The Suspense is Killing Us on Apatech

Recently, one of our readers commented that something big is supposed to happen on Wednesday, March 3rd at Apatech. TSB wants to know if our readers have heard anything to substantiate this little ditty? If so, let us know. Once again, thanks and enjoy the day, its beautiful and sunny outside.

If This is the Summit, We're All in Trouble

The word summit means the highest point attained. If yesterday's healthcare summit is any indication of how bogged down the government has become in minutiae, God help the American Healthcare System and its people. In all likelihood, it would probably be easier to climb "K2" or "Nanga Parbat." Sherpas have more direction than today's elected officials. What is absurd is that Everest has claimed less lives than the U.S. healthcare system even if one travels through the infamous death zone.

As an independent thinker and voter, TSB turned on the DVR last night and marveled in amazement at the pomp and circumstance that has come to be known as the Great American Healthcare Reform debate. It's embarrassing when grown men and women dance the minuet, while pandering to the needs of the American people.

Not once did I hear anyone address how the structure of the anti-trust laws have allowed the insurance industry to create a monopolized industry, allowing them to collude with one another, while controlling healthcare reimbursements and policy rates. Yes readers, there was a lot of perception deception by both parties when it comes down to the facts. Maybe, if both parties could get their facts straight, there could be some resolve to this bill.

What we found out is that there is some common ground but the challenge is a philosophical one as to what road we travel to arrive at reform. We heard fibs on premiums, misinformation of the CBO's analysis on coverage and cost, declarations that "reconciliation" has never been used for something like this, forgetting that it was used to push through both of W's tax cuts at a cost of $1.8 trillion, twice the cost of healthcare reform, how to deal with pre-existing conditions, and partisanship at its finest. Maybe part of the challenge for the POTUS is that he is attempting to promulgate bipartisanship in a town only know for partisanship.

Regardless, the one thing that we do know is that our healthcare system is costly and dysfunctional. How many of our readers are sick and tired of listening to these elected officials continue to hide behind their comments that we have the best healthcare system in the world. If we did, would we be having this debate? Would the system have spiraled out of financial control? If Americans believe that we have the best, then my advice is don't complain when your premiums escalate to the point of being unaffordable. Yet, this bill is not only about the concerns of healthy people, it is also applicable to those less fortunate, meaning that they are sick and need care, regardless of how accountable or irresponsible they have been for their own health. Isn't it absurd that after all this time, officials continue to argue that we should start over?

You don't have to like Obama, but the one thing you must respect about him is that he is providing the Republicans with an opportunity to offer intelligent and palpable solutions. If the Democrats resort to reconciliation, the Republicans only have themselves to blame. The bigger question is, why are we voting these people into office and then re-electing them if they continue to behave and legislate in the best interest of their own self-interest, while being influenced by lobbyists bribes?

A Call to Repeal the 1945 McCarron Ferguson Act

If the Congress with the encouragement by the 42nd POTUS (WJC) were able to repeal the 1932 Glass-Steagall Act with an assist going to Phil (Americans are whiners) Gramm which allowed commercial lenders to underwrite and trade financial instruments like mortgaged-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations and structured investment vehicles, why is it so difficult for the US Government to repeal the anti-trust exemptions for health insurance companies?

Why shouldn't insurance companies be forced to compete for our business? Considering that individual states are in collusion with the bank and insurance industry and never seem to hold back insurers from raising rates, its time to roll back and repeal the 1945 McCarron-Ferguson Act that exempted insurance companies from antitrust scrutiny and provided states the authority to regulate them but not regulating their rates.

Look at whom is calling the kettle black? The same elected officials that discuss creating a consumer-driven healthcare industry whereas the average person will have choice. We should have the choice to identify the best medical care based on outcomes for the cheapest price, yet, when it comes to the insurance industry our highly esteemed elected officials pander to the smell of insurance lobbyist dollars.

It's time that people start pressuring their local, state and federal legislators along with their state insurance commissioners to stop limiting the number of health insurance options for their constituents. It's us against them. Think of the absurdity that we spend our days arguing over free-markets, the legalities of what we can and cannot do in an industry that is manipulated and controlled by the powerful insurance lobbyists. Interestingly enough, the government places the onus on the providers for outcomes, yet, when the gatekeeper controls the opening and closing of the gate, the cards will always be stacked against those that provide healthcare.

Stay tuned, because tomorrow will a defining moment for both parties. If both parties cannot come to some resolve and play together in the sandbox defined as the US government, it may be time for us to identify people that will work in the best interest of the common man. TSB wants to know what our readers think?

Hi, Ho, Hi, Ho it's off to work I go! Have a great day!

Tran1: Tick Tock, Tick Tock

Trans 1 hosted its quarterly conference call to discuss its fourth quarter financial results. As of the end of the day their stock closed at $3.49, down from the $4.52 that was reported back on October 14th, 2009. Revenues for the fourth quarter were down to $6.3 million in '09 from $7.4 million in '08 a decrease of 15%. Though their operating expenses were down as a result of decreased commissions, there was a slight increase in expenses for R&D.

The challenge that this organization has had is to overcome the reimbursement issues surrounding AxiaLIF. This is the third quarter that there has been a decrease in revenue and performance. A full court press is being employed by Rick Randall, and his team is fervently educating and training their surgeon users. But with that said, the real question is how is the integration with Life Spine's MIS progressing? Supposedly this relationship was fostered to aid the company in securing additional pull-thru business?

A leaner sales force means a greater onus on the those people to ramp up their efforts while the CEO maps out a virtual strategic plan. Sounds a bit like the early stages of the Afghan war. Like any campaign, the burden can only be exercised with the addition of complimentary products/weapons and troops that offset the reimbursement challenges with AxiaLIF. But that is going to take additional capital, and until the reimbursement issue is resolved, TSB just does not see an escalation in troops. Given that the integration with Life Spine was recently announced, Trans 1 will be given the benefit of doubt this time, but the analysts will be closely watching the 2010 QI results.

The company also announced that its CFO, Michael Luetkemeyer will be stepping down on March 31st to pursue other opportunities. The only observation that TSB will make is that it's always interesting as to why someone that has been an integral part in financially building this company is looking to leave? Interestingly enough, it was reported late last year that Trans 1 had scaled back its sales force, and was having difficulty in making decisions about hiring engineers. So as Trans 1 moves into a new fiscal calendar, it will be interesting to see whether there will be a change in strategy in order survive the many challenges this company is facing.

TSB wants to know what our readers have heard on the street? Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock Trans 1 is on the Clock.

Bipartisan Healthcare or Divisive Sideshow?

On Thursday, February 25th, the Obama administration will hold a bipartisan meeting in the hopes of arriving at a solution to slow the growth of healthcare expenditures while controlling the number of uninsured patients in the US. As the obstructionists have so eloquently stated, the government has failed because they don't believe in free markets, incentives (aka outcomes or value based reimbursements) and the intelligence of the American public to make prudent choices about their health.

Considering that reimbursement has been based on volume/fee for service, the question that must be asked of our readers is how easily will it be to transition the system to one that is structured on successful outcomes or value based medicine? To align the the incentives of doctors, nurses, pharmaceutical companies and hospitals through value-based purchasing is easier said than done. So, in the spirit of debate, who is qualified and will establish the standard for a job well done? Who will come up with the criteria to measure outcomes, and how will that measurement take into account those physicians that treat patients that need medical attention but have associated medical problems? What type of metric will there be to evaluate fusion rates when the patient smokes, is an alcoholic, is obese, or is involved in substance abuse? What happens if the patient has been in a high-speed MVA, will the surgeon and hospital be penalized for having to stage the patients modality of treatment? Unfortunately, those that legislate on behalf of their constituents do not understand that sometimes this is rocket science, even if the individual claiming that medicine is not rocket science, is a former surgeon himself.

So how do we reduce cost, whereas we avoid higher taxes? Why is it that the government and the ABA have such a difficulty in enacting tort reform? If we are a people that believe in free-markets, then why can't we cross state lines to buy better or cheaper insurance? How does the industry delivery better technology, better care, and better outcomes at a cheaper cost? If the best that both parties have to offer is placing the onus on providers to prevent and manage illnesses while reducing complications and cost in the hope of providing data to measure patient outcomes shows how little politicians understand the complexities of modern medicine.

Do any of our readers find it disturbing that the focus of the debate and the onus of providing value based medicine is always on the provider and the patient? What about the escalating cost of healthcare insurance, witnessed by what was reported over the weekend from California regarding Anthem Blue Cross' increase of 25-39% for private subscribers? If the insurance industry is a risk-management business, why aren't people rewarded that have never had to use their health-care plans outside of going for an annual physical? For politicians to pontificate about not appointing Kafkaesque committees to measure quality adjusted life years but foster a climate of scientific research and pipelines for new modalities of treatment exhibits how little they understand about the complex cost of medicine.

Before the cost of healthcare is ever contained, the American public, which includes politicians will have to re-align their priorities not only from a personal health perspective but also from a financial perspective. This will mean not being influenced by every lobbyist that roams the hallowed halls of the Capitol Building. If the two most important aspects of this bill will be to reduce cost and provide coverage for more people, let's clean the slate and start with the insurance companies and address how we will pay for those that have no coverage, and who will take care of those that have minimum coverage? Unless the government continues to print money or raises taxes, how will we subsidize the uninsured? If government officials or think- tank gnomes don't believe that we pay attention to the rising cost of healthcare insurance, then they themselves are living in neverland.

The time has come that both parties start acting in the peoples interest, and not in their own interest, and that means placing America first. If the government was willing to bail out the "banksters" or gangsters of Wall Street, why do we Americans find it so difficult to bail out the uninsured? Why do we dump billions of dollars into Middle Eastern countries that could care less about democracy or human rights, while at the same time mortgage our children's future? It's an embarrassment when we call ourselves the richest country in the world, worry about everyone else's problems, yet have an inability to take care of our own challenges. The answer is simple, it's GREED and SELFISHNESS.

So there you have it readers, let's see what your perspective is on this issue. Take the time and think this through because your opinion and most importantly your vote is the only thing that will change healthcare, its time to get the politicians out of office that are not interested in finding a viable solution to an complex problem.

Wenzel Spine: Is This Another Up and Coming Spine Company?

Founded in 2008, and fully operational by the fall of 2009, Wenzel Spine Incorporated has launched its own unique technologies called the VariGrip, the VariFix, VariFix MAPS, and VariLift. Founded by Dr. Warren Neely, the company was named after his grandfather, Wenzel Gandy. Wenzel is currently run by Chad Neely, an entrepreneur. A local company the MAB is composed of David Attia, M.D., Thomas Kingman, M.D., and Frank Fichtel, M.D.

The VariGrip is a Hook System, The VariLift is an expandable cage available in Europe for the Cervical and Lumbar Spine, the VariAnchor, that is a sacral attachment along with the MAPS an acronym for Multi-Axial Positioning System designed for optimizing maximum strength with the pedicle, a system that requires minimal rod contouring and increased torsional strength that reduces the need for cross connectors.

So what do our readers think? Is this another up and coming spine company or is this another spine company, TSB wants to know what you think?

Register As a Follower, Create a Moniker and Don' t Be an Anonymous Reader

To all our readers:

In the spirit of debate, it behooves you to register as a follower and choose a moniker to identify yourself when you comment on our blogsite. TSB ensures you that if you register none of our readers nor TSB have access to your personal information, nor is your true identity divulged. The directions are simple:

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4. You will also be asked if you would like to be a "public or private" follower, we would like for our readers to be public followers, yet, we respect those that choose to follow privately while wallowing in netherland.

5. Upon uploading a photo, click "Follow this Blog." You have now become a "Follower" with a moniker, making it easier to have dialogue with one another rather than everyone being Mr. or Mrs. Anonymous...

Once again, our objective is to allow other readers to address their opinion in response to your comments in regards to specific blogs. Thanks, Keep Reading and Let Your Voice Be Heard!