By Henri D. Kahn

The Gettysburg Address spoke of "government of the people, by the people, for the people." George W. Bush has added "what people?"

Live, From The USA,
It’s World Domination Time!
The current administration keeps looking for trouble in all the wrong places. The callow Bush continues to pursue revenge 7,000 miles away Lone Ranger-style, and pitifully, his political sidekicks really are Tontos!
Homeland Security is the answer, not sending tens of thousands of troops in a ridiculous, very expensive, and incredibly stupid effort to resolve our terrorist problem.
I have stated, in several of my LareDOS monthly articles, that Bush is an omen of ill-fortune for our wonderful country. This is one time I am truly sorry that my foreboding has become reality. I am counting the days until I can cast my vote in the next presidential election to hopefully send Mr. Bush into political retirement. Until then, folks, tighten your belts and get out your hankies to wipe away the tears of mourning.

Health Care Costs
and Insurance
Is it the physicians, the prescription drugs, hospital services? What is the culprit that is causing an overall increase of 11.5% per employee in health care costs?
Statistics indicate that these three sources of health care expense increase at the same pace annually. So who or what is to blame for a large percentage of the increase in health care costs and health insurance costs?
Defensive medicine costs the US health care system over $60 billion. All of these extra lab exams and CAT scans and MRIs can be characterized as overkill to prevent physicians from being financially killed by abusive attorneys. In spite of all the defensive medicine expenses being forced on patients, abusive attorneys with an eye to lining their pockets rather than righting a wrong are getting paid for their services. The average paid amount for a medical liability claim exceeds $225,000. This is the average. There are a substantial numbers of cases that have exceeded $1,000,000 paid for medical liability.
Medical billing fraud, which is billing for a service not performed, is a scam that costs Texans $5 billion a year.
From 1996 through 2000, insurance companies paid $3.2 billion on fraudulent bills submitted by chiropractors. Some physicians bill insurance companies for tests and procedures never performed.
We place great importance on our physical and mental well-being. The crooked health care providers know this and they scam us, because they know that the cure of an illness is more important than any money we have to spend.
So, what to do? A program of national healthcare paid with tax dollars is frowned upon by most of us, mainly because it will not provide that to which we are accustomed. We want service . . . and we want it NOW! We simply won't stand for the long wait to get medical attention that is the hallmark of national healthcare programs.
Getting on the bandwagon for Tort reform is an excellent start. You can do this by reading your newspaper or watching your TV and responding to any pleas for control of the runaway abusive attorneys. Call your legislator, but be careful: he or she may be an attorney that is financed by the Trial Lawyers Association.
Check your medical bills and insurance explanation of benefit letters that indicate the treatments you received for your illness or accident. Report what seems fishy to the insurance company.
Insurance companies reward insureds who blow the whistle on healthcare provider fraud. Remember, each of us pays for the crooked healthcare providers and abusive lawyers.
Light candles, beseech Allah, go to Temple, to pray for peace and get George W Bush to quit ruining our country.

(Please send your insurance questions to Henri D. Kahn, c/o LareDOS, 1812 Houston St. 78040; fax 791-4737; or e-mail laredos@swbell.net.)