Thursday, April 4, 2013

Navigating ObamaCare


What a difference a few weeks' make?
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Several weeks' ago I sat here in my red flannel pajamas typing a post celebrating the third birthday of ObamaCare and here I am today... 
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Wearing the same PJ's, and revisiting ObamaCare once more!  For those of you wondering, YES, the PJ's have been washed several times since the original post was written but thanks for going there - nice.  It's good to have friends. 
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As I have changed my PJ's several times during the prior couple of weeks (just in case you're wondering), ObamaCare has changed too. 
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It has progressed. 
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Its pulse is palpable, its heart thuds weakly as it awaits beneath the sheet on the gurney.  It awaits its Master to pull the chains which will raise it to the highest precipice of the castle where electricity will force it to take its first, shuddering, breath of life.  Its consciousness, not fully formed, stirs, awaiting for the moment when its eyes will open and it learns of its purpose, "Must help sick people.  Must lower medical costs.  Must manage expenses."  
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Beasts conceived in the imagination of men often escape into the wilderness. 
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Then, of course, they return...  Cold, angry, hungry, and looking to commit violence upon their Creators.
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Well, at least that's what I heard...
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But, hey, this is ObamaCare we're talking about, not some gothic novel, right?  What's wrong with a little Federally-Mandated Compassion? 
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It's for our own good, isn't it???
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Repeat the beast's mantra with me... 
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"Must help sick people. Must lower medical costs. 
Must manage expenses..."
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Repeat as necessary and call me in the morning.
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Just don't call me THIS morning, for I've got something else for you...
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WashingtonExaminer.com, April 3, 2013:  
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Tens of thousands Obamacare 'navigators' to be hired.
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Tens of thousands of health care professionals, union workers and community activists hired as "navigators" to help Americans choose Obamacare. 
The 63-page rule covering navigators, drawn up by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, also said the government will provide free translators for those not fluent in English -- no matter what their native language is.
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"The proposed requirements would also include that such entities and individuals provide consumers with information and assistance in the consumer's preferred language, at no cost to the consumer, which would include oral interpretation of non-English languages and the translation of written documents in non-English languages when necessary to ensure meaningful access," said the regulations.. 
The rules also addressed conflict of interest and other potential issues that navigators could face as the public's first stop on the Obamacare trail.
 
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It is still not clear how many navigators will be required. California, however, provides a hint. It wants 21,000.
 
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That could be an expensive proposition. The proposed rules, now open for public comment, suggest an estimated pay of $20-$48 an hour.
 
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The rules allow navigators to come from the ranks of unions, health providers and community action groups such as ACORN and Planned Parenthood.
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They are required to provide unbiased advice.
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"Unbiased advice" from community action groups, ACORN, and Planned Parenthood?  That would be like calling '1-888-THE-DEVIL' and asking for life choice 'advice'.  No thanks, I'll make my own bad decisions thank you.
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And whatever happened to our Creation's Mantra, "Must help sick people. Must lower medical costs. Must manage expenses"? 
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If the-soon-to-be-completely-bankrupt State of California is looking for 21,000 of these folks, where's the savings?
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In keeping with our Monstrous Theme, allow me to do some FrankenMath for you (WARNING - it will be scary):
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21,000 workers x ($20 (base pay) + $10 (loaded benefits) per hour) =  $630,000 PER HOUR
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$630,000 x 40 Hour Work Week = $  25,200,000 PER WEEK
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$  25,200,000 x 4 =  $ 100,800,000 PER MONTH
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$  100,800,000 x 12 Months = $1,209,600,000 PER YEAR (for California alone)
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"Must help sick people. Must lower medical costs. Must manage expenses"
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Our creature is returning to our castle, and dang, he looks hungry. 
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Wow, we're going to need more taxpayers - perhaps we should eliminate the word 'illegal' from the phrase 'illegal aliens' and make 'em all citizens so they can chip in to defray these inconvenient costs?
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Somewhere in the Lab, the Creature's 'Bride' screams.


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Barack Obama grins, John McCain laughs, and John Boehnor shrugs...
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I go to work.
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