[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Political

Are you interested in serving your constituency?

Liberty Health Group believes that together we can make a difference by supporting those within the political system wanting to serve the people without political affiliations or aspirations to win the next election.

Individuals feel powerless to have an impact on health care delivery decisions, so they trust politicians to speak for them.  Political parties gain support by convincing voters that they can have an impact on the rules and regulations that will help them.

A Liberty Health Group membership will provide ongoing updates regarding ways to develop affordable health care in communities without legislation.  We will give practical examples to help with immediate needs: unexpected hospital events, the uninsured, businesses struggling to afford insurance premiums, etc.  In addition, we will offer suggestions for long-term needs: cost control, and access to affordable care.

Regardless of political affiliation, Liberty Health Group wants to support politicians who serve their community!  Join our movement . . . “Have you had ENUFF?”  We want to help emancipate a nation under friendly fire.  [Link The Enuff Movement document here]

Medicare

Are ambulatory surgery centers an option?

Documentation shows that procedures done in ambulatory surgical centers are approximately half of the costs of hospital charges.  If the outcomes are the same, and the surgical expertise is equivalent in both locations, why not choose the less expensive option.  This could save millions of taxpayers’ dollars.

Medicaid

Is expanding Medicaid a good option?

One of the main reasons that people are forced onto Medicaid is because they cannot afford insurance premiums.  Insurance premiums are not the same as access to health care.  Liberty Health Group is developing affordable health care portals for labs, office visits, and diagnostic procedures.  If the middle class and those on the margins of needing assistance, had access to affordable health care, States would not have to expand Medicaid roles.  Our country is at a tipping point where there are not enough taxpayers to support those benefitting from government support.

Medicaid is the United States Government’s program to care for those in need.  It is a necessary service for some, but there are those who take advantage of this program.  Many States have unfunded Medicaid liabilities.  Rarely do recipients get off Medicaid.

Arkansas is attempting to help Medicaid eligible people by taking federal dollars and purchasing insurance through health exchanges.  Ultimately, the payment for these programs is from federal dollars, a supply that is rapidly diminishing. Maybe the taxpayer should be on the endangered species list!

There are options for Medicaid-eligible people that will not bankrupt the State or Federal Government.

Hospitals and non-profit status

Is hospital non-profit status harmful for communities?

Originally, hospitals were granted non-profit status because they served their communities.  Now hospitals are large businesses that realize healthy profit margins.  State and Federal politicians are encouraged to consider the harm that non-profit status for hospitals is causing for communities.  Hospital tax forms (990 T) are available for public scrutiny.

Many of the non-profit hospitals are located where there are higher incomes, lower poverty rates, and lower rates of un-insurance than for profit hospitals (White, Nguyen, Nonprofit Hospitals and the Provision of Community Benefits, CBO Report, December 2006, pg. 3)

Charging prices to those without insurance 400-1,000% higher than what is received from Medicare is unethical.  In addition, hospitals are known for aggressive billing practices.  The debt owed to them is not extinguished by declaring bankruptcy.  Just because hospitals are not doing anything illegal does not mean they are acting in an ethically acceptable manner.  It is time to reevaluate the non-profit status of hospitals.

Affordable Care Act

Will the Afforded Care Act (ACA) control health care costs?

Liberty Health Group is politically motivated but non-partisan.  We want to have constructive conversations about issues.  When it comes to health care costs, there are many sincere people who think that government intervention will control costs.  Where does this notion come from?  It is a naïve assumption that is not based upon business success.  In fact, the complete opposite will happen . . . costs will go up and access will be diminished.

Within six months of the passage of the Affordable Care Act, insurance premiums have gone up 30-150% for many Americans.  While a minority have realized less expensive insurance options, it is not clear if this segment of society will pay the premiums.  The frightening reality is that political parties seem polarized regarding the ACA.  Those in favor want to make it work, regardless of the costs or potential for success.  Those against it seem to want to eliminate the entire plan, yet they do not have constructive alternatives.

It is time to lay aside our political swords and implement practical examples of success!  Join Liberty Health Group today and link arms with the many companies and individuals who have managed to control their health care costs, despite the many barriers that resist their success.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”998″ alignment=”center” border_color=”grey” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

Balancing the Checkbook – While balancing my checkbook for the last year, I noticed that I paid $235 in overdraft fees.  Wow!  That is a lot of money.  I could have bought a new golf club, had several nice dinners, or done a variety of other things besides paying overdraft fees.  

The government is the only organization that does not have to pay overdraft fees.  If they run out of money, they simply print more money!   I cannot print more money…well, I could…but I would probably end up spending time in prison. 

Encourage the politicians in your political party to balance their check book and quit 

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“How much does the dang thing cost?”

This is a question asked by Kent – the Texan in the Little Red Hen & Hospital Bills.  He was trying to figure out how much the hospital charged for their services.  

 

Politicians have protected hospitals from the power of transparency.  While many states have enacted “transparency bills,” they have no effect on making a difference.  

 

It is important for politicians to enforce bills that will help those who have no voice. 

 

Instead of “talking” about transparency, let’s start “walking” out transparency billing that will stop taking advantage of those who have no voice.

 

Require hospitals to stop aggressive billing practices against those with unpaid medical bills.  And consider the negative impact of certificate of need laws.  They increase costs by restricting competition.

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Implementing Medicaid – the cost?

Like Kent the Texan, each state should consider how much something is going to cost, prior to implementation.  Unfortunately, it is impossible to know how much Medicaid implementation will cost.   States who have chosen to expand Medicaid will be burdened with millions of addition expense…where will this money come from?

 

Prior to passage of the Affordable Care Act, states were challenged to pay for unfunded liabilities related to Medicaid.  If something is broken, does it make sense to make more of a broken product?

 

Liberty Health Group is motivated to keep people off Medicaid roles by developing affordable health care portals.  This can be cone community by community, and without legislation!  If you would like to have a game plan for your community…stay tuned!   We will continue to provide suggestions that are sustainable and will not cripple future generations with increasing taxes and debt. 

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What can you do today to help balance the state/federal budget? 

You could implement one, simple practice that could save millions immediately!  This money could be used to pay for those who are really in need.  Long-term benefits would be profound.  What is this simple step?   STOP END OF YEAR SPENDING!  This is a ridiculous waste of taxpayer’s money!

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