Open Letter to Bill Lee, Governor of Tennessee

To the Honorable Bill Lee, Governor of the Great State of Tennessee:

 

I'm approaching my heart transplant's 14th anniversary. Thousands of my fellow Tennesseans and Americans currently need a life-saving transplant, but only a few will ever be fortunate to receive one. After an 11-year battle with heart disease prior to receiving mine, I know it is a tremendous blessing, and one I do not take for granted.

 

Due to my transplant, I'm required to take immunosuppressants the rest of my life to ward off rejection, which places me into the COVID high risk group along with the elderly and others with pre-existing health conditions. I have, therefore, severely reduced my activities outside my home by order of my doctors since March 17, 2019 - over 9 months. Therefore, when I do venture out, it's mostly for outdoor activities, such as walking in my neighborhood or going to a park with my wife where I can distance myself from others. I have only eaten in a restaurant once since early March. I cannot take my wife out for a "date night". I've seen my 80-year old parents twice since Christmas 2019. As a Christian, I've been going to church since 9 months before I was born, but I have now not been able to attend church since the last Sunday in February.

 

I do not share all that in order for you to feel sorry for me. I know I am fortunate, because myself, my wife, my family, and most of my good friends have avoided COVID to this point. I pray everyday we stay well and thank the Good Lord for His protection, as I know that thousands of my fellow Tennesseans and millions of Americans have not been as fortunate. Currently, approximately 590,000 Tennesseans have fallen ill with about 7000 of them losing their life to the virus (here). Nationally, the numbers are much higher as things are getting worse instead of better.

 

To this point, you have not issued a statewide mask mandate. Your position has been that you prefer to allow local officials to make that decision for the counties and cities where they are in charge. I can respect that - government closer to the people is best. However, it's not working. Most local officials refuse to issue a mask mandate, and many of the ones who have, such as here in Wilson Co., have not allowed for any enforcement action. Therefore, it's the same as not having such a mandate which makes it worthless.

 

Some Tennesseans feel mask mandates violate their freedom. Well, what about the freedom of us in the high risk group to be able to leave our homes and safely go about our usual activities? Does our freedom not matter since we're sick or old?

 

Besides, Tennesseans already have to follow safety mandates every day with seatbelt and helmet laws. Both of which are enforced by law enforcement via citations and the associated fines. So, what's the difference between those state law implemented safety measures and a mask mandate during a pandemic? All have the same purpose - enhanced public safety.

 

Some argue that masks "don't work anyway". There's been studies that support such a viewpoint, but for each one of those studies, another can be found that shows that masks do help prevent the spread of illness. If mask wearing saves the life of one Tennessean, then isn't it worth it?

 

COVID patients with more severe cases feel like they're suffocating. I have an idea of what that feels like. Do you? I spent several years battling heart failure prior to my transplant. Each night when I'd lay down to try to sleep, I'd feel like I was suffocating. It's a horrible, helpless, scary experience. So, when doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals all across our state beg for a statewide mask mandate as they continue to be overrun with sick, suffering, and dying Tennesseans, they should be listened to. After all, they are the experts.

 

Some have incorrectly claimed that you do not have the authority to issue a statewide mask mandate. While it is true there is nothing within the state constitution allowing it, there is also nothing within it prohibiting it. However, state law DOES provide you such authority within Tennessee Code Annotated section, "Emergency Management Powers of the Governor", 58-2-107(e)(11). It states that, in addition to your other powers, you may, "Take measures concerning the conduct of civilians". Therefore, you would be legally within your purview as governor to issue the mask mandate.

 

Over the last few weeks, I've learned of more and more COVID+ cases among people I know personally and their families. I have friends within the healthcare field who are exhausted and stressed. Businesses and livelihoods continue to suffer as Tennesseans can't provide for their families. The suffering and dying has gone on too long already. A statewide mask mandate should've been done months ago. In fact, you said back in July that if we'd had a mask requirement in March, we might not "have had to close everything down".

 

Governor - it's not too late, but the clock is ticking.

 

Like you, I'm a Conservative, but I 100% support President-Elect Biden's plan for masks nationwide. I have no doubt you will have opposition to a statewide mandate and maybe a price to pay at the polls. However, good leaders are the ones who have the courage to do the right and needed thing even when it's difficult and unpopular. Tennessee needs you to be that guy right now. We cannot continue to wait on a vaccine as a cure or on a large enough number of Tennesseans to voluntarily put masks on outside their homes to curtail COVID spread. It hasn't worked for 9 months. It's not sustainable, and if you continue to not issue the mandate, it will most certainly result in thousands more Tennesseans suffering and dying from this horrible virus leaving grieving loved ones. 

 

Please governor - 2021 doesn't have to be like 2020. Issue the statewide mask mandate. Also, give it some teeth with penalties for law enforcement to use to enforce it vigorously. Lives are at stake.

 

Sincerely, 

The Second Chance Sheepdog

  

Freedom Can Be a Double-edged Sword

 

Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say

Ever heard, "say what you mean and mean what you say?" I sure have. Heard it many times, and it's the theme of today's post which has been gnawing on me for about a week. Hang with me as you start reading as I'm probably not going where you think I am.

I've got 3 questions for you, and here's the first two:

1. Do you believe that "Black Lives Matter"?
2. Do you believe that "All Lives Matter"? 

Did you answer "yes"? If so, is that a truthful answer? Better be sure, because the truth will be revealed in question #3 later in this post.

I've been reviewing the transplant waiting list statistics. Those "statistics" are not just numbers. They represent real people - sick people with spouses, children, families, and good friends. These folks need help.

Currently, across the country, about 122,000 organs are needed for transplant, and organ failure doesn't discriminate based upon the color of a person's skin. In fact, the national waiting list is made up of approximately 40% white and 60% minorities (29% black, 20% Hispanic, and 11% other - click here, then "category" = waiting list, and then "organ by ethnicity" to see the data). Everyone on the list has one thing in common - a slow, suffering death is imminent if a matching donated organ doesn't come available in time. 

Each day in the U.S.:

• someone is added to the list every 9 minutes (160 per day) (here),
• 95 transplants are done (here), and
• 22 people die running out of time waiting on a match (here).

Those numbers amount to a net increase of 43 (160-95-22) added to the waiting list each day. The list just keeps growing even though surveys show that 95% of Americans support organ donation. The problem is that only about 60% of Americans are actually registered organ and tissue donors (here). Instead of being part of the solution, the 40% of Americans who are NOT registered are why 22 Americans needlessly die waiting for an organ every day.

TWENTY-TWO!!!

Courtesy : Donate Life America

Question #3 - are you registered as an organ and tissue donor? 

Some of you just answered "no" to #3, but also said, "Yes, I believe Black Lives Matter / All Lives Matter." Since 60% of the need for life-saving organ transplants is within minority communities, are those really truthful answers? Think about it - how can "lives matter" to you when you're not registered as a donor?

The honest truth is that if you're one of those people, then you do not mean what you say. If you did, you'd already be registered as a donor. Actions speak louder than words.

You can be part of the solution, though, instead of part of the problem. Just click on the "Donate Life" logo within this post. You'll be taken to a page where you can register in about 2 minutes. Then, one day you may save as many as 8 lives. Be sure to tell your family of your decision. Get them to register, too, if they have not.

Most of us want to make a positive impact in our community and our country. Organ and tissue donation is one way that we can all do just that.  

The Reality of Socialized Medicine and Medicare for All

We've heard talk lately about "Medicare for All" - the most recent proposal in which the federal government provides so-called "free" healthcare insurance to all Americans. It's just another version of socialized medicine modeled after Canada's. 

Courtesy: Wikipedia

Previously, I've posted about my dislike for socialized medicine and why I feel the way I do. The question now is, what is the reality of socialized medicine? A recent Forbes.com titled "What Socialized Medicine Looks Like" answers that question by sharing details about Canada's program. I hope you will read that entire article. However, below are some of the highlights:

1. Primary care doctors in Canada provide fewer services than their counterparts in the U.S. forcing people to go to ERs more often. Average Canadian ER wait = 4 hours.
2. Number of Canadian women to never have a mammogram = double the number of American women. Has led to the breast cancer mortality rate in Canada being 25% higher than U.S. rate.
3. Less than 20% of Canadian men have ever been screened for prostrate cancer. 50% of American men have. Has led to Canadian prostate cancer mortality rate being 18% higher than the U.S.'s.
4. Canadian adults who've had a colonoscopy = 10%. American adults = 30%. Canadian death rate from colorectal cancer is 13% higher than U.S.
5. Americans are more likely to get treatment for kidney failure (i.e. dialysis or transplant) than those in countries with socialized medicine - 5 times more likely if under 85 years old and 9 times more likely if over 85. People who do not get such treatment will DIE.
6. Average Canadian wait time after referral from primary care doctor until get to see specialist = 21 weeks (over 5 months).
7. Average Canadian wait time for CT scan = 4 weeks.
8. Average Canadian wait time for MRI = nearly 11 weeks (nearly 3 months).
9. Average Canadian wait time for ultrasound = nearly 4 weeks. 
10. At 21% of Canadian hospitals, a woman must wait over 3 weeks for a biopsy to confirm a possible breast cancer diagnosis. Only 1% of American hospitals have a wait time that long.
11. At half of Canadian hospitals, a 65 year old must wait over 6 months for a hip replacement. No American hospitals have wait times that long.

Additionally, in Canada, the powerful and rich have more access to specialists and services, more choices, and shorter waiting times. In fact, the poor, non-elderly white population is 22% more likely than similarly situated Americans to be in poor health.

The Forbes.com article also tells of problems within Britain's socialized medicine program. However, I chose to focus on Canada here primarily because it is our next door neighbor.


Some Americans support socialized medicine. Generally, the ones who do are healthy. However, one day each of them could fall victim to illness, accident, or injury they never expected. If that day comes, that's also the time they will fall victim to the pitfalls of socialized medicine as it's generally the sick and weak who have their care rationed in order to save money, because socialized medicine plans are expensive to administer. The cost is also the main reason socialized medicine plans usually fail.

So, knowing what you now know, do you really want socialized medicine and / or "Medicare for All" in the U.S.? 

United HealthCare, God, and a Life-Saving Liver Transplant

In The Sheepdog's opinion, it appears United HealthCare (UHC) thinks it's no longer in the health insurance business. Instead, it's received a promotion into the business of being God. However, don't take my word for it, just ask 38-year-old mother of one, Erika Zak. UHC has put her through as much hell as cancer did.

Location of human liver - credit Wikipedia

Diagnosed with colorectal cancer, Erika endured more than 70 rounds of chemo and various other treatments which resulted in serious side effects, including damage to her liver and subsequent liver failure.

Over 100 doctors from the country's top medical centers concur that Erika's only hope for survival at this point is a life-saving liver transplant. Yet, UHC denied coverage saying, "unproven health services is not a covered benefit". Really? Despite the fact that transplants have saved thousands of lives in the U.S. for decades, UHC refers to transplant as "unproven". Science, medical technology, and thousands of transplant recipients across the country, including The Sheepdog, prove otherwise.

The Sheepdog has seen a lot in his time, but the way UHC treated this woman and played GOD with her life, stringing her along for months, may be the most cold hearted thing I've heard of an insurance company doing. I suspect others have experienced similar agony, though.

ALERT : Bureacrats in Washington Putting Transplant Recipients in Danger

Earlier today, I ran across an alert about a proposed change in Medicare's prescription drug coverage that has the potential to affect thousands of Americans and put their very lives at risk. I want to thank my fellow heart transplant recipient and blogging colleague My2ndHeartbeat for bringing it to my attention.

Heartbeat's article titled "Anti-Rejection Medication Issue" shares a member alert from Transplant Recipients International Organization (TRIO). It details a proposal by CMS-Medicare that if approved would remove immunosuppressants, anti-seizure medications, cancer drugs, and others from the list of "Six Protected Classes" of medications.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (Medicaid administrator) logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you are a transplant recipient, you MUST have immunosuppressants to live. Otherwise, your body will reject your new organ and you WILL DIE. These medications are also very expensive. Therefore, if you are a transplant recipient on Medicare, and these medications are not required to be covered under Part D anymore, then your plan will likely NOT cover them. If they are not covered, then it is also likely that you will not be able to afford them.  Furthermore, if Medicare doesn't require them to be covered, then it is possible that private insurers might stop covering them, too. So, the potential harmful effects of this change is NOT limited to Medicare beneficiaries.

Therefore, we MUST all take action, because the proposal will affect more than just transplant recipients. For example, if you are a cancer patient, you could be affected, too. If you or a loved one on Medicare take anti-depressants, you could also be affected. So, please click here to read the entire alert from TRIO, and follow the prompts within in to contact the bureaucrats in charge of making the decision on this dangerous, life-threatening proposal. I contacted them earlier today.

Please also help me and my friend, Heartbeat, spread the word. Post our posts to your Facebook page and to your blog, if you have one. If this proposal becomes reality, it WILL result in the deaths of transplant recipients and others.

The proposal is wolf-like at best, so it appears that after a long layoff, The Sheepdog picked a good time to get back to work. These wolves, and all others, must be stopped. Lives are at stake.  

Movie Review - Elysium

Several weeks ago, a buddy and I went to see the movie Elysium, starring Matt Damon and Jodie Foster. There really wasn't much playing at the time that looked any good. I had some reservations about Elysium, because of the far left-leaning politics of Damon, but, our wives were out of town, we needed to catch up, and the sci-fi theme looked interesting. Man, were we in for a surprise.

English: Matt Damon at the 66th Venice International Film Festival Nederlands: The Informant (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The movie is future-based and is portrayed as taking place on the earth and in a fancy space station known as Elysium. The earth has pretty much been destroyed by years of overpopulation and war. The entire planet is now like a third-world country. Elysium, on the other hand, is a beautiful, luxurious world built by the rich for the rich. Basically, the earth is where the poor live and Elysium is where the rich live. Segregation by social class at its finest.

When the movie started, my radar went up immediately as mostly Spanish is being spoken. As the story-line develops, it continues, and there does not appear to be any middle class on earth or on Elysium, either. You are either a filthy rich legal citizen of Elysium or a dirt poor resident of earth. You may already have a sense of where this is going, but it gets worse. The film ultimately turns out be a multi-million dollar Hollywood propaganda piece promoting amnesty for illegal aliens and universal healthcare. Stay with me, and I'll explain.

The "legal citizens" of Elysium all have chips implanted under their skin that prove their citizenship and give them access to various services, including healthcare. Healthcare on Elysium is interesting, to say the least. Each legal resident has a medi-bay in their home. The medi-bays look much like a tanning bed. If you have a medical ailment, whether it be a cold, cancer, heart disease, etc., all you have to do is lay down in the medi-bay for a few minutes and it "cures" you. However, if you don't have the little implanted chip, the medi-bay doesn't work.

Smugglers on earth make money providing shuttle rides to the "illegals" on earth who want to try to sneak into Elysium. Most of the time, people are trying to leave earth for Elysium in order to get in one of the medi-bays to get cured of whatever. Basically, if you are a legal citizen of Elysium, you get great healthcare, a "cadillac" health plan if you will. However, if you are poor, stuck on the earth, and an "illegal," you have very limited healthcare, if you have any at all.

One scene in the movie shows three of the shuttles leaving earth headed to Elysium. Jodie Foster's character, the Secretary of Defense, orders them to be shot down. Two of them are, but one crash lands on Elysium. We then see "Homeland Security" robots round up the "illegals" on the crashed shuttle and immediately deport them back to earth. Sound familiar? Those evil rich people. They just want to keep the poor, illegals down. Yea .... I know - I'm overdoing it on the sarcasm again. Hang with me, though, there's more.

English: Matt Damon's Hollywood Star (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Spider, one of the smugglers, devises a plot where Max, Matt Damon's character, goes to Elysium to download computer data, so that Spider can use it to hack Elysium's computer system. Now, what's Spider's plan? The plan is to change Elysium's database and make everyone on earth legal Elysium residents. Wow - just like that ... amnesty for everyone! No more illegals. Woohooo! Now all the sick or injured poor, illegals on earth can go to Elysium and get healed. Isn't it great?

So, as I said, Elysium is nothing more than a political statement by Hollywood supporting amnesty for illegal aliens and universal health care for all. It even contains the emotional, tugging at your heartstrings moment where the daughter, Matilda, of Max's friend, Frey, is smuggled from earth to Elysium for medical care because she has leukemia. There's a rush against the clock to get the database hacked and Matilda to Elysium and into a medi-bay before the leukemia kills her. The message is,"who would be so heartless as to deny medical care to a sick, dying little girl." It's the same emotional argument the left always uses - "it's for the children."

Needless to say, my blood pressure was up a little by the time the movie was over. It reminded me of :

• the pro-Palestinian political statement that U2 made during one of their concerts I attended a few years ago, and 
• Cars 2, which made a point of bashing the big, bad, rich oil companies for getting rich at the expense of the environment. That movie also promoted alternative automobile fuels, such as ethanol. The fact is that ethanol damages engines and requires more of our water supply to produce than gasoline. I even remember one scene in Cars 2 where a large, older model car was made fun of by the other cars for using more gas than them.

I think most Americans would agree with me when I say that when I pay my good money to be entertained, whether it be for a movie or a concert, I do not want politics to be shoved down my throat. It doesn't matter whether the politics lean right or left. It's not what I'm there for. I can watch that crap at home for free. When I go to a movie, it's because I want to get away from all the crap of regular every day life for just a little while, have some fun, and enjoy myself. It's an escape. When the producer brings politics into it, it completely ruins the experience.

I know someone's gonna leave a comment on this post along the lines of "you just hate immigrants." No, I don't. If you are an American citizen, and not a Native American, then you descended from immigrants, me included. I have no problem with immigrants or immigration. That is, legal immigrants and legal immigration. If you want to come to the U.S., come on. However, follow our laws and regulations. Do it the right way. Don't try to slip in the back door and expect to be welcomed with open arms. Not only is it unlawful and wrong, but it's basically trespassing. I don't know of anywhere trespassers are warmly welcomed. Do you?

I think Elysium is off the big screen now. However, if it isn't where you live, consider yourself warned. Don't spend your $11 or $12 on Hollywood leftist propaganda. If that's what you're into, just stay home and turn on CNN or MSNBC. It will be much cheaper.

As for Hollywood, would you people please leave the politics out of movies? I like going to movies, but if this crap continues, I can always stay at home or go to a ballgame.

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Elephants, Donkeys, and "Death Panels"

I vividly remember, and I'm sure many of you do, too, the insanely intense debate about ObamaCare that went on prior to it becoming law. The Sheepdog and many others, more knowledgeable than I, barked very loudly in opposition to the legislation. We did so for a number of reasons, which included :

1. Despite the claims of the legislation's supporters, we did not believe ObamaCare would control rising healthcare costs. It was our opinion that it would actually accelerate them.

   

   Alaska Governor Sarah Palin in Dover, NH. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

2. We felt that once the costs of ObamaCare went out of control, it would lead to the rationing of healthcare. The legislation's supporters said, "Naw - that's crazy talk."
3. A number of experts, along with Sarah Palin and other political figures, claimed that the legislation would lead to so-called "death panels." This idea came from the provision within the bill that established a bureaucracy known as the "Independent Payment Advisory Board" (IPAB). After I read the legislation through, it appeared to me they were correct.

Now, what is this "death panel" thing ? Basically, it is the IPAB and its authority, granted by the legislation, to either approve or disapprove medical procedures, coverage, and payments for such to medical providers. The members of the IPAB could conceivably choose not to cover or pay for a person's medical care as they saw fit due to cost or other reasons. This could include necessary surgery, prescriptions, and other things. In the event a life-saving surgery or procedure is necessary, if the IPAD refused to cover it, and the patient doesn't have the surgery / procedure, the patient will, of course, die. Thereby, the term "death panel." As a transplant recipient, I felt at the time, and still do, that transplants would be the first thing axed, because they are so expensive.

Sarah Palin was one of the ones who vehemently cried out and warned about the "death panels." She was vilified, smeared, called an idiot, and threatened for it. Her claims were referred to as "the biggest lie of the year." Palin's warnings led to Obama going on record and saying "there are no so-called death panels." He even referred to Palin's claims as "Phony."

Death Panels (Photo credit: Renegade98)

Now, the former Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Howard Dean, has written an editorial for the Wall Street Journal titled "The Affordable Care Act's Rate Setting Won't Work" which validates the claims of Palin, myself, and many others. I am gonna break out a few of the highlights below, but I encourage you to click here and read the entire editorial, also. As Glenn Beck would say, "do your own homework."

Being a "good Democrat," the first thing Dean does in his editorial is criticize Republicans' continuing effort to stop ObamaCare as "willfully destructive." What do you expect, right ? Personally, I don't think the Republicans have got a clue on how fix the healthcare problems in this country anymore than the Democrats do, but I've already beaten that horse to death, so I'll let it lie.

After taking his shot at the GOP in the editorial, Dean says :

1. "One major problem is the so-called Independent Payment Advisory Board. The IPAB is essentially a health-care rationing body. By setting doctor reimbursement rates for Medicare and determining which procedures and drugs will be covered and at what price, the IPAB will be able to stop certain treatments its members do not favor by simply setting rates to levels where no doctor or hospital will perform them."
2. The IPAB will not be able to control healthcare costs, because its increased bureacracy will drive up administrative costs, and therefore overall healthcare costs.
3. Both patients and medical providers will be left frustrated.

Photo credit : John P. Hoke via Wikipedia.

Aren't these the exact same problems with ObamaCare that myself and others pointed out from the get go ? Aren't these the exact some issues for which Sarah Palin was vilified for pointing out ? Now, we have a top Democrat and former Chairman of the DNC basically agreeing with Conservatives ... and Sarah Palin. Hmmm. Interesting. Oh, oh, oh ... and before I forget - did I mention that Dean is a DOCTOR ? In my opinion, that makes his assessment of ObamaCare much more credible than the Community Organizer in Chief's.

Dean's editorial leaves us with a top Democrat agreeing, at least in part, with Palin, other Republicans, myself, other Conservatives, and other anti-ObamaCare Americans. One can make the argument that Dean's editorial shows that the claim that so-called "death panels" were "the biggest lie of the year" is in of itself ... a lie.

So, who's the "phony" now ?

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New Research Shows Beards Have Benefits

Today's post contains some good "guy news." The other day I ran across an article discussing the health benefits of beards. Researchers in Australia have found that a mustache and full beard can block nearly 100% of the sun's rays leading to a reduction in the risk of skin cancer. For a heart transplant patient, such as myself who is at a higher risk for skin cancer development, I think that's some dang good news.

English: Male facial hair (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The good news coming out of the study doesn't stop there, though. According to the article titled "Beards Make Men Healthier, Say Researchers" on NewsMaxHealth.com, the researchers also found that :

• shaving can lead to an increase in skin infections, hair follicle infections, and ingrown hairs,
• shaving can aggravate acne and eczema,
• facial hair limits the signs of aging, such as wrinkles,
• facial hair aids in keeping your skin moisturized, and
• a mustache acts as an "air filter" for allergens, such as dust and pollen.

So, we now know that besides being great insulation against the cold and wind on your face in the winter, facial hair has numerous other benefits, too. Beards are not only cool, but they are also good for you.

So, guys, the next time your wife / fiancee / girlfriend asks you to get rid of your mustache and / or beard, you can say, "Honey, scientists have learned that facial hair is good for me, because it has a number of great health benefits, including preventing skin cancer. Don't you want me to be healthy ?" You could also add, "Besides, The Sheepdog said so."

Yes, I know - she ain't gonna buy it anymore than my wife will, but hey - at least your argument made sense and made you look smart, right ?

She doesn't think so, huh ?

Dude, it sounds like you've got some serious issues. I'll pray for ya.  

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Power Ball Numbers and ObamaCare

Well, ladies and gentlemen I hate to say, "I told you so ....", but, "I told you so." On Wednesday, I predicted that the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) would NOT strike down ObamaCare. I did so because of SCOTUS' decision to gut Arizona's controversial SB 1070 anti-illegal immigration law. Their SB 1070 decision was the handwriting on the wall that ObamaCare would be upheld. I also said that I thought "... the best we could hope for was for a portion of it (ObamaCare) to be held unconstitutional." I nailed that, too, but it doesn't help us much. Apparently, Progressivism has now infected SCOTUS in addition to Congress and the White House.

Health care systems and single payer (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

So, what does it all mean ? Well, if you've read some of my other posts on ObamaCare, you know it means we're headed down the road to a single-payer system like Canada and England have. It means long waits for surgeries and appointments with your doctor. It means that ultimately healthcare will be rationed and the elderly and folks with disabilities and pre-existing conditions will be denied care, because it's too expensive. It also means that the budget deficit will grow by leaps and bounds. If you think the country is broke now, you ain't seen nothing yet.

Mr. Romney is talking about repealing ObamaCare if elected to the presidency. Really ? ObamaCare was modeled after the RomneyCare debacle that he signed into law while governor of Massachusetts. He loves government-run health care regardless of what he says. He has flip-flopped on issues more than a largemouth bass does with a hook in its lip. If you actually believe Romney will repeal ObamaCare, then maybe I can hook you up with a great piece of ocean front property in Arizona. Think about it - it'd be great. You might even get to hang out with that state's knuckleheaded Republican Governor Jan Brewer once you're there

Whew - I feel better. I've vented. Now, if I could just come up with the winning PowerBall numbers for tomorrow night as easily as I predicted what SCOTUS would do. That would be awesome. Only problem would be that "Uncle Barry" would take at least half of my winnings.

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• Live blog: Supreme Court strikes down most of Arizona immigration law, upholds one part (news.blogs.cnn.com)

Transplants and Politics

As I mentioned on Monday, today's post will be the last one here on The Sheepdog for a while. I'm gonna take a break, a "Sheepdog Sabbatical," to begin working on a new project in order to get up and running with it as soon as possible. However, before I sign-off for a while, I want to follow up on some posts I did several months ago. This is a post I've been meaning to do for a while, but I wanted to follow the story a little longer to see how it played out. Plus, it just didn't seem the time was quite right for running it. However, with the sabbatical beginning a new chapter for me, I feel like today's the day.

Folks who have been following my blog for a while remember me "raising cain" over a decision made by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer (pictured upper right) and the state's legislature last year (click here to read earlier posts about Jan Brewer). Those jokers cut funding for organ transplants covered by the state's Medicaid program, officially named the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), from the state's budget effective October 1, 2010. Specifically, the decision ended AHCCCS coverage of transplants for anyone 21 and older. It left 100 of the state's sickest residents unable to pay for their life-saving transplants if a match was found for them. In fact, two of those 100 died without getting the transplants needed after the atrocious decision was made.

Gov. Brewer and the Arizona legislature decided to cut the transplant funding due to the state's budget crisis. Brewer even went further by saying the funding was cut because, in her opinion, transplants don't work. Do what ? Other state and local governments currently find themselves in similar situations. However, the transplant funding cut only amounted to a little over $1 million. The state's projected budget deficit at that time was a little over a $1 Billion. Therefore, the cut to transplant funding amounted to only ... are ya ready for this ... approximately 1/1000th of 1% or .001% of the projected budget deficit. In other words, if I had a $1000 per month budget for household expenses but decided to cut that budget to only $999 per month, that would be the equivalent of how much Arizona was "saving" by cutting the transplant funding from AHCCCS. Another way of looking at it is that two Arizonians died in order to save $1 out of every $1000 spent by the Arizona government. Apparently, that's what a human life is worth in Arizona. The really troubling thing, though, is that the state left funding for a new coliseum roof, the study of algae, and other pork projects amounting to millions of taxpayer dollars in the budget. I guess "pork" is more important than people. I'd hate to think that this "budget cut" wasn't about saving money but rather due to a lack of concern for the poor and sick in Arizona. However, that appears to be the case.

Back in the spring, due to public outcry by the people of Arizona and elsewhere across the country, reports began to surface that Gov. Brewer and members of the Arizona legislature were looking for a way to restore the transplant funding. The truth is, though, that the members of the legislature who were trying to find a solution were the Democrats. Gov. Brewer and the Republicans killed those proposals on multiple occasions. Finally, around the first of April, it was announced that Gov. Brewer and the legislature had restored the AHCCCS transplant funding. However, a closer look showed that wasn't necessarily true, either, and even if it was, Gov. Brewer's three-pronged solution was gonna leave other Arizonians enrolled in AHCCCS as the ones paying the price.

First, Gov. Brewer asked The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services for permission to eliminate $500 Million of Federal funds from AHCCCS. Then, she would restore the transplant funding and not allow new enrollments of childless adults and others into AHCCCS. Doing this would prevent 160,000 Arizonians from being eligible to enroll. In addition, some 200,000 others would be forced to pay higher co-pays and other fees if they wanted to keep their coverage. Brewer's proposal would make transplant patients look like the bad guy - they would get coverage while nearly 400,000 others wouldn't. I guess this is her way of  "CYA'ing." It's stupid logic if you ask me. You screw 400,000 to save 100. Aren't 400,000 votes more than 100 ? She ain't the sharpest tack in the box. Oh, and did I mention that the legislature passed, and she signed a huge corporate tax cut ? Sorry. I forgot to mention that. Wanna guess the total amount of the cut ? It was $538 Million. Hey, didn't she ask HHS to cut $500 Million from AHCCCS ? Wow. That tax cut would've covered that $500 Million Medicaid cut. Imagine that. Must be election time.

Secondly, the actual language in the new budget was so vague that it does not automatically restore transplant funding to AHCCCS. It only says that the legislature "intends" to restore it "within available appropriations." In politician speak, it basically means that the money will be available to AHCCCS if the governor and the legislature don't have something else they would rather spend it on. Furthermore, if the funds are available, the transplant program is still only going to be funded through June 30, 2013. I guess they think that starting in July 2013 no one else in Arizona will ever need a transplant. Dang, if Arizona politicians are that good at prognosticating, I sure wish they'd help me out by telling me the next set of winning Powerball numbers.

Thirdly, Arizona's politicians have proposed a so-called "Fat Tax" to help curb the state's budget problems. It would mean charging a $50 tax on childless adults who are obese that do not abide by "a doctor-ordered weight-loss plan," are smokers, or not following a proper treatment regimen for a chronic illness, such as diabetes. The first problem I have with this "Fat Tax" is that it's discriminatory. It specifically targets "childless adults." What's the deal ? Does the state think adults who do not have children for one reason or another are bad or worthless people ? The other problem I have with it that it applies to people considered "obese." If the goal is to "encourage" or "nudge" people into healthier lifestyles (Cass Sunstein would be so proud), why are they only targeting folks considered "obese " ? Some people who are overweight have other underlying health problems that contribute to their obesity. The problem could be genetic and not a component of their lifestyle. Besides, who's gonna determine what "obese" is ? Is it gonna be some government bureaucrat or a doctor ? Furthermore, if the state is actually wanting to punish or discourage unhealthy lifestyles, they should have treated everyone fairly by placing the same "tax" on others, too, such as people who drink alcohol. But of course, they're are not gonna do that because it would hack off some of their largest campaign contributors, and they're more important than the "little people."

I first posted about Arizona's transplant funding cuts back on December 16, 2010. That day, I was pretty hot about the whole deal, and it still disturbs me. In that original post, I predicted that if these type of cuts were allowed to be made in Arizona, it was only a matter of time until similar cuts would happen in other states. Unfortunately, my prediction is coming true. The state of North Carolina is currently considering similar cuts. Last year, the state cut over $350 Billion from The Division of Medical Assistance, and they are needing to cut more. It may led to transplants being limited and the elimination of dental care, hearing aid coverage, mental health treatment, and home health care for thousands of North Carolinians. In addition, last night on the local news, it was reported that huge cuts may be forthcoming for the state of Tennessee if Congress makes significant cuts in the amount of Federal funds sent to the states. It includes a possible $2 Trillion cut from TennCare, the state's Medicaid program. A $2 Trillion cut to TennCare would have devastating effects on Tennessee's poor and residents considered "un-insurable." I suggest Governor Bill Haslam and the legislature put a reasonable plan together to make sure these folks are provided for. Otherwise, they'll be hearing a lot from The Sheepdog and others in The Volunteer State in the months to come.

As I wrap this post up and begin my break, I want to give notice to the wolves out there, such as Jan Brewer. Even though The Sheepdog is on sabbatical, his eyes and ears are always open and his mind is analyzing what's going on. I can always take a quick break from my break and hop back on the blog to report what I see. I guess it would be my version of, "I'll make ya famous," as Billy the Kid's character in the movie Young Guns would often say. I encourage you jokers to be on your best behavior.

I know today's post has been rather long. However, I felt like this issue was worth following up on and visiting again. I, for one, am sick and tired of uncaring, selfish politicians who only worry about getting re-elected. They were hired, by us, to serve us - not themselves. It's high time that they got their priorities straight, stopped wasting our tax dollars on pet pork projects, and starting having some respect for human life. Personally, I'm beginning to think that maybe it's time for some transplant recipients, cancer survivors, heart attack survivors, and others with what could be considered chronic health conditions, who are now able to live fairly normal lives, to run for and get elected to political office. Then, we'd have some public servants representing us that understand how precious life and health really are. It's something we as a group need to give a lot of thought, prayer, and consideration to. Then, one of us who is courageous, bold, well-spoken, and not afraid of anything needs to go for it. That person must be one who will not compromise their values and one that people will get behind and work hard for in order to put them in office. That person or persons are out there, it's time for them to step up.

Well, all that being said, it's time for The Sheepdog to cut out of here and hit the trail to work on his new "project." I'll see y'all and update later in the fall.

Source articles include -

• from stateline.org - Brewer Reconsiders Organ Transplants 
• from TucsonSentinel.com - Brewer Needs Scolding for Cynicism on Transplant Funding
• from BlogforArizona.com - Arizona Media Misleads on Restoration of Organ Transplant Funds
• from AZfamily.com - Brewer Says Transplant Funding is Back; Dems Not Convinced
• from reuters.com - Arizona Restores Transplant Funding
• from YumaSun.com - Restoration of Funds Welcome for Transplants
• from AZcentral.com - Some Transplant Patients Can't Breathe a Sigh of Relief
• from bloomberg.com - Arizona's Brewer Prays Before Taking on Her Own Party Over Taxes
• from MyFoxPhoenix.com - Man Has Liver, Kidney Transplant, Hopes for AHCCCS' Help
• from takingnote.tcf.org - Arizona's Fat Tax Punishes the Poor
• from therepublic.com -NC Committee Hears Options for Extra Medicaid Cuts as Approval Delays Raise Impact of $1B Loss-Forum

Related articles

• Medicaid Cuts: GOP Governors Fight Against Federal Rules In Budget Clashes (huffingtonpost.com)
• Medicaid Ruling Expected (businesslawdaily.wordpress.com)

Free Health Care

If you can't afford a doctor,
just go to an airport.
There, you can get a free x-ray
and breast exam.
Plus, if you mention Al-Qaeda,
they'll also give you a free colonoscopy.

(A big thank you to my buddy JM for passing this one along.)

Thanks for eveyone's help

Dear family, friends, transplant patients, bloggers, my blog readers, and other concerned citizens,

I have good news. Yesterday, HB 2655 (Tennessee Medication Therapy Monitoring and Management Act of 2010) passed out of the subcommittee with all members present voting in favor of it !! Let me say a big thank you to everyone that made phone calls and sent e-mails. We couldn't have done it without your help. All that being said, we still have a ways to go before the bill can become law and we still need your help. The members of the subcommittee that heard and voted on the bill yesterday only make up about half of the full committee which means the other half have not heard much, if anything, about the bill. Therefore, contacts, and lots of them, are going to be very important again.

This coming Tuesday, April 6th, the bill will be heard in the full House Health and Human Resources Committee at 10:30 a.m. in Room 16 of Legislative Plaza. If you can help with more e-mails, phone calls, and or attend the hearing, please do. Once again, please be polite and simply ask the members to support HB 2655, Tennessee Medication Therapy and Monitoring Management Act. The contact info for the full committee is available at this link http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/committees/health.html. Also, if you can attend, please let me know so that I can pass the info along to the bill's sponsor.

Once again, thanks for everyone's help. We would appreciate your prayers in this matter, too. I believe this bill will provide a vital safety net to Tennessee's transplant recipients and many others currently taking prescription medications that require close monitoring by their physicians. I hope everyone will continue to help us as we head into Round 2.

Sincerely,

Johnny a.k.a. The Second Chance Sheepdog

PLEASE HELP US OUT !!

Dear friends, family, transplant recipients, bloggers, my blog readers, and concerned citizens :

Many of you have been receiving my e-mail updates in regards to the physician notification legislation currently in the Tennessee Legislature that I have been honored to be involved with for the last year. However, some of you have not been. Nevertheless, myself and the others that have been involved with and working hard for over a year on this legislation need your help in a big way.

Here's a quick update - The legislation started off last year being about transplant recipients. If it had been passed last year, it would have required Tennessee's pharmacists to notify a transplant patient's physician anytime their anti-rejection meds were changed. Unfortunately, we did not have the votes to get it out of subcommittee, so a compromise was worked on during the summer and fall and we believed an agreement had been reached. In fact, this year's version of the bill (Tennessee Medication Therapy Monitoring and Management Act of 2010 -  HB 2655 / SB 2639) is, in my opinion, a better bill than last year. It goes beyond just helping transplant patients but will provide a layer of safety for ALL Tennesseans on a prescription medication. The bill would give your doctor the option of noting on a prescription if he or she wants to be notified by your pharmacist if that medication has to be changed for any reason. Likewise, if your doctor does not want nor feel it's necessary for them to be notified in the event of a change, he or she does not make the notation and it's just business as usual. For some meds, your doctor might want to be notified but not for others. The good thing is that it gives YOUR doctor that option. The bill is NOT about your doctor being able to approve or disapprove a medication change. It is ONLY about him or her being notified by your pharmacist if your medication is changed. Thus, it keeps them in the loop. We thought we had an agreement with the retail pharmacists, the insurance companies, and others to move this bill forward. Now, they are attempting to go back on their word by backing out of their agreement and putting pressure on the members of the subcommittee to vote against the bill. In my opinion, that is unacceptable. This is where you come in. We need phone calls made and e-mails sent to the subcommittee members. Their contact information can be found at this link - House Professional Occupations Subcommittee. 

If you've never got involved in the legislative process, this is your chance to make a difference. Please make calls or send e-mails by the end of business hours this coming Monday, March 29th. This will ensure that the subcommittee members hear from you before the subcommittee hearing and vote this coming Tuesday, March 30th, at Legislative Plaza in Room 31 at 8:30 a.m. What we need is very simple. First, when you contact the subcommittee members, please be polite. Second, tell them that you believe the Medication Therapy Monitoring and Management Act of 2010 (HB 2655 / SB 2639) is a good bill for Tennesseans and that they should vote in favor of it. The reason is because it will improve communication between patients with medical conditions that require additional monitoring, their doctors, and pharmacists which will provide these patients with an additional level of safety.The special interests and their money are fighting tooth and nail against this bill and the safety of Tennesseans. It's time for us to fight back and none of us can do it alone. We'll have to do it as a team.

Furthermore, if you have family or friends who can help with phone calls and e-mails, please pass this information along to them, too. The more contacts we make with the members of the subcommittee, the better our chances are of getting the bill approved and we need all the help we can get.

Thanks a bunch for your help in this matter,

Johnny a.k.a. The Second Chance Sheepdog