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This is Newt Gingrich, writing in the Washington Examiner:

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We would still like healthcare reform legislation to succeed this year — but we are not nearly as enthusiastic about it as we were just a few short months ago.

For starters, the Obama Administration isn’t calling it “healthcare reform” anymore. Now it’s “health insurance reform.”

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A couple of days ago, we did a feature on ensuring that you and your family are safe before taking the plunge and heading off to the pool for a nice swim to cool off. This time, we take you to a more natural but not necessarily more risk-free way to fend off the summer heat: taking a dip at the beach.

Due to the fact that we have less control over the ocean, there are even more contaminants there that may potentially be harmful to us and our families. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a leading environmental group, for instance released its annual report called Testing the Waters”. The study revealed that coastal contamination is a serious problem in the state of California; the good news, though, is that pollution-triggered beach closures and advisories decreased by nearly 25% between 2007 and 2008.

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The Obama Administration doesn't need a public plan to control costs. It can pressure private plans to ration as well. Here's how.

They will require "accountable care organizations (ACOs)," where "teams" work together to provide care. They will require "bundled" payments that cover "packages of care," including pre- and post-care, home health, etc. The ACO will receive one payment and then allocate the money to the team members, who will likely be on salary. All of this is held together by Health IT that is plugged in to the Comparative Effectiveness mechanism. That will help the ACO alert team members when they try to do something that is not "evidence based."

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This is Gary Becker, writing at his blog:

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Most home testing supplies are not meant to be used as a way for people to treat themselves medically. They should be used in conjunction with proper medical care as a way for people to either spot problems that they may be having or to help treat a chronic condition. They are ideal for those who have chronic problems and need regular testing as they can eliminate trips to the doctors office. However, they should still work in conjunction with a physician.

Diabetics should, for example, still see their doctor on a regular basis, even if they continue to get good results from their blood glucose meters. Most doctors will ask that patients who have chronic conditions and who are using home testing supplies keep a record of their results. This can help a doctor know if the prescriptions that they are writing are working or need to adjusted.

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The President is participating in a "tele-town hall" at AARP headquarters in Washington, D.C. today. Here are three questions suggested by Morning Bell about his reform agenda:

Will we find it more difficult to see doctors? This is already a problem. Won't it get worse if the government reduces Medicare spending by $313 billion over the next 10 years?

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One of the things that everyone from 2 to 92 can do to fight off the summer heat is to go swimming. Whether it is in the beach, the lake or the community pool, a quick dip can certainly relieve that sticky, humid feeling that summer can bring.

Since nothing in this world is absolute, one always has to think about the other side to everything; which means that while our objective in going for a swim is related to having fun, one should not forget to consider the health risks associated with swimming. While we do not want to burst anyones bubble, it is important to place our familys health above all else.

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Explaining why he voted against including members of Congress in the public plan:

The public option will be so bad,
I don't want my family to be in it.

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I actually feel a bit sorry for them. President Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress got some very, very bad advice from health policy experts they relied on during the past election. It was the same bad advice they have been getting year after year, election after election, for as far back as memory serves.

But now that it is time to legislate, these politicians must face real economists who look at evidence over at the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Although the CBO Director and staff are appointed by Congressional Democrats, they are professionals and they have been willing to stand up to the pressure and essentially say that last year's campaign rhetoric was hogwash.

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