Shady Insurance Practices; Anti Vaxxers; Reproductive Rights
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A Good Day To Advocate for Better Healthcare
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Insurance Parasites
When a for profit entity is in charge of your healthcare - they benefit not you. Here is an outrageous example.
Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield had planned to implement new rules in 2025 to cap the amount of time in surgery for anesthesia that they would cover.
Anthem BCBS, one of the largest health insurers in the U.S., quietly announced the new reimbursement policy last month for Connecticut, New York and Missouri beginning in February. The policy change triggered outrage from the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
Initially, the policy update went unnoticed, but that changed after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed in New York City. The killing sparked a wave of online vitriol about the U.S. health care system, and Anthem BCBS’s decision roared into the conversation.
An Anthem BCBS spokesperson claims the company was misunderstood. Gaslighting at best.
They have since cancelled their plans to limit payments for anesthesia. (NBC News)
ANTI VAXXER AT THE FBI?
Kash Patel, Trump’s pick for FBI director, promoted a supplement company, Warrior Essentials, that claims to help people “detox” from Covid vaccines. He promoted it on Trump’s social medial platform. Of course, Patel was under contract to that social media platform at the time,
Covid vaccines have overwhelmingly been shown to be safe and effective, and no supplement has been found to alleviate side effects.
Warrior Essentials sells what it calls a “Spike Protein Detox Protocol,” a set of up to three supplements that it claims, without evidence, will “undo the damage from the spike protein,” a component of the coronavirus. The mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna prompt the body to produce and fight an altered version of the protein to train the immune system.
Warrior Essentials is one of many companies that trade on unfounded theories about the false dangers of vaccines, which have proliferated in the alt-right social media landscape since the pandemic — ideas that are not backed by science or evidence. There is no evidence that Warrior Essentials’ supplements are effective at reducing vaccine side effects — which are mostly mild or moderate and tend to resolve quickly. No supplements have been found to do that. (NBC)
Just BS and more disinformation in public. Let’s remind our senators that Patel is an anti vaxxer. Anti-vaxxers are unable to follow evidence to a logical conclusion. If you you can’t do that you should not be in charge of an agency like the FBI who relies on evidence to do their job. The other possibility is that he spread anti vaccine information for money. That is lying in public for money. That should disqualify him as well.
ACTION
Call or email your senators and let them know Patel is an anti-vaxxer and either unable to follow evidence to a logical conclusion or willing to take money to lie in public as evidenced by his support of Warrior Essentials anti vaccine products. Thus he is unfit to head the FBI an agency that relies on evidence to accomplish their mission.
Or on your cellphone just text SIGN PTUDEO to Resistbot at 50409. Here is the message you’ll send:
“I am your constituent and I just learned that Trump’s pick to lead the FBI promoted Warrior Essentials anti COVID vaccine supplement. There is ZERO EVIDENCE IT WORKS and Patel promoting on line shows he is an anti vaxxer. Anti vaxxers are not following evidence - they jump to conclusions. Let me remind you that the FBI MUST FOLLOW EVIDENCE to do their job. It is possible that he just did this for money. If that’s the case spreading disinformation and lies for money should also disqualify him from leading and evidence based organization like the FBI.
Either way DO NOT CONFIRM HIM TO LEAD THE FBI.
Oh, one more thing. DO NOT RECESS and allow Trump to make acting appointments without your approval. Thank you.
P.S. Here is the NBC reference news story for you - https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/trump-fbi-director-kash-patel-vaccine-detox-supplements-rcna182434 .“
Abortion News - Washington
We live in Vancouver, Washington. Washington enshrines in law the right to choose and the right to have contraception. In fact, Washington insurance law demands that in order to be licensed to sell health insurance in the state you must cover the cost of an abortion if you cover maternity services. Sounds good, right?
Providence insurance takes exception. They are “morally” opposed to providing payment for an abortion and so refuse. Now the state has issued a ruling that they will cover that cost for anyone who has a Providence policy and is denied abortion coverage but that’s not the answer. Laws don’t apply to some and not others.
If you live in Washington please contact your elected representatives and let them know that Providence should cover the cost or they should lose their license to sell insurance in Washington. Plenty of other companies are out there who would be happy to pick up the slack.
ACTION - WASHINGTON
You can reach your elected representatives here, https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials or on your cell phone just send a text SIGN PJWIMF to 50409.Here is the message you’ll send:
“Washington state's Reproductive Parity Act requires all state-regulated health plans that cover maternity services to also cover abortion services, including medical abortion (pharmaceuticals used to terminate a pregnancy). If an employer objects to providing these services to their employees, the insurer must provide the services at no cost to the employees. How is it that Providence can flout the law and not cover abortion. I know that we the people pick up the cost when Providence won't so that women are not left in the lurch. It is good to help your neighbor when they need health but it would be better to NOT ALLOW Providence to thumb their nose at the law. The law is supposed to apply to all of us not some. I want you to do whatever you can to get them to be a legally licensed insurer in our state - following all the laws. If they can't perhaps they don't need to do business in our state. Thank you.“
PUBLISH THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT
If you sent this Resistbot message before you can call or email your representatives at this link, https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials. The message below is a good template.
Women are not full citizens in the United States. The Equal Rights Amendment is not signed even though 38 states have ratified it. Let’s urge our members of Congress and Senators to tell President Biden to publish the Equal Rights Amendment. You can reach your representatives here, https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials OR
On your cellphone Text SIGN PYFIAA to Resistbot at 50409. Here is the message you’ll send:
“I’m your constituent and I am writing to ask that you urge President Biden to publish the Equal Rights Amendment before leaving office. The ERA would enshrine gender equality in our Constitution and has met the ratification requirements to become the 28th Amendment. It needs to be published now.”
RESOURCES
Find My Elected Officials
Contact State and Federal Representatives - phone and email
Healthcare Advocacy (Us) Website
Our Newsletter resources including reproductive healthcare - Healthcare Advocacy Reading List
Important Healthcare Resources
League of Women Voters Healthcare Reform Toolkit
Organizations to Contact
National Nurses United Medicare4All, Physicians for a National Health Program, One Payer States, Healthcare Now
Reproductive Health
NARAL - Pro Choice America
Charley. chatbot abortion resource - make sure to use a secure incognito browser if you live in a state that has banned abortion
Planned Parenthood
Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline has references about where to procure abortion medications. They also assist women in the process of self managed abortion or miscarriage by phone or text and will respond in an hour. Details and hours of operation at their website.
United State of Women Reproductive health page (bottom of the page) has important resources such as medical support, access to Telehealth, prescriptions by mail, and legal support references.
Practice careful communications - The Digital Defense Fund has a number of tips to keep texts, calls, and internet use private. Here is their site.
If you need financial help with an abortion try abortionfunds.org
Claims Denials and Appeals & What to Do
Appeal a Healthcare Decision, Appeal/Negotiate a Hospital Bill
Disinformation Management
Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency
Library of Advice, Specific Advice
Save Democracy
Chop Wood, Carry Water by Jessica Cravens
RESISTBOT
Link to the RESISTBOT site to learn more
Link to Chop Wood, Carry Water RESISTBOT write up
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Although I don't advocate murder but, hopefully, a positive aspect will come out of the assassination of the United Health Care CEO in that abuses from the health insurance companies will come to light and become more publicized. If those abuses were as well publicized as his murder, I think things will change for the better and our congressmen can no longer pretend all is well here in America. Unfortunately, under Trump, I fear that these insurance companies will have license to get away with more and more exploitation of our health care system.