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MDE EXCLUSIVE: MELENDEZ E-MAIL DEMANDING DUES FROM DFL ELECTED OFFICIALS; SPREADSHEET SHOWS KLOBUCHAR, FRANKEN & ELLISON OWE DFL A TOTAL OF $100,000
By Aaron Cocking | August 5, 2009
Ryan’s bombshell post yesterday afternoon about organizational and legal issues facing the Minnesota DFL mentioned a message that DFL Party Chair Brian Melendez sent DFL officials.
“DFL Party Chairman Brian Melendez recently sent a communique out to a DFL party leadership list taking elected officials to task for not pulling their weight within the party. My sources are saying that there are high ranking elected officials that are furious with Melendez.” Source: Minnesota Democrats Exposed, August 4, 2009
Late last evening, a source provided Minnesota Democrats Exposed with an actual copy of Melendez’s communique discussed in Ryan’s post.
The spreadsheet mentioned in Melendez’s email is below.
Please click both pictures for a larger version. More analysis will be coming soon later this morning about Melendez’s e-mail, so please check back to Minnesota Democrats Exposed for more information on this developing story.
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126 Responses to “MDE EXCLUSIVE: MELENDEZ E-MAIL DEMANDING DUES FROM DFL ELECTED OFFICIALS; SPREADSHEET SHOWS KLOBUCHAR, FRANKEN & ELLISON OWE DFL A TOTAL OF $100,000”
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August 5th, 2009 at 8:19 AM
[...] MDE EXCLUSIVE: MELENDEZ E-MAIL | Minnesota Democrats Exposed [...]
August 5th, 2009 at 8:31 AM
[...] Excerpt from: MDE EXCLUSIVE: MELENDEZ E-MAIL DEMANDING DUES FROM DFL ELECTED OFFICIALS; SPREADSHEET SHOWS KLOBUCHA… [...]
August 5th, 2009 at 8:48 AM
If the dues were the same in 2008 – then Ellison owes from 2007 as well. Maybe if he’d skipped the trip to the middle east, he could have paid some local bills.
August 5th, 2009 at 9:09 AM
In the words of Average_Joe
“They must all be using Angry Al’s accountant.”
Does Franken* ever pay his bills for anything. What scum bag!
Ellison: Why doesn’t he get the money from MAS-MN and say it’s for “personal” reasons.
Busty Amy: How much money does the daughter of janky journalist Jim have in her campaign war chest? While the DFL is in arrears, she keeps the money in the bank collecting 2% interest.
Otto: Does the State Auditor have problems overseeing her own budget?
Ritchie: Wow he paid? Must have found the money inside of someone’s car truck.
Swanson: She’s saving the money for a custom made “Do Not Disturb” sign.
August 5th, 2009 at 9:23 AM
So let me get this straight..
Publicizing personal emails has been added to the GOP playbook?
I mean, I like a good scrap as well as anyone here, but are there no boundaries to the GOP slime machine?
August 5th, 2009 at 9:49 AM
Thats all you got danbrome? “personal emails”?
This looks like a email from an executive in the DFL to elected DFL’ers. “personal emails”? I don’t think so.
danbrome has suffered another massive failure.
August 5th, 2009 at 9:51 AM
Liberal danbrome, how can something is addressed “Dear UDF Partners” be considered a personal email.
Obviously Melendez intended for some public humilation for those who haven’t paid their bills, otherwise he would have sent out individual emails to each of the freeloaders.
Aaron has done Melendez a great service, in helping him to collect on bad debts. You should be thanking him.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Why would Aaron do Melendez any favors? Why would he want these people to pay their bills to the DFL? Wouldn’t he rather have the DFL with no money? Your argument is silly.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Intergrity, perhaps that wasn’t Aaron’s main objective, you must admit that his post is going to help Melendez with his accounts receivable.
“Wouldn’t he rather have the DFL with no money?”
I guess that would boil down to which devil is going to do the most evil with the money. For me, as much as I despise DFLers, I wouldn’t want to see anyone screwed out of a paycheck they’ve earned.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:53 AM
dambrone,
So it’s now slimy to post factual, accurate, public e-mails from Brian Melendez when the e-mails put the DFL in a negative position? You’re such a meathead.
The e-mails were sent out to an entire distribution list. They were not marked confidential. If Melendez had any problem with the e-mails being forwarded, he should take it up with the people on the distribution list.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:57 AM
An observation:
Has anyone else noticed that Integrity and brome post together on this blog? Has anyone noticed that when brome isn’t posting here, Integrity isn’t posting either — and vice versa. And of course, we all know how Integrity has repeatedly defended brome’s ridiculous comments just as brome has often defended Integrity.
Clearly there is a connection between brome and Integrity. I’d like to know what the connection is.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:58 AM
I’m convinced that the DFL discovered that this was going to be leaked and chose one of their own bloggers to beat someone else to the punch. Now, in their typcial deceptive way, they are going to release information piece by piece so that the problems look smaller than they actually are.
They released this information which is really just a collection letter to elected officials who have not paid their “dues”. They know these people will pay up. They also know that this will provide cover for the MSM when the DFL legal problems are exposed. The MSM will be all over these people not paying their bills and will mostly ignore the DFL legal issues which are yet to come out.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:00 AM
brome is the “male” poster. Integrity is his “female” alter ego.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:57 PM
So people are late in paying their dues? That’s what all the uproar is about? Yes, it makes them look sloppy and unorganized. But I challenge Tony Sutton to realse the exact same spreadsheet of dues and finances for the state GOP. I would be willing to bet there are delinquent accounts there as well.
This needs to get posted on mountain.molehile.com
August 5th, 2009 at 1:01 PM
Nice to know the MNGOP is squeaky clean on issues like this to the point that their surrogates can waste their time on inside ball.
Keep it up, the more time you spend on frivolous stuff is less time available to actually work to elect your candidates.
For that, I thank you!
MDE, electing Democratic candidates, one smear at a time
Flash
August 5th, 2009 at 1:02 PM
Chris, I alway thought it was odd when Liberal danbrome would say “It was nice meeting you for lunch, Integrity.”
I don’t think Liberal danbrome = Integrity. If Integrity was a man, then I’d say they were probably gay lovers. I think Integrity is just one of those women who like to have gay friends. The term f@g hag comes to mind.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:07 PM
AC, I can understand why you wouldn’t think this is a big deal. You are a Democrat and they never their bills. Take Al Franken* for example.
Flash, maybe you didn’t notice, but the name of this blog is “Minnesota Democrats Exposed.”
Your welcome!
August 5th, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Ellison is probably waiting for MAS-MN to receive it’s yearly charter school check from the state.
He’ll pay his dues out of his share of the take.
Personally, I *am* worried about the overdue fees…when Democrats need money, children’s charities are in danger of being swindled…
Oh, speaking of teh children; how was the trip to Scranton, Flash?
If there is anything left over from your fundraiser, maybe you could buy a couple of boxes of gruel to help feed the starving children, or pay a heat bill for all the elderly you claim to be so worried about.
Hope you had a great time in Scranton…room service is great, ins’t it?
Thanks.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Publicizing personal emails has been added to the GOP playbook?
No, just borrowing it from the Democrats who hacked into Sarah Palin’s email account.
Gotta love the liberal nutbars. They spend the last eight years doing all sorts of mean and nasty stuff. When just a little of it is used back at them they whine, and whine, and whine.
Too f’ing bad. The gloves are off and we’re using your tactics right back at you.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:06 PM
Maybe Ellison has realized that he doesn’t need the DFL to get re-elected in his district, so why give them money.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:56 PM
“Maybe Ellison has realized that he doesn’t need the DFL to get re-elected in his district…”
Right. He’ll just issue a fatwa on anyone that challenges him.
August 5th, 2009 at 3:09 PM
chris..
here is the connection between Integrity and danbrome..
Both are moderate Democrats, patient to wait for GOP leadership, but eager to take bold action without it.
Anybody heard if Congressman Paulsen has balanced the budget yet?
August 5th, 2009 at 3:10 PM
where is Yoda when you need him?
August 5th, 2009 at 3:23 PM
the connection between Integrity and danbrome is scared chickens
August 5th, 2009 at 3:47 PM
TJSwift, easy on Ellison. He has done more to support public funding for madrassas than any politician in the country.
Liberal danbrome, Congressman Paulsen released this statement on the current budget. Why don’t you check his website you ignorant fool.
http://paulsen.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=22&parentid=21§iontree=21,22&itemid=120
Come 2011, Republicans will control the House and he’ll actually be in a position vote for a balanced budget amendment.
August 5th, 2009 at 9:31 PM
brone,
You are no more a moderate than I am the man on the moon. And it’s not up to Erik Paulsen to balance the budget; it’s up to Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama. Last I heard, their budgets are trillions in the red for years to come. You are a meathead: dead from the neck up.
August 5th, 2009 at 9:35 PM
Let’s test “moderate” dambrone:
(1) Do you support the blue dog Democrats’ concerns about the government taking control over health care and the massive costs to the taxpayers?
(2) Do you believe that gun ownership is an individual right guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution?
(3) Do you think taxpayers should be required to pay for abortions?
(4) Do you condemn the attacks against General Petraeus where he was called a “liar” and a “betrayer” of our country?
(5) Do you oppose a carbon tax which will cause energy prices to spike for consumers?
If any of your answers are no, then you are not a moderate Democrat.
August 6th, 2009 at 9:20 AM
“Anybody heard if Congressman Paulsen has balanced the budget yet?”
Anybody heard if Ashwin Madia has moved back to the 5th district yet?
August 6th, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Careful Chris. Look at post #12. Maybe you and Focused/Pete are in cahoots in a similar manner?
August 6th, 2009 at 10:08 AM
Chile, in #16, there you go again assuming that someone who doesn’t agree with you must be a female? So did you have issues with your mom? A past girlfriend? What’s up with all the suspician of women?
August 6th, 2009 at 10:14 AM
Chris, in your post #27, you argue that the correct answer to all of these questions is “yes” if you want to be considered a moderate. So you argue that if you beleive that yes, taxpayers should pay for abortions, than that makes you a moderate, or even a conservative?
Also, I would aruge that if you were a moderate, your answers would be a mix of yes and no. All yes would push you toward the right, and all no would push you towards the left.
Your test aruges that you can’t answer no to any of these questions if you are a moderate. What this tells me about you is that you do not believe that anyone can be a moderate. You either have to be liberal or conservative. Am I right?
August 6th, 2009 at 11:06 AM
AC,
Sorry, it was late at night. You’re right. I should have asked if brone opposed taxpayer funded abortions. Moderates are usually pro-choice but get queasy about making someone else pay for the abortion.
I don’t understand what your point is about yes and no questions. What I can tell you is that I listed positions used by so-called “moderate” Democrats to win in Republican districts. I highly doubt that brone agrees with the positions of moderate Democrats on any of the issues I raised.
Are there true moderates? Actually the answer is yes. They’re the politicians like Arlen Specter who stick their political finger in the air to see which way the wind blows. They don’t usually stand for anything which means they’ll vote for or support whatever is politically fashionable at the time.
Is danbrome a true moderate? No. Many liberals try to disguise themselves as being moderate when they are really liberal. Dambrone is liberal, liberal, liberal, liberal, liberal. He links to liberal and far-left websites. Dambrone supports far-left and liberal candidates running for office. If he was an honest person, he’d admit his political leanings. But brone is not an honest person.
August 6th, 2009 at 11:21 AM
The truth is AC/Bob/IntheLoop that some of us believe you to be a woman because so many of your posts are so femine. I don’t personally care but it would be nice to refer to you as “he” or “she” instead of “it”. So which is it AC?
BTW, which public school did you attend? Your parents should ask for their tax dollars back. I mean we all make spelling mistakes and screw up our grammer now and then but you last few posts really take the cake!
August 6th, 2009 at 11:26 AM
Pete..
“I mean we all make spelling mistakes and screw up our grammer now and then”
What is grammer?
LOL
August 6th, 2009 at 11:28 AM
AC..
Thanks for post #31.
Many of us concluded long ago that Chris is unable or unwilling to understand this.
Bravo!
August 6th, 2009 at 11:31 AM
chris..
Regarding your Quiz..
Your questions remind me of the “surveys” I receive from my congressman Erik Paulsen. Each question is carefully designed to have only one reasonable answer, or worse yet, is flawed by the ridiculous built in premise. In other words, a person would be a fool to give any answer except the one favored by the author.
I know this is way over you head, but it once again illustrates your close minded ideology.
August 6th, 2009 at 11:51 AM
“a person would be a fool to give any answer except the one favored by the author.”
From this we now know that danbrome would answer NO to all the questions.
August 6th, 2009 at 11:55 AM
danbrome – “built in premise”
Huh? They are plain ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions. If you are so conflicted over questions like these – you are not a liberal, conservative, or moderate – you are a GF’er – short for Goofy Fu@ker!
August 6th, 2009 at 12:00 PM
…who likes chickens!
August 6th, 2009 at 12:06 PM
brone,
I don’t have a favored answer to the questions I asked. And the questions I asked were pretty simple. (1) Do you agree with the Blue Dog Democrats’ concerns about the cost and scope of health care reform proposed in the House? (2) Do you believe, as does the U.S. Supreme Court, that the Second Amendment provides for the right of individuals to own guns? (3) Do you oppose taxpayer funded abortions? (4) Do you object to General Petraeus being called a liar and betrayer of our country? (5) Do you oppose a carbon tax which even President Barack (note the spelling) Obama says will cause energy prices to “skyrocket”?
See brone, if you were a moderate, you’d have at least a couple of yes answers to those five simple questions. If you were a true moderate, you’d agree with at least four if not all five questions asked. But you’re not a moderate. Dambrone is liberal, liberal, liberal, liberal, liberal.
Finally, how dare you call me close minded. You’re not even willing to answer my five simple questions. If anyone is close minded, it’s liberal Danbrome.
August 6th, 2009 at 12:18 PM
job10..
Your contention that the quiz contains simple ‘yes’ and ‘no’ questions is absurd. Either you truly believe that, which is tragic, or you are just trying to be funny.
Do you have ANY communication skills of any kind? Sure fooled me.
August 6th, 2009 at 12:36 PM
brone,
What’s absurd is for you to continue to claim that you’re a moderate. Everyone knows you’re not a moderate. As for communication skills, it’s amazing for you to continue to claim to be a moderate when you’ve never communicated a single moderate position even when offered to do so.
August 6th, 2009 at 12:39 PM
Chris..
Why did you change your questions? Is it because you realize that I am right and you therefore feel obligated to tone down your rhetoric?
(1) Do you support the blue dog Democrats’ concerns about the government taking control over health care and the massive costs to the taxpayers? NO (absurd premise & all)
(1) Do you agree with the Blue Dog Democrats’ concerns about the cost and scope of health care reform proposed in the House? YES
(2) Do you believe that gun ownership is an individual right guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution? YES
2) Do you believe, as does the U.S. Supreme Court, that the Second Amendment provides for the right of individuals to own guns?
My answer: YES
(3) Do you think taxpayers should be required to pay for abortions? YES
(3) Do you oppose taxpayer funded abortions? NO
(4) Do you condemn the attacks against General Petraeus where he was called a “liar†and a “betrayer†of our country? YES of course.
(4) Do you object to General Petraeus being called a liar and betrayer of our country? YES of course.
(5) Do you oppose a carbon tax which will cause energy prices to spike for consumers? NO (loaded question)
(5) Do you oppose a carbon tax which even President Barack (note the spelling) Obama says will cause energy prices to “skyrocket� NO (loaded question)
Are you possibly on Erik Paulsen’s staff? Your quiz questions are so similar in tone…
August 6th, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Brone,
Sorry you’ve failed the quiz. You are not a moderate.
August 6th, 2009 at 12:47 PM
P.S. dambrone,
You are an ignroamus. There is no difference between asking whether you support the blue dogs’ concerns about the cost and scope of the House health care bill and whether you support the blue dogs’ concerns about the cost and government control of health care. The scope of the bill IS having the government take control of health care in the U.S. Read the 1,000 page bill and find out for yourself.
And anyone who supports taxpayer funded abortions or a carbon tax on gasoline, natural gas, and coal electricity is not a moderate.
August 6th, 2009 at 1:02 PM
danbrome: “Your contention that the quiz contains simple ‘yes’ and ‘no’ questions is absurd.”
Hmmm, but you were able to give “yes” and “no” answers to everyone of them.
You are now the absurd one.
danbrome – proven liberal chicken-loving GF’er
August 6th, 2009 at 1:11 PM
Why do you support the carbon tax danbrome? To me it is just a way for the left to finally accomplish what they have wanted for years which is reduce the mobility of the poplulation.
I would like to understand how people live in the rural small towns are supposed to contend with this new tax. Public transportation is almost non-existant. Medical help and shopping tend to be miles away from where people live.
Since the legislation does not include any transportation improvements for rural areas aren’t they being affected more than the city dwellers? Or is it true that they would like to empty the rural towns and move everyone into metro areas where the people are more easily controlled?
August 6th, 2009 at 1:37 PM
Yeah, all they want to do is screw over the rural voters, you know, knock em dead!
August 6th, 2009 at 3:53 PM
Thanks for the response danbrome. What the hell was I thinking, have a conversation with that danbrome a-hole?!?! Impossible.
You finally post some positions on issue and I try and engage you in a conversation.
danbrome – what a f’ing jerk.
August 6th, 2009 at 4:48 PM
LOL
August 6th, 2009 at 5:23 PM
Very childish danbrome. What are you, 12 years old?
August 6th, 2009 at 9:39 PM
Liberal danbrome, I do believe I was the first one on MDE to ask you to provide proof that you are a moderate, back in December.
Chris’s presented you with a “quiz” allowing you to show you are not a liberal Democrat and you FAILED.
I do appreciate that you were honest with your liberal positions. I fully expected you to run from the questions like the chicken that you are.
Liberal danbrome: Supporte a woman’s “choice” to kill he baby, and believes taxpayers should be forced to pay for it.
August 6th, 2009 at 11:02 PM
(2) Do you believe that gun ownership is an individual right guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution? YES
What a liberal position!!!!
August 6th, 2009 at 11:03 PM
(4) Do you condemn the attacks against General Petraeus where he was called a “liar†and a “betrayer†of our country? YES of course.
(4) Do you object to General Petraeus being called a liar and betrayer of our country? YES of course.
Holy crap! danbrome is a liberal whack job!!!!
August 6th, 2009 at 11:05 PM
chile..
Supporte a woman’s “choice†to kill he baby, and believes taxpayers should be forced to pay for it.
Please translate this into English for me.
Thanks.
August 7th, 2009 at 9:09 AM
danbrome..
“I also predict Bachmann win NOT win by 503.”
Please translate this into English for me.
Thanks.
August 7th, 2009 at 11:08 AM
2010, I won’t make any excuses for my typos, but liberal danbrome has an excuse for his: He was loving a chicken at the time.
Liberal danbrome: Liberal Democrat
Liberal danbrome: Chicken Lover
August 7th, 2009 at 12:09 PM
Chris, I was jsut saying that a true moderate would probably not answer all yes or all no to that list of questions. If you are moderate, then you might have liberal views on some issues, and conservative views on others. I’m a social liberal, but a VERY fiscal conservative. And sometmies those things conflict with each other. But that’s what you get when you are moderate.
I also think Specter is a moderate, but he is also a bit of an oportunist. He saw the writing on the wall and did what he needed to do for self-preservation.
August 7th, 2009 at 12:12 PM
Focused on Pete,
In #51 you call out danbrome for being childish and immature. You need to go back and read post #39.
Consider this my daily reminder to you to practice what you preach.
August 7th, 2009 at 1:28 PM
AC,
You may be right. However, most moderates take a middle of the road position on issues. They may be pro-choice, but they don’t support the taxpayers funding abortions. They may be pro-environment, but they don’t support the government taxing most energy sources and driving up the costs of gas and electricity for consumers and businesses. They may support a ban on so-called assault rifles, but they believe the Second Amendment guarantees the right of individual gun ownership. They may not fully support the Iraq War, but they also don’t support outrageous personal attacks on our Generals and our troops.
I’m glad you’re a fiscal conservative. And I hope you don’t support running up the deficit $2 trillion this year. As a fiscal conservative, I’d also hope you’d oppose the government takeover of health care and the astronomical costs associated with the health care bill.
August 7th, 2009 at 3:38 PM
AC, I also hope you oppose this quick fix bail out of the auto industry with another 3 billion of our dollars.
I don’t need a car right now – but I could use a new washer and dryer – maybe we should have a ‘cash for appliances’ bailout?
August 8th, 2009 at 9:01 AM
job10, I did not support the auto industry bailout. Or the wall street bailout. Those were temporary solutions that did not solve the real underlying problems.
August 8th, 2009 at 11:43 AM
No comment on Health Care AC?
August 8th, 2009 at 4:29 PM
Sorry Pete. Unlike you, I don’t have a compulsive need to pollute the world with hot air. I only try to chime in on things I feel strongly about. But since you asked…
The current healthcare system in the US is broken. It needs to be overhauled. We need to take a look at all of the systems in the world and identify what works and what does not. Let those systems serve as the “proof of concept” and then take the best of all of those systems, throw out the worst, and create a new system.
I’m not a huge fan of the current proposals because they do not solve the real problems. But they are better then the current way of doing things. Not much better, but better.
Unfortunately the lobbyists in DC will NEVER let the best solution move forward
August 8th, 2009 at 6:09 PM
chris..
“However, most moderates take a middle of the road position on issues.”
With all due respect, what the hell do you know about “most moderates”??
August 8th, 2009 at 6:20 PM
dambrone,
Apparently more than you. You are becoming a pathalogical liar. You are not a moderate by anyone’s book.
AC,
Our health care system is broken??? What the hell are you talking about??? The U.S. has the best health care in the world. The entire world comes to the U.S. to be treated when their government run health care systems cannot provide cures. Almost nobody in the U.S. leaves our country to go find better health care in other countries. Is our system expensive? Sure it is. But it costs money to find cures for cancer — money most other countries aren’t willing to spend. For example, the U.S. has a 30% lower death rate for colon cancer than Canada. Of course, Canada limits access to colonoscopies and they don’t pay for the two best chemotherapies for colon cancer. If you think health care is broken now, just wait until the government takes over the system.
August 8th, 2009 at 8:35 PM
Chris,
You should look into the growing medical tourism industry. More and more Americans are flying to places like India to have procedures at state-of-the-art facilities abroad for a fraction of the US cost. It was either the President or CEO of Blue Cross/Blue Shield that went to India to have hip or knee replacement surgery because he couldn’t get that procedure here in the states.
And who says the US has the best health care? Sources please?
The WHO ranks the US 37th:
http://www.photius.com/rankings/healthranks.html
And check out the Commonwealth Fund. They are highly regarded and respected. Their recent surveys put the US last or next-to-last compared with five other nations — Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand and the United Kingdom — on most measures of performance, including quality of care and access to it.
http://www.commonwealthfund.org
Also, I have heard many, many stories from people who have lived in other countries besides the US for long periods of time and they all say their health care while living abroad was MUCH better than in the US. Sweden and Denmark come to mind. And yes, I know those people pay high taxes.
As for your 30% cancer statistic, what is your source? If you look at this, your number is WAY off. http://appliedresearch.cancer.gov/icsn/colorectal/mortality.html
And here is a personal story. Several years ago, my wife needed some dental work done. Not by a dentist, but a dental surgeon. She had a baby tooth that never fell out. So she needed an implant. There was one option that cost $$$ but it would last about 40-50 years. My wife was 30 at the time so that meant one procedure would probably last the rest of her life. Insurance would not pay for that method because it was too $$$. So instead they paid for the $$ option that will last about 10-15 years. So over the course of my wife’s life, she will probably need to have two or three more procedures that will end up costing $$$$$$$$ in the long run. If that isn’t an example of a broken system, I don’t know what is.
Also, the entire world does not come to the US for health care. They come to places like the Mayo Clinic. And the Mayo clinic is not run like most health care organizations in the US. When is the last time a Saudi prince came to HCMC for something?
August 8th, 2009 at 10:11 PM
Chris..
“Our health care system is broken??? What the hell are you talking about???”
You are so misinformed and frankly ignorant.
Can you really mean that? Seriously Chris.
August 8th, 2009 at 10:12 PM
chris..
You do not think our health care system is broken? Yes or No?
August 9th, 2009 at 4:14 AM
dambrone,
Our health care system is not broken. We have the finest health care in the world. Name one clinic or hospital elsewhere in the world that is comparable to the Mayo Clinic (in other words that’s sought out by people in the U.S. and every other country in the world). And I can name a half dozen other clinics and hospitals in the U.S. that have a similar world wide clientele as Mayo. Once again, you are the one who is ignorant.
AC,
Your personal story is interesting. But it doesn’t prove that our system is broken. The insurance company took a calculated risk that it wouldn’t be insuring your wife 10-15 years down the road and said it would pay for the less expensive model. Although I have a feeling that it would have paid on the more expensive model but would have required you and your wife to pay the rest. But you weren’t denied the option between the more expensive and less expensive treatments as people are around the world in countries with socialized medicine who are denied care by their governments because of cost, age and lifestyle.
There’s a reason the Saudi Princes, as you say, come to the U.S. for treatment. It’s because their countries don’t offer, let alone pay for, the kinds of miraculous medical treatments available in the United States. I’m not saying that medical treatments aren’t being developed in other countries. But if you look to where the leading medical research in the world is being conducted, it’s right here. There’s a reason the Princes aren’t going to the HCMC and that is because the HCMC isn’t a world class research hospital like Mayo.
Also, you did not address the details of the Democrats’ health care bill which gives the federal government real time access to your bank accounts. More on this (and other outrageous details) to come…
August 9th, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Before brone and AC chime in, let me say that there are ways to reform health insurance and to make health care more affordable. Those ways include getting the states out of the insurance regulation business so insurance companies can offer health insurance across state lines with streamlined or ala carte coverage options, reforming medical malpractice laws and providing incentives for more Health Savings Accounts.
It’s clear that Americans want to keep their doctors and have access to the best health care they can get at all stages of life. They don’t want to have a government bureaucrat managing their access to health care and overriding their doctors. Our health care is the finest in the world. Let’s keep it that way.
August 9th, 2009 at 10:47 PM
Chris..
Do you think a person with no access to health insurance feels we have the finest health care system in the world?
The fact that we have quality health care does not mean we have a system that makes it available and affordable to our citizens.
August 9th, 2009 at 10:49 PM
chris..
Are you aware that some Americans do not have access to a Health Savings Account because they are unemployed or destitute? Do you suggest they just head down to the ER if they need a doctor?
August 9th, 2009 at 10:50 PM
chris..
I suspect that YOU have pretty good health insurance coverage for you and your family, right?
August 9th, 2009 at 11:52 PM
Liberal danbrome, name one person who has been denied access to health insurance across the board. Name one person who has been denied access to health care.
AC, Jesus H. Christ, now your demanding the goverment pay for dental implants? WTF is wrong with you people?
BTW, I’d take my chances with the level-1 trauma center at HCMC over a socialized hospital in Sweden or Denmark any day.
“And yes, I know those people pay high taxes.”
Sources please? How much of their paycheck goes to the government? 80%?
August 10th, 2009 at 2:06 AM
brone,
You are a meathead. Further, you don’t know what the F- you’re talking about — about the “destitute” and about me. If you’re destitute, you’re covered by Medicaid and have access to health care that’s paid for by someone else.
As for me, I’m self employed and have to pay for my own health insurance. And I have a high deductible policy so I pay for my own doctor’s visits up to the deductible. I have never had enough health care costs in a particular year to even reach my deductible. Therefore, I pay for just about all of my doctor’s visits out of my own pocket. I can tell you that it’s usually not that terribly expensive to go to the doctor for a check up or for basic services such as treating skin rashes, sore throats, the flu, etc. And if I can’t pay on a particular day, my doctor sends me a bill and would let me set up a payment plan until my bill is paid off. In fact, my local clinic has a satellite office in my local shopping mall that charges a flat fee of $60 for visits and $10 for most lab work. The Target located in the same mall charges $9 for most generic prescriptions. The Wal Mart that’s not in the same mall charges even less for most generics. So no, brone, I wouldn’t tell people to go to the emergency room when, for less than $80, they can get their strep throat or whatever treated.
As for you, if I had to suspect, I’d guess you and your family have health insurance paid for by your employer. I’d bet you probably bitch about your co-pays. I’d also guess that you probably go to the doctor pretty regularly — perhaps even too regularly. Which is why you think the government should just pay for everyone’s health care. If you think health care is expensive now, just wait until it’s free. The only catch is that you’ll have a bureaucrat between yourself and your doctor and that person will have the power of the federal government to overrule and even deny your doctor’s course of treatment.
August 10th, 2009 at 10:01 AM
chris..
“The only catch is that you’ll have a bureaucrat between yourself and your doctor and that person will have the power of the federal government to overrule and even deny your doctor’s course of treatment.”
LOL, what a fool.
By the way, I have been to the hospital once in 51 years. This is not about me.
Obviously, you are so full of yourself you can’t even admit that the American health care system needs major reform. Sad.
August 10th, 2009 at 10:03 AM
chris..
Is it your understanding that every American has access to quality health care at an affordable price?
August 10th, 2009 at 10:06 AM
chris..
Please confirm that you believe we should not reform health care, because the current system works perfectly.
Thank You.
August 10th, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Did danbrome even read post #71?
August 10th, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Pete..
As a matter of fact I did.
“Our health care is the finest in the world. Let’s keep it that way.”
chris would be happy to ride this train into the ground.
Fortunately, we have many on both sides of the aisle that are committed to reform. The status quo is a recipe for disaster.
August 10th, 2009 at 10:29 AM
dambrone,
You are such a stooge. You said you’ve been to the hospital once in 51 years. How often do you go to the doctor’s office, which is in a clinic not a hospital? You can’t even be truthful about how often you see the doctor.
You laughed when I said that a government bureaucrat can overrule your doctor when it comes to your course of treatment. Have you even read HR 3200? Of course not, because it’s 1000 pages long. But unlike you I have spent time reading the bill and if you don’t want to believe me that there’s health care rationing in the bill then you’re the proverbial ostrich with your head in the sand.
I did not say that our health care system doesn’t need reform. I have linked to GOP bills which provide for great reforms to our system. I have also stated that I support health savings accounts and medical malpractice reform which will reduce defensive medicine practices. I also have repeatedly stated that states should get out of the insurance regulation business and allow health insurance companies to compete nationwide and offer ala carte coverage to individuals. But I do not support ruining the finest health care system in the world by turning it over to the federal government. Just because I’m not a sheep like you and don’t support the 1000 page monstrosity that will turn over our health care system to the federal government doesn’t mean that I don’t think there’s room for improvement.
August 10th, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Yes, Chile I am saying that INSURANCE should pay for a replacement tooth. My wife had a baby tooth that never fell out because the permenant molar never developed. So yes, insurance should pay for some type of replacement tooth in this case. That’s why you have insurance. Why do you have it?
So if this would have happened to you, you would have left decaying baby tooth in, let it cause root damage that would spread to your gums and adjacent teeth? Brilliant.
August 10th, 2009 at 10:32 AM
Chris, this happens already. Insurance people overrule doctors all of the time. About 15-20 years ago, my mom had gall stones and kidney stones. The Doctor ordered the surgery to have them removed right away since she was in so much pain. But we got a call at 10:00 that night from the insurance saying they wouldn’t pay for the procdure because it wasn’t really needed. WTF? Some schmuck in a suit tells the doctor what is needed?
August 10th, 2009 at 10:34 AM
chile: “AC, Jesus H. Christ, now your demanding the goverment pay for dental implants? WTF is wrong with you people?”
AC: “Insurance would not pay for that method because it was too $$$. So instead they paid for the $$ option that will last about 10-15 years.”
AC: “Yes, Chile I am saying that INSURANCE should pay for a replacement tooth”
Focused on 2010: AC you ignorant slut! Insurance did pay for a replacement tooth. Man are you stupid.
August 10th, 2009 at 10:38 AM
If Bob wants insurance that will do what ever he wants whenever he wants I’m sure he can find an insurance company to write the policy for a price which reflects the demands he is making.
What it comes down to is Bob’s parents paid for a economy health care plan but wanted luxury service. I’m sure the insurance company paid for other less expensive treatments that solved the problem. Just not the one that Bob’s parents wanted.
August 10th, 2009 at 10:53 AM
AC,
When the health insurance company denies care, you have the right to appeal under your policy and if you lose the appeal, you can pay for the procedure out of pocket (ie. private pay). Appeals happen in insurance all the time and policy holders win appeals very frequently as insurance company bureaucrats and even doctors make mistakes in how paperwork is filled out, etc.
When the government takes over health care, there is no more private pay and I highly doubt the government is going to accept appeals. If the government says you’re too old for a pacemaker or a knee replacement you’re going to be out of luck. If the government says we’re not going to pay for a certain cancer drug, you’re going to be out of luck. Look, the federal government cannot even run the Post Office efficiently, why would you want them to take over your health care?
August 10th, 2009 at 1:30 PM
Yes, Pete, insurance did pay for it. But instead of paying $$$ to fix it once, they have already paid $$$$ to fix it twice. And they will probably have to pay at least two or three more times. That was my orignal point that insurance is broken. Why pay once to fix it correctly. Just fix it cheap and quick and be done with it. Why pay $$$ to fix it right the first time when we can spend $$$$$$$$ to fix it over and over and over again.
August 10th, 2009 at 1:33 PM
Chris, I do not want the government running my healthcare. I want my doctor to do that. In order for that to happen, Doctor’s need to be the decision makers. But they are so afraid of lawsuits and lawyers that they WANT someone to run interference and make decisions for them. Hence the cozy relationship they enjoy with the insurance providers.
August 10th, 2009 at 1:39 PM
AC,
As I explained before, the insurance company made a calculated decision that she wouldn’t be their customer in another 15 years when the tooth needed to be replaced again. Insurance typically pays the same amount on the upgraded tooth as they would on the basic tooth but you have to pay the difference.
You’re right about lawsuits. But they have nothing to do with insurance companies. Doctors have to practice “defensive” medicine which typically means they order a whole battery of tests to back up their diagnosis. If Democrats weren’t funded by the trial lawyers, perhaps they would support medical malpractice reform which would lower costs by reducing the need for defensive medicine.
August 10th, 2009 at 4:52 PM
When a family member went in to have wisdom teeth taken out it was determined to be a surgical procedure that my dental insurance did not cover. They did cover the procedure to do a simple extraction. They would not consider paying the amount that they would have paid for the simple extraction because, in their words, it was not a simple extraction.
Now my point. I do not expect someone else to pay for it. My employer at the time contracted with the dental insurer and paid for the policy based on their rules. Any complaint I had would have been with my employer. I ended up using money that I put in my flex benefit account.
I do not understand why anyone would expect the insurance company to pay for the procedure when it was only doing what my employer had contracted with the company to do.
I seriously doubt that any goverment plan would pay for AC’s wife implant since they are so expensive. As Chris said insurance companies take the gamble that you will not be on their policy the next time the procedure is required. That or dead.
August 11th, 2009 at 9:00 AM
AC/IntheLoop/Bob busted lying once again!
Post # 67 August 8th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
“So instead they paid for the $$ option that will last about 10-15 years. So over the course of my wife’s life, she will probably need to have two or three more procedures that will end up costing $$$$$$$$ in the long run.”
Post #88 August 10th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
“But instead of paying $$$ to fix it once, they have already paid $$$$ to fix it twice. And they will probably have to pay at least two or three” more times.”
Her made up story has change. One procedure to date has become two, and “will last” has changed to didn’t last. Three or four “lifetime” procedures has become Four or five.
AC/IntheLoop/Bob: Proven Liar!
August 11th, 2009 at 9:06 AM
Good catch chile. AC/InTheLoop/Bob is obviously an idiot who has no problem telling lies to support an unsupportable position.
Sadly AC/InTheLoop/Bob is typical of the liberals who post on this site.
August 11th, 2009 at 3:32 PM
I lied about nothing Chile and Pete.
Unlike you, I try to keep my examples on topic. Sometimes that means dumbing them down for you. She has had two appointments in the past month re: replacing the failing implant. So when I made my first example, I decided not to bore you with those details as they would just confuse the point I was trying to make. Actually, there have been MANY visits with the dentist over the years. Do you want to hear about all of them?
After the appt. last week and talking it over this weekend, it has been decided to go ahead with the second procdure, so the facts have changed a little. Hence my slightly revised story.
But you are one messed up idiot if you somehow think this one small insignificant detail somehow changes the illustration that I was trying to make that healthcare is broken.
Chile – way to much time on his hands and grasping at straws to make his point. And failing.
August 11th, 2009 at 3:35 PM
And you Focused/Pete are typical of the close-minded, immature poster on this site who often resorts to name calling.
Please don’t respond unless you have something to contribute to the conversation related to this thread re: the DFL, Melendez, the spreadsheet, etc.
August 11th, 2009 at 5:12 PM
AC/InTheLoop/Bob, your lies are blatantly obvious. I don’t need to search for them .. they just sit there in plain view.
BTW, when you bore us with the details of the bad british teeth in your family, you really have no room to tell others to stay on topic.
August 11th, 2009 at 7:39 PM
AC caught in so many lies and again attempts to blame others for her own stupidity.
By the way, you said “She has had two appointments in the past month re: replacing the failing implant”. Tell me AC, what procedure did you want that you didn’t get? What is more permanent than an implant?
August 11th, 2009 at 7:41 PM
http://www.perio.org/consumer/2m.htm
According to this website implants are permanent AC.
August 11th, 2009 at 7:42 PM
http://www.aboutcosmeticdentistry.com/procedures/dental_implants/pros_and_cons.html
This one too…
August 11th, 2009 at 7:43 PM
AC: One lie after another. So many lies AC can’t keep track of which lie came first. Tell me AC, have you always been so stupid?
August 12th, 2009 at 2:10 AM
AC,
Thanks for clarifying what’s happened. Based on your clarification I can tell you what the insurance company is thinking with respect to the implant. Some kinds of implants are deemed medically necessary and they are covered by dental insurance. Other kinds of implants are deemed to be cosmetic and they are not covered by insurance. Typically most insurance companies don’t pay for any kind of procedure that’s cosmetic in nature. And I can guarantee that the government won’t pay for those implants either.
Here’s a sincere question for you: if we agree that there are 47 million people in the U.S. without health insurance, how do you think the federal government can add them to the health care system and lower costs at the same time? The answer is very simple and it rhymes with fashioning. But I’d like to see your explanation for adding 47 million people to the health care system while lowering costs.
August 12th, 2009 at 10:57 AM
You start addressing the waste shown in this chart:
http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/10/news/economy/healthcare_money_wasters/index.htm?postversion=2009081012
August 12th, 2009 at 11:04 AM
Wow, I am honored. I think it is time to rename this blog, since appantly people only want to talk about my wife’s baby tooth. Sad.
But I’ll indulge.
In #97. Sorry wrong word. The bridge/fixed partial denture that she got is failing. She never got the implant. The “fake tooth” she has is failing.
So again, insurance would not pay for one implant, but they will pay for partial dentures over and over and over again.
And none of you have really answered my question. How is that effecient?
Yes, the way the current system is set up with employer-provided insurance, the carrier took a calculated risk that my job would change and it wouldn’t be their problem in the future.
So if you eleminate all of the insurance hopping that is required when you change jobs, people would be with the same insurer for longer periods of time. It now becomes VERY attractive for the insurers to re-evaluate how they do things.
August 12th, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Always “mistakes” or “someone else’s fault” or “it was my son, no really it was my son” when AC gets caught in a lie.
August 12th, 2009 at 12:34 PM
AC,
I’m not going to call you a liar. I will take your word that you misspoke about your wife’s dental situation.
Dental insurance is not the same as health insurance. Dental insurance usually doesn’t pay more than 60% of the cost of a procedure. It also doesn’t pay for cosmetic procedures. Dental implants are cosmetic procedures. I’ve never seen dental insurance that covers implants. They almost always cover bridges. If your wife wants an implant, she is free to pay for one out of pocket. If you think the federal government is going to offer free dental implants if they take over health care, you’re sorely mistaken.
Now, you still haven’t answered my question. How can we add 47 million people to the health care system and cut costs at the same time?
August 12th, 2009 at 4:25 PM
If you add 47 million people today? No way. But start by reducing waste shown in the chart. Then REFORM, revise, etc. Fix the infrastructure, then add those 47 million people.
I’m not totally sold on the current proposals, but I have not heard any alternatives either.
Getting sick and tired of idiots like Sarah Palin tweeting garbage and lies and working people into a tizzy.
August 12th, 2009 at 4:27 PM
Pete/Focused,
Simple yes or no question for you. Have you ever misspoken? Ever used the wrong word? In your entire life, out of all the words you have EVER spoken, they have all been 100% correct the first time out of your mouth?
I didn’t think so.
Stop wasting everyone’s time with pointless posts.
August 12th, 2009 at 4:29 PM
Chris,
You are right that dental and medical are not the same. Way back at the start of this thread, I was just trying to use the best personal example to illustrate the ineffeciency of the insurance claims/reimbursement process in general.
August 12th, 2009 at 9:56 PM
AC,
With all due respect, and I’ve tried to be civil in this conversation (which I’ve actually enjoyed), have you read the 1000 page House bill? If you haven’t read the bill for yourself, then you don’t have any business calling Sarah Palin an idiot. The bill is a piece of garbage that gives the federal government control over your health care.
As for the 47 million uninsured, you cannot add them to the system and cut costs without rationing care. Even Obama admits this fact when he questioned the fact that Medicare paid for his grandmother’s hip replacement while she was also going through a serious illness at what turned out to be the end of her life. I for one do not want a federal bureaucrat making the decision that my grandparents shouldn’t get a hip replacement because they’re too old.
The issue you raised has nothing to do with the ineffeciency of the insurance system. You paid for a dental health policy that didn’t pay for cosmetic procedures. Your policy worked exactly as it was supposed to. If you wanted coverage for cosmetic work, you can shop for a different policy. But if you let the government take control of health care, there will only be one policy and if you don’t like the terms, you’re screwed.
August 12th, 2009 at 10:24 PM
“Focused, Simple yes or no question for you. Have you ever misspoken? Ever used the wrong word? In your entire life, out of all the words you have EVER spoken, they have all been 100% correct the first time out of your mouth?”
Of course but not all the time and I don’t blame someone else when I’m caught.
When you are trying to claim that you aren’t getting what you want and then say that you did get what you wanted you need to be taken to task. If you did not have such a long history of being a liar it wouldn’t be a issue.
August 13th, 2009 at 6:32 AM
AC/InTheLoop/Bob asks:
“Have you ever misspoken? Ever used the wrong word?”
Everyone does, AC/InTheLoop/Bob. Your problem is you made the claim in writing and repeated it over and over again.
AC/InTheLoop/Bob: Proven Liar
Liberal danbrome: Enjoys having Ashwin’s “teabag” dropped into his mouth.
August 13th, 2009 at 10:37 AM
chile: Sargeant Slander
August 13th, 2009 at 11:00 AM
dambrone,
It takes a lot of chutzpah for you to call anyone Sargeant Slander. Between calling people fucking retards and spreading lies from Palestinian terrorists, you’re the king of slander.
August 13th, 2009 at 12:48 PM
I stand by my claim that Palin is an idiot. She started the garbage about death panels and that has proven to be false. She lied, and a lot of people listen to her. That is a big part of the problem with this debate and the town hall meetings. There is SO much flat out wrong information out there and protesters are fixated on that. And that drowns out the legitimate questions and conversations about the unknowns.
August 13th, 2009 at 12:54 PM
I think care should be rationed, but in a common sense way that involves the doctor and the patient. And problaby people from the actuarial (sp?)sciences. And I agree that figuring out HOW to ration is a bugger of a challenge.
If you are 98 years old, have a host of health problems, and you need a new hip, then you can pay for most of it yourself if you really want it. Insurance should pay little, if at all.
But if you are 36 years old and need a new hip, and you are otherwise very healthy and will get a lot of mileage out of that new hip and you have a long life expectancy, then yes, insurance should cover more of that cost in this case.
But I agree this is a VERY complicated issue.
August 13th, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Focused and Chile,
In this example, I inverted the word partial for inplant once in a single post. Thanks for pointing it out and giving me a chance to correct myself.
Normal people would accept that and move on. But for some reason, you two are so full of hate, rage, bitterness, and immaturity that you can not get beyond that. For that I am truly sorry.
Chris, although you and I aren’t agreeing, at least we’re being civil in our back and forth. Thank you.
August 13th, 2009 at 1:00 PM
Chris, I don’t think there is only going to be a single policy if the gov. gets involved.
Dr. Tim Johnson made a good analogy on ABC. He likened this to the airline industry. Yes, there are many airlines and it is a very competitive industry. But it is a VERY regulated industry. As consumers, we know that there are standards for plane safety, inspections, security, etc. His point was that this is how they are trying to reform healthcare.
Now, I know the airlines and that industry have their own issues and problems, but it was still an interesting perspective.
August 13th, 2009 at 5:38 PM
AC,
With all due respect, your comments about Gov. Palin are asinine. You apparently have not read the bill. If you had read the bill, you would agree with Gov. Palin. Even the Washington Post has written about this.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/07/AR2009080703043.html
And if you think there can be competition when the federal government is one of the competitors, you’re crazy. There can’t be fair competition when one of the competitors (ie. the government) can write all of the rules.
August 13th, 2009 at 5:48 PM
AC just doesn’t get it. If you did not have a history of being a liar it wouldn’t even be an issue. But you do.
Now I glad to see that at least of you guys finally admits that you will refuse medical care to the elderly because by someone’s judgement their life isn’t worth it. As a senior citizen I am very concerned about someone like you imposing yourself in my healthcare decisions.
I wasn’t going to go to Rep. Peterson’s town hall meeting on Friday but now I am. I do not want someone like you who is more concerned about the almighty dollar having any say in my health care.
August 14th, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Chris,
Palin fanned the flames with the whole “death panel” garbage and that is not true at all. There is nothing about death panels. She is an idiot for spreading crap like that. That allegation grew in part from a provision in a bill passed by three House committees that would provide Medicare reimbursement to patients seeking end-of-life counseling. Heaven forbid you should be able to discuss hospice and homecare with your doctor and have insurance cover that end-of-life care. NOTHING about death panels or euthanasia.
And besides, Chuck Grassley even said “We dropped end-of-life provisions from consideration entirely because of the way they could be misinterpreted and implemented incorrectly.”
August 14th, 2009 at 10:10 AM
Pete, I did not say medical care should be refused. I said the reimbursement rates should be adjustable. If you want the procedure, you can get it.
So if a 98-year old person with cancer needs a new hip and a healthy 36 year old person needs a new hip, then yes, I am saying there should be different insurance coverage for that procdure for these two people. And I have no problem with telling the 98 year old person no in this case. If they want the hip, they can pay for it.
But again, this is an extreme example that is easier for me to make a distinction between what should and should not be allowed. There is a lot more gray that complicates the issue.
And here is anothter example let’s say that you, Pete/Focused, have smoked all of your life and you drink heavily. When you hit 90 years old, how much should insurance be paying for your failing liver and lung cancer? Two big medical problems that are the result of your own actions? Aren’t you and a lot of other people on here always talking about more personal responsibility and LESS entitlement programs?
August 14th, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Chris, the government will not be one of the competitors. They will just be setting the rules, policies, and guidelines, and pricing structures that others must follow. A “public option” is just a set of rules and guidelines that must be followed.
How do you think the FDA works? They don’t market and sell their own line of medications and make people buy those? But they do REGULATE the industry.
Or the USDA? They don’t have USDA-brand chicken that Gold-N-Plump has to compete with. They set the guidelines that Gold-N-Plump has to follow.
Or the NTSB? They don’t go out and submit bids to build bridges and undercut all of the constuction companies to win the contract. They ensure uniform standards FOR the construction companies.
Or the FAA? They don’t run or operate a single airline, but they do a pretty good job of keeping that industry safe.
That is what I want out of all of this.
August 14th, 2009 at 10:20 AM
AC,
Your post makes absolutely no sense. The government already regulates health insurance just as they regulate drugs through the FDA, chieckens through the USDA and transportation through the NTSB and the FAA.
A public option is a government issued, government backed health insurance plan that would be an option along side private plans. It would make the government a “competitor” against the private sector. And the government can’t be a fair competitor when the government sets the rules in the competition.
August 14th, 2009 at 10:21 AM
P.S.
The fact that you want the government to set prices of health insurance scares the hell out of me. It’s not the government’s role to set pricing structures.
August 14th, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Good point. I guess I meant pricing “guidelines” more in the sense of what they will and won’t pay for, and how much or little they will pay. Let the providers dictate the actual prices.
August 17th, 2009 at 5:10 AM
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