Oakey of Oakland, ME HuntandFish
Spoken like a true republican! Take care of yourself! And no one else! They must love you at headquarter!report abuse

HuntandFish of Farmington, ME How about someone making a profit off say, someone else's hunger? Maybe a profit from say, another persons desire to stay warm?

Socialist rubbish. While I agree there is a moral obligation to be just in the rates charged, there is nothing immoral about isolating what people need and want and making a reasonable profit from it. It's how we make money in a capitalist society.report abuse

Oakey of Oakland, ME Part 2 read other entry First
I love it when we start talking about medical coverage that is government funded you find one of the 3% Canadians who find their healthcare awful while the rest of them don’t mind it at all. The English Doctors think the Americans are stupid when it comes to healthcare. They are rewarded when they get a patient to give up smoking ,lose weight and lower their blood pressure, control their diabetes. They don’t have the problems with some of our chronic diseases because their patients’ come in early before it becomes too bad. Did you also know that we rank 44th in the world in taking of our people when it comes to health we are neck and neck with Turkey. This is a statistic not to be proud of as for Snowe and Collins they are doing what Bill Cohen did when he was in office listen to the people. This why Snowe and Collins were elected because they remember where they came and vote with their hearts as well as their brains. A reminder to the person who wrote this editorial Maine is not a Republican State anymore the party has lost touch with the people. Until they listen to our plight they will be the losers not the victors. Ladies(Snowe and Collins) thank you for what you do for we the peoplereport abuse

Oakey of Oakland, ME I find it funny how people say now the government will tell us whether we live or die, And as a former Blue Cross Blue Shield Anthem they told me everytime I had to go to the hospital or have test whether or not it was allowed how many times I could do it, how many times I could have blood tests. If they recieved a kick back from a drug company I couldn't take the med that worked for me I had to take the one they wanted. I also find it very upsetting that insurance companies make a profit on people's health I find that morally wrong. As government funded medical since I don't have any insurance I find myself for it even more than I did when Clinton was in office. Don't you fools realize that you pay for the people that can't afford health by paying more for your own tests done in hospitals. The hospital makes the insurance covered person pay a little more so to cover those who don't have coverage.report abuse

HuntandFish of Farmington, ME So, Medicare wants doctors to dedicate a consulting session to end of life issues, and will reimburse for it?

So, was it "medically necessary", because Medicare will not pay for services it deems not medically necessary. Because Medicare says they cover something, doesn't mean they're going to pay for it. They take many plays right out of the playbooks of the much demonized "Private Insurance Industry", likewise the "Private Insurance Industry" has been borrowing some from Medicare the last few years.

Now, seriously. What treating physician who is acting within the scope of his practice, in accordance with current best practice and ethical guidelines, isn't already doing this? Really? Come on now. Any medical provider is obligated to explain to the patient what their options are to deal with the problems they face. They're required to do this by their practice acts, and Code of Ethics. They're also required to explain the ramifications of their choices, the consequences. They also, in order to be completely ethical, should discuss the issues surrounding cost, ability to pay, and reimbursement.

I support Hospice Care, and have provided such care to people who were dying. I've arrived at patient's homes shortly after the death of their loved ones, and assisted them at that time. It's some of the most rewarding work I have ever done. I was thanked, but I got more than I gave. I think that no health care provided is complete, or can even begin, until the patient is as aware of their choices as possible under the circumstances. And sometimes, the truth is, no medicine is the best medicine. But it MUST be patient driven, out of concern for the patient's welfare, autonomy, and self-determination. Nobody else has to live or die with the result but the patient. Nobody.

I miss my patients that I've worked with in those times. I am sure their loved ones do as well, more. It was a privilege and an honor.report abuse

dontbehaten of maine, ME http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32247482/ns/politics/report abuse

dontbehaten of maine, ME http://www.newsweek.com/id/209775report abuse

LaurenL of waterville, ME You cannot receive more healthcare in exchange for less money... it doesn't work that way. Politicians aren't going to trade in their own healthcare plans for this public one? Doesn't that in and of itself say something?report abuse

LaurenL of waterville, ME Why is it that people who support this healthcare plan think they'll be receiving more healthcare and paying less? It's absolutely impossible. There are over 8,000 new cases of cancer in Maine every single year... according to the CDC. How is the government going to provide money to treating every one of them with chemotherapy, and radiation and making sure that everyone gets a fair shot? Easy, they're not. I have a grandmother with a terminal illness, and lucky for her... she's lived 13 years instead of the proposed 2 initially when she was diagnosed. If this government plan was passed, they would have given up on the woman 13 years ago because she was elderly, and it looked like she didn't have a shot in hell... she's getting to see my graduate from college, and my little cousins grow up. How is it right to take that away from anyone?report abuse

HuntandFish of Farmington, ME Going fishing. Be back later to tend this weedpatch.report abuse