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Vaccine Truths

Immunizations continue to be at the forefront in federal government programs and in states that create legislation with mandates for vaccine compliance. Each state has vaccination requirements for children entering kindergarten, including Idaho, with some states requiring more vaccines than others. While all school immunization laws grant vaccine exemptions for medical reasons, many states are […]

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John Livingston News

Competing for Medicaid Access, What a Mess

Where has $45 million of our tax dollars gone? In the Wall Street Journal was a very interesting article identifying a problem that conservatives anticipated prior to the implementation of Medicaid expansion. The per capita increase in spending nationwide on the Medicaid expansion population patients is 16% higher over the past 3 years than on the […]

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John Livingston News

Is Luke Mayville really a Professor or a Promoter for Medicaid Expansion?

In this week’s edition of Idaho Politics Weekly Luke Mayville has written a letter thanking all his volunteers for helping pass Medicaid expansion. A pleasant gesture for sure, but to me it really points out the great chasm between progressive values and traditional classical liberal (today called conservative) philosophy. In his article Professor Mayville never […]

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John Livingston News

Let’s Make Idaho Great Again

On July 13th of this year, I penned an editorial published in The Gem State Patriot entitled “Where are our Legislators on Health Care?” Several other Idaho physicians have asked the same question and opined in editorial pages around the State asking similar questions. It has been obvious to many that the lobbyists in the […]

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John Livingston News

Why Bernie Sanders it Alive and Medical Costs are so High

I was sorry to hear that Senator Bernie Sanders had an ischemic event crescendo angina or a heart attack while campaigning in Las Vegas. I was also relieved to know that he was being treated at a state of the art medical center where I know many of the physicians and surgeons that practice there. […]

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John Livingston News

Where are our Legislators on Health Care Reform?

Over the past 9 years, we have argued in many places and forums the three points that lead this article. Our opponents have argued otherwise. We are now seeing these arguments being made in the national press more frequently and forcibly because the true numbers on The ACA costs and promises are beginning to appear. […]

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Bob's Words of Wisdom News

House Speaker Scott Bedke Says he is ‘Pro-herd Immunity’

We were alerted to a recent healthcare conference attended by several legislators including Speaker Bedke, Maryanne Jordan (D-Boise) and Rep. Rod Furniss (R-Rigby). After reading their comments on the validity of vaccines, I’m appalled at the lack of real understanding they all have and the fact that these are leaders of our state. Maybe Speaker […]

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John Livingston News Opinions / Op-eds

Where Does The Money Go?

In 1974, I was assigned as a Navy medical student for 3 months active duty at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Portsmouth VA. This was at the end of the Viet Nam War and I had the privilege of being involved in the care of many wounded and injured sailors, soldiers and Marines including 36 returning […]

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John Livingston News Opinions / Op-eds

The White Coat

I have noticed over the past 12 years that a very small number of physicians have posed with politicians in their “white coats”. There are over 3000 physicians practicing in Idaho today and when a small group 5, pose in the capital building in their white coats the general public may believe that this small group is […]

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News Opinions / Op-eds

The Challenge of Dealing with Referendums like Medicaid Expansion

Last November, Idaho voters approved the proposition to expand Medicaid, but the process of getting the program funded and done right, if at all, is not so clear. The proposition passed by voters didn’t speak to how it was to be funded, nor did it address other details such as work requirements and limitations. This […]

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John Livingston News

Medicaid: Gaming the System

We hear from all quarters that health care is a complex issue and solutions are difficult to implement. One political faction argues for a “single payer” command control Health Care system. Conservatives like to point out that we haven’t had an unfettered health care market place since 1965 and the problems we have today with […]

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News

STOP Idaho From Further Limiting Your Freedom of Choice in Healthcare!

While there is a shortage of doctors in Idaho and, for that matter in the United States, our legislators want to make it even more difficult for Idahoans to choose a doctor for yourselves and their family. A new bill in the legislature which has been a recurring bill brought up by representative for District […]

Gem State Patriot News