Blog Archives
Journey into Bikram Yoga
You knew this post was eventually coming, and I forewarned you that I was going to write about other things outside of politics. So, without further adieu, I present to you the first into my series focusing on fitness.
With health care costs increasing significantly every year and with obesity rates at 36%, exercise is the best preventative medicine around (along with eating right…but I’m not going to go all Michelle Obama on this post). It gives you energy and for the most part, it provides focus and clarity.
Today, I ventured into a Bikram Yoga class. It was not my first time encountering a 104 degree room and holding poses. I had been before, but I was not thoroughly convinced that it would be the perfect alternative to running. However, after today’s class, I feel this could be an alternative.
Bikram Yoga has many benefits including increased flexibility through intense stretching, and allows the ability to sweat out the toxins. Of course, you need to drink lots of water before, during, and after practice to remain hydrated due to the excessive amount of sweat loss.
Running has caused a few injuries along the way, and lately, I have been feeling frustrated by the fact that I am in pain a few hours after a long run. It is great cardio, and one that has contributed to my overall weight loss. From being overweight in high school, I bought my first pair of running shoes during my freshman year in college, and the first run was painful. Needless to say, I have been running strong over the years with several races under my belt (a 5-K, 8-K, 10-K, and a 10 miler), and a goal to run a half marathon this year.
However, I need balance. I tried CrossFit, but I feel like that it is taking away from my overall flexibility. Yes, I like weight lifting, but I really don’t need to add muscle mass or bulk to my petite frame. Yoga feels like a natural complement to running. I just feel flexible and peaceful after class, which is a good thing.
In the end, if you can take the heat and are willing to embrace your inner self through the practice, you should definitely try Bikram Yoga (or another form, if you are not a big fan of the heat). The health benefits are tremendous, and there is no doubt that you will leave with a peaceful feeling at the end of practice.
Protect Community Pharmacies Receive Additional Support Against Express Scripts/Medco Merger
On Capitol Hill Tuesday, the Preserve Community Pharmacies Access NOW! (PCPAN) coalition and other local groups joined with Reps. Joe Courtney (D-Ct.) and Thomas Marino (R-Pa.) to voice their opposition to the merger of Express Scripts, Inc. and Medco Health Solutions, Inc., two of the nation’s largest pharmacy benefits management companies. There is a push to urge Congress and the Federal Trade Commission to oppose the merger.
This merger could go into effect, if approved, in early 2012. Several elected officials, attorney generals of dozens of states, pharmacy service providers, consumer advocates, and patient advocacy groups have questioned the merger.
During their visit, the coalition expressed concerns that the merger would mean that the new mega-PBM would control the supply line of brand-name and generic drugs, as well as hurting health care quality and limiting access to community pharmacies driving prices through the roof.
Kelly Williams, past president of the Virginia Dental Hygienists’ Association said, “The merger would make it difficult for smaller community pharmacies to keep their doors open, resulting in reduced competition, and reduced competition means cost increases for the public.”
Joining Williams to express concern about the pending merger was William Towler, who owns Grove Avenue Pharmacy in Richmond. If this merger goes through, there would be a detrimental impact on Towler’s business and other small community pharmacies across the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Protect our Community Pharmacies
Business mergers are not uncommon in today’s society. Sometimes they are for the best, and other times they negatively impact consumers and businesses. A proposed merger is likely to devastate community pharmacies and those who benefit from their services. Recently, two pharmacy benefit companies, Express Scripts, Inc. and Medco Health Solutions, Inc., announced that they will be merging in July, with a final transaction closing in the first half of 2012. This would create a company that would have excessive market power that would have the ability to squeeze the already burdened health care system for its own profits at the expense of patient choice.
Additionally, this merger would leave fewer choices for employers seeking cost savings for their health care plans. It would also mean fewer choices for those who rely on local pharmacies to fill their prescriptions, as they would have to travel further to fill their prescriptions or be denied the opportunity to have face-to-face access with their pharmacists. Patient choice would be severely limited under this merger, as those who relied on going to a community pharmacy to fill their prescriptions would be forced to have them filled by Express Scripts/Medco.
The Express Scripts/Medco merger will also have a significant impact on those receiving Medicare Part D benefits, as this would limit competition between pharmacies and the mail order company. This would increase pharmaceutical prices, which would drive up the costs for those receive state aid.
Why should consumers have to pay for an increase in bad service? Express Scripts is a mail order company, and it does not value the relationship between consumers and pharmacists. Congress and the Federal Trade Commission should stop this merger that will be unfair to local pharmacies and health care providers. This merger will further dilute the quality of patient care, while restricting their access to receiving medicines from the pharmacy of their choice. You can learn more about this and sign a petition against this merger by clicking here.
Statement on Ken Cuccinelli regarding Virginia's Challenge to ObamaCare
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit heard Virginia’s challenge to the federal health care act today in Richmond. The three-judge panel, which was randomly selected, included two Obama appointees, James A. Wynn, Jr. and Andre M. Davis, and one Clinton appointee, Diana Gribbon Motz, could decide the fate of this appeal. Whether the appeal is sustained or overturned, this case will likely be headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The audio from today’s hearings can be heard here.
Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli made the following statement regarding today’s hearing:
Today we took Step Two in a three-step process. As Judge Motz noted, the legal questions raised today are questions that will be answered in another court in another time.
I am going to give you an overview of the case as a whole, then I will get to the specifics of today.
Virginia has argued that the mandate that every person must buy government-approved health insurance violates the Constitution. Using the Constitution’s Commerce Clause to force people to buy a product goes beyond Congress’s power. This is why I have said all along that this is about liberty, not health care.
The insurance mandate penalizes people for not engaging in commerce. In other words, you can get fined for doing nothing.
Virginia has also argued that the penalty the government wants to charge if you do not buy health insurance is not a tax. The government cannot start calling the penalty a tax to try to make it legal under Congress’s taxing authority. Congress and the president passed it as a penalty, not a tax; it works as a penalty, not as a tax.
The federal government argued in court today that it should have unlimited authority in your lives, including the authority to regulate – i.e. dictate – your decisions, not merely your actions. The questions from the panel today indicated the judges struggled with this unprecedented exercise of authority.
If we cross this constitutional line with health care now – where the government can force us to buy a private product and say it is for our own good – then we will have given the government the power to force us to buy other private products, such as cars, gym memberships, or even asparagus. The government’s power to intrude on our lives for our own good will be virtually unlimited.
Virginia is fighting for the system of limited government created by our Founding Fathers. The Constitution’s limitations on federal power mean something. Even the president and the Congress must act within the rules set forth in the Constitution. That separates the American experience from many other countries, and it is a principle worth fighting for. As attorney general of Virginia, I took an oath to protect the Constitution, and I’m keeping that oath.
You heard about standing today. The federal government thinks it can tell the states to disregard their own laws – like it is doing with Arizona, but then also says the states do not have the same right to challenge federal laws in court. That is not how our system of government is set up. The founders set it up so the states were a check on potentially overreaching federal authority.
Virginia has a law – passed on a strong bipartisan basis – to protect Virginians from an individual insurance mandate. We are in the Fourth Circuit today because the U.S. Supreme Court has said that every state may defend its code of laws. In addition to protecting the U.S. Constitution, today we are also fighting to protect Virginia’s Health Care Freedom Act.
I have said all along that this lawsuit is not about health care. It is about liberty. At the same time, I understand that people want more affordable health care, and I sympathize with people who honestly cannot afford it. As a state senator, that was a problem I tried to address by trying to pass a law to allow our citizens to buy better or cheaper plans in other states.
But as someone who has sworn to uphold the law, I cannot endorse taking away the rights of all so that government can provide health care to some.
Yes, parts of our health care system need to be fixed. Yes, expenses are out of control. Yes, not everyone’s needs are being met. But there are better solutions than giving up our freedom.
With this ongoing court battle, there is a great deal of uncertainty for states, individuals, and businesses as to whether this law will be around two years from now or not. We need this resolved as quickly as possible – for the good of our people and our economy. We want to know where Virginia and the nation stand as soon as possible and before billions are spent complying with a law that we clearly think is unconstitutional.
We hope to hear from the Fourth Circuit sometime this summer. Then, we hope to move on to the Supreme Court.
Kudos to Attorney General Cuccinelli for standing up for our constitutional liberties. The federal health care act is unconstitutional, as people should be allowed the right to choose whether or not they want or need health care coverage. This law also places immense strain on small business owners, who are often fledgling to make payroll, etc.
Judge Rules Parts of ObamaCare Unconstitutional
This is a major victory for Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and Virginia. U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson ruled in favor of Virginia’s challenge to the federal health care law by striking down the individual mandate that requires nearly every American to purchase health insurance or face a steep penalty.
According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Hudson denied the petition to stop the law from being implemented in the state.
Cuccinelli, in a note to supporters said: “This won’t be the final round, as this will ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court, but today is a critical milestone in the protection of the Constitution.”
The decision also sparked responses from George Allen, who is considering a run for U.S. Senate against Jim Webb in 2012 and RPV Chairman Pat Mullins.
Allen said:
“This case is a reminder that Sen. Jim Webb ignored the views and values of the people of Virginia with his many votes, including the one for Senate passage last Christmas eve, for this unfair, harmful, unconstitutional federal government takeover of health care and its odious mandates.
“This decision is a victory for the rights and prerogatives of Virginians and potentially people throughout our United States.
“I heartily commend Judge Hudson for his sound, Constitutionally-based decision and also thank Virginia Attorney General Cuccinelli for defending liberty against federal usurpation and dictates.”
Mullins said:
“Today’s ruling is not just a victory for the Commonwealth of Virginia, but for our entire country. Attorney General Cuccinelli and his team recognized early that the legislation that came to be known as ObamaCare was more than just an ill-advised government take-over of the entire health care system – it was an assault on the very idea of limited government.
If Congress can require Americans to purchase health insurance, there are truly no limits to what government can do. The entire concept of enumerated powers – one of the pillars of Federalism – would be fatally undercut.
Voters understood from the very beginning that this legislation was fatally flawed. But Democrats in Congress, including our own Democrat Sens. Jim Webb and Mark Warner not only failed to listen to the voters, but also failed in their most fundamental responsibility: to protect the Constitution.
While there are still multiple hearings left before the U.S. Supreme Court issues a final ruling on this case, Monday’s decision is a clear indication that Virginia’s case is strong and will eventually prevail.”
Cross posted at
Bearing Drift
McDonald's Health Plan in Trouble
Why would McDonald’s consider cutting their health care coverage? Could President Obama’s health care plan be the cause of the health plan’s demise?
According to a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed, there was a report that McDonald’s planned to cancel its health care coverage due to some of the provisions in Obama’s health care plan. However, this report was refuted by U.S. Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and McDonald’s officials. McDonald’s did not deny that some of the new provisions will affect their existing health coverage.
The problem is that McDonald’s (and other fast food establishments) offer lower cost benefits with higher deductibles to their employees, and Obama’s health care plan is designed to get rid of these programs.
I wonder how a certain McDonald’s employee is feeling about this. Remember Jose Osegueda, a McDonald’s employee, who wanted to know if Obama’s education proposals and health care plan would help him.
He must be feeling like the promised hope and change has deserted him too. This is just another consequence of ObamaCare.
Americans Want Commonsense Health Care Reform
Guest Post by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.)
Over the last few weeks I conducted a series of in-person town hall meetings and telephone town hall meetings throughout the 6th Congressional District. These meetings allowed me the opportunity to speak with thousands of my constituents and answer their questions. It is clear that the recently enacted “health care reform” law continues to be of great concern to a majority of Americans.
This sweeping health care reform law, pushed by Congressional Democrats and signed into law by President Obama a few months ago, will dramatically impact every family, taxpayer and small business in America. As I have said time and time again, this monstrosity, which I voted against, amounts to a big government takeover of our health care system – one that will lead to fewer choices, higher prices and rationed care. Furthermore, the bill creates more than 150 new government agencies and programs at a cost of well over $2.5 trillion.
In addition to mandating that folks have health insurance, the government-run plan included in the law, will force millions out of the coverage they currently have. In fact, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that 8-9 million people will be dumped from their employer sponsored coverage.
To pay for this massive new government expansion, the legislation contains a total of $569 billion in devastating new tax increases imposed on individuals and small businesses. This will result in millions of lost jobs as small businesses are forced to take money from salaries to pay new taxes. In addition, the legislation would cut Medicare for our nation’s seniors by over $500 billion.
Americans are frustrated by rising health care costs, and that is why we in Congress should have had the opportunity to work in a bipartisan way to cut health insurance costs and make health care better, more available, and more affordable for all Americans.
House Republicans continue to offer solutions that will empower patients with choices, make high quality coverage more affordable, and protect and preserve the doctor-patient relationship. I strongly support a proposal that will achieve these goals. Unlike the Democrats’ plan, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office confirmed that the plan offered by House Republicans would lower premiums by up to 10 percent and reduce the deficit by $68 billion over 10 years, all without imposing tax increases on families and small businesses and while improving the quality of your health care. The Republican proposal allows for the purchase of health insurance across state lines, allows individuals and small businesses to join large pools to get more competitive rates, provides malpractice reform to cut down the high cost of defensive medicine, allows full tax deductibility of health insurance premiums, portability of health insurance, and protection against pre-existing condition exclusions.
I intend to continue working to repeal the new health care law that kills jobs, raises taxes, threatens seniors’ access to care, will cause millions of people to lose the coverage they have and like, and increases the cost of health care coverage. It must be replaced with commonsense reforms that lower health care costs and empower patients.
To contact me about this or any other matter, please visit my website at www.goodlatte.house.gov.
Obama Plays Dirty During Recess, Appoints Berwick to Head CMS
President Obama used his powers and appointed Dr. Don Berwick to head the Center of Medicaid and Medicare Services. Berwick has never faced confirmation hearings by the Senate, which makes his appointment unusual. Since Berwick’s appointment, there seems to be no lack of controversy. Berwick’s background raises some eyebrows, as he is in favor of rationing health care, believes health care is a right (not a privilege), and believes Britain’s health care system should be the role model for America’s health care system.
Listen to his comments:
Why would Obama do a recess appointment of someone to lead one of the most important agencies in health care? Is there some reason why he is afraid of a Senate committee holding confirmation hearings for Berwick? Evidently, this video might be one of the skeletons in the closet that Obama feared would stand in the way of Berwick’s nomination or one of his other stances. Hopefully, the U.S. Senate will address this recess appointment and challenge it. Berwick is dangerous to Americans who benefit from Medicare and Medicaid.
Haymarket Hospital Site Runs into Problems
In April, I began covering the plans to build a hospital in Haymarket, Va. Both Prince William Hospital System (PWHS), a Novant company, and Sentara Health Care were competing to build a hospital in Western Prince William County. The Prince William plan was approved unanimously by the Health Systems Agency of Northern Virginia in April, while the Sentara application was denied. Sentara Health Care withdrew their application after this decision.
The residents of the Gainesville/Haymarket area have been extremely supportive of Prince William Hospital System’s decision to build a hospital in their community, with the commute times and population growth being their main concerns. The proposed Prince William Hospital in Haymarket is designed to support and supplement the services provided by the existing Prince William Hospital at Heathcote, which is considered one of Virginia’s safety-net hospitals. This hospital site also has the support of State Senator Chuck Colgan (D-Manassas), Delegate Jackson Miller (R-Manassas), Manassas Mayor Harry Parrish, Prince William County Sheriff Glen Hill, and others.
Fast forward to June, the Commonwealth of Virginia is now deciding the fate of Prince William Hospital System’s application to build a hospital in Haymarket. Right now, the fate is not looking too good for PWHS, as the Division of Certificate of Public Need (COPN) recommended that the State Health Commissioner, Karen Remley, deny PWHS’ application to build. Why would the Division of COPN stand in the way of the proposed hospital? The staff director in the COPN division has questions based on the area’s population growth and does not think that the transportation problems warranted a hospital.
Drive times are another concern and are among the top criteria in deciding whether to build a new hospital. For someone going to the nearest hospital in Manassas (Prince William Hospital), it takes anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour to get to the hospital. This is particularly critical, especially if there is a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate attention. DCOPN makes the claim that hospitals in Northern Virginia are already under utilized but when you look at very specific data. That is a broad brush overview of the region. When you examine the data specifically in Prince William County, it is the second largest County in the planning district with 20% of the population, yet it only has 12% of the available hospital bed space. This presents an obvious problem for one of Virginia’s fastest growing counties.
It appears that there is a disconnect between Richmond and the rest of the state. How would the COPN Division know what is best for the residents of Western Prince William County?
This will be one of the first COPN applications that will be reviewed under the McDonnell administration. While the final decision rests with the Health Commissioner, the Governor and HHR Secretary Bill Hazel should remind Commissioner Remley of the challenges that NOVA residents face everyday because of serious traffic congestion before any final decisions are made. The COPN regulations provide flexibility to the Health Commissioner regarding the criteria considered in this process. The criteria include: the recommendation of a local health planning agency, community support, and local travel times to hospitals exceeding 30 minutes.
The final decision was to be made by June 30; however, because of the high volume of COPN applications, it may be delayed by a few months into the fall.
Health Systems Agency of Northern Virginia Approves PWHS Plan
During a special meeting of the Health Systems Agency of Northern Virginia on Monday, there was an overwhelming vote of support for a hospital to be built in Western Prince William County. The board voted in support of Prince William Health System’s plan to build a facility on the grounds of the current Heathcote Health Center. The agency’s recommendations will now be voted on by the state health commission.
In a recent News & Messenger article, one agency member said the Prince William Health System plan made more sense as it was a better location and less costly than Sentara’s proposal.
To learn more about Prince William Health System’s plan for the Haymarket hospital, click here.
