Obamacare’s Killer Burden on Nurses Amy Dertz 12:01 AM ET
The Affordable Care Act means more and sicker patients are entering hospitals, and less comprehensive and timely health care.
As the first enrollees in the Affordable Care Act begin seeking care at my hospital, I wonder how my practice as a Registered Nurse will change. We’re told the goal of the new law is to remodel healthcare in the United States into a system that promotes wellness and prevention, rather than just providing care to sick people. This seems like a great objective, but I worry that the switch may compromise the quality of the care our patients receive.
As a bedside RN working at an acute care hospital in Oakland, California, I care for an incredibly diverse patient population. Most of my patients have had health insurance through employer-based programs, private purchase, or Medi-Cal. Most have interacted with the health care system prior to being admitted to my hospital.
Now, I will take care of patients who are new to health care. Some haven’t had care in a long time (or ever). Some may have pre-existing conditions that enabled insurance companies to refuse them coverage. As they enter my care, their needs may be more complicated.
New Jersey towns scramble to limit police, firefighter pay raises now that cap has expired
APRIL 5, 2014 LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014, 12:03 AM
BY MICHAEL PHILLIS
STATE HO– USE BUREAU
THE RECORD
In the four days before a statewide cap on police and firefighter raises expired, 71 applications were filed by local governments to take advantage of that limit.
That’s more than double the number of towns and counties that did so in all of last year, according to state records.
Local governments were seeking binding arbitration with police and firefighter unions while a 2 percent cap on raises was still in place. That cap, a measure that supporters say has kept property tax increases in check, expired Tuesday.
“We wanted to take advantage of a law as it was originally adopted,” said Richard Kunze, the borough administrator in Oakland.
Uncertainty about a bill in the Legislature to extend the cap caused Oakland to file for arbitration on Monday after failing to reach a contract with the town’s police union.
“Very clearly, it is all in response to the legislation,” Kunze said.
The New Jersey State League of Municipalities said the late rush by towns and counties to take advantage of the cap shows how much it is needed. The Senate has passed an extension, but the measure has stalled in the Assembly.
The cap on raises was one of the measures passed after Governor Christie signed a law that limits annual increases in property tax levies to 2 percent.
New Jersey’s property taxes are among the highest in the nation. In 2013, for example, Bergen County’s average bill was $10,645. Passaic County’s was $9,368.
State law restricts police and firefighters from striking during contract disputes. When governments and their unions can’t agree on contracts, a neutral third party makes a binding decision about the terms of a new deal.
The arbitration cap limits raises for police and fire officials, which often make up a substantial portion of municipal budgets. These restrictions, advocates of a cap say, prevent government services from being cut if high raises are given.
Before the cap was put in place, some unions were receiving raises around 4.5 percent. That has dropped to about 1.9 percent since the law took effect, according to a report by a task force that studied the law.
In a compromise with Governor Christie, the Democrats who control the Legislature agreed to extend the cap on raises but limited the extension to three years.
The Democrats’ version, which allowed for some exceptions to the 2 percent cap and limited the bill’s overall reach, passed both houses but was conditionally vetoed by Christie. The Senate then passed a bill backed by Christie, which would end the cap by 2018 but eliminate some of the union-friendly provisions in the Democrats’ plan. The Assembly has yet to act on Christie’s version.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/new-jersey-towns-scramble-to-limit-police-firefighter-pay-raises-now-that-cap-has-expired-1.842277#sthash.l9MqElsF.dpuf
Bergen County among hardest hit in N.J. epidemic of heroin deaths
MARCH 23, 2014 LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014, 12:47 AM
BY REBECCA D. O’BRIEN
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
The dead include a former high school football player, a mother from Oakland and best friends who died within two weeks of each other. Seven of them were under 30. Four were women. Nearly all died in their Bergen County homes.
So far this year, heroin has claimed the lives of at least 13 Bergen County residents — a rate of more than one per week. If the trend continues, by year’s end deaths would vastly exceed the county’s 27 fatal overdoses in 2013.
Caitlin Reiter, a 21-year-old from Franklin Lakes, died of a heroin overdose on Feb. 2 at her father’s home. Her addiction began in high school with prescription pills; no rehabilitation facility or family intervention could stop it.
The toll has alarmed county officials, who fear that opiate addiction is growing more entrenched in North Jersey.
Related story: Anti-drug ads aim to raise parents’ awareness about the rise of addiction in Bergen County
“It starts at a party with a painkiller and ends alone at night in your bedroom,” said Sgt. David Borzotta of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office narcotics task force.
In 2012, New Jersey saw roughly 800 opiate-related drug deaths, half of which involved heroin, a drug whose resurgence across the Northeast in recent years has been linked to the widespread availability and abuse of prescription painkillers.
Reader says the Ridgewood municipal is budget is well managed and the BOE budget is where the runaway spending is
Do you want to base your conclusions on the faulty FAC report and ignore the fact that the Village provides more services at a lower municipal mil rate than all of the other towns I referred to in my post as #20 that is fine. None of the towns listed there provide garbage pickup, fully staffed fire services, recreation services for kids and seniors or a sewage treatment facility for their residents, that is a fact, and. How that is a union talking point is beyond me.
You claimed that I am only providing half of the story and I am leaving out the property taxpayer’s perspective,” I am a taxpayer, and have been a taxpayer in Ridgewood for many years. If anything is only providing half the story it’s your FAC report. It only tells half the story since it does not even consider the cost to the residents for the Board of Education (BOE). If your report included the BOE then I would have to agree that the largest portion of the Village Tax bill (BOE) has been increased at an alarming rate and is not sustainable.
How do I arrive at that conclusion? Here is the 2011 Bergen County property tax data showing the town – County – total tax levy – % County Taxes – % School Taxes % – Municipal taxes. This is the latest year available on the NJ.com by the numbers web site. There are 70 Municipalities in Bergen County. Below are 18 municipalities that have an equal or greater percentage of their municipal taxes dedicated to the school budget like Ridgewood. The other 51 municipalities have a lower percentage than Ridgewood dedicated to their school budget and a higher percentage number dedicated to their municipal services. Ridgewood’s municipal tax levy is lower than the other 51 Municipalities in Bergen county and is even below the state calculated average of 29%. You can draw your own conclusions from this data however this data clearly shows that the Village municipal budget is very well managed as contrasted with other Bergen County Communities and the overall state average. It also indicates that BOE budget is out of control and unsustainable.
Town – County – tax levy – % County – % BOE – % Municipal
Ridgewood Village Bergen $130,248,198.77 10% 65% 25%
Woodcliff Lake Borough Bergen $38,129,520.22 12% 66% 22%
Statewide total $25,643,843,500.01 18% 52% 29% of 567 municipalities
https://www.nj.com/news/bythenumbers/
This information confirms that the Ridgewood municipal is budget is well managed and the BOE budget is where the runaway spending is since the Ridgewood BOE takes a higher percentage of the total tax bill than 51 other Bergen county municipalities. The FAC report ignores this fact, and therefor is even more faulty than I originally thought.
Religious Freedom K of C Follow Up Meeting Tuesday Jan 7
On behalf of Joe, Don and Art, I would like to remind everyone of our meeting on Tuesday Jan 7, 7:30 sharp and ending at 8:30.The meeting will be at the Oakland K of C with a discussion for Religious Freedom and how it could impact all Catholics in America and World Wide.
Please join us, bring a friend and discuss what you can do to help.
Tuesday’s agenda includes:
1) The Little Sisters of the Poor/The Supreme Court’s order halts any fines the Roman Catholic nonprofit’s faced.
2) Other Obamacare lawsuits by Religious Organizations
3) Anti Religious discrimination in VA Administration
4) Common Core at Odds with Classical Catholic Education
5) Right to Life March on Jan 25
Please note that : NDAA 2014 passed with the section protecting Religious Freedom of speech. Thank you Scott Garrett.
During our discussion, we planned on sending e-mails to our own representatives and others in Congress regarding:
1) Opposition to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), and
2) support for the religious freedom section to the National Defense Authorization Act 2014 (NDAA 2014), which strengthens the requirement for the military to accommodate the religious beliefs of military people and speech based on such beliefs. It also requires the Department of Defense in implementing this provision to consult with “the official military faith-group representatives who endorse military chaplains”.
The White House has already expressed its opposition to Section 530 as well as other unrelated items in the bill. Presumably, Democratic Senators and Congressmen will be under pressure to oppose Section 530, so we might send e-mails to some of them, as well.
Below from Don Burns are the e-mail links to contact members of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Here’s the link to the lists of all US Senators & Representatives:
Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving Blessing of the Animals Held at Christ Church, Ridgewood
September 28,2013
Boyd A. Loving
3:33 PM
Ridgewood NJ, A “Blessing of the Animals,” celebrating the Feast of St. Francis, was recently (Saturday, September 28) held at Christ Episcopal Church in Ridgewood. Reverends Greg Lisby and Dick Louis officiated at the outdoor event, which was attended by the owners of dogs, cats, rabbits, goldfish, stuffed animals, and other beloved “creatures.” A short service celebrating all animals was conducted, followed by individual blessings of each animal. Some orphaned dogs, who are eligible for adoption from the Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge in Oakland, were also present.
Congressmen Scott Garrett took a break from DC to speak with his constituents at the Larkin House in Wyckoff on Tuesday night .
September 20, 2013
Ridgewood NJ, Before his visit Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) issued the following statement after the House passed a Continuing Resolution to fund the government through December 15, 2013 that defunds ObamaCare:
“Today, I voted for a bill that would fund the government in full, except for ObamaCare. ObamaCare continues to be a train wreck. The strain it puts on our families, our businesses, and our economy is very real. Businesses are reluctant to expand and hire new workers. Employees have seen their hours reduced and their health insurance costs go up. And, even President Obama knows ObamaCare is unworkable. Just recently, the president had to delay the employer mandate. ObamaCare is not working for America. I cast my vote today for my constituents, the great state of New Jersey, and the majority of Americans who all know that ObamaCare must be immediately defunded and replaced.”
Congressmen Scott Garrett took a break from DC to speak with his constituents at the Larkin House in Wyckoff on Tuesday night .
Questions ranged from : ” Global Warming” , the budget , Obamacare , Ted Cruz , Common Core and Steve Lonegan’s surge in the polls .
Fifth District Mobile Constituent Service Office Hours — October 2013
NEWTON, NJ – Congressman Garrett’s Fifth District STAFF will be available at the following locations during the month of October:
October 3rd, 2013
River Vale: 9:30am to 11:30am
Municipal Building
406 Rivervale Rd
River Vale, NJ
West Milford: 10:00am to 12:00pm
Borough Hall
1480 Union Valley Road
West Milford, NJ
October 8th, 2013
Closter: 9:30am to 11:30am
Closter Public library
280 High Street
Closter, NJ
October 9th, 2013
Mahwah: 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Mahwah Senior Center
475 Corporate Drive
Mahwah, NJ
October 10th, 2013
Montvale: 1:00pm to 2:30pm
Borough Hall
12 Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ
October 15th, 2013
Westwood: 1:00pm to 2:30 p.m
Borough Hall, 101
Washington Avenue
Westwood, NJ
October 16th, 2013
Vernon: 11:00am to 1:00pm
Senior Center
21 Church Street
Vernon, NJ
October 17th, 2013
Hackensack: 9:30am to 11:30am
Johnson Public Library
274 Main Street
Hackensack, NJ
October 24th, 2013
Oakland: 11:00am to 1:00pm
Oakland Senior Center
20 Lawlor Drive
Oakland, NJ
CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION EXPANDS ‘MYBUS NOW’ PROGRAM TO NORTH JERSEY BUS ROUTES
Real-time service information pilot now available throughout New Jersey
June 17, 2013
NEWARK, NJ — Marking the next step in the Christie Administration’s efforts to provide real-time bus information to NJ TRANSIT customers, NJ TRANSIT Executive Director James Weinstein today joined customers and invited guests at Newark Penn Station to announce the latest expansion of MyBus Now, the agency’s first real-time service information system for bus customers, to serve 110 North Jersey-area local/intrastate bus routes—making it available throughout the Garden State.
“MyBus Now places real-time bus location and arrival information literally in the palms of our customers’ hands, enabling them to make informed decisions about their travel, even while on the go,” said Executive Director Weinstein. “This next phase enables us to provide this customer amenity throughout New Jersey. The final phase will include bus service traveling into and out of the Port Authority and George Washington Bridge bus terminals by the end of the year.”
MyBus Now, which first launched in fall 2012 as a pilot program serving Trenton-area bus customers and was expanded in April 2013 to include South Jersey and Philadelphia-area bus routes, uses “smart bus” technology to provide customers with access to real-time bus arrival estimates to a specific bus stop within a 30-minute window. Customers can access the information in three ways: from a desktop computer through njtransit.com, from a web-enabled smartphone through the mobile version of njtransit.com, and via SMS-text messaging directly to their cell phones.
Starting today, customers of local/intrastate bus routes that serve communities throughout North Jersey will be able to use MyBus Now to access real-time service information.
NJ TRANSIT’s Hamilton Garage was selected for the first phase of the pilot program because of the relatively small size of its operations, and the fact that none of its bus routes intersect with other garages, provide an ideal testing environment. The success of the initial phase and the subsequent expansion of the pilot into South Jersey continue NJ TRANSIT’s path toward a full systemwide rollout of MyBus Now later this year.
Currently, the statewide agency is taking delivery of 1,145 new buses that are already equipped with smart bus technology provided by Clever Devices LTD. In addition, NJ TRANSIT has procured additional smart bus platforms to retrofit the remaining buses in the agency’s fleet, including those on routes operated by private carriers under contract to NJ TRANSIT.
The Clever Devices platform offers many operational and customer benefits, including automatic bus stop announcements, vehicle condition monitoring, passenger counting and real-time location reporting. The data provided through this technology will allow for greater efficiency in terms of scheduling, planning and maintenance of the NJ TRANSIT bus network.
MyBus Now builds on NJ TRANSIT’s “MyBus” system, which launched in October 2010. Based on a system of bus stop ID numbers—unique five-digit numbers NJ TRANSIT has assigned to each of its bus stops—MyBus enables customers who have cell phones with SMS (text messaging) capabilities to receive bus schedule information for a specific stop directly to their cell phones. Customers can obtain their bus stop ID online at njtransit.com, or from MyBus signs posted at bus stops statewide.
How to Use MyBus Now
From a desktop computer: Visit mybusnow.njtransit.com. Select either “bus times” or “bus map.”
Bus Times: Enter your five-digit bus stop ID or select your bus route, direction of travel and bus stop from the drop-down menus.
Bus Map: Click “Routes” and select up to 10 routes, or click “Find Stop” and follow the directions in the dialog box to view the real-time location of buses on a Google map. Buses are represented by bus icons that display an arrow to indicate the direction of travel. Hover over the bus icon to display the estimated arrival times for the next four bus stops. Click the bus icon for additional options, including links to “route schedule” (PDF of the bus timetable) and “route progress” (a timeline of the bus trip by stop).
From a web-enabled smartphone: Visit njtransit.com and select MyBus Now to view a streamlined version of the web page. Select your bus route from the list or enter your five-digit bus stop ID.
From a cell phone with SMS-text messaging: Text your five-digit bus stop ID to MyBus (69287). Instead of returning the next scheduled trips, MyBus Now will provide real-time information for routes in the pilot program. For all other routes, MyBus will continue to provide information for scheduled trips.
MyBus Now is also improving the functionality of NJ TRANSIT’s IVR (interactive voice response) system. Now, when customers call NJ TRANSIT at 973-275-5555, they can use the automated prompts to enter their bus stop ID number to receive real-time predicted arrivals 24/7 for stops within the Trenton/Mercer County area, South Jersey and Philadelphia area, and North Jersey local routes. For bus stops outside of these areas, customers will receive scheduled arrival information.
Systemwide Improvement to “My Bus”
As a reminder, MyBus customers can now receive schedule information for a specific route by texting MyBus (69287), followed by a space and the route number. For example, to find schedule information for the No. 73 specifically for the bus stop located at Newark Penn Station (bus stop ID number 18835), text MyBus (69287) the following text: 18835 73. The system will return only scheduled trips on the No. 73 route, even though the bus stop is served by other bus routes
Historic homes tour offers glimpses of Bergen County’s past
Last updated: Saturday May 18, 2013, 11:45 PM
BY LESLIE BRODY
STAFF WRITER
The Record
A stroll through historic homes in northwest Bergen County on Saturday offered a vivid glimpse into just how laborious, painful and perilous it could be to raise a family before the advent of electricity, antibiotics and other modern blessings.
At the Zabriskie House in Wyckoff, built around 1730, one wall bears portraits of two somber-looking children believed to have lived there around the time of the Civil War. In 1865, Corines Quackenbush died of illness at age 9 within a week of his 7-year-old sister, Catherine Ann.
At The Hermitage, a mid-18th-century stone house in Ho-Ho-Kus, a picture shows Killie Rosencrantz, who died at 35 of tuberculosis, leaving behind four children, including an infant.
And at the Van Allen House in Oakland, a cabinet holds a Civil War-era lancet used to “bleed” patients, in hopes that cutting a vein to let out bad blood would cure them.
The Northwest Bergen History Coalition offers a look inside the lives of local families in the 18th and 19th centuries. For more information, visit their websites:
North Jersey school districts overwhelmingly approve budgets
Tuesday, April 16, 2013 Last updated: Tuesday April 16, 2013, 11:15 PM
BY JIM NORMAN
STAFF WRITER
The Record
Voters went to the polls in 23 North Jersey school districts Tuesday, and, in large part, gave approval to proposed tax levies and spending ranging from spending on security to expansion of a gymnasium.
Unofficial results from Englewood, Hackensack, East Rutherford, Emerson, Norwood, Midland Park, Ridgewood, Oakland, Garfield, Fairview, Wood-Ridge, Ramsey and Harrington Park – all in Bergen County — showed voters approving the tax levies.
High Speed Pursuit of Stolen Car Ends in Ridgewood
April 15.2013
Boyd A. Loving
11:29 AM
Ridgewood NJ, Following a high speed pursuit on Route 17 Southbound Monday morning, officers from the Waldwick Police Department nabbed the driver of an allegedly stolen Toyota Camry on the Paramus Road off ramp in Ridgewood.
The Camry was reportedly stolen in Montvale. Units from HoHoKus and Ridgewood PDs assisted Waldwick units. The vehicle was impounded and removed from the scene by flatbed tow truck. The suspect was taken to Waldwick PD HQ for processing.
UPDATE: The person driving the car was reportedly wanted for the armed robbery of a TD Bank branch in Oakland. This according to the Oakland Patch and cliffviewpilot.com. Have not seen anything yet on the northjersey.com website
N.J.’s warming weather prompts caution on wildfires
Monday April 8, 2013, 6:09 PM
BY JAMES M. O’NEILL
STAFF WRITER
The Record
With temperatures expected to climb over the next few days, state officials cautioned Monday about the increasing risk of wildfires as New Jersey enters the heart of wildfire season.
Firefighters battled a small brushfire Monday that charred a few acres of forest floor in Oakland, and other brushfires popped up around the state, including one in the Morris County community of Budd Lake. This year’s largest wildfire occurred last weekend, when 150 acres burned in a remote section of Wharton State Forest in Burlington County.
“This is the time of year when things get hairy for wildfires,” said Michael Gallagher, a research technician with the U.S. Forest Service who is conducting wildfire research in New Jersey’s Pinelands, where the state’s largest wildfires historically occur.
“Temperatures start to get warmer, there’s lower relative humidity and that helps dry out the fuels lying on the forest floor, such as leaf litter and dead twigs and branches,” said Gallagher, a graduate student at Rutgers University.
“That, combined with cabin fever, and you have more people outside, perhaps camping, or flicking a cigarette out their car window,” he said.
Commuter towns hold value better
Sunday, March 3, 2013 Last updated: Sunday March 3, 2013, 10:32 AM
BY GUY KIPP
SPECIAL TO THE RECORD
The Record
While home values have fallen about 25 percent in the region since the housing boom’s peak in 2006, prices have held up better in towns along commuter train lines.
According to a study by Otteau Valuation Group of East Brunswick, the average price of homes in Glen Rock, for example, fell from $638,854, to $567,174, from 2006 to 2012, a drop of 11.2 percent. In Ridgewood, another community with a train station, prices dropped 12.6 percent from $855,219, to $747,226.
While no homeowner would find a dip of more than 10 percent a source of comfort, these communities fared markedly better than North Jersey communities in more remote locations. Franklin Lakes, for example, saw home prices fall more than 29 percent from $1,487,113, to $1,053,997, while Oakland endured a drop of 22 percent from $554,791, to $432,489, for the same six-year span.
Homeowners in towns along the train lines say that an easy commute influenced their decision to buy.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/194594341_Commuter_towns_hold_value_better.html#sthash.mvDsmwMR.dpuf
Insurance can ease stress, and cause it, for property owners struggling to rebuild lives
SATURDAY DECEMBER 22, 2012, 11:40 PM
BY KAREN SUDOL STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
Dan and Gina McDonnell have been told that their insurance will cover replacement of the floors in their Seaside Heights summer home that was filled with as much as 4 inches from Sandy’s surge.
But the torn fence outside their nearby rental apartment? Not covered. Improvements mandated post-Sandy to storm-proof their air conditioning system? Also not covered.
Navigating the often-frustrating and time-consuming maze of their flood and homeowners’ policies is proving to be a job in itself for the couple, said Gina McDonnell, whose main residence is in Oakland.
“Even though we don’t have as much to do as rebuilding an entire house, there is a lot of red tape to go through and it’s stressful,” she said.
The storm left the couple’s ranch-style summer home on Sumner Avenue in Seaside Heights with as much as 4 inches of brackish water in various rooms. Carpets from three bedrooms and the enclosed front porch were removed and furniture cleared. Many waterlogged items could not be salvaged and were placed curbside.
Fiscal Cliff Tax increases could factor in MLB negotiations
By RONALD BLUM
Team executives and agents wandered into the Agave Sunset lounge at the resort where the general managers’ meetings were held in Indian Wells, Calif. Four of the six flat-screen televisions were showing election coverage, with the other two turned to sports.
President Barack Obama’s victory over Mitt Romney was of as much interest to baseball’s money men as the game scores, given the millions of dollars routinely guaranteed in player contracts these days.
As free agents negotiate deals this offseason, tax policy is an area that comes up along with the usual issues. Some players are wrangling for as much money as they can get before the end of the year to avoid a take hike in 2013.
“Front-loading would make sense if at all possible as tax rates will definitely go up on January 1st on all high-income taxpayers,” agent Greg Genske said in an email. “The only question is HOW MUCH will the rates increase????”
This much is known for now: Starting Jan. 1, there is an additional 0.9 percent Medicare tax on wages above $200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for married couples filing jointly under the federal Affordable Care Act, a rise to 2.35 percent.
In addition, the Bush tax cuts are scheduled to expire at the end of the year, which could raise the highest marginal federal tax rate from 35 percent to 39.6 percent — although a deal between Obama and Congress could change that.
Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane figures agents will be on top of the changes — but the results of negotiations about the so-called fiscal cliff are unpredictable.
