Override of H.R. 6331 Protects PT Services
(Kathy)
The American Physical Therapy Association reported that Medicare beneficiaries access to essential rehabilitation services provided by physical therapists and physical therapy assistants would continue following Congress' override of Bush's veto of H.R. 6331 - the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act. They highlighted this critical provision:
An 18 month extension of the therapy cap exceptions process until December 31, 2009 to ensure access for seniors and persons with disabilities to physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services.
When Congress voted to override Bush's veto and reverse Medicare payment cuts for 2008, they also voted in favor of an e-prescribing initiative that was included in the new Medicare law (H.R. 6331). From the Kaiser Network:
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt on Monday discussed the details of an electronic prescribing incentive program scheduled to begin on Jan. 1, 2009, that will increase Medicare payments to physicians who adopt the technology, the AP/Chicago Tribune reports. [...] Leavitt said widespread adoption of e-prescribing could save taxpayers as much as $156 million over five years, as well as reduce the 1.5 million injuries caused by drug-related errors annually (Freking, AP/Chicago Tribune, 7/21). [emphasis added]
The bonuses will help offset the costs to initiate an e-prescribing system and will be phased out after five years.
It's safe to add tomatoes to BLTs and salads again.
It's OK to eat all kinds of tomatoes again, the U.S. government declared Thursday - lifting its salmonella warning on the summer favorites amid signs that the record outbreak, while not over, may finally be slowing.
Robert Greenwald and the Brave New Foundation have announced a weekly show, Meet the Bloggers.
Beginning July 18, Meet the Bloggers will be a daring new show broadcast LIVE over the internet each Friday at 1PM ET. And the best part is this show is all yours. You will be part of creating the show, telling us what questions we should ask our high-profile guests; what issues we should be talking about; and what actions should be taken. You can also interact with other audience members using a live blog and instant polls.
We've already lined up some dazzling guests including John Cusack, Sen. Harry Reid, Rachel Maddow, and this week, Arianna Huffington (more exciting guests to be announced soon). The show's host will be Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks. And we have a really diverse mix of bloggers including Marcy Wheeler (Emptywheel), Nico Pitney (The Huffington Post), Liliana Segura (AlterNet), Roberto Lovato (Of America), Baratunde Thurston (Jack & Jill Politics), and Faiz Shakir (Think Progress) to bring you smart, unconventional political analysis.
Don't miss this Friday's premiere of Meet the Bloggers, in which we'll be discussing whether Karl Rove should be sent to jail for failing to comply with the House Judiciary Committee's subpoena. Now's your chance to become part of the Meet the Bloggers community; send us your questions and comments before Friday's show for us to consider to include. Give input for our Friday show here: http://meetthebloggers.org.
There's a trailer you can watch on their Web site.
I haven't heard about this, but Public Pulse has a reply for Sen. Jansen about the rumor an amendment is being introduced giving Charter high schools the ability to selectively recruit their students. Read his/her thoughts, but here's the bottom line:
In both cases, the Charters win by segmenting the student market and picking off the most profitable parts. Ironically, this is presented as a good thing since it increases "competition" for the public schools. This is not competition; it is exploitation of a market loophole where one class of schools is required by law to take all students, while the other can selectively choose the most profitable ones.
The Michigan Equality organization recognizes July as "Independence from Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Month."
Please consider signing their online resolution as part of their initiative to bring equality to all Michiganders. It will be delivered to each Representative and Senator as they are lobbied for the passage of strong hate crimes legislation.
The United States leads the world in rates of experimenting with marijuana and cocaine despite strict drug laws, World Health Organization researchers said on Tuesday.
Countries with looser drug laws have lower rates of abuse, the researchers report in the Public Library of Science journal PLoS Medicine. [emphasis added]
Celeste Whiting compiled some curious Michigan stats and facts that recently made it into the news, including this little tidbit that would have made a great "Good Morning Michigan" trivia question:
Michigan drivers buckled up at record rates in 2007 -- over 93 percent -- making it a top ten state for seatbelt use. (Chicago Tribune)
Really Really Free Market, Grand Rapids
Sunday, July 27, 2008
2:00pm - 5:00pm
Parking Lot at the Corner of Wealthy and Fuller
Wealthy St SE and Fuller Ave
Grand Rapids, MI
bloom@mediamouse.org
Let's share what we've got and ask for what we need, because there is enough for everyone. Let's respond to the corporations that would rather the landfills overflow than anyone get something without paying. Let's meet this month to show that we mean what we've been saying--we want an alternative, and we're going to invent it for ourselves.
Come to the first ever REALLY, REALLY FREE MARKET in Grand Rapids! Bring usable stuff that you don't need and/or aren't using to share with others. You might consider bringing clothes, furniture, records, toys, or even food.
July 3rd- Philip Dine (author of State of the Unions)
July 10th- John Czerwinski (Business Manager, UA 74 and head of Delaware AFL-CIO COPE)
July 17th- Paul Tucker (Editor & Publisher of the Union News newspapers in Pennsylvania)
July 24th- Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) on for our first segment discussing his new book
July 24th- Brian McGlinchey (LIUNA Eastern Region) on for our second segment
July 31st- USW International President Leo Gerard & USW 2599 President Jerry Green
August 7th- We have Sam Bennett on our show from 8:05am til 8:25am. She is the Chair of the Allentown Democratic Party and the Democratic Congressional nominee in the Pennsylvania 15th Congressional District.
Advertisers and sponsors are badly needed to keep the greater Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania (Bethlehem-based) program on the air. Contact Stephen Crockett by email at demlabor@aol.com or call 1-443-907-2367.
We are planning a show reaching southern New Jersey, northern half of Delaware and greater Philadelphia in Pennsylvania. Interested? Contact Stephen Crockett by email at demlabor@aol.com or call 1-443-907-2367.
Shows are hosted by Mid-Atlantic Labor.com Editor Stephen Crockett. The WGPA broadcast is co-hosted by blogger, labor activist & talk show host Dana Garrett.
Host: Michigan Legislative Black Caucus
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
10:00am - 2:00pm
Michigan State Capitol
Capitol Avenue at Allegan Street
Lansing, MI
517-373-1997
sdavy@house.mi.gov
The Michigan Legislative Black Caucus (www.michiganlbc.org) will host a Minority Business & Professional Expo on Wednesday, September 10, 2008, on the State Capitol Lawn in Lansing. Food tables $100, 8-foot tables $75, 6-foot tables $65. Registration due by August 15. E-mail sdavy@house.mi.gov or SenMScott@senate.michigan.gov for registration forms and more information.
Hosted by Mark Casebolt & Commerce Grill
Sunday, July 13, 2008
6:00pm - 8:30pm
Commerce Grill
2528 Union Lake Rd.
Commerce, MI
248-366-3311
janeboudreau@yahoo.com
Come and meet with Jane and her friends. We are getting close to the August 5 primary. Have food, and beverages. Cash Bar. Suggested Donation $50.00. See you there. Please RSVP, you know we want to have enough food for all!
New State Web Page Has Tips On Saving Money
(wizardkitten)
Governor Granholm and the State of Michigan have unveiled a one-stop web page called "Save Money" that pulls together tips from both state government resources as well as private consumer-based internet sites. From local gas price comparisons and fuel economy tips, to help with health care issues and college financial aid, to ideas on lowering your home energy bills - it's all together on one page to help consumers do what they can to save money.
That possibility isn't out of the question according to one analyst:
General Motors Corp., battered by the slowest U.S. sales market in 15 years, faces the possibility of bankruptcy and may need to raise as much as $15 billion, a Merrill Lynch & Co. analyst said.
The ``dramatic drop-off'' in sales probably will continue through 2009, forcing GM to find additional funding, analyst John Murphy, who cut the Detroit-based automaker's shares to ``underperform'' from ``buy,'' said in a report, ``Bankruptcy is not impossible if the market continues to deteriorate.''
Dan Scripps: Workers Win as Minimum Wage Increases
(Kathy)
Michigan's minimum wage increased to $7.40 an hour this week. Democratic State House candidate Dan Scripps has more information on his blog.
"Every Michigan resident deserves to be paid a fair wage for a hard day's work," said Scripps, a candidate for the 101st House District. "In these difficult economic times, we can't continue paying today's workers with outdated wages. Raising the minimum wage will give our working families some much-needed relief." [...]
"Increasing the minimum wage is a win-win for Michigan," Scripps said. "It will put more money into our workers' pockets, which will then be put back into our local businesses.
Democrats. They look out for Michigan's working families.
