Health care act funds Oklahoma City program

(CBS News) OKLAHOMA CITY - Republicans are hoping to win both the White House and the Senate to help repeal President Obama's Affordable Care Act. One provision is a program targeting chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes. In Oklahoma City, the money's already being put to use.

Oklahoma County health worker Michael Bailey wants to transform his own little corner of the word: the neighborhood where he grew up.

He's part of a program providing free medical care to residents suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes or other risk factors in an area of low-income families with few healthy choices around them and little encouragement.

"I think a lot of the people over here," said Bailey, "because of the poverty level, that the health is of a concern, but it comes after things such as food, clothes, jobs."

This wellness program got a major funding boost from the Affordable Care Act. Over $700,000 dollars per year will flow into the program for the next five years.

In a city dubbed one of the fattest cities in American by Men's Fitness magazine, Mayor Mick Cornett says healthy changes are crucial. He's prioritized projects to make downtown streets more pedestrian-friendly. Five years ago, he put the entire city on a diet after battling obesity himself.

"I started examining not just my situation, but this city's situation," said Cornett. "Why was our culture conducive to being overweight?"

Former athlete Kim Golson lost a leg to complications from diabetes. The program convinced him that he had to change his eating habits and get back to exercising.

Asked if it was something he knew before, he said: "Well, some of it I knew, but some of it you're still kind of ignorant too, because some of the stuff you just don't want to do."

"The overreaching goal is people to become more healthy," said Bailey. "I don't like when you step out into the community, you see lots of overweight people."

But he might inspire them himself. Since he started working in the program, he's lost 15 pounds.

[Bromide37]

Like the presentation of Scott but the slanted news is still the same. You have yet to vet Obama. And your protection of his straw house is so very obvious. I have to go to British, Drudgerepot or Fox to get the full story. God help you to repent from your wicked ways. I am a retired media guy. I am sure Comrade Obama appreciates your deception.

[formerlyluvnut]

by Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals September 23, 2012 2:27 PM EDT
We actually pay for Iraq's universal healthcare system, and subsidize Israel's universal healthcare system.
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Exactly.

[formerlyluvnut]

It beats GIVING away BILLIONS to other country's to take care of THEIR people. How come nobody whines about THAT???

[RetiredArmy_Nurse]

The is just another positive initiative of the AHA. As a military retiree I took advantage of keeping my son on Tricare for the interim period after he graduated from college, but before he went active duty to become an Army pilot thanks tho the provision to keep adult kits on your insurance until age 26. I do find it a bit paradoxical that this is Okahoma City, in the reddist state in America. I also find it curious that posters here think their money is being stolen for this. Healthcare for all Americans is something those of us in the professions have strived for. It is far cheaper to care for someone early than later. The greediness & shortsightedness of neocons never ceases to amaze me. How can they like themselves when they seem to be consumed with so much hatred for those less well off than they?

[taxed01]

Let's see, other people get fat (their decision) and I have to work to earn money to pay for it. This is called "fair"?

[jimbom121]

Huh? You pay for them no matter what. You either pay less for preventive care or more for reactionary care.

[mamasaid1]

Where is all this personal responsiblity that Republicans shout from the rooftops all the time? Sounds to me like they don't want to be responsible. Much ado about nothing.
I'm all in favor of the free loaders tax.

[rayward73446]

Preventive care is always less expensive that chronic care. This program is saving lives too.
No one has paid any higher taxes for the Affordable Care Act, and those complaining on this forum, about paying higher taxes in the future, just need to have medical insurance to avoid paying any fines. That is their choice.

There will plenty of affordable insurance available to choose from. It's that easy. But the freeloaders who have not been carrying insurance, then expect the rest of us to pay for their medical costs, and who drive up all of our costs for medical care, will have a problem. They will no longer be able to be freeloaders. The preceding three posts all sound like freeloaders to me, they are just unhappy that their free ride is over, and they will be buying insurance like the rest of us. Ulgnud, bobnjersey, and fluttervalve are all republicans, who are against the ACA, but the GOP likes insurance companies, who are among their best campaign donors. Insurance companies will increase their numbers of insured by hundreds of thousands of new customers, so what's not to like. Oh, I almost forgot, The ACA will make sure that the insurance companies will no longer be able to scam their policy holders out of their premiums for stuff like huge executive pay or cushy bonuses, and perks for the officers of the company. The ACA a win win proposition. Romney will lose, and the ACA will still be th elaw of the land.

[thechooch1]

Ulgnud you are lucky you haven't had a life changing sickness or accident. I too have had insurance for over 55 years, who is stealing money here. If you would have a prior condition would have prevented you from being insured.

[jimbom121]

Ulgnud...you apparantly don't understand how the insurance industry works.

[bobnjersey]

[Sorry to bust your bubble with facts rayward. I have had insurance for over 45 years now. None of my coverage was paid for by money stolen from others. ]
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no money is being stolen.

the insurance system works on a statistical model where cost of payouts (across a population) are offset by the premiums charged by the free market insurance providers.

people who neglect their overall health ... likely due to economic issues ... end up in critical care situations (emergency rooms) that often represent the highest percentage of total health costs. this is different although similar to the statistical reality of the majority of one's health care costs occurring in the later years of their life.

the costs for care are paid for directly or indirectly by the insurance companies or hospitals, which make up the difference by charging higher fees/ premiums to others.

you're going to pay one way or another ... because you're in 'the pool' w/ everyone else getting care ... costing the system $$'s for that care ... and paying for that cost via taxes or medical premiums.

the more that can be done to assist everyone in the pool from creating demand for expensive critical care services, the more everyone can save.

if you want to 'go it alone' ... just put all your money under your mattress and use that when 'you' get sick.

[bobnjersey]

[SHHHHHH, we don't talk about anything negative of Obama on this site.]
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isn't that why all you azzholes are here?

[Fluttervalve]

And what about the 6 million who had their taxes increased due to Obamacare? SHHHHHH, we don't talk about anything negative of Obama on this site.

[audemus]

Here's a few facts I know you'll probably not bother to read, let alone check out...

The CBO (non-partisan), says that the Affordable Care Act will REDUCE the deficit, and does not come between you and your doctor.

Medical services will not be government run, nor will there be a rationing of care.

In this country, most of us who have been blessed with success have felt an almost obligation to help those less fortunate. That means if there's hunger, we feed the hungry..if there's homelessness, we provide shelter..if there's sickness, we provide care. This is not viewed as a burden, but a responsibility. The Affordable Care Act will raise taxes on SOME Americans, particularly those with higher incomes. There will be a 0.9 percent hike in the Medicare payroll tax on income over $ 200,000 for individuals or $ 250,000 for couples, and a 3.8 percent tax on investment income for those earning that much. The biggest piece of revenue...210.2 billion...comes from those taxes.

Sorry you don't feel that children dying from abscessed teeth, or old folks having to decide whether they eat this month or buy their medications, is a reality that should not exist in the richest nation this world has ever seen, but sadly..it does. I can empathize with those realities, and I feel the worthy burden of needing to do something about it. I represent the majority on this one, and I'm very grateful that I do.

Greed does not generate kindness, never has..never will, it just generates more greed until the overinflated, bloated bubble bursts....