Revised: H1N1 Killed 3,900 Says CDCP

Today, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention say 3,900 people were killed by the H1N1 virus. The people will died between April and October. Over 500 children died from the H1N1 Swine flu virus.

Newly released data showed 22 million people have been infected by Swine Flu and 98,000 were hospitalized.

8 million kids were infected and 36,000 were hospitalized with H1N1 flu.

“We think the 540 number is a better estimate for the big picture that we are getting out there,” the CDC’s Dr. Anne Schuchat told reporters.

The CDCP says 2009  was the worst flu outbreak since 1997.

“What we are seeing in 2009 is unprecedented,” Schuchat said,”

Schuchat said that the  virus is not getting worse. It takes time to gather and process information. Thursday numbers were not actual by an extrapolation of data from 10 states.

In normal years 36,000 people die due to flu and 200,000  hospitalized. 90% are those who died from the flu and hospitalized are age 65 and older.

With H1N1 90% of those infected are children and young adults.

Reuters

Obama is OK With Punishing Those Who Do Not Buy Health Insurance.

In an interview with ABC News White House Correspondent  Jake Tapper President Obama agrees with Rep. John  Dingel Bill on Health Care which charges a fine if the individual refuses to by health insurance. Obama believes penalties are need for people using “free ride” on health care system.

However, The president did not give support or opposition  to sending people to jail for not paying for the fine for not buying health insurance.

What I think is appropriate is that in the same way that everybody has to get auto insurance and if you don’t, you’re subject to some penalty, that in this situation, if you have the ability to buy insurance, it’s affordable and you choose not to do so, forcing you and me and everybody else to subsidize you, you know, there’s a thousand dollar hidden tax that families all across America are — are burdened by because of the fact that people don’t have health insurance, you know, there’s nothing wrong with a penalty.”

While that provision is in the house bill contains fines the Senate bills hsd the provision removed.

Obama says the penalties are needed to that people don’t  abuse the system. But not so punishing that the people financial situations get worse.

“I think the general broad principle is simply that people who are paying for their health insurance aren’t subsidizing folks who simply choose not to until they get sick and then suddenly they expect free health insurance.  That’s — that’s basic concept of responsibility that I think most Americans abide by,” Mr. Obama said, “penalties are appropriate for people who try to free ride the system and force others to pay for their health insurance.”

The  president didn’t think  the questions penalties including jail time was a  major issue.

So much for freedom. By the way Mr. President health insurance is not like car insurance. If your own a car you maybe compelled to buy insurance or pay a fine. The key phrase is own are car. Charging a fine is ridiculous.

ABC News

Thousands Attends to Protest The Health Care Reform Bill Before the House Vote

Thousands attends at a rally to protest the House of Representative Health Care Reform bill Thursday on the west capitol steps in Washington D.C.

Led by Representative  Michelle Bachman(R-MN) who made the last minute announcement on the “Sean Hannity Program” on radio and repeated again on “Hannity” on FOX News Channel. The announcement spread like wildfire.

People in the crowd chanted “Kill the Bill, Kill the Bill” Speakers included Radio Talk Show host, Author and Former Chief of Staff to Attorney General Edwin Meese under President Ronald Reagan, Mark Levin. Representative Tom Price(R-GA;  and  Rep Bachman. Actors Jon Voight and John Ratzenberger also lent their voices.

“They’re going to listen,” said Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., who originally called for the rally. “The biggest voice in the United States is your voice.”

“Republicans are in the minority, but a minority in Congress plus the American people equals the majority,” Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., told Fox News Thursday.

Voight decried radical Chicago tactics” of the Obama Administration. While Ratzenberger warned about Socialism creeping in.

In addition the protest, the GOP members introduced their own version of the Health care reform which includes high risk pools, the ability to buy insurance across state lines. Keep cost down and is a fraction of what the Democrats bill costs. It would also cover 40 million people.

Democrats quickly denounced the plan.  Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said the GOP plan doesn’t force insurance companies from denying coverage to people who has pre-existing claims.”That’s a very big difference,” Pelosi told reporters Thursday.

On Wednesday, Pelosi spokesperson issued a statement blasted the Republicans. Nadeam Elshami said in a statement

“Bottom line: Americans lose and insurance companies win under the Republican plan,” he said.

Still Republicans still they have a chance of defeat House Democratic bill if the so-called blue dog Democrats vote against it. Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele told Fox News.

“A lot of Blue Dogs in this country are going to have a lot of ’splaining to do back at home in their districts, where people do not want the health care that’s being peddled by this administration,” Steele said.

“They don’t want government control. They don’t want a government option.”

Fox News

House Health Reform Costs Keep Climbing Now $1.2 Trillion

Remember,last Thursday House Speaker Nancy Pelosi touted the Health Care Reform bill would cost just shy of $90o billion.   The  following day the Congressional Budget Office officially scored the bill at $1.055 trillion.

But now there word that the bill is actually $1.2 trillion according to AP. Sources tell the AP that $200 billion were added, for local and state public health departments; a reinsurance program for seniors to keep premiums from going out of control;  and payment of preventive care.

The add ons to make better access to government programs, and to increase benefits.

The source told the AP of the changes under anonymity and not authorized to  speak.

When asked about the increase health reform bill true cost to $1. 2 trillion. A spokesperson to House Representative Speaker Nancy Pelosi Brendan Daly said the bill provides health insurance to 36 million people currently uninsured but improves health care in the country.

“It will not add one dime to the deficit. In fact, the CBO said last week that it will reduce the deficit both in the first 10 years and in the second 10 years,” Daly said.

Democrats in Congress have been racing against the clock to create health care for all Americans, restrict abuses by doctors and insurance industry and slow the rate of growth of insurance premiums  a goal of President Obama.

“Now, add it all up, and the plan I’m proposing will cost around $900 billion over 10 years,” the president said in a nationally televised speech in early September.

Republicans said  the bill is more likely cost over $1.3 trillion over the next ten years.

“Our goal is to make it as difficult as possible for” Democrats to pass it, House Republican leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said at a news conference. “We believe it is the wrong prescription.”

Republican prescriptions including would create high risk insurance pools where people based on their condition can receive health care. Where the Democrats would eliminating bans on pre-existing conditions.

Representative Mike Pence(R-Oh) one of the ranking Republicans in House said the Democrats are creating universal health care where the GOP “believe the real issue back home is cost” and their alternative is much better.

AP via Yahoo News

Some Passengers Faint on Flight to London.

Six Passengers fainted on a trans-Atlantic flight from Newark, NJ to London.  The situation caused an emergency where  police, fire and paramedic crews met the plane at Heathrow International Airport, in London. The crew check for hazardous materials and did not find any.

Paramedics said that the passenger were treated on board the British Airway jet. No one was hospitalized.

The London bound plane arrive at Heathrow at 6A.M. at terminal five and was met with emergency personnel  which was notified of the passengers who fainted on board.

British Airways said the calling of emergency crews was a precaution.

The Boeing 777 had 216 passenger and 14 crew members on board.

AP via Google News

Senator Lieberman to Senate Majority Leader: I’ll Block a Vote on Your Heath Care Reform Plan

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid lost a vote that he had counted on; Senator Joe Lieberman(I-Ct) will block the vote on the Senate Finance Committee health care bill. Lieberman will opposed the bill because the government health care bill with an  option for state to not join the program.

“We’re trying to do too much at once,” Lieberman said. “To put this government-created insurance company on top of everything else is just asking for trouble for the taxpayers, for the premium payers and for the national debt. I don’t think we need it now.”

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs  was questioned about Sen. Lieberman decision to opposed the bill. “I haven’t seen the report from Sen. Lieberman or why he’s saying what he’s saying. I think Democrats and Republicans alike will be held accountable by their constituents who want to see health care reform enacted this year.”

Lieberman is against government health care reform including the option of opt-out due to its cost.

“Even with an opt-out because it still creates a whole new government entitlement program for which taxpayers will be on the line,” Lieberman said.

Lieberman says that he will vote the bill out of committee to go the Senate Floor but he will vote against the bill when the full senate meets later this year.

“I’ve told Sen. Reid that if the bill stays as it is now I will vote against cloture,” he said.

“I can’t see a way in which I could vote for cloture on any bill that contained a creation of a government-operated-run insurance company,” Lieberman added. “It’s just asking for trouble – in the end, the taxpayers are going to pay and probably all people who have health insurance are going to see their premiums go up because there’s going to be cost shifting as there has been for Medicare and Medicaid.

Senator Reid reaction was subdued

“I don’t have anyone that I have worked harder with, have more respect for in the Senate than Joe Lieberman,” he said Tuesday afternoon. “ As you know, he’s my friend. There are a lot of senators, Democrat and Republicans, who don’t like part of what’s in this bill that we sent over to CBO. We’re going to see what the final product is. We’re not there yet. Sen. Lieberman will let us get on [to begin debating] the bill, and he’ll be involved in the amendment process.

Without Lieberman  the Senate is short of the 60 votes to block a filibusterer.

The Politico

Health Insurance Profits Not as Big as Believed.

In the Health care reform debate health insurance profits is not as great as the politicians claim. When compared to other companies or industries health insurance industry makes less than other types of insurances.

The profits of health care is about 6%  give or take a point or two. In the last year profits have barely exceed the 2 percentage points.  This has effected the credit rating of several firms which were downgraded from stable to negative. There credit agencies warn of slowing or stagnant growth of private insurance plans.

The industry is a target of politicans mainly who want a government (public) option. Democrats President Barack Obama, this would”keep insurance companies honest.”

“I’m very pleased that (Democratic leader) will be talking, too, about the immoral profits being made by the insurance industry and how those profits have increased in the Bush years.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, who also welcomed the attention being drawn to insurers’”Obscene profits.”

“Keeping the status quo may be what the insurance industry wants their premiums have move than doubled in last decade and their profits have skyrocketed.” Maryland Representative  Chris Van Hollen, member of the Democratic leadership.

“Health Insurance companies are willing to let the bodies pile up as long as their profits are safe.” A MoveOn.org ad.

Forbes Magazine place the health insurance industry 35th because the 2.2% margins. Medical products and drugs are more profitable.

Railroads (sans Amtrak) make a profit of 12.6%.  Network and communication equipment 20.6%.

The two most profitable firm health insurance Health Spring 5.4% profit margin. United Health Group had a 5% profit margin.

But compared to other products and services for example: Tupperware 7.5%, Yahoo 5.9%, Hershey 6.1%; Clorox 8.7%, Molson Coors 8.1%, and Yum Brand(parent of KFC, A&W, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut)8.5%

AP via My Way News

The Joys of Obamacare

From The Blogprof: Thousands line up to receive the H1N1 vaccines in the driving rain Friday in the Detroit suburb of Clarkston, MI in Oakland County. Some people arrived from Thursday evening around 10 P.M. to get their free shots.  The clinic started giving the shots to people around 9A.M.

He was told that the wait for the shot would be 5 -7 hours long.

Thousands line up for hours to get H1N1 vaccine in Clarkson,MI

The line snake around the Clarkston Jr. High gymnasium twice. Three hours later a lady walks up  and announces after receiving her shot  if your pre-registered for the vaccination there is a shorter second line. Sure enough there was a second line for those who preregistered. No other announcements were made. Poorly planned and  executed.

Hat Tip:  Instapundit

A lone voice in the wilderness Mike O’Keefe of the Milwaukee area holds a sign of the times that reads “Welcome to Government Healthcare.”

Welcome to Government Health Care

He was protesting at makeshift clinic at Cedarburg High School in the Milwaukee area.

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel special thanks to Jim Hoft at GatewayPundit

Obama says H1N1 a National Emergency

On Friday, President Barack Obama declared that the H1N1 virus(a/k/a swine flu) an national emergency. By the declaration it allows the health and human services secretary to move emergency rooms to rev up the pace of treatment and to protect the non-infected.

The White House announced on Saturday the declaration the Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius authority to bypass federal laws to allow hospitals open off site facilities to inoculate the public from Swine Flu. The  hospitals and clinics must ask permission to open off site clinics at places such as schools, community centers and senior centers.

46 states have been recorded as the flu as widespread. Only 11 million does have been made available to doctors, clinics, health departments. There is back log of the flu vaccine.

A few hospitals have open drive through clinics to screen and treat patients infected with H1N1 virus.

The process may also relieve hospitals and clinics for ask for extensive  background information of patients to speed up doctor and medical professional ability to treat people.

The declaration allows hospitals to seen reimbursement from Federal Government. Federal law state if a hospital set a temporary facility it must be no more than 300 feet from a hospital entrance or no reimbursement . With the declaration hospital will be paid for off site facilities.

MSNBC

AP Via Yahoo News

Flu Causes a High School Closure in Outer Suburbs of Chicago

A flu  virus has rocked a Very Far Western suburb of Chicago school district with nearly 700 students called out sick on Monday at St. Charles East High School. And Tuesday additional 900 students called sick reported with flu like symptoms. So school leaders have decided to closed the school Wednesday and re-open on Monday.

St. Charles is 45 miles west of Chicago in Kane County, a small portion of the city is located in DuPage County.

All activities, exams, and athletic events have been canceled.

St. Charles East High has a daily enrollment 2100.

Administrators don’t know if the virus that affected the kids is H1N1 virus or the seasonal flu. This is the biggest outbreak in the Chicagoland area this year.

On the School’s web site it said in a statement:

“The high level of absences is beginning to impact normal school operations,” the school said on its website.

“Extra-curricular activities for Tuesday, October 20th will go forward as scheduled. All athletic extra-curricular and parent night activities scheduled Wednesday through Friday are postponed until further notice.”

School Superintendent Dr. Don Schlomann, superintendent of District 303 schools.

“We want parents to make the choice of keeping their child home if they’re running a fever or have flu-like symptoms,” said Dr.  Schlomann,

It was Dr. Schlomann who made the choice to shut the school for the rest of the week because it was tough to schedule classes with so few students around.

For students they have notice the absences WBBM-TV reporter Derrick Blakely talk to students.
“I didn’t think it was that bad this morning, but the nurse said that I have to go home., that my fever’s too high. It’s just above 100,” said Amanda Mueller a Freshman at St Charles East High School.

“My algebra class had seven people in it,” said Mueller. “It normally has 15.”

“Yes, because so many people were missing, we weren’t getting anything accomplished,” said student Bridget Mitchell.

The illness ranges from Bronchitis, colds and flu.

A factor may have been the cold in climate weather last week which hit Friday and Saturday. It was also Homecoming week which including a football game and a dance afterward many students have participated.

Tuesday Evening, WBBM-TV reporter Kristyn Hartman reports the school was busy with student sports activities. But After tonight all events were canceled for the remainder of the week.

“When tonight’s event is over, we’re gonna shut down,” said Jerry Krieg, St. Charles East’s Athletic Director.

The over the next few days the District 303 will have a clean up crew to scrub down the school from top to bottom before kids and staff return.

WBBM-TV/HD “CBS 2 News”