tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489283.post113927076936939895..comments2023-11-14T23:16:33.142-07:00Comments on LiberalDesert: Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11891443087499337731noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489283.post-1139375087407410752006-02-07T22:04:00.000-07:002006-02-07T22:04:00.000-07:00I fully expect that our Genius-in-chief will make ...I fully expect that our Genius-in-chief will make good on his promise to fund a manned mission to Mars. If saying "charge it" doesn't work, his administration has perfected the alternate strategy of funding these enterprises on the Hundred Year plan. He's a long term thinker. I'm sure we'll be thinking about him, and us, one hundred years from now in the history books. Thank goodness we have him to save Freedom from the enemies who hate our Liberty.<BR/><BR/>Back in the reality based world, I've been interfacing with the Veterans Administration to try to get my dad (Vietnam Vet) some transport assistance for his trips to the regional oncology center nearest to where he lives in the Midwest. This has met with mixed success: some contacts have shown a great deal of motivation and others have dropped the ball. In looking up the email address for one member of the latter group, I came accross the following notice in a VA newsletter:<BR/><BR/><B>VA Prescription Co-Pays to Increase </B><BR/><BR/><I>Co-payments for outpatient medicines prescribed through VA medical facilities will rise by $1 for a 30-day supply of prescription drugs, effective January 1, 2006, the first change in four years. The increase to $8 from $7 is required by federal law, which bases VA's co-payments for outpatient prescriptions on increases in the Medical Consumer Price Index.<BR/><BR/>The $1 increase will not affect veterans who have an injury or illness connected with their military service resulting in a 50 percent or greater disability. Also known as “Priority Group 1” veterans, these patients will see no change in their current prescription drug benefit, Nicholson said.<BR/><BR/>Veterans classified as Priority Groups 2 through 6 will see their co-pays rise by $1, but their annual out of pocket expenses for VA medicine will remain capped. The new cap will rise $120, meaning these veterans will pay no more than $960 annually for VA outpatient medicine. Veterans in Priority Groups 7 and 8 will also see their co-payments increase, but there is no cap on annual payments for outpatient medicine.</I><BR/><BR/>-------<BR/><BR/>For a Vet whose income consists of his Social Security check, these costs are a hardship - but those who must rely on Medicare are in even worse shape. What interests me most about the VA newsletter excerpt is the link of the copay to the "Medical Consumer Price Index." That linkage is vampire capitalism at work - enabled by the sick legislation that disallowed the Federal government from negotiating drug prices with pharmaceutical companies. A third of the McMansions in North Scottsdale were built with this Soylent Green tainted money. Maybe my fellow CD5 constituents will understand, then, if I forward my dad's copay bill to my Congressman JD Hayworth, who helped pass the legislation which transfers much more money from my dad's pocket to the wealthiest areas of CD5. That's winning one for <B>us</B>, JD! Thanks - my dad's blood tastes good! Let's top that off with a tax cut.<BR/><BR/>For a less emotional reflection on our long term future, see the article "The Party of Davos," in the 02/13/06 edition of "The Nation."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com