Miami Complaints Health Care City of Miami Health Care Miami-Dade County Health Care Florida Health Care US Government Health Care

Humiliation and Shame: Part of Being Insured in America - June 30, 2010 - Oh, the things we did not fix in the healthcare bill are shocking. Just as seniors falling into the Medicare drug benefit donut hole begin to get the $250 checks meant to calm their fears about our new healthcare legislation, the rest of us would do well to remember the abuses of the for-profit healthcare system that will continue and even accelerate in the coming years.

U.S. tells insurer: Quit dropping cancer patients - April 24, 2010 - Wellpoint had used software to target those with new breast cancer cases

NEW DIRECTION FOR MEDICAID - April 24, 2010 - The GOP-controlled Legislature is considering privatizing care statewide.

Bill McCollum is Wasting Tax Payer's Money and Giving to His Friends - March 28, 2010 - Bill McCollum just keeps twisting the knife into the backs of Florida taxpayers.

It's the story of Becca and Karima, two OFA volunteers who joined David Plouffe in hand-delivering signatures

Thank the Republicans for Health Care Reform and More - March 22, 2010 - If you do not like the Health Care Reform Bill the way it is then thank the Republicans. That’s right, thank each and every Republican because they decided to destroy President Obama instead of putting together a good Health Care Reform Bill like the American People wanted and needed because of greedy insurance companies.

Public Option

My Congressman, Bart Stupak, Has Neither a Uterus Nor a Brain - March 21, 2010 - I live in Michigan, in one of the 31 counties represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by none other than Mr. Bart Stupak, a Democrat.

President Obama Speach on Health Care Reform

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March 19, 2010 - I Still Believe We Can Do What's Right

Health Reform Myths - March 13, 2010 - Health reform is back from the dead. Many Democrats have realized that their electoral prospects will be better if they can point to a real accomplishment.

More: If Not ?

The President Plan for Health Reform

The Cost of Inaction

Moving Forward to Put the American People Ahead of Insurance Companies - March 5, 2010

I’m Unemployed, Close to Homeless, but I Just Gave to Bill Halter - March 3, 2010 - I’m an unemployed software developer who’s worked four months out of the last 18. I’ve exhausted my 401k and my savings, and have filed bankruptcy to try to save my home. As tough as things are, I made a small ($25) donation to Bill Halter.

Weekly Address: The Olympic Spirit, the Spirit of Bipartisanship, and Health Reform - February 27, 2010

Health Care in Canada

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Polls: In Key States, Public Option Far More Popular Than Senate Plan - February 22, 2010 - Okay, this should really give a boost to those arguing that Dems should pass the public option via reconciliation — for the specific reason that it will make the Senate health reform bill more popular.

Obama unveils revised $1 trillion health plan - February 22, 2010 - No public option in proposal to cover 31 million uninsured, limit rate hikes - White House Copy PDF File

Take Credit for the Good Outcome, Vote Against the People Needs

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Watch the "Obama Plan in Four Minutes" video to get the basics down:

Ed Schultz Pleads For Health Care Reform, Calls Lieberman A 'Coward' (VIDEO)

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Jeb Bush's Medicaid plan faces uncertain fate - February 2, 2010 - Jeb Bush's Medicaid reform program is showing signs of success, but it might die in the Republican-led Legislature anyway.

Dems threaten to use 51-vote tactic for health bill if they lose in Mass. - January 16, 2010 - Democrats are prepared to use a budgetary procedure to pass healthcare reform legislation if they lose a key Senate race on Tuesday, a House leader said this weekend.

How Far Will Republicans Go?

Schwarzenegger says health care bill a 'rip-off' - Talking about the Senate Part of the Health Care Reforma Bill - January 10, 2010 - WASHINGTON -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says concessions made to Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson to win his vote on the health care overhaul bill were a "rip-off" for his state and is urging California lawmakers to vote against it.

This is very bad - Government health insurance option appears doomed - Janaury 9, 2020 - WASHINGTON -- Senior House Democrats have largely abandoned hopes of including a government-run insurance option in the final compromise health care bill taking shape, according to several officials, and are pushing for other measures to rein in private insurers.

Hospitals team up to aid in dialysis - January 9, 2010 - In an unusual move, three hospitals agreed to pay for a month's dialysis for patients who lost their funding at Jackson Memorial Health System.

Jackson Health System halts dialysis for poor patients - January 7, 2010 - Dozens of patients are facing a life-or-death situation after Jackson Health System stopped paying for treatment for their failing kidneys.

Nurses Union: Senate Bill Isn’t Real Health Reform - December 27, 2009 - The National Nurses United, a brand new union created earlier this month and the largest professional group of nurses in the country, officially opposes the Senate health care bill. NNU, a member of the AFL-CIO, slammed the Senate bill as a giveaway to the insurance industry that falls far short of real reform.

Rahm: Passing Health Care Will Be Just Like Passing NAFTA - December 27, 2009 - In case you had any doubts the passage of the health care bill will be just as disastrous for Democrats and the labor movement as the rout of 1994, Rahm Emanuel is here to reassure you. It will be just like NAFTA! And Rahm thinks that’s a good thing.

Ezra: The Senate Plan Is Just Like What Obama Campaigned On–Except for All the Ways It’s Not - December 27, 2009 - This is pretty funny. Ezra has a post up arguing that, the Senate health care bill “is very close to the health-care bill that Barack Obama promised.”

A Big Win For PhRMA, Health Insurance Companies, Obama, Reid, Nelson, Lincoln, Lieberman; A Big Loss For The American People And the Progressive Movement - December 24, 2009 - Today’s vote in the Senate to pass their health care reform bill was a big win for many people. It was a big win for the drug companies, the biologics industry, the hospital companies, and the for-profit health insurance corporations. They will all get billions of government dollars piled on to their ledgers, and and millions of Americans now forced to buy their products. The vote was also a huge win for the lobbyists who just saw their profits jump thanks to this great opportunity to show their clients just how powerful their hold on Washington really is.

Health Care Reform Help Needed - December 24, 2009 - I have been following Health Care Reform since President Obama got into office. Health Care Reform is the number one problem facing the American People in the long term.

Early Morning Swim: Jane Talks Kill the Bill with Ed Schultz

New Florida consumer website helps with insurance questions - December 22, 2009 - Florida consumers with questions or complaints about insurance can use an online help center created this month.

Nurses Union: Senate Bill Isn’t Real Health Reform - December 22, 2009 - The National Nurses United, a brand new union created earlier this month and the largest professional group of nurses in the country, officially opposes the Senate health care bill. NNU, a member of the AFL-CIO, slammed the Senate bill as a giveaway to the insurance industry that falls far short of real reform.

Dems face challenge in merging health bills - December 22, 2009 - Senate, House will try to hash out differences; abortion set to be key issue

Health-care hypocrites - December 7, 2009 - The gist: Florida officials worried about the state's cost for coverage shouldn't ignore their own part in the problem.

Bill Nelson on Health Care Reform

Women, Mothers, Families and Reform

Federal trial will decide changes in Florida's child Medicaid program - December 6, 2009 - At a trial beginning Monday, a federal judge will decide whether Florida's insurance program for needy children passes federal muster.

Who do you trust?

Congressman Anthony Weiner on Health Care Reform

REAL STORIES FROM FLORIDA HEALTH CARE CONSUMERS Picture of mother and son

Child's Illness Leaves Huge Medical Debt Despite Insurance

My name is Eliza Fendell and I am 36 years-old. My household consists of my 34 year-old husband and my three children, Magnus who is 6 years-old, my daughter Fiona is 3 years old, and Duncan who is 18 months old. I am a full-time general manager for my father's company, Aeropost, Inc. I have been working at Aeropost for the past four and half years

Health care overhaul faces stone wall in Senate - November 9, 2009 - WASHINGTON -- The glow from a health care triumph faded quickly for President Barack Obama on Sunday as Democrats realized the bill they fought so hard to pass in the House has nowhere to go in the Senate.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi Sweeping Health Care Plan Passes House - November 8, 2009 - WASHINGTON — Handing President Obama a hard-fought victory, the House narrowly approved a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s health care system on Saturday night, advancing legislation that Democrats said could stand as their defining social policy achievement

Final House Vote as Early as Friday! - November 4, 2009 - Call Your U.S. Rep Now or Never!!

Dose of Reality

ER Visits plunges laid-off woman into debt.

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Dose of Reality

Insurance is not enough for a sick child.

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Dose of Reality

Mom's Death is only relief from medical debt.

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Insurance CEO's on the ropes

Yesterday was the big health insurance CEO conference in Washington D.C. Seven brave families confronted the CEOs who denied them care. They were backed up by hundreds of protesters, and tens of thousands of TrueMajority/USAction members.

But don't take our word for it - check out the videos from before and during the event to see what your signatures, donations and support made happen.

Health Care Reform Rally

Fight Back - 7 Families Stand Up for Health Care Insurance

Stacie Ritter Takes on CEO Ed Hanway, CIGNA

Women, Mothers, Families and Reform - October 23, 2009

See Senator Barbara Mikulski on ABC News: Do Insurers Discriminate against Women?? - October 20, 2009 - Have an opinion about health care reform and what should be in the final bill? Your Senators and members of Congress are hearing from everybody else - are they hearing from you??

Health Care in Other Countries - October 15, 2009 - A friend of mine does a lot of traveling and lives overseas so when I sent him the link to Keith Olbermann's Commentary he sent me an e-mail he told me:

Countdown With Keith Olbermann

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Women getting short end of health coverage - October 7, 2009 - Legislation moving through Congress addresses the practice of health insurance rates based on gender and maternity care.

Poll: More Approve of Obama on Health Care - September 25, 2009 - CBS News/New York Times Survey Finds More Approve of President's Handling of Health Care Following his Address to Congress

House passes bill stopping Medicare premium hikes - September 25, 2009 - WASHINGTON -- Millions of Medicare patients would be spared monthly premium increases next year under a bill passed by the House Thursday.

Jackson boss cautions lawmakers - September 25, 2009 - WASHINGTON -- The president of Jackson Health System -- Miami-Dade's government safety net for healthcare -- cautioned members of Congress on Thursday that some healthcare-reform efforts could penalize the state's largest Medicaid provider.

Florida Needs Health Care Reform as Safety Net Strains Further - September 24, 2009 - This week, as I travelled around the state talking with healthcare providers, hospitals and patient advocates, I got the same message over and over. Florida’s safety net system is headed for the most difficult year yet and the state needs health care reform.

Florida Senator Bill Nelson Senator Tries to Allay Fears on Health Overhaul - September 24, 2009 - WASHINGTON — Senator Bill Nelson of Florida desperately wants to expand health insurance coverage because one in five Floridians is uninsured. As a former state insurance commissioner, he wants to crack down on insurers. And as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, he can shape legislation to achieve both goals.

Video: Will Ferrell stands up for the real health care victims - September 23, 2009

Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell

Today's call for action began in FL - September 18, 2009 - In Washington, D.C. today, 400 of the country’s most prominent healthcare experts unveiled a letter to congress demanding action on the uninsured and rising costs. And it was all the brainchild of a professor who lives on quiet Anna Maria Island.

Jackson Health System may close clinics, nursing homes - September 16, 2009 - Needing to present a balanced budget for Miami-Dade Commission's approval Thursday, the Jackson Health System is proposing to close two primary care centers, both of its nursing homes, outsource inmate healthcare and reduce support to other entities that care for the poor and uninsured.

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President Barack Obama about how health reform will benefit seniors (excerpt from the President's address to Congress on September 9, 2009) - September 14, 2009 - Please support President Obama's plan for health reform in 2009. We need to bring stability and security to those who currently have insurance, affordable coverage to those who don't, and rein in the cost of health care.

President of The United States Barack Obama

The Obama Plan: Stability & Security for all Americans - September 10, 2009 - "It will provide more security and stability to those who have health insurance. It will provide insurance to those who don’t. And it will lower the cost of health care for our families, our businesses, and our government."

Healthcare, History and Kennedy - August 26, 2009 - I was writing this column when I heard of Senator Kennedy's death. I am heartbroken.

Medicare works; everyone should be covered - September 2, 2009 - I want Medicare for everyone. Before Medicare, old people just died of old age. But Medicare expanded the elderly market so there was money for research and development. Then we began to understand geriatric diseases. It was Medicare that provided money for the technology that created, for example, innovative coronary care. So everyone, even those with private wealth and insurance, got healthcare that wasn't possible without Medicare.

This is the cause of my life. It is a key reason that I defied my illness last summer to speak at the Democratic convention in Denver—to support Barack Obama, but also to make sure, as I said, "that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee that every American...will have decent, quality health care as a fundamental right and not just a privilege." For four decades I have carried this cause—from the floor of the United States Senate to every part of this country. It has never been merely a question of policy; it goes to the heart of my belief in a just society. Now the issue has more meaning for me—and more urgency—than ever before. But it's always been deeply personal, because the importance of health care has been a recurrent lesson throughout most of my 77 years.

— Ted Kennedy

So much is riding on the outcome of the health care reform debate. That's why it is essential that decisions be based on facts and on an understanding of the actual content of the bills under consideration. The following is an (edited) compilation of various responses to the most common myths and misleading claims raised by critics. The responses pertain most closely to the House version, where all committee review has been completed.

Appeal stops tier system for disabled - August 22, 2009 - The 1st District Court of Appeal on Friday struck down a controversial classification system that the state uses to determine benefits for some 31,000 disabled Floridians.

Bill Nelson on Health Care - August 20, 2009 - I e-mailed Bill Nelson about Health Care and his reply was:

Non-profit creates fee-based post-operative care for all - August 20, 2009 - A local not-for-profit home and health care organization is expanding with a new private, out-of-pocket program that officials hope over time can help fill the widening funding gap created by government funding cuts.

Reform will stop "rationing" - not increase it - August 10, 2009 - Kavita Patel, who works with Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett and who worked for years before as a physician, debunks the myth that reform will mean a "government takeover" of health care or lead to "rationing." To the contrary, reform will forbid many forms of rationing that are currently being used by insurance companies.

Proposed Mastectomy Law Change - August 7, 2009 - Ladies & Gents; I know we know someone who has been has the surgery and could have benefitted from this bill. Let's encourage our respresentative to support this bill. Please sign the petition and keep this e-mail

Bill would let nurse practitioners write prescriptions - March 5, 2009 - A bill being introduced yet again to the Florida Legislature seeks to allow nurse practitioners to write prescriptions for potentially addictive drugs.

South Florida doctors, hospitals named in fraud lawsuit - February 28, 2009 - A whistle-blower lawsuit alleges that ELA Medical schemed with 12 South Florida hospitals and 25 doctors to get them to use the company's devices.

Obama now focusing on health care, cutting deficit - February 21, 2009 - WASHINGTON -- After focusing his first month on the economic mess he inherited, President Barack Obama now starts rolling out his own far-reaching agenda with a summit on fiscal policy, his first speech to Congress and the unveiling of his budget for 2010

Senate passes bill to expand child health coverage - January 29, 2009 - WASHINGTON -- The Democratic-controlled Congress moved a step closer to handing President Barack Obama an early health care victory Thursday as the Senate passed a bill extending government-sponsored health insurance coverage to about 4 million uninsured children.

HEALTH CARE: SIMPLE NEEDS, COMPLEX SOLUTIONS - January 12, 2009 - If the Obama Administration and Congress attempt to bring America closer to full health care coverage as promised, the conversation inevitably will focus on Massachusetts, the state that has made the boldest effort in the country toward that goal.

Report: COBRA cost is too much - January 10, 2009 - The monthly premium for COBRA, the health coverage available to laid-off workers, is too expensive for most people, a study reported.

Health Care That Puts a Computer on the Team - December 28, 2008 - MARSHFIELD, Wis. — Joseph Calderaro, 67, is one of health care’s quiet success stories. Over the last four years, he has carefully managed his diabetes by lowering his blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol with diet, exercise and medication.

Medicare plans draw criticism on drug pricing - December 28, 2008 - Figuring out which Medicare drug-insurance plan is right for you is confusing enough. Now, complaints are mounting about an obscure drug-pricing system that can force many older Americans to pay stiff penalties when they opt for brand-name drugs instead of a generic.

Hospitals ill from more bad debt, credit troubles - December 27, 2008 - TRENTON, N.J. -- Gainesville's first community hospital has been on life support since the Shands Healthcare system in northern Florida bought it a dozen years ago.

Ending the 'Sick Care' System - December 26, 2008 - Sen. Tom Harkin on why America cannot afford to skimp on preventive health care

States slash Medicaid amid economic woes - December 26, 2008 - States from Rhode Island to California are being forced to curtail Medicaid, the government health insurance program for the poor, as they struggle to cope with the deteriorating economy.

No 'right to know' at nursing homes - December 24, 2008 - TALLAHASSEE - Florida's "right to know" constitutional amendment that lets patients check records of medical mistakes by doctors and hospitals doesn't apply to nursing homes, the Florida Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.

Fla. Medicare fraud debate focuses on patients - December 24, 2008 - MIAMI (AP) -- Three days a week, Philip Audette sat in a cushy white chair at the St. Jude Rehab Center, a needle pumping HIV drugs into his arm. He talked and laughed with a dozen other patients, all in good health, all receiving drugs they didn't need. All for the money.

Health Care By and For the People - December 21, 2008 - The Obama transition team is asking you to help create a new health care policy.

Budget office sees hurdles in financing health plans - December 19, 2008 - WASHINGTON — The Congressional Budget Office said Thursday that many of the health care proposals championed by President-elect Barack Obama and other Democrats would carry a high price tag and would generate only modest savings.

Medicare scam draws another stiff sentence - December 19, 2008 - A central player in a vast Medicare racket received 14 years in prison after admitting he trained doctors to file false claims at a dozen clinics.

New Test May Predict Breast Cancer Risk Better - December 12, 2008 - SAN ANTONIO -- Researchers said a new test to predict a woman's odds of getting breast cancer works better than a method doctors have been using.

Judge Rejects State Farm Rate Hike Request - December 12, 2008 - TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- An administrative law judge has rejected a 47.1 percent rate increase request by State Farm Insurance, the state's largest private property insurer.

The Truth About Government Behavior