healthcare is low in Cuba despite a high number of doctors due to poor infrastructure, poor investment in medicine etc. The promotion of good health among the population can also help; encouraging children to brush their teeth, people to eat healthily etc. The government goes not have to support this of course, it can simply be a 'culture of health.'

In doctors work better if they are supported; if they have the tools to do the job. Same goes with any profession.

I agree with what you are saying. Indeed we may be facing the opposite of Cuba were we have shortfalls in the number of certain doctors, especially primary care doctors. This needs to be addressed either here or soon after cause the brunt of the new demand created by this could aggrevate that problem. Despite the fact that so many are uninsured most of the primary care doctors are overbooked.

Now, I've not actually researched this topic, so I don't know if this country has a shortage of doctors and what relevance that would have on this bill. Still, assuming this is a potential problem, it could easily averted with simple measures. For example, the government could start subsidizing more/all medical school loans. The supply of doctors would then more accurately match the quantity demanded by the nation's healthcare industry.

This is also one issue that has caused me to worry on this bill. With so many new patients, will there be enough doctors to cover them all, and will people who really need to see the Doctor have to be put on a long waiting list, even though they need to see him A.S.A.P.?

Other countries with universal health care don't have this problem, so I don't see why we would, provided we took steps to increase the number of people training to be doctors (as the Vice President suggested), modernized health information systems (as many have suggested), built new hospitals (which can be done with stimulus money), etc.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Aye

Could the honerable Senator explain what he means by "best utilised"? What do you think is a poor utilization of medical resources?

Poor utilisation of medical resources would include non reconstructive cosmetic surgery. However the example I was alluding to is that the standard of healthcare is low in Cuba despite a high number of doctors due to poor infrastructure, poor investment in medicine etc. The promotion of good health among the population can also help; encouraging children to brush their teeth, people to eat healthily etc. The government goes not have to support this of course, it can simply be a 'culture of health.'

In doctors work better if they are supported; if they have the tools to do the job. Same goes with any profession.

I agree with what you are saying. Indeed we may be facing the opposite of Cuba were we have shortfalls in the number of certain doctors, especially primary care doctors. This needs to be addressed either here or soon after cause the brunt of the new demand created by this could aggrevate that problem. Despite the fact that so many are uninsured most of the primary care doctors are overbooked.

Now, I've not actually researched this topic, so I don't know if this country has a shortage of doctors and what relevance that would have on this bill. Still, assuming this is a potential problem, it could easily averted with simple measures. For example, the government could start subsidizing more/all medical school loans. The supply of doctors would then more accurately match the quantity demanded by the nation's healthcare industry.

This is also one issue that has caused me to worry on this bill. With so many new patients, will there be enough doctors to cover them all, and will people who really need to see the Doctor have to be put on a long waiting list, even though they need to see him A.S.A.P.?

Other countries with universal health care don't have this problem, so I don't see why we would, provided we took steps to increase the number of people training to be doctors (as the Vice President suggested), modernized health information systems (as many have suggested), built new hospitals (which can be done with stimulus money), etc.

Its not a big concern but its something that we need to keep an eye on. Increasing number of people who are doctors is always a good thing anyway. Another thing we should look at and I am not sure if this is already dealt with in the bill or not is the reimbursements which create an incentive to become a specialist while disincentivising people to become primary care physicians. This is present both in medicare/aid and in private insurance as well. Since the program will inhereit both Medicare/aid this will become a part of the plan created in the bill and thus it should be dealt with. However this a very complex issue almost as complex as Tort reform.

[Marokai Backbeat]

I support including some of the ideas that Vepres and NCY are concerned about, but let's not get too bogged down in small potatoes.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I support including some of the ideas that Vepres and NCY are concerned about, but let's not get too bogged down in small potatoes.

Small potatoes can make a big stew when combine with small carrots, small beans and small meat. My biggest fear is this gets passed and other stuff isn't addressed and the Taxpayer ends up getting gouged because of it. 

[Marokai Backbeat]

Well now you're just making me hungry, Yankee.

[Purple State]

All of this relies on what the GM chooses to report, which I am becoming less and less confident about as the days roll by.

[Vepres]

I am pleased with the direction this bill is taking. I'll reiterate a few concerns however.

1. There needs to be a way to encourage quality over quantity. Computerizing records will help in that tests won't need to be repeated. Still, more should be done. As to what, I'm not sure.

2. Perhaps this belongs in a separate bill, but I think we need to somehow encourage healthy lifestyles. Getting people to exercise and eat healthier foods, sleep more, among other simple things can cut down on ER visits significantly, which could save lots of money down the road.

3. I realize the public insurance will help with this, but we need to get the insurance companies competing more.

4. Also, we need to ensure that businesses don't drop covering their employees over the public system, especially if their provided plan is superior.

5. I don't believe you've addressed discrimination against people for current, pre-existing, or past conditions. (Correct me if I'm wrong)

I'm very pleased overall, though.

[Purple State]

I am pleased with the direction this bill is taking. I'll reiterate a few concerns however.

1. There needs to be a way to encourage quality over quantity. Computerizing records will help in that tests won't need to be repeated. Still, more should be done. As to what, I'm not sure.

2. Perhaps this belongs in a separate bill, but I think we need to somehow encourage healthy lifestyles. Getting people to exercise and eat healthier foods, sleep more, among other simple things can cut down on ER visits significantly, which could save lots of money down the road.

3. I realize the public insurance will help with this, but we need to get the insurance companies competing more.

4. Also, we need to ensure that businesses don't drop covering their employees over the public system, especially if their provided plan is superior.

5. I don't believe you've addressed discrimination against people for current, pre-existing, or past conditions. (Correct me if I'm wrong)

I'm very pleased overall, though.

I think tomorrow (unless someone beats me to it) I will write up amendments to create an employer mandate (and subsidies for small businesses) and a pre-existing conditions clause.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I am pleased with the direction this bill is taking. I'll reiterate a few concerns however.

1. There needs to be a way to encourage quality over quantity. Computerizing records will help in that tests won't need to be repeated. Still, more should be done. As to what, I'm not sure.

2. Perhaps this belongs in a separate bill, but I think we need to somehow encourage healthy lifestyles. Getting people to exercise and eat healthier foods, sleep more, among other simple things can cut down on ER visits significantly, which could save lots of money down the road.

3. I realize the public insurance will help with this, but we need to get the insurance companies competing more.

4. Also, we need to ensure that businesses don't drop covering their employees over the public system, especially if their provided plan is superior.

5. I don't believe you've addressed discrimination against people for current, pre-existing, or past conditions. (Correct me if I'm wrong)

I'm very pleased overall, though.

1. We are waiting on that

2. The only thing we could do on that is to raise the Tax on Tobacco, Alcohol, etc considerably like 50% taxation, however I doubt this Senate has a stomach for that option. I am sure there are other things we could do as well.

[Fritz]

2. The only thing we could do on that is to raise the Tax on Tobacco, Alcohol, etc considerably like 50% taxation, however I doubt this Senate has a stomach for that option. I am sure there are other things we could do as well.

I proposed this in the original bill, but it has since been amended out.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

2. The only thing we could do on that is to raise the Tax on Tobacco, Alcohol, etc considerably like 50% taxation, however I doubt this Senate has a stomach for that option. I am sure there are other things we could do as well.

I proposed this in the original bill, but it has since been amended out.

I thought it was still in there but with no mention of the actuall rates.

[tmthforu94]

I am pleased with the direction this bill is taking. I'll reiterate a few concerns however.

1. There needs to be a way to encourage quality over quantity. Computerizing records will help in that tests won't need to be repeated. Still, more should be done. As to what, I'm not sure.

2. Perhaps this belongs in a separate bill, but I think we need to somehow encourage healthy lifestyles. Getting people to exercise and eat healthier foods, sleep more, among other simple things can cut down on ER visits significantly, which could save lots of money down the road.

3. I realize the public insurance will help with this, but we need to get the insurance companies competing more.

4. Also, we need to ensure that businesses don't drop covering their employees over the public system, especially if their provided plan is superior.

5. I don't believe you've addressed discrimination against people for current, pre-existing, or past conditions. (Correct me if I'm wrong)

I'm very pleased overall, though.

1. We are waiting on that

2. The only thing we could do on that is to raise the Tax on Tobacco, Alcohol, etc considerably like 50% taxation, however I doubt this Senate has a stomach for that option. I am sure there are other things we could do as well.

I'd support that.