Today’s Wall Street Journal editorial page points out that remaining “deficit neutral” — a demand Obama has made of healthcare reform proposals — is likely to be “achieved” through massive context-dropping. How? Max Baucus’s bill plans to keep costs down for the federal government — by forcing costs onto the states through an enforced expansion of Medicaid.

So, states would have a decreased ability to dictate what services Medicaid must Read more

I’m rereading Gen LaGreca’s novel, Noble Vision, for the umpteenth time. In all this talk of healthcare “reform,” I desperately needed the vision of the kind of doctor who succeeds in a free system — and the kind of health care we could enjoy if we had one.

Here’s one of my favorite excerpts:

He’d never understood why people said that doctors should derive no selfish reward from the care they provide. He felt the most glorious Read more

I’m already fed up with New York City spending my tax dollars on anti-smoking advertising and those annoying banners all over the city that say “Start walking.” But I didn’t know about this: Thomas Farley, the new city health commissioner, not only wants to ban smoking in public parks (one of the few places smokers have left to go), he wants to make us take the stairs.

Oh, it’s not being couched in terms of “make us.” It’s all about “encouragement” Read more

A column in yesterday’s New York Times entitled “Does This Pencil Skirt Have an App?” reminded me: It’s time to brag!

The author talks about her experience with Lose It!, an iPhone app that tallies your calories in and out, gives you a daily budget, and charts your progress to weight-loss goals.

I can only say good things about Lose It! As I mentioned earlier this year, I’ve been using the app myself. Well, now I can say it’s Read more