Monday Moaning

I hate Mondays. New intern starts today. Have two appeals to finish and the lease to comment on and get over to the landlord's lawyer. Better get going with the news:

Paul Krugman on the GOP's plan to end Medicare as we know it. Read it and weep. Here's a set of alternatives that would fix Medicare without sticking it to the elderly and disabled. We know the Dems favor standing strong on Medicare, but where do they stand on Medicaid? So far, they are pretty quiet. VP Biden is still working with a bipartisan group on debt reduction, but the GOP are adamant about not raising taxes, and the Dems are adamant about not dramatically changing Medicare. Medicare remains a particular point of disagreement. The GOP has blasted the Dems for trying to keep Medicare out of the debt ceiling talks. Is this a stalemate that will result in a default on US debt? Freshman GOP don't believe we'd default -- they think we'd just spend less, and that would be good. So for them, there's no incentive to figure this out.

The states are slowly building their Exchanges, marketplaces where you will buy insurance starting in 2014. Surprisingly, though, Alabama is moving forward. Connecticut's lack-luster exchange bill is on its way to the Governor for signing. Meanwhile, although the GOP still favors repeal, they've yet to come up with a plan to replace health reform.

David Lazarus explains why the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan hasn't enrolled more people (you have to be without insurance for 6 months) and why health reform is so critical for people with pre-existing conditions.

Connecticut passes the first paid sick leave law in history, ensuring that employees in service industries have the ability to earn up to 40 hours of paid sick leave per year.

A horrible story about the death of a developmentally disabled boy that highlights the flaws in the system.

Two new drugs may be a major victory in the fight against skin cancer.

It's summer, so pick a bug repellent.

And that's it for Monday morning. Have a great day -- or at least as good a day as you can for a Monday. Jennifer