And another (Symbolic, but still Awesome) Step Forward

A few days ago, we noted the faltering steps toward derailing ObamaCare©. Today brings news that South Carolina's new governor, Nikki Haley, stood up to PresBo, virtually demanding him to repeal ObamaCrap. When he (of course) refused, she then requested (a la McDonald's) a waiver for the Palmetto State. It's doubtful, of course, that this will be forthcoming (although she says he promised to consider it, who would bet on it?), but it's heartening to see the pushback from newly-elected leaders against this train-wreck.

Kudos, Nikki!

[Hat Tip: RedState]

December Wikio Health Rankings

Once again, we've been asked (exclusively!) to post the new Wikio Health blog rankings. Although we've slipped a couple spots, we're still in the Top 20 (which still amazes me):

1	Well
2	Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog
3	Respectful Insolence
4	Science-Based Medicine
5	In the Pipeline
6	Pharmalot
7	The Health Care Blog
8	Dr. Wes
9	Better Health
10	John Goodman's Health Policy Blog
11	The Last Psychiatrist
12	Age of Autism
13	Health Beat
14	Gary Schwitzer's HealthNewsReview Blog
15	Healthcare Economist
16	White Coat Underground
17	ScienceRoll
18	Running a hospital
19	Health Care Renewal
20	InsureBlog

Ranking made by Wikio

$3 Million Seersucker Suit

With emphasis on the "sucker" part:

"The federal government spent $3.1 million on TV ads in which actor Andy Griffith touts the new health care law, but a non-partisan watchdog group says those ads are misleading."

Well, it's not just the "watchdog group" (FactCheck.org) who made that call; we "fisked" the former Mayberry star's infomercial in August, pointing out, for example that:

"as a senior citizen, he's about to see his own Medicare benefits - including choice of doctors - severely curtailed."

We were off the mark, though, in one aspect: we understood that the effort cost less than a million dollars. Turns out, it actually cost about 4 and a half times that.

That's more than Floyd charges for a perm!

Happy Chanukah 2010/5771

The Festival of Lights begins tonight. Enjoy!

One step forward, one step back...

First, the good news:

"Florida Rep. Dean Cannon, the state's new House speaker, took a shot at healthcare reform ... questioning whether government should require citizens to purchase health insurance or raise taxes to give insurance to those who can't afford it"

Now the bad:

"A federal judge in Virginia on Tuesday rejected a legal challenge to the healthcare reform law"

U.S. District Judge Norman Moon based his (wrongheaded) decision on the stretched-beyond-anything-meaningful Commerce Clause, ruling that "there is a rational basis for Congress to conclude that individuals' decisions about how and when to pay for health care are activities that in the aggregate substantially affect the interstate health care market." [emphasis added]

Once again, we see misinformed individuals (notably, in this case, a Federal jurist) conflate health care with health insurance.

Sheesh.

Wednesday LinkFest

■ First up, from FoIB Bob D:

"In an open letter to America's medical students, Representatives [sic] John Barrasso (R-WY) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) warned of the consequences the health care law will bring to their future practice of medicine. In particular, they chastised the law for interfering with the personal relationship between doctors and patients."

Ya think?

■ Next, HHS Secretary Shecantbeserious has allowed the CMS to publish next year's Medicare premiums and deductibles:

■ And finally, FoIB Holly R tips us to this little life insurance doozy:

"Insurers have long used blood and urine tests to assess people's health — a costly process. Today, however, data-gathering companies have such extensive files on most U.S. consumers—online shopping details ... that some insurers are exploring whether data can reveal nearly as much about a person as a lab analysis of their bodily fluids."

On the one hand, insurers aren't allowed to use genetic testing, but if shopping's in your blood...

Cavalcade of Risk #119 is up!

Nina Kallen makes her CavRisk hosting debut with this terrific edition, categorized and anotated for your reading pleasure.