Health Program | News, Views and Reviews on Health Issues

Copyright (c) 2007 Stephen Lau

Taoism is a way of life, practiced in China for thousands of years.

Lao Tzu, one of the greatest Chinese philosophers as well as the founder of Taoism, said, “The Tao’s principle is simply spontaneity.” Spontaneity is the key to healthy longevity.

What is spontaneity? How does it affect your physical health?

In the universe, there is an all-controlling force that monitors everything. You breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. You eat and you eliminate. You grow, mature, and deteriorate. In nature, spontaneity is evident in the change of seasons. Spontaneity is the natural built-in mechanism in each living organism. Spontaneity creates balance and harmony.

Nowadays, people focus so much on physical fitness. The gym giants will do anything to keep you huffing, puffing, and paying; the pharmaceutical companies will come up with any supplements touted to keep you lean, muscular, and full of energy. There is so much pumping irony: strenuous and vigorous workouts may be harmful to your physical health.

According to the AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY, jogging is causing runners to drop dead from heart attacks. Many individuals have experienced heart attacks even after running on a treadmill.

The medical journal LANCET reports that aerobics is causing deadly artery clogs and heart disease in many individuals who never before had such problems.

You do not need to jog until you are blue in the face, or pump iron like Arnold Schwarzenegger in order to be physically healthy. You can be fit the Taoist way

Lao Tzu explained, “The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world.” You need not over-exert yourself in order to be physically fit.

Chinese exercises, such as Tai Chi and Qi Gong, are never vigorous. Once your breathing becomes abnormal or irregular over a long period, you lose the spontaneity of the exercise, and hence its health benefits.

Tai Chi is a self-relaxing exercise with slow and even movements coordinated with breathing and directed by a peaceful mind. Therefore, it is beneficial to both mental and physical health. With its thousands of years of practice, Tai Chi can rid all parts of your body of spiritual and physical ailments, clear your mind and strengthen your brain, and promote good digestion and healthy kidneys. Most importantly, Tai Ci exercises can help lower your blood pressure, soften your blood vessels, and regular the flow of “qi” (the internal vital energy) in your entire body.

What is “qi”?

“Qi” is internal vital energy. It is important because it moves your body. It is the source of growth in your body. “Qi” is always in motion in the form of ascending, descending, entering and leaving your body’s organs and systems. It nourishes not only your body by transforming food energy into blood, but also your blood by keeping it flowing. In addition, it helps maintain your body’s temperature. “Qi” plays a vital role in Chinese health and healing.

With regard to “qi”, Lao Tzu said, “Qi is elusive and evasive, and yet it manifests itself.”

Tai Chi exercises focus on correct posture, slow and spontaneous movements, and natural healthy breathing.

Your central nervous system is the most important system in your body: it receives vital information from outside and inside your body; it directs your movements. Your central nervous is healthy only if you keep your spinal column erect because vitality and blood circulation are transmitted efficiently from your lower body to your brain only when your spine is kept erect. Tai Chi exercises are based upon a natural posture (children have naturally erect spinal columns; only adults, especially older people, have bent spinal columns) with an erect spine.

Next to your central nervous system, your digestive system is important to your overall health as it stores and supplies all nourishments for your body. Some of the characteristic movements of Tai Chi reinforce the expansion and contraction of your body in an opening and closing motion, thereby instrumental in vibrating and stimulating your stomach and intestines for a better and healthier digestive system.

Your respiratory system is also critical to your long-term health. In Tai Chi, breathing is valued more than physical power: breathing ‘ not muscular strength ‘ propels the movements of your body. Western physical exercises, on the other hand, emphasize muscular strength instead of the spontaneity of breathing and natural body movements. In Tai Chi, your mind directs the “qi”, letting it sink down into your abdomen, where natural breathing takes place. According to Taoism, you breathe through your abdomen (like babies and young children), not through your lungs. This explains why people in the West limit their breathing to the lungs; as a result, their lungs tend to enlarge as they grow older, crowding their hearts, leading to heart disease.

Your circulatory system is connected to your respiratory system. Tai Chi enhances your deep breathing, which guides your “qi” to move your blood (which cannot move itself) to different parts of your body for transporting oxygen and nutrients. By regulating the circulation, Tai Chi exercises through natural movements and deep breathing provide a healthy heart.

Hormones in your thyroid gland are responsible for physical growth of your body. In Tai Chi, you keep your neck erect without pressure, centered without inclining to the left or to the right; you integrate the slow and smooth movements of your head and neck. These movements not only enhance the activity of your thyroid gland but also act upon your kidneys to remove wastes.

In summary, you need the spontaneity of Taoism in physical movements as well as in natural breathing to optimize physical health benefits from exercise. Western exercises, focusing on pumping power and strength, may seem too “unnatural” for that.

By: Stephen Lau
Posted:

WeCAN! provided the physical fitness zone.

Date Taken: 2011-08-15 21:54:03
Owner: Neighborhood Centers

physical health

Your diabetes diet program will help you a extremely good deal to managing your bloodstream sugar level. You will find certain recommendations that you need to totally follow based on your physician’s instructions for the diabetes diet plan. It is crucial for you to follow your diabetes diet plan to lessen the potential risks which you may acquire when you don’t follow carefully. Most diabetes diet program recommendations will need three times eat primary meals. Yes, you may also have several snacks, but don’t too many. You can easily talk to your diet expert about food you’re permitted to include in your diabetes diet {program|plan}. Generally, food that’s wealthy in fiber and carbohydrates.

The Healthy Diabetes Diet Plan

A proper diabetes diet plan is particularly similar with the healthy diet of individuals without any diabetes. Whenever we say balanced diet, the food should always have the correct quantity. An excessive amount of could cause you some other damage.The diabetes diet plan shouldn’t have the sweet foods. The sweet snacks, sweet foods are not allowed for individuals with diabetes. There are sweets options for diabetes people. Rather than the actual sugar, you will find sweetening which are safe for diabetes sufferers. With the blood insulin treatment, sweet food consumption is controlled. Anyway, you will find other available alternatives that may fit your lifestyle. You can talk to your diabetes diet plan expert regarding this.

The Correct Quantity of Diabetes Diet Plan

The body needs the proper amount of nutrition. The diabetes diet plan must contain our daily needs based on our daily activities. Following are selected diabetes diet program. A proper diabetes diet program may contain one serving of protein minimum of 3 oz of chicken or beef or seafood. You may also eat one serving of bread, ideally whole grain bread or pasta as a substitute. Dairy serving such as milk or cheese can also be included for good. Veggie’s really are a necessity inside your diabetes diet plan. One serving of fruit can also be good as a way of cleansing body system. Some people includes cinnamon in their diabetes diet plan. You can add cinnamon inside your food, or your juice. Cinnamon diabetes diet plan still in debate until today. Some said it works, some said it’s not works.

Forbidden Meals While in Diabetes Diet Plan

The diabetes diet plan doesn’t contain sweets. You could have the choice sweetener to help you lower your perils of a much deeper complication. Diabetes diet plan must avoid red-colored meat, and individuals meals which are full of unhealthy fats. High cholesterol levels meals should also be cancelled inside your diabetes diet program. Anyway, the best goal of the diabetes diet program is keep your bloodstream sugar level low. Meals which are high in sugar content should be avoided. The diabetes diet plan should contain simple carb food so your body can convert it into sugar.

By: Casey Clinton
Posted:

A Healthy Breakfast or Lunch and it takes only 10 minutes to make for one person.But 2 people can enjoy this recipe as well just double up on the ingredient portions.

Egg over Wild Greens

Written by Barry Gourmet & raw © Copyright Oct 3 2011
Introduction:
Always before I prepare a meal I consider the following very quickly to form the image into my mind of a near perfect healthy Breakfast or Lunch.
One is it Plant Based ? Is the meal primarily from the plant whole food kingdom.
Two is most of the meal presented Raw ? Is the recipe loaded with life giving Enzymes for better digestion of nutrients.
Three is the recipe colorful and fun to make ? You can think of different textures, smooth and course,with contrasting elements of shapes to help it to be the most interesting and entertaining food presentation made possible with TLC.
Four what does the food do for my body? What nutritional value is in the recipe? What purpose does the recipe serve for my well being?
Five how much time will it take for me to make this recipe? Can I make it in under 15 minutes? Or even under 10 minutes? How much of my precious time will I spent on creating this recipe? I consider any recipe that takes longer than 20 minutes tops in our modern world to be way too long , for most people that are busy. I always consider and think of the busy person that wants it all in under 15 minutes time flat.
Six if I am using any animal protein it must be small in size in proportion to the vegetables and thought of as not the main course of the recipe,but instead thought of as a small supporting role for the over all affect that I am trying to achieve. The animal must be organically fed,free range or wild, grass feed or left to forage in the wild. ( This idea eliminates most meat sold in stores today and it would take pages of content for me to explain why it is so important to know your meat sources unconditionally in todays market place. The book Diet for a New America authored by John Robins is only one of many books that would educate the public of the dangers of todays intensive factory farm methods and processed meat industry.

All animal is missing dietary fiber,with a much slower transit time through your body ,so it is very important to load up the recipe with vegetables .
And seven does the recipe pass the taste test? Yes why bother even to start a recipe if it absolutely doesn’t make your taste buds jump out and say WOW! this really is delicious and savory ,and brings a smile to your face.

Yes we are all human after all and I am not to proud to admit that on occasion my recipe plan did not work in the taste department and this can happen to you or any body else but it’s OK! You can learn from this as its all trial and error in the beginning . Sometimes it can become a real challenging attempt , to get it right the second or even the third time. No problem this is life.

In my opinion there is healthy and unhealthy ways of preparing meats in your kitchen and the following are just a few rules that I follow as I wash up and slip on my apron for preparation of this recipe.

One the meat is stored with meats, and the vegetables with vegetables separately in the refrigerator to prevent cross contamination. The meat should be stored near the back where it is coldest.
Two I use separate work areas in my kitchen with separate cutting boards with separate culinary utensils to prevent cross contamination.
Three the meat will always be cooked first as it will take the longest time to finish and the vegetables will follow after.
Four the only cooking medium I will use is pure water , or vegetable stock that is not more than 2 days old in the making at most.
All my cold pressed oils are not used for cooking as the high heat will denature and cause the oil to go rancid in the body creating even more free radicals.
I use the following cold pressed oils contained in glass were in moderation for vinaigrette dressings , sauces and as recipe thinning such as Virgin Olive, Flax Seed, and Coconut Oil.
Five my only heating methods will be light steaming, blanching ( dipped in hot water that has been previously boiled) And on rare occasions some vegetable broth pan frying and oven baking but the recipe would usually take to long in time to make, so it is not used much by me.
Six I think of possibly adding a probiotic cultured food such as Korean style traditional Kimchi or German style traditional Sauerkraut on the side. An optional small serving dish of either of the two would be an excellent compliment to the Egg over Wild Greens Recipe.
Often with many Thai dishes a side order of fermented greens or paste dip is offered.
And Seven is my organic garden of choices for fruits,vegetables and herbs to add to the recipe.

And what about that Egg ?

Not that long ago Eggs received a lot of negative publicity from the News Media,Doctors and uninformed Health advocates claiming that eggs would raise your cholesterol and clog up your arteries leading to heart disease. It went on like this for years and then the cholesterol lowering pharmaceuticals , where born to come to the rescue. But then later we found out that the cholesterol lowering drugs where not a necessity in most cases and that right diet like a Plant Based one could actually do the job very well without any of the associated side effects. Of course we know today that our own body Liver manufactures cholesterol which we could not live without it anyway . Later science discovered that lecithin,Vitamin E, and the trace mineral Selenium was in good supply in the eggs yolk sack. And on top of this if the egg was free range ,grass fed and organic you would have a good supply of essential Omega 3 fatty Acids as well ,the good fats.
So then the egg industry could breath a sigh of relief knowing that certain eggs where good for you in moderation, and the others where still questionable?
And what about all the egg cartons showing photos or drawings of fish all over them?
I thought that hens where vegetarian, and not fish eating birds? Am I looking at a GMO product here containing Genetically Modified Organisms?

We can see all kinds of controversial food and product claims made over the years that only adds confusion to the consumers to no end.
The following are good examples.
We where told that Dairy Butter was bad for our heart health and to only eat processed Margarine for protection. Then only years later we found out that the friendly margarine contained processed artery clogging, hydrogenated oils.
We where told that all coconut products are fattening and contained high levels of saturated fat.
Years later we learned that this simply was not true ,and now know that the saturated fat in coconut is different in chemical structure compared to the saturated fat found in all land based meats. The meat from land having long chain saturated fats and the coconuts having medium chain saturated fatty acids work differently in the body. The fact is coconut fat helps you to lose weight , and meat fat helps you to gain weight its proven.Generally all the South East Asian people living on a traditional plant based diet including coconuts , are relatively all lean and thin .It is rare even today that you can find any obesity among them.
We where told that human mothers should never breast feed their new born babies, but instead to feed the human baby cows formula milk that was really met for the cows suckling calf.
But of course to day we know now that it is much more healthy for a human mother to breast feed her natural breast milk to support the babies immunity, brain development and body function.
And then we where told not that many years ago that it was healthy to smoke cigarettes.
Yes its true! According to history ,Medical Doctors pitching the sale of Cigarettes for the Tobacco Industry such following claims where made.
"Cigarettes are healthy for you , and can help your indigestion. They can even help you to attract the opposite sex."

These are only a few examples and there are many more, so what is really going on here?
I let you decide?

“Do we really consciously think about where that food item came from ?, How it was made?, What is in it ?, What was taken out?, And how long it has been sitting on the shelf ? Do we really want to know ? Do we really care? “

Barry Gourmet & Raw

Egg Over Wild Greens Ingredients:

One free range Organically raised Hen or Duck Egg . I prefer the Duck for its rich orange color of yolk that is rich in the trace mineral selenium.

A few whole Raw Macadamia Nuts.
On the side :Some raw unfiltered honey , Wasabi powder, Bee Pollen,powdered Green Tea powder. Thai chilli powder and soya sauce. Raw Apple Cider Vinegar. Black Pepper powder.

One small whole onion
One whole garlic clove . Or if you are like me you can add 2 garlic cloves for all those Garlic Lovers out there.
One whole lime or half a lemon .
One small field tomato.
One half ear of Organically grown corn on the cob.
Three medium size dry mushrooms of your choice.

Barry’s Gourmet Fresh Garden Wild Greens:

I like to add a lot of a little bit of everything to add flavor and nutrition to the mixed green salad.Just enough to balance out the meal with out overwhelming it.
This is almost like a ritual for me and I know a lot of gardeners reading this article can relate to this. I just walk around my garden with my stainless steal strainer basket and start picking what I feel like eating at the time.

For this recipe I picked young Rose Apple leaves, young Mango leaf, some Dandelion leaf, a few “By A Boo Bak “Leaves. Now I know what you are thinking ? What the heck is “By A Boo Bak” ? All I can say is they stand about 3 to 7 inches tall and they look like thin dark green pancakes supported by long thin edible stems.I would classify them as delicious edible weeds that grow just about every where.Almost every time I talk to a Thai knowledgeable elder person about edible weeds , they can only give me the Thai name and not the english name so that is the way it goes.
I find it very interesting that in the Thai produce out door market places , I can see all kinds of interesting green herbs with edible flowers and weeds that you would never find being sold in a conventional grocery store displayed under one air conditioned roof. It is a cottage industry in Thailand for growing medicinal herbs and exotics.As long as you see them eating this plant that has been done for generations then you know its OK to eat.
It is not uncommon that I would come home to my Thai wife,”her name is Am “ and ask her “what the heck is this? “ holding the weird looking green plant up for her inspection.
She will smile or maybe even laugh and tell me what it is in Thai language only.
She will say often that we do not know the English name and only the Thai name so look it up on the internet.But when I do in most cases I cant find it so I have resolved my self for giving Thai names only to some of these South East Asian herbs and edibles.
But not to worry if you do not have a Thai Herb garden in your back yard.
This is just in, my Thai wife surfed the internet for me to look up that weird pancake shaped edible weed for me , and it turns out that it is called an "Asiatic Pennywort or Tiger herb. This plant is a heart tonic and effective for lowering high blood pressure. My many thanks to my Thai wife ,"Thanks Am."
You can use any of the following store bought greens that is just as effective.

Basil, Peppermint,Spinach,Romain Lettuce,Water Crescent. Organic as much as possible.

Method for preparing Egg over Wild Greens:
(I call this my Workout Recipe?)

When I am preparing any animal protein ,the food is with out exception always done first working on a separate cutting board. The meat will take longer to steam, and you want to avoid cross contamination with the vegetables from bacteria and parasites. Always make sure that in the end that the meat is thoroughly cooked . (The possible exception can be an egg for some people that like them runny) First add four 4 cups of pure water into your steam pot and add the 3 dry mushroom caps that will make your wonderfully rich broth of tea in the end.

Place your steamer basket on top then place your Hen or Duck Egg inside and cover with the lid.
Put on medium heat for 5 minutes , and now we get to work on the fun stuff , the vegetables.

Making of the Wild Greens:

First the salad sauce vinaigrette dressing for tossing .
In a mixing bowl add the following:
One teaspoon of Raw Cold Pressed Apple Cider Vinegar.
One teaspoon of Raw unfiltered honey.
One fresh squeezed lime or half a lemon juice.
Sprinkle in some Bee pollen (Bee Pollen keeps best in the freezer its a perishable)
Then grate your garlic clove into the bowl and stir then put aside.

Second the making of your savory macadamia nuts.
Place the macadamia nuts in a bowl.
With your basting brush add a bit of raw unfiltered honey , making sure that each nut is brushed .
Next spoon the sticky macadamia nuts into your glass jar and add the following.
One teaspoon of Wasabi powder.
Put the lid on tightly then shake the jar vigorously like all those cocktail bartenders you see doing all the time . A little music doesn’t hurt.
Add more wasabi powder if necessary to cover all your nuts.

By this time 5 minutes should be up, ? And you can add the medium whole onion to the steam basket to join the egg.

Next back to the Wild Greens Salad.

Gather all your leafy greens together on your cutting board and chop the leaves finely and place the whole lot into a large bowl.
Next take out your half cob of raw organic corn and with a pairing knife slice down ward into the cutting board to remove the kernels from the cob. (Raw sweet crunchy corn kernels are delicious)

Add the Corn kernels to the salad bowl.
Finally pour in your vinaigrette dressing and toss the salad wild greens and corn together thoroughly and spoon into your serving dish.
We should be near the 10 minute mark , so this is a good time to take out the steamed hot egg with a spoon and place it in a cold cup of ice water that I keep in the refrigerator.
This will quickly make the thermal scalding egg much more easy to handle in this way , for breaking open the shell.
When your egg is finally naked then , place it on top of your bed of wild garden greens.
Cut the egg, in sections , then layer thinly sliced field tomato across the edge of the serving plate.
Place your semi raw onion next to your egg.
Open up the onion a little down the middle and dribble some Soya Sauce over top and lightly sprinkle some Thai Chili powder over top.

Pour your mushroom broth into your cup and can add one of the caps. The other 2 mushroom caps add to the main dish.
Then spoon over and around your pre made Seed and Nut Salad Dressing made previously from the my “Barry’s Asian Salmon Recipe “ that you can find here below if you do not have it already?

Barry,s Asian Style Seed & Nut Dressing:

I have covered how to open coconuts correctly in some of my other articles, so I just want to say that you need the right kind of heavy Knife that has a rectangle blade. And you work in a circular chopping pattern to get the nut open. Practice Practice. The store where you buy your coconuts does most of the work for you by cutting the sides of the nut then making nice cone head points for easy opening.
But for me I often harvest my own organic coconut from my garden to wrestle with them, but I am getting better at it now.Stores do sell coconut milk or cream in cartons if you wish to go that way as well.

Ingredients for Asian Style Seed & Nut Dressing for one person and good for a 3 day supply:

1 cup of sprouted whole almonds.
Sprouting almonds is easy just have them submerged in fresh water over night , then in the morning rinse out all the old water. Then I use the matt or towel method by rapping them up to absorb the excess water. You will notice that your almonds look much bigger than before
‘because they are. They are sprouting , and the enzyme inhibitors , a protein membrane that surounds each nut is being dissolved away.

1 whole fresh coconut .
1 cup of fresh diced pineapple.
1 cup of fresh diced papaya .
1 level table spoon of the following.

Flax seed ,Chia seed,Black sesame seed,and Pumpkin seed.
A bottle of Bee Pollen that should be stored in your freezer as this is an extremely perishable product,and the same goes for flax seed oil and wheat germ as well.
Every store I know of in the US and Canada will practice this way of storing these kinds of products to avoid the product of becoming prematurely rancid , but retail stores in Thailand as hot as it gets here will not properly store these items in the cooler and it just amazes me why there is not any world standard for this.

Directions for Asian Style Seed & Nut Dressing:

Cut open the coconut at the top and pour the water juice into your glass blender.
Chop the nut down the middle in to two parts then scrape out the meat using a spoon and add it to your blender.
Add your pineapple and papaya to your mix in the blender .

Next add one level tablespoon each to your milling machine that attaches to your blender .
I hope that you purchased a quality blender that has this important unit ? If not then you will just add the seed directly into your blender.

Inside your milling machine you have one level table spoon of Flax,Chia,Pumpkin and Black sesame seed . Turn on the machine with the cover secured and grind the seed down into a fine powder. Then add the contents to your blender.

Blend everything together until you have a smooth consistency.
Always after I blend my dressing or smoothie I taste it first for making any necessary ingredient adjustments with more blending until its just right.

Pour your seed and nut dressing into glass gars to be stored in your refrigerator.

Tip for natural preservation of salad and dip dressings :
Natural foods tend to parish quickly if not properly handled and should be consumed as early as possible with in the first and second day for best taste and nutrition.Home made salad dressings in glass jars are best kept in the back of the refrigerator where it is coldest.
Nature has 3 powerful preservatives that you can mix into your raw dressing to taste.
I use ground Clove powder that is one of Natures highest antioxidants and is well documented anti parasitic.
I use ground Cinnamon powder that is also one of natures highest antioxidant herbs and it has the capability to help stabilize the blood sugar .
Raw unfiltered honey is a well researched preservative from nature , and it helps neutralize ,bitterness and tart after taste of the other two herbs.
I usually make enough to last 3 days tops and no longer than this.
I do not trash any of my left over raw dips or dressings I compost it instead.

“The supplement Industry is telling us that we cannot possibly get all our nutrition from our foods alone due to many factors like loss of top soil and unsustainable modern chemical agriculture used today. I can see their point hear ,but then we have peoples of the Blue Zones all over the world living today well into and over one hundred years of age ,disease free living on whole food plant based diets and they seldom take any supplements.” Something to think about.

Barry Gourmet & Raw

Date Taken: 1980-01-01 00:00:28
Owner: Barry Gourmet and Raw

diet plan

Federal

Although the House vote to repeal health care reform is symbolic only (given the Democratic Senate and White House), it is a necessary first step leading to committee by committee action over the coming months on discrete provisions of health care. One such item, medical malpractice liability reform, got a hearing last week before the House Judiciary Committee as Republicans paraded several witnesses before the committee to showcase the need for legislation from the physicians’ perspective. Since it is very unlikely that the American Medical Association’s wish list would ever become law, the best result from the committee process would be a bill that skirts the more controversial items (e.g., cap on damages) and focuses on attainable and meaningful reforms, such as health courts, stronger pre-trial evaluation and settlement pathways.  This would be a path Aetna would strongly support.

States

ARIZONA: Governor Jan Brewer has announced that she will request a waiver from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services so that the state can set Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) eligibility below levels mandated by the PPACA. In March 2010, Governor Brewer signed a fiscal year 2011 budget that stripped funding for the state’s Children’s Health Insurance program (KidsCare) and cut 5 million from AHCCCS, effectively repealing an expansion of AHCCCS to childless adults approved by voters in 2000. However, following enactment of the PPACA, the state rescinded the scheduled cuts to comply with the law’s “maintenance of efforts” (MOE) requirement. The MOE requirement prohibits a state from having eligibility standards, methodologies, or procedures for adults that are more restrictive than those in effect on March 23, 2010, until a health insurance exchange in the state is fully operational, and for all children in Medicaid and CHIP through September 30, 2019. The MOE requirement provides an exception for non-pregnant, non-disabled adults earning more than 133 percent of the federal poverty level if a state is projected to have a budget deficit. Arizona faces a mid-year budget deficit estimated at 5 million. A .4 billion shortfall is projected for the 2012 fiscal year.

CALIFORNIA: The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review whether health care providers and patients have the right to sue California over budget reductions made to Medi-Cal reimbursements. The high court will review three legal challenges to California’s proposed and adopted reimbursement cuts. The Supreme Court’s ruling on the case could have major implications for efforts to address California’s budget deficit. Last week, Gov. Jerry Brown (D) released a budget proposal that would reduce Medi-Cal payments to health care providers by 10 percent to cut program spending by about 9 million in fiscal year 2011-2012. In addition, the case could have implications for other states seeking to address budget deficits by cutting Medicaid payments. With federal courts in California blocking the cuts, 22 states have joined California in appealing the issue to the Supreme Court.  The court is expected to hear oral arguments in the case next fall. A decision is expected in late 2011 or early 2012.

CONNECTICUT: Speaker Chris Donovan, members of the Public Health and Insurance Committees and a variety of advocates held a press conference last week to announce the Public Health Committee has raised the SustiNet bill based on the recent recommendations of the SustiNet Board. Few details were provided, but the original report recommends that SustiNet become a licensed insurance plan. ”We don’t need health insurance anymore, we need to move towards health assurance — health care that will be there for us, and the SustiNet plan will do that,” Donovan said. Lawmakers will face a .7 billion budget deficit by July 1. Rep. Betsy Ritter, D-Waterford, co-chairwoman of the Public Health Committee, said the plan will have to go before multiple legislative committees, with the actual bill some weeks away. A financial analysis on upfront costs is not yet available. Aetna is working with the Connecticut Association of Health Plans (CTAHP) and AHIP to secure an objective fiscal analysis of SustiNet’s, as a public option, true cost to the state, and of the strong, positive impact health insurers have on the state’s economy.

DELAWARE: In his State of the State speech, Governor Jack Markell emphasized the need for state government to spend more efficiently.  He specifically noted that the demands state employee health insurance and pensions are putting on the state budget are unsustainable. The Governor specifically stated he is open to any and all good ideas for addressing this budget issue. In other news, a joint meeting of the Senate Health Committee and the House Economic Development, Banking, Insurance, and Commerce  Committee was convened for an update on the state’s effort to implement health care reform. Rita Landgraf, Secretary of Health and Social Services, along with Bettina Riveros, Health Care Commission Chair, advised legislators the commission will spend the next six to eight weeks holding stakeholder meetings across the state seeking input on establishing a state health insurance exchange.

GEORGIA: The Exchange Workgroup formed by former Governor Sonny Perdue had its final meeting last week and will submit a list of issues for Governor Deal’s administration to review before deciding how to proceed on the issue of instituting an exchange in Georgia. As the head of this workgroup for Governor Perdue is continuing under Governor Deal’s administration, it is likely that there will be some enabling legislation during the 2011 session, though it is unclear what that will be. The legislative session began January 11, 2011 and continues for 40 legislative days.

IOWA: The General Assembly convened in Des Moines on January 10 and is expected to adjourn on April 29, 2011  In the November elections, Republicans took control of the House and gained a few seats in the Senate, narrowing the Democrats’ majority there. Republican Terry Branstad was sworn in as governor for the second time. Having served in the post from 1983 to 1999, Branstad is the longest-serving governor in Iowa’s history. The state’s budget deficit is projected to be more than 5 million for fiscal year 2012 and will dominate legislative discussions. House Speaker Kraig Paulsen has vowed to remedy the deficit through spending cuts rather than tax increases. The Governor’s proposal to revise the state’s annual budget to a two-year cycle will also be debated. Bills of interest so far include several challenging PPACA’s individual mandate, a prohibition on abortion coverage, creation of mandate-lite policies, a mandate for coverage of smoking cessation programs, a rate review bill that would require a public hearing for any increase over 10 percent in the individual market, and a bill establishing 0 as the minimum required payment for state employees.

INDIANA: Governor Mitch Daniels has issued an executive order  establishing the Indiana Health Benefit Exchange. In his order he directs the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (IFSSA) to cooperate with appropriate state agencies, including the Department of Insurance (IDOI), to establish and operate the exchange. The IFSSA Secretary or the secretary’s designee will serve as the incorporator of the Exchange. If, after careful analysis, the state deems it appropriate to proceed with creation of the exchange, a board of directors will be selected. The board will include representatives of state agencies and the Indiana General Assembly. Standing Committees will be appointed that have stakeholder representation. In addition, Governor Daniels submitted a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius requesting approval of a state plan amendment to extend the Healthy Indiana Program (HIP) beyond its expiration date. HIP, the state’s consumer-directed program for covering the uninsured population, is scheduled to expire in 2012. Daniels notes he has received communication from HHS staff indicating the state plan amendment will be rejected due to HIP’s required level of contribution from participants.  The Governor said the state intends to utilize the program for the newly eligible Medicaid population pursuant to PPACA. Daniels cautioned that Indiana does not have the time and financial resources necessary to complete new rigorous requirements for applying for a waiver extension if the amendment is rejected. The current 45,000 enrollees in the program would have to be transitioned into traditional Medicaid.

MISSOURI: The 96th General Assembly convened on January 5 and is expected to adjourn on May 30, 2011. With 106 members to the Democrats’ 57, the GOP has the largest number of seats it has ever held in the House and is just three members short of being veto-proof.  Given the large Republican majorities in the General Assembly and 70 percent voter support for Proposition C – an effort to turn back health care reform, the legislature will be under pressure to do nothing to move Missouri closer to enactment of federal health reform.

Significant health care bills filed this session include a resolution calling on the Attorney General to file a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the PPACA, a bill requiring statutory authorization by the General Assembly to implement PPACA, a bill expanding the autism mandate, an MLR bill for large carriers requiring a 90 percent MLR for Missouri-associated revenues and 85 percent for smaller carriers, a bill requiring the state employee health plan to offer a minimum of three high-deductible options with differing annual deductibles and annual out-of-pocket expenses, a bill prohibiting “Most Favored Nation” clauses, legislation creating transparency and publication of carriers’ fee schedules and requiring carriers to contract with providers willing to meet certain provider participation terms and conditions, and creation of a uniform group application for insurance.

NEBRASKA: The 102nd unicameral legislature has convened in Lincoln where it is expected to spend much of the session grappling with a budget deficit approaching 5 million for the 2011-2013 biennium. Implementation of the PPACA is expected to receive serious attention as well, with six bills relating to implementation or rejection of PPACA introduced to date. Bills of interest include legislation creating an Exchange Task Force, an interim committee for PPACA study, and several bills challenging the individual mandate, prohibition of abortion coverage, and a cochlear implant mandate. In addition, a bill banning discretionary clauses in health and disability income insurance contracts has been introduced.  The legislature began its work on January 6 and is tentatively scheduled to adjourn on May 26, 2011.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: The legislature convened on January 5, 2011, and is scheduled to adjourn on June 30, 2011. Governor John Lynch will continue as the state Executive; however, Republicans have gained control of both chambers in the legislature. In addition to the state’s budget deficit, implementation of federal health care reform will continue to be a priority for the governor and the legislature. Given the Republican majority and anticipated revenue shortfalls, there will be limited, if any, activity on health insurance issues. The legislature will, however, be paying close attention to federal health reform implementation issues and activities. In addition, there have been discussions about eliminating certain state mandates if they are not included in the essential benefits required under the PPACA. In 2010, the state enacted legislation granting certain powers to the commissioner with respect to implementation of PPACA.  This legislation also created a legislative oversight committee, to which the Department of Insurance (DOI) must report monthly. This month the DOI submitted a request for a waiver of the 80 percent minimum loss ratio (MLR) requirement for individual health insurance market policies until 2014.

NEW YORK: In a new report, the United Hospital Fund (UHF) looks at how New York might set up health insurance exchanges. One option is to let HHS run the state’s exchange, While that could save money, it would also mean ceding key operational and regulatory issues to the feds. It might also jeopardize existing consumer protections in Medicaid that are unique to New York. If the state sets up its own exchange, it must decide whether to join a multi-state exchange, a statewide entity, or small local ones. UHF noted that New York might consider following the leads of Massachusetts and California by creating an independent public authority to run an exchange. Former Governor David Paterson created a 35-member Exchange Committee that met only twice and did not make any recommendations. Governor Andrew Cuomo has not indicated his plans for establishing an insurance exchange in New York.

PENNSYLVANIA: Governor Tom Corbett has announced his intention to nominate Michael Consedine as the next Insurance Commissioner. Consedine is a partner at the law firm of Saul Ewing, where he serves as Vice Chair of its Insurance Practice Group.  Prior to joining Saul Ewing 12 years ago, Consedine served as state Insurance Department Counsel.

The Corbett transition team has announced that adultBasic, Pennsylvania’s health insurance program for low-income adults, is expected to expire on February 28 due to lack of funding.  The announcement, unusual in that it comes from an incoming  administration, was necessitated by the need to provide advance notice to enrollees and to inform them of alternative coverage options. Originally started by former Governor Tom Ridge and funded through the state’s allocation of Tobacco Settlement dollars, the program was later funded through the 2005 Community Health Reinvestment Agreement (CHRA).  While that agreement between the Rendell Administration and the state’s four Blue Cross plans expired on Dec. 31, 2010, additional funding was later provided by the plans pursuant to the CHRA’s formula.  It now appears those additional funds will be exhausted by the end of next month.

TENNESSEE:  A new Commissioner of Insurance appointed by Governor Bill Haslam took office last week. Julie McPeak is an attorney at the Nashville firm of Burr and Forman and the former Commissioner of Insurance in Kentucky.  Aetna is scheduling a meeting with the new Commissioner within the next several weeks.

By: Health Insurance
Posted:

Lt. Governor Anthony Brown particpates in the Maryland Health Insurance Plan Federal Press Announcement. by James W. Brown at Baltimore

Date Taken: 2012-03-19 00:00:00
Owner: MDGovpics

health insurance

The fate of universal healthcare coverage that the United States has been trying to achieve for over 100 years may boil down to broccoli. The broccoli argument is simple and was frequently referred to in the recent Supreme Court arguments: If the …