Rick Shoup's Blog

Veteran's Healthcare for Alaskan Vets

Rick Shoup-Policy — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:05:43 EST

Posted by Dr. Larry Weiss, Health Care Op Ed Committee chair for Alaska:

http://community.adn.com/adn/node/133805

This was sent to me by a friend, and I reprint it here because I think he has something important and from the heart to say:

As a decorated combat veteran of Vietnam with a service connected disability, I am deeply concerned about the availability of health care for both current and future veterans of our country. I also receive some of my health care at my local Veteran’s Administration Hospital where I volunteer. Unfortunately, the funding necessary to support veterans is still too low. This is the direct result of the unwillingness of the Bush Administration and consistently supported by Sen. John McCain, who has failed to support the necessary increases in veteran’s health care. As a result, we will not have the funds necessary to meet our existing needs let along those of the future if John McCain is elected President.

In his health care plan, Senator Barack Obama would put more funding into health care and make the system more stable and predictable for large and small companies and their employees. In contrast, Sen. McCain would squeeze money out of health care to fund other initiatives and his proposal to shift health insurance purchasing to the individual and away from the company would destabilize the health system and remove companies' direct financial incentives for keeping their employees healthy with preventive services.

Despite Sen. McCain’s exemplary service record and his campaign focus on his experiences as a veteran, he has a long history of voting against any increases in health care funding for veterans starting as early as August 2001 when he voted against an amendment that would have provided $650,000,000 additional funding for veterans health care. This was followed by votes in March 2004, March 2006, April 2006 and May 2007 where he was consistently against any increases in health care funding for veterans.

Senator Obama, on the other hand, believes that every American has the right to health care coverage and has a plan to dramatically redesign our health system across the board to reduce waste, improve efficiency and quality which will drive down cost for families and individuals. Veterans, like all Americans, know that health care costs too much and is not available to everyone who needs it. There are not enough providers, hospital beds and outpatient treatment facilities to treat current veterans let alone those who will be returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. Senator Obama has consistently supported any funding requests for health care for veterans.

Barack Obama’s health plan will modernize the U.S. health care system to contain spiraling health care costs and improve the quality and access to patient care while promoting prevention and public health. The benefits of an Obama health plan will support all veteran’s and Americans.

Rick Shoup, Concord, Massachusetts

Obama better for veteran's healthcare

Rick Shoup-Policy — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:06:13 EDT

Appeared in Concord Monitor on 9/25/08

http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080925/OPINION/809250348

A s a decorated and disabled combat veteran of Vietnam, I am deeply concerned about the availability of health care for current and future veterans.

The funding necessary to support veterans is inadequate. This is the direct result of the unwillingness of the Bush administration (as consistently supported by Sen. John McCain) to ensure that our veterans receive the care they deserve.

Sen. Barack Obama would put more funding into health care and make the system more stable and predictable. In contrast, McCain would squeeze money out of health care to fund other initiatives, resulting in millions of people losing their employer-sponsored health insurance. Despite McCain's exceptional military record and focus on veterans' status, he has a long history of voting against any increases in health-care funding for veterans, starting as early as August 2001. This was followed by votes in March 2004, March 2006, April 2006 and May 2007 in which he was consistently against any increases in health care funding for veterans. Veterans know that health care costs too much and is not available to everyone who needs it. There are not enough providers, hospital beds and outpatient treatment facilities for current veterans let alone those who will be returning from Afghanistan and Iraq.

Obama has consistently supported funding requests for health care for veterans.

RICK SHOUP

Concord

Vietnam Veterans’ Support for Obama

Rick Shoup-Policy — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:55:27 EDT

Posted on Seattle PI and Blue Hampshire blogs: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/forum/boards/viewsearch.asp?boardid=121&term=veterans : http://www.bluehampshire.com/frontPage.do

As Vietnam veterans, we join the millions of members and families of the active military, other veterans and families of veterans who strongly believe that Senator Barack Obama is ready and able to serve as our next president and Commander-in-Chief. He has consistently displayed the character, vision, judgment and temperament required of a president and Commander-in-Chief. Barack Obama also knows that a successful Commander-in-Chief understands that while our military is critically important, it is only one element in a national security strategy that must include diplomacy and regaining America’s moral world leadership, as well as ordering troops into combat. Not only will Barack Obama be an excellent Commander-in-Chief for the best military in the world but he also believes that a sacred trust exists between our government and its warriors and veterans. Never again should our troops be placed in harm’s way based on ill advised strategy, inadequate armor and protection, and insufficient troop strength requiring third and fourth tours. The sacred trust includes a commitment of support to veterans that does not end when we return to civilian life. Americans were shocked to learn of the disgraceful treatment of the wounded returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan. Barack Obama and Joe Biden will honor service and ensure that ongoing needs and concerns are never forgotten.An Obama-Biden administration will ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) receives full funding so that it can care for all veterans without having to prioritize which of us are treated. VA hospitals will also be held to a higher standard through improved transparency through reporting with the emphasis continuing to be on the quality and effectiveness of the care we receive. Improved communication and data sharing between the Pentagon and the VA will enhance long-term planning and prevent budgetary shortfalls that have consistently plagued us in the past. For those of us frustrated with having to wait for decisions on our benefit claims, an Obama-Biden administration will fix the Veterans’ Benefits Administration (VBA) to improve training and accountability for claims workers to reduce the backlog, make the claims process electronic resulting in a dramatic improvement in service for us. This will help prevent us and our families from falling through the cracks and having to wait for years to access the benefits and care we have earned. A major challenge for us is the significant number of homeless veterans. An Obama-Biden administration will prevent veterans at risk and their families from falling into homelessness by addressing affordable housing and the associated services necessary to keep our veterans off the streets. An expansion in the number of Vet Centers will also go far to ensure that veterans have better access to the services we need and deserve. The Obama-Biden mental health plan, like the medical plan, will improve care for troops from recruitment and active duty to demobilization and transition back into civilian life. It is estimated that up to 20 percent of returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome, a debilitating and frightening disease often with tragic consequences. Yet today the planning and treatment for this very real threat is woefully inadequate. The Obama-Biden commitment to veterans will shoulder this sacred trust. Their plan will include better training to reduce the stigma often associated with mental health issues, pre and post-deployment screening and more mental health professionals both embedded with our troops in the field and at the VA. There will also be improved diagnostic techniques and funding for those veterans suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury that has become far too common in the Iraq War. We believe that Barack Obama, as Commander-in-Chief, will lead America to peace through strength. In pursuing this mission Barack Obama knows that for those who stand up for our country in service, now is the time to stand up for them.

Tony Knowles, former Governor of Alaska, served with the 82nd Airborne Division and in Vietnam in 1964-65 with MACV-J2.

Rick Shoup, Ph.D. a healthcare consultant, served with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam in 1967-68 in Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol.

Lowering Cost of Prescription Drugs for Seniors

Rick Shoup-Policy — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:41:19 EDT

Posted on BlueHamphire Blog, 10/28/08 http://www.bluehampshire.com/frontPage.do

Prescription drugs represent the second fastest growing type of health expense in the United States, behind insurance administration overhead. Drug manufacturers should be able to profit when they bring new effective drugs to the market. Unfortunately, some of these companies appear to be exploiting Americans by dramatically overcharging customers in the U.S. These companies are selling the same drugs in Europe and Canada but charging Americans 67% more. Senator Barack Obama’s health plan will allow all Americans to buy their medications from other developed countries if the drugs are safe and the prices are lower outside the U.S. His health plan will also increase the use of generic drugs and prohibit large drug companies from keeping generic drugs out of the market. In short, Senator Obama’s plan to increase competition in the insurance and drug markets will lower the cost of prescription drugs. The 2003 Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act (Medicare Part D) bans the government from negotiating directly with drug companies even though the Department of Veterans Affairs’ negotiation of prescription drug prices with drug companies has resulted in significant savings for taxpayers. Senator Obama will repeal the ban on direct negotiation with drug companies and use the resulting savings, which could be as high as $30 billion, to further invest in improving health care coverage and quality. The infamous “donut hole” that currently exists in Medicare Part D will go away under the Obama plan. Barack Obama’s health plan will modernize the U.S. health care system, contain spiraling health care costs and improve the quality and access to patient care while promoting prevention and improved public health. The benefits of an Obama health plan will support New Hampshire’s seniors as well as all Americans. Chip Moynihan, Hampton, NHRichard Shoup, Ph.D., Concord, MA

Why Senator Obama’s Health Plan is Good for Alaskan Seniors

Rick Shoup-Policy — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:38:13 EDT

Printed in October2008 Senior Voice, Anchorage, Alaska

Alaskans, like others across the country, know that health care costs too much and is not available to everyone who needs it. There are not enough doctors, nurses and other health care professionals to treat every patient requiring care and many Alaskan seniors on Medicare are unable to receive any care at all in their state. This is a very serious situation and the result of low reimbursement rate from Medicare as well as the lack of doctors, nurses and other health care professionals in the state. As a result many Alaska seniors are forced to leave to get the care they need and deserve. Obama’s plan will lead to more effective utilization and practice patterns which will help providers financially and create a platform for more effective care delivery and reimbursement. Barack Obama believes that every American has the right to health care coverage that is affordable, comprehensive and portable. This requires that we must dramatically redesign our health system to reduce waste, improve efficiency and quality which will drive down costs for families and individuals. Barack Obama has a detailed plan that will dramatically improve the health care system in the U.S. in stark contrast to the “free market” solution proposed by Senator McCain and Governor Palin. Specifically, for Alaskans seniors, Barack Obama’s health plan will ensure that there will be enough health care providers available to treat you by offering additional financial support to medical education. The Obama plan expressly supports expanded funding for loan repayment, adequate reimbursement, grants for training and workforce initiatives to expand the supply, quality and pay of the health workforce. Many states including Alaska have been slow to increase the size of medical school enrollments and consequently are behind others. The bill Senator Johnny Ellis cross sponsored to double the number of medical school slots was a strong first step but significant increases in the number of seats available to train health care professionals are still required. The Obama Health Plan supports flexible state expansions in Medicaid and SCHIP as opposed to Republican administrations which talk flexibility and state support but then hold the states back from their most innovative plans for the uninsured. As states expand their programs, they focus on raising payment rates to providers in these public insurance plans that cover millions of state residents. Only a national government under Obama will support real “flexibility” in expanding public insurance options to support Alaskans. More funding is also necessary for community health centers in Alaska to support those Medicare patients who have been unable to receive their care in the community. For the first time during the past legislative session, Alaska provided some funding for federally supported community health centers but again, significantly more funds are needed. Obama’s health plan supports expanding the capacity of safety-net institutions such as disproportionate care hospitals, critical access hospitals, rural hospitals in underserved communities and community health centers Rates of chronic diseases, often associated with seniors, have increased dramatically in the past 20 years. With proper care, the onset and progression of these diseases can be contained for many years. In addition to the unnecessary suffering and early death that chronic disease can cause, these conditions cost an unbelievable $1.7 trillion annually. Obama will support providers to put in place care management programs and encourage team care through implementation of medical home type models resulting in improved coordination and integration of care of those with chronic conditions. Overall, these programs will incent providers to improve the quality of care you receive as well as lower costs The second fastest growing type of health expense is prescription drugs. Pharmaceutical companies should profit when their research and development results in bringing new innovative drugs to the market. Unfortunately, some companies are exploiting Americans by dramatically overcharging customers in the U.S. These companies are selling the same drugs in Europe and Canada but charging Americans a 67% premium. Senator Obama will allow all Americans to buy their medications from other developed countries if the drugs are safe and the prices are lower outside the U.S. His health plan will also increase the use of generic drugs and prohibit large drug companies from keeping generics out of the markets. The bottom line is that your prescription medication costs will also be reduced because of Obama’s plan to increase competition in the insurance and drug markets. The 2003 Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act (Medicare Part D) bans the government from negotiating down the prices of prescription drugs, even though the Department of Veterans Affairs’ negotiation of prescription drug prices with pharmaceutical companies has resulted in significant savings for taxpayers. Obama will repeal the ban on direct negotiation with drug companies and use the resulting savings, which could be as high as $30 billion, to further invest in improving health care coverage and quality. The “donut hole” that currently exists in Medicare Part D will go away under the Obama plan. Barack Obama’s health plan will modernize the U.S. health care system to contain spiraling health care costs and improve the quality and access to patient care while promoting prevention and public health. The benefits of an Obama health plan will support the seniors in Alaska as well as all Americans. Senator Johnny Ellis is a member of the Alaska senateRick Shoup is a former resident of Juneau, Alaska and currently lives in Co