Pulse on the Road in Texas!
Laurie Kelley
August 24, 2014
Austin, Texas was the location of our third Pulse on the
Road in 2014. Temperatures spiking 100° didn’t stop a huge turnout for the Texas
Bleeding Disorders Conference, co-hosted by the Lone Star Chapter of NHF and the Texas Central Chapter
of NHF. Melissa Compton, mother extraordinaire of a child with hemophilia (and
a compassionate supporter of Save One Life, I might add!) emceed the event and
introduced our team on Sunday morning at 8 am sharp, following a delicious
buffet breakfast. About 400 people attended the two-hour session, one of our
highest numbers yet!
Road in 2014. Temperatures spiking 100° didn’t stop a huge turnout for the Texas
Bleeding Disorders Conference, co-hosted by the Lone Star Chapter of NHF and the Texas Central Chapter
of NHF. Melissa Compton, mother extraordinaire of a child with hemophilia (and
a compassionate supporter of Save One Life, I might add!) emceed the event and
introduced our team on Sunday morning at 8 am sharp, following a delicious
buffet breakfast. About 400 people attended the two-hour session, one of our
highest numbers yet!
I changed up the presentations a bit and first
delved into why did the Affordable Care Act (ACA) come to be? With a few stats,
I showed that skyrocketing medical costs, particularly in specialty drugs
(which factor is), was straining the state budgets; it was only a matter of
time before private insurers caught on. Looking to cut costs, insurers turned
to increasing prior authorizations, formularies, decreasing choice of factor
provider, and more.
delved into why did the Affordable Care Act (ACA) come to be? With a few stats,
I showed that skyrocketing medical costs, particularly in specialty drugs
(which factor is), was straining the state budgets; it was only a matter of
time before private insurers caught on. Looking to cut costs, insurers turned
to increasing prior authorizations, formularies, decreasing choice of factor
provider, and more.
After setting that stage, Tom Larmondra of
Baxter Healthcare reviewed the ACA, particularly the benefits to those with
bleeding disorders. He reviewed the fine print, exclusions, and most important,
the Marketplace: what is it, how does it work, and how to use it.
Baxter Healthcare reviewed the ACA, particularly the benefits to those with
bleeding disorders. He reviewed the fine print, exclusions, and most important,
the Marketplace: what is it, how does it work, and how to use it.
Back to me: I next reviewed the importance of
choosing a healthcare plan, as many people may need to go on line to choose
one. Comparing it to car insurance, which we are all more familiar with, we
reviewed costs versus benefits, and in particular which costs to watch out for.
The goal? Learning the main things to consider when you compare healthcare
plans so you do not underestimate your healthcare annual budget. We want you to
save your hard earned income!
choosing a healthcare plan, as many people may need to go on line to choose
one. Comparing it to car insurance, which we are all more familiar with, we
reviewed costs versus benefits, and in particular which costs to watch out for.
The goal? Learning the main things to consider when you compare healthcare
plans so you do not underestimate your healthcare annual budget. We want you to
save your hard earned income!
Last, we welcomed Michelle Rice, Vice president, Public Policy and Stakeholder Relations, National
Hemophilia Foundation and Marla Feinstein, Policy Analyst, NHF. Their topic, Appeals and Grievances—Making Your Case, covered
what to do when insurers reject your claims. Using the fun and sophisticated
ARS devices, audience members cast their votes for the correct answers to a
series of educational questions, while tunes played in the background
(Ghostbusters?).
Hemophilia Foundation and Marla Feinstein, Policy Analyst, NHF. Their topic, Appeals and Grievances—Making Your Case, covered
what to do when insurers reject your claims. Using the fun and sophisticated
ARS devices, audience members cast their votes for the correct answers to a
series of educational questions, while tunes played in the background
(Ghostbusters?).
The event scored rave reviews from the looks of the 60+ evaluations
turned in. Our thanks to my team: Zoraida Rosado and Elizabeth Rosado, who
planned the morning well in advance, set up displays, tables and handouts, and
dissembled everything; to Michelle and Marla for sharing their expertise and
their weekend; and to Tom, for his expertise, and Baxter Healthcare, for
providing the funding for all the Pulse on the Roads, now in our 5th
year!
turned in. Our thanks to my team: Zoraida Rosado and Elizabeth Rosado, who
planned the morning well in advance, set up displays, tables and handouts, and
dissembled everything; to Michelle and Marla for sharing their expertise and
their weekend; and to Tom, for his expertise, and Baxter Healthcare, for
providing the funding for all the Pulse on the Roads, now in our 5th
year!
We’re done for the year but look forward to visiting you and
bringing up to date information about insurance reform to your state!
bringing up to date information about insurance reform to your state!
Please check www.kelleycom.com by December to see where we will be in 2015!
Great Book I Just Read
Midnight Express [Kindle]
Billy Hayes &
William Hoffer
William Hoffer
Much more than a survival book, it’s
the true story about an American enduring a harsh and dehumanizing imprisonment
in a Turkish jail in the 1970s. A gripping, unforgiving and frightening tale,
Hayes is incarcerated while trying to smuggle hash out of Turkey. Hayes ensured
five years of mind and physical torture, a labyrinth court system, watching the
anguish of his parents as he deteriorates and becomes a shadow of himself, until
his incredible escape. Hayes accepts that he broke the law and deserved
punishment, but it highlights the brutality apparent in the penal systems of
other countries, and the injustice of completing his initial sentence and
having the system overturn it and be given life. His portrayal of life in
prison is sobering and sad; his adjustment to the microsociety inside the
prison walls is fascinating. The excellent 1978 Oliver Stone movie follows the book for the
most part, but ends quite differently. Four/five stars.
the true story about an American enduring a harsh and dehumanizing imprisonment
in a Turkish jail in the 1970s. A gripping, unforgiving and frightening tale,
Hayes is incarcerated while trying to smuggle hash out of Turkey. Hayes ensured
five years of mind and physical torture, a labyrinth court system, watching the
anguish of his parents as he deteriorates and becomes a shadow of himself, until
his incredible escape. Hayes accepts that he broke the law and deserved
punishment, but it highlights the brutality apparent in the penal systems of
other countries, and the injustice of completing his initial sentence and
having the system overturn it and be given life. His portrayal of life in
prison is sobering and sad; his adjustment to the microsociety inside the
prison walls is fascinating. The excellent 1978 Oliver Stone movie follows the book for the
most part, but ends quite differently. Four/five stars.
