Archive for September, 2008
What he said …
Adam Searing, project director of the NC Justice Center’s Health Care Coalition, has made even more noise than I have about health care in America. But then, it’s his job, and he does it well. He was part of a conference call the other day when I tried to pin down a member of Congress about [...]
New this week
First, a study by Families USA, the health care advocacy group. They’ve done a state-by-state assessment of health insrance premium costs. Nationally, the costs of premiums rose by about 75 percent betwen 2000 and 2007. That’s about 5.4 times the rise in earnings in the same time, although if you adjust for inflation, Americans’ earnings [...]
A harowing couple of days
Jennifer called me Wednesday night to tell me Danny had been burned at work — again. This is the third time he has been seriously burned at work. My first thought was that I was about to lose him. A paper mill is a dangerous place to work, but he has had second- and third-degree [...]
Not enough, AMA
A health care proposal by the AMA to insure everyone includes taking away the tax break that people who pay for health insurance through their employers, effectively raising taxes on working people and making it more expensive for them to buy insurance. The proposal calls for making health insurance affordable for everyone to purchase. Does that [...]
Just a month (and a couple of days) to go
It looks like Christina will get here for the rally. Danny offered to help her get a ticket because she’s still looking for a job in her field (event planning, of all things) and she’s pretty broke. Christina has been pretty much the primary caregiver for my 83-year-old mother and her 92-year-old husband, who has [...]
A little bit of Baptist
I was raised Baptist, but I have rejected much of the fundamentalist theology and become what a former Sunday school teacher called a “dirty Congregationalist.” Still, a little bit of Baptist remains. Baptists believe that when one steps out on faith, God provides what one needs to succeed. I remember a missionary who worked with [...]
A plan for North Carolina
The NC Justice Center’s Health Access Coalition released a report this morning on how to provide affordable health coverage for every resident of the state. It looks a lot like what Ga. Rep. John Barrow described when we spoke with him last week. It’s a public-private partnership that would regulate insurance companies. It also would [...]
Asking for specifics
We had an hourlong conversation with U.S. Rep. John Barrow, Democrat, of Georgia’s 12th District. I was on speakerphone, but Rep. Barrow was in his Savannah office with Janet, Danny and Christian, who had Shannon on speakerphone. It was a good conversation, and he offered us specifics and reasons for his views. I don’t think [...]
California considers state-wide medical coverage
California may be the next state to offer health care to all of its residents. Their state assembly recently passed SB 840, a bill that will offer Californians health care through a single-payer system. SB 840 still needs to go for a final vote on the state assembly floor and needs to withstand a likely [...]
Second annual Eat at Mike’s
Reserve now
Life o' Mike sponsors its second annual Eat at Mike's, an evening of good food prepared by local chefs, at Tingles Cafe in downtown Asheville. The event also features silent and live auctions with items from Highlands Brewing, artist Angela C. Alexander and more.
Tickets to the dinner are $25; $20 for children 3-12 and free for children under 3.
To reserve, e-mail lifeomike@gmail.com. For more information, call 828-243-6712.
Patient Pals & Family Friends
Life o' Mike has a new peer support program for people newly diagnosed with chronic or serious illness or with a new disability and their caregivers.
Patient Pals are people who have experience with various illnesses and disabilities, who can help someone newly diagnosed or with a new disability work through the fear, frustration, confusion and grief often experienced in the first few months.
Family Friends are there to help caregivers and other family members grow into their new role.
People with new illness or disability fare better when they have a role model -- someone who can help them negotiate their new path in life.
We need volunteers, who are asked to donate a minimum of one hour a week. Training is free and includes information on active listening, ways to help and when to know more help is needed.
And of course, we need funding.
To learn more, call Leslie Boyd at 828-243-6712 or e-mail lifeomike@gmail.com.