Ridgewood NJ, touted as a highly nutritious super food , kale has joined the list of 11 other fruits and vegetables known to be “dirty,” according to an analysis by the Environmental Working Group.The watchdog group publishes its “Dirty Dozen” list annually, in which it ranks the 12 produce items that contain the highest amount of pesticide residues. The group analyzes data from the Department of Agriculture’s regular produce testing to determine the list. Ranked alongside kale on the list are strawberries, spinach, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery and potatoes.
Ridgewood NJ, According Super Cellars, with 2,000 years of wine growing history Bordeaux offers great value today. Bordeaux is one of the largest wine growing regions in the world and that size offers a great diversity of wines.
The Ridgewood blog is a huge fan of moderate priced Bordeaux’s.For years we have purchased them with surprising results . Great for the cold weather or with a most red meat dishes .
Paramus NJ, Assemblyman Kevin J. Rooney was at Bergen Community College attending the NJ Economic and Fiscal Policy Workgroup for Bergen County with Senator Kristin M. Corrado and several other legislators. Our state faces a fiscal crisis of unsustainable legacy pension and benefit costs that suppress economic growth and competitiveness by crowding out needed investments in infrastructure, higher education, and economic development that other states are making. The legislature created the Workgroup to identify ways to address soaring pension and benefit costs, hold down property taxes, make state and local government and school districts more efficient, leverage the value of our assets, and mitigate the negative impact of the federal tax laws that target high-cost states.
Newark NJ, Workers set to receive a hard-won wage increase at Newark Liberty International Airport now face layoffs and reassignments thanks to new contractor, United Ground Express (UGE).
800 workers who provide critical services – ticket agents, security, wheelchair attendants, cabin cleaners and baggage handlers – received layoff notices just before the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey approved an historic phase in of a $19 minimum wage in September.
Ridgewood NJ, in New Jersey Monthly’s Top Schools 2018 list , Glen Rock High School came in a very strong 2nd in the state ,moving up from 10th place in 2016 and Ridgewood High School slid from 33rd place in 2016 to 36th place this year .
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Health Department joins with the New Jersey Poison Control Center in warning you about the dangers of picking and eating wild mushrooms.
“Picking and eating mushrooms growing in gardens, on lawns, in fields or in the woods is a dangerous game,” says Diane Calello, MD, NJ Poison Control Center Executive and Medical Director, Rutgers NJ Medical School’s Department of Emergency Medicine. “Even experienced mushroom pickers are fooled by toxic look-a-likes at times.”
Trenton NJ, The blue ribbon panel created by the Legislature to develop reforms that address the state’s most challenging fiscal problems issued a series of far-reaching recommendations today that will help to avert crisis conditions, maintain fiscal stability, reduce the costs of government and allow the state to support vital needs and services.
Established under the direction of legislative leaders, the 25-member Economic and Fiscal Policy Workgroup devoted seven months of focused work that produced the recommended ways to address soaring pension and benefit costs, hold down property taxes, make school districts and government more efficient, assess the equity of the tax structure, and ameliorate the negative impact of the federal tax law, among other needs.
“New Jersey faces a series of fiscal and economic challenges that threaten to undermine our ability to address the needs of our residents and invest in the programs and services that will move the state forward,” said Senator Sweeney, (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). “It’s no secret that New Jersey continues to struggle with inefficiencies at all levels of government that result in higher costs and reduced services. We confront an unsustainable legacy pension and benefit costs that will make it all but impossible to meet our priorities, including full funding of public schools, expanding preschool and making New Jersey more affordable for families, senior citizens, and businesses. We have to be willing to take the actions needed to maintain fiscal stability and promote economic responsibility.”
Working under the bipartisan leadership of Senate Budget Chair Paul Sarlo, Senator Steve Oroho and Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald, the group of economists, tax experts and fiscal experts from academia and the public and private sectors, the workgroup’s suggestions cover five categories:
Pension & Benefit Reform
Education Reform at the Administrative Level
County & Municipal Government Reform and Shared Services
State and Local Government Tax Structure
Leveraging Assets to Stabilize the Pension System
“We assembled a group of prominent and accomplished experts who devoted their hard work in developing a series of serious recommendations that are intended to address the state’s fiscal challenges,” said Senator Sarlo (D-Bergen). “The report provides a blueprint of ideas that are intended to be thought provoking. They will be the subject of further discussions, debate and consideration. We will work to determine which ones will best serve the needs of the state and which ones we will follow through on. I thank the members for their important contributions.”
The workgroup reassessed the fairness, adequacy, efficiency and affordability of the state’s current revenue structure across all levels of government and reexamined the delivery of government services to develop its findings and recommendations.
“The problems that New Jersey faces today with unfunded pension liabilities and growing healthcare costs for public employees are no surprise to anyone, with our state’s challenges clearly highlighted by both the Benefits Review Task Force that Phil Murphy chaired in 2005 and by the Byrne/Healey Commission in 2015,” said Sen. Steven Oroho (R-24). “Unfortunately, the modest reforms enacted to date have only slowed the pace of our downward spiral, and we soon face the additional burden of a massive Cadillac tax under the ACA if we do nothing to reduce health benefit costs further. It’s our responsibility to both taxpayers and public employees to address this situation honestly and with political fortitude. It’s clear that bold reforms are necessary to fix the structural deficiencies that threaten the financial future of every New Jerseyan.”
The report’s recommendations, in their entirety, represent the consensus of the assembled experts.
“These recommendations create a path to make New Jersey fiscally responsible,” said former Senator Raymond Lesniak, who served on the panel. “The fiscal crisis facing the state requires a full court press to move forward on the recommendations which will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government.”
Washington DC, U.S. Customs and Border Protection arrested nine U.S. citizens for smuggling 64 illegal aliens in five separate events over the weekend.
“In addition to securing and protecting our nation’s borders, frontline Border Patrol agents are committed to reducing heat-related injuries and preventing deaths along our borders,” stated U.S. Border Patrol Acting Chief Carla L. Provost. “These rescues are a result of stepped-up enforcement at our immigration checkpoints coupled with our search and rescue efforts that are key to preventing unnecessary loss of life.”
In the last two months, Border Patrol agents have thwarted 42 smuggling attempts involving tractor trailers, rescuing 406 people from possible death due to soaring temperatures along the Southwest border.
On June 30, agents arrested an adult female for attempting to smuggle 10 individuals through a Border Patrol immigration checkpoint. The individuals were discovered in the sleeper cab of the truck after a Border Patrol K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics and people in the tractor trailer.
That same day, two adult females driving a box truck were arrested for smuggling 7 illegal aliens through the same Border Patrol immigration checkpoint. The individuals were concealed and locked inside of the truck. Three hours later, agents arrested two men attempting to smuggle 21 people concealed inside a box truck. After a K-9 alerted, agents conducted a search of the cargo area and discovered people hiding behind stacks of tires.
On July 1, agents arrested two individuals attempting to smuggle 14 people through a Border Patrol immigration checkpoint. The individuals were discovered concealed in the sleeper compartment of the truck. Later that day, agents arrested two people for smuggling 12 people who were locked in the trailer compartment of an 18-wheeler. All of the smugglers were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for prosecution.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Border Patrol has stepped up its search and rescue efforts in an attempt to prevent heat-related deaths along the Arizona border. This week, temperatures in Arizona are expected to exceed 115 degrees.
Washington DC, He kick-started Americas economy and got the stock market soaring; he cut taxes, slashed bureaucratic red tape and trash-canned reams of needless government regulations; he bombed the heck out of ISIS and sent them running home to live in their parents basements; and he very likely set the unofficial world record for most Tweets in a first term by a US President: These are just some of the many reasons why the publishers of Floridas Boomerz Magazine have announced Americas 45thPresident, Donald J. Trump, as their magazines choice for Man of the Year.
The President had an amazingly productive first year, but with so much fake news circulating about his activities, a large segment of the population is misinformed about his actual accomplishments, says Boomerz founder/editor/publisher, Frank Allen. We thought it would be very useful if Floridians could view the Presidents achievements since taking office everything from his tightening of border security to renegotiating unfair trade agreements all laid out in a special four-page insert to be included in our January 2018 issue.
Allen says his objective in publishing the Man of the Year issue is to show support for the president and his team and help keep the nation moving in the right direction.
I believe that Boomers should lead younger generations by example, by respecting our president, whether or not we are in agreement with any or all of his ideas or actions, says Allen. Americans need to stand together as one.
About Boomerz Magazine
Boomerz Magazine is a monthly publication that caters to the Woodstock generation,
those born from 1946-1963. Each issue features a Boomer year and takes a look back
at what happened in that year most popular car, what things cost, famous television
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company celebrated 80 years with a beautiful event at the Hackensack Golf Club. The afternoon included lots of singing, amazing food, and getting to catch up with friends old and new.
The event was kicked off with a toast to Jack Strangfeld, who was one of our Life members and beloved by all who knew him. Then, our president, Tim Domini, gave a hysterical speech about his time in the company. Continue reading below for some photos from the event and the entirety of Tim’s speech (and see if you can guess which show each of the G&S references comes from!)
TIM DOMINI GALA SPEECH:
As many of you know I have been singing G & S since the mid nineteen eighties – and after all this time I now am President of a G & S society and must deliver a speech at this most important milestone occasion – the 80th anniversary of our Founding. You have no idea what a poor opinion I have of myself and how little I deserve it. So if I may I want to share my thoughts about how much WS Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan have affected my life lets us say this is – Merely corroborative detail, intended to give artistic verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative.
As I look back at the world of G & S and RGSOC – I see – well – I see a nice dilemma we have here – –that calls for all our wit. REALLY –
There has been very hard work by so many people to keep the flame burning – so much singing and laughter and friendship and eating. Yet, there have been dark times – Times when I thought – Or you , Or I , must yield up our life to Ahrieadnes. I really would prefer it was you – such is the nature of our troupe that we stay a family throughout these conflicts –
Of course the friendship that comes with membership is something that is treasured, something of tremendous value, something beyond value really, something that is never toyed with – Never , what Never? No never…..well Hardly ever…..
And WHAT do we make of the long, long, long , tenure of this organization? Should it have folded long ago? So many have said we sing old music and we do not fit in anymore with the things that the internet and the two career family now makes us obsolete – We go, we go, Yes but we don’t go – (except maybe to the diner). We continue to step out on stage and sing these marvelous works and speak these wonderful words.
Joining a family that is like RGSOC is akin to falling in love – now I know what love is. There was a happy time when I didn’t – but bitter experience has taught me….. we have these flights of soaring music, the appeal of a laughing audience, the joy of working closely with friends’ season after season and sharing the special moments of theater that most strange alchemy of escape.
Of course – I have also been involved in the politics and management of the troupe – as a leader of the company I often think of the Leaders of the House of Peers, it is said that they Throughout the war did nothing in particular and did it very well…. A goal that this organization eschews to and abides by. The board has been a group of Men and Women who work for the good of the company as much as they can. Rarely – there have been issues that created hard feelings over artistic issues – or – financial issues – of course there was the time the feminine members of the board declared MAN is Natures Sole Mistake – yet even these conflicts were overridden by the troupe’s overwhelming friendliness and desire to get out there and sing the wonderful words and music of the dynamic duo Gilbert and Sullivan.
Despite the fact that I wasn’t There, the troupe has ventured into many different formats and ideas towards our long-term survival. All I can say about some of these ideas is that My object – ALL SUMBLIME – I will achieve in time – to let the punishment fit the crime… I too have opinions and ideas, I actually have a Little List, perhaps after lunch –
I will not pretend that the work of the board can not make someone crazy – I often have to find a way to stay calm or like prior board member Margaret find Some word that teems with hidden meaning, like “Basingstoke”. It might recall me to my saner self. For, after all, I am only Mad Margaret! Daft Meg! Poor Meg! He! he! he! – leadership does come with burdens………
Yet through all these hard times one can keep perspective – I always try hard to I’ve jibe and joke, And quip and crank, For lowly folk And men of rank. Yes a gentle sense of humor is the basis of membership in RGSOC – it is the rock upon which the foundation of the troupe is built – let’s face it the boys are funny and the shows stay funny 125 years later.
So despite all the worries and woes of the past years I have been involved with the troupe I find Oh, philosophers may sing Of the troubles of a King, But of pleasures there are many and of worries there are none; And the culminating pleasure That we treasure beyond measure Is the gratifying feeling that our duty has been done.
So as I think back to all the days and times I have spent with my fellow Savoyards and all the meals, and parties and fun occasions yes I think So bumpers – aye, ever so many –The cost we may safely ignore! For the wine doesn’t cost us a penny, Tho’ it’s Pomméry seventy-four! After all It isn’t so much what’s on the table that matters, as what’s on the chairs.
So as I wrap up this discussion I am reminded it is an unjust world, and virtue is triumphant only in theatrical performances – so as I look back at my time in RGSOC I am proud that – I did nothing in particular and did it very well – after all wouldn’t the world seem dull and flat with nothing whatever to grumble at.
Respectfully submitted – at the 80th Gala gathering
Ridgewood Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company will lead off their 80th Anniversary season with a special production of Iolanthe (which is the first production Ridgewood G&S presented during their founding in 1937). Iolanthe runs November 4-26 in various locations throughout the tri-state area. Ticket info : https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=80233
Performances at Ridgewood United Methodist Church (100 Dayton Street, Ridgewood, NJ) Saturday, November 4 @ 7:30pm Sunday, November 5 @ 3:00pm Sunday, November 12 @ 3:00pm
Performance at Heritage Village (Southbury, CT) Sunday, November 19 @ 3:00pm
Updated on June 29, 2017 at 5:49 PMPosted on June 29, 2017 at 7:00 AM
BY STEPHEN STIRLING AND ERIN PETENKO
NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
The most powerful opioid ever mass-marketed was designed to ease cancer patients into death.
It’s ideal for that: the drug is fast acting, powerful enough to tame pain that other opioids can’t and comes in a variety of easy delivery methods — from patches to lollipops.
But a dose the size of a grain of sand can kill you.
Meet fentanyl. It’s heroin on steroids. It’s killing people in droves. And, in New Jersey, you can get it after having your tonsils removed.
In fact, doctors who treat children’s colds and adult’s sore knees are prescribing it with alarming frequency, far more than oncologists easing end-of-life cancer pain.
The surge is stoked by companies that shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to doctors, wining and dining them in hopes of convincing them that their particular brand of fentanyl is the solution to all their patients’ pain problems.
A revival in Bergen County : After seeing its growth stagnate in the 1980s and 1990s, Glen Rock has been steadily gaining population in the 21st century. In a few years, it could near its peak population of 13,000, set in 1970
The 19 hottest real estate markets in N.J. are surging
Updated May 31, 2017
Posted May 31, 2017
Stephen Stirling | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Time to separate the wheat from the chaff.
New Jersey’s real estate market has been fairly fractured since the Great Recession ended in 2009. A slow recovery has meant many are still waiting for their property values to recover, but that’s certainly not true across the board.
A handful of towns are seeing incredible demand and, combined with low inventories, prices have been skyrocketing in recent months.
The 19 towns below all, according to real estate tracking giant Zillow, have seen their median home values peak at the start of 2017. We used Zillow’s own Home Value Index for our analysis (methodology here) and excluded shore communities where there is a strong secondary home market.
Each of these towns stand a head and shoulders above New Jersey’s statewide price growth during the last year and some have seen home values soar to remarkable heights.
“We’re going to win economically; we’re going to win with the economy.” – Donald J. Trump
BUILDING CONFIDENCE IN THE AMERICAN ECONOMY: Since President Donald J. Trump’s election, economic indicators have responded with record confidence to his pro-growth agenda.
April 4,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, last week the National Association of Manufacturers released its Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey showing the highest level of optimism in 20 years.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up over 12 percent since Election Day 2016.
The Weekly Gallup Economic Confidence Index turned positive shortly after the President’s election and has remained positive for 19 consecutive weeks.
The Business Roundtable’s CEO Economic Outlook Index recently jumped 19 points, the largest jump since 2009.
The National Association of Home Builders Confidence Index currently is at its highest level in 12 years.
The Gallup Small Business Index reflects the most optimistic small business owners have been since July 2007.
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index recently soared to its highest level in more than 16 years.
The American Dream Index recently rebounded to 100.5, up from a 12-month low point in December, the final full month of the Obama administration.
EARLY PROGRESS: In just the first full month of President Trump’s Administration, the United States economy has already made promising strides in the job market.
In February, the President’s first full month in office, the U.S economy created 235,000 new jobs.
58,000 new construction jobs were created.
28,000 new manufacturing jobs were created.
In February, the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 4.7 percent.
In February, the U.S. labor force participation rose to 63 percent.
In February, long-term unemployment in the U.S. fell by 49,000.
IMPLEMENTING JOB CREATING POLICIES: President Trump is executing an agenda that favors the American worker.
President Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum creating the White House Office of American Innovation, which will implement policies and scale proven private-sector models to spur job creation.
President Trump ordered the United States to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement and negotiations.
President Trump initially signed a Presidential Memorandum to clear roadblocks to construction of the Keystone XL pipeline and recently his Administration formally approved the project.
President Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum declaring that the Dakota Access pipeline serves the national interest and is being prepared to be put into service.
President Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum to help ensure that new pipeline construction and repair work uses materials and equipment from the United States.
CUTTING GOVERNMENT RED TAPE: President Trump has quickly taken steps to get the Government out of the way of job creation.
President Trump signed an Energy Independence Executive Order to help eliminate burdensome regulations on America’s energy industry.
President Trump directed each agency to establish a Regulatory Reform Task Force to identify costly and unnecessary regulations in need of modification or repeal.
President Trump has required that for every new Federal regulation, two existing regulations be eliminated.
President Trump directed the Department of Commerce to streamline Federal permitting processes for domestic manufacturing and to reduce regulatory burdens on domestic manufacturers.
President Trump signed legislation, House Joint Resolution 38, to prevent the burdensome “Stream Protection Rule” from causing further harm to the coal industry.
President Trump ordered the review of the “Clean Water Rule: Definition of Waters of the United States,” known as the WOTUS rule, to evaluate whether it is stifling economic growth or job creation.
PARTNER OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR: President Trump has worked hand-in-hand with the private sector to get companies re-investing in America.
Exxon Mobil Corporation announced a $20 billion investment in the United States, which will create more than 45,000 jobs.
Charter Communications announced a $25 billion investment in the United States, and that it will hire 20,000 American workers in the next four years.
Accenture announced the creation of 15,000 new high skilled jobs in the next four years and a $1.4 billion investment in training its own employees.
Intel announced a $7 billion investment in a new factory in the United States, supporting over 10,000 jobs.
Fiat Chrysler announced a $1 billion investment to modernize two plants in the United States, creating 2,000 jobs.
General Motors announced plans to invest $1 billion in the United States, creating over 1,000 new jobs.
Ford announced the cancelation of a plant in Mexico, while adding 700 jobs in Michigan.
FOLLOWING THROUGH FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE: President Trump campaigned on jumpstarting the economic engine of America so businesses could grow and Americans could get back to work.
As a candidate, Mr. Trump promised “I am going to bring back the jobs that have been stripped away from you and your country.”
As a candidate, Mr. Trump promised “we will make America the best place in the world to start a business; we’ll hire workers, and we’ll open factories.”
As a candidate, Mr. Trump promised “we will also get rid of wasteful rules and regulations, which are destroying our job-creation capacity.”
As Manufacturers Meet President Trump to Talk Regulations, Taxes and Infrastructure, Industry Is More Confident in Improving Business Climate
by Jennifer Drogus
March 31, 2017
Washington, D.C., Fresh off the heels of the third straight month of manufacturing job growth, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) today released the first Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey since President Donald Trump took office. The survey shows a dramatic shift in sentiment, with more than 93 percent of manufacturers feeling positive about their economic outlook. This is the highest in the survey’s 20-year history, up from 56.6 percent one year ago and 77.8 percent in December.
The NAM’s release of the survey coincided with a meeting of small and medium-sized manufacturers at the White House today.
“Across America, manufacturers’ optimism is soaring, in no small part because of President Trump’s laser-like focus on pursuing bold action, particularly on rethinking red tape to address regulatory reform, to accelerate a jobs surge in America,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons.
“As the survey shows, manufacturers of all sizes are now less concerned about the business climate going forward because they are counting on President Trump to deliver results. Small manufacturers—more than 90 percent of our membership—are among the hardest hit by regulatory obstacles. Regulatory costs for small manufacturers with fewer than 50 employees total almost $35,000 per employee per year—money that could otherwise go to creating jobs. It’s encouraging to see an administration so focused on providing regulatory relief to spur manufacturing growth.
“We are grateful for the chance to meet with the president today as we continue to tell the White House directly which regulations are still the biggest obstacles to a manufacturing surge. There is much work to be done, and manufacturers have the solutions on regulatory reform as well as on infrastructure investment, workforce development, bold comprehensive tax reform and a host of other issues.”
The survey shows not only a positive outlook but also that concerns about the business environment have dropped. When manufacturers were asked to identify top challenges to their business, concerns about the business environment fell to third place. This had previously been respondents’ top concern since the question was added to the survey in 2011.
For the past 20 years, the NAM has surveyed its membership of more than 14,000 large and small manufacturers to gain insight into their economic outlook, hiring and investment decisions and business concerns. The NAM releases these results to the public each quarter.
As the controversy rages between those Republicans who want full repeal and those who want to retain what might be “good” about ObamaCare, we are not asking the right questions. While they are arguing whether or not to keep the ObamaCare subsidies (or the equivalent as “tax credits”), is anyone asking what it is we are subsidizing?
Why has medical care in the United States gotten so expensive? Why did the cost of a hospital stay go from an average of $17,000 in 2000 to $33,000 in 2010, while the average length of stay declined? Why do our hospital stays cost three times more than in other industrialized countries?
The dirty little secret is that having insurance might be a guarantee that the insured pays MORE. And because deductibles have risen dramatically along with premiums, a family needs to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket before insurance kicks in. But how does this work?
Most insurance companies have networks of “preferred providers.” One would assume that a “preferred provider” is a doctor or a lab that gives better rates, but the opposite is the case. As an example, one patient spent a day in the emergency room where the total bill came to $12,000. The “preferred provider” rate brought the bill down to $10,000, which happened to be that patient’s deductible. Upon further scrutiny, the breakdown of the bill showed a lab fee of $3,500—labs that would have cost less than 100 cash on the outside.
When the hospital patient advocate was queried, the answer came back, “Your insurance company negotiated $10,000 and, since you have not met your deductible, you are bound it pay it. Paying the cash price is not an option.” She acknowledged that this seemed unfair, but would not budge.
Another patient discovered that his insurance had lapsed and was given a cash price of $75 for an office visit. Once insurance was restored, the submitted fee was $275. Since he had not met his deductible, he was expected to personally pay the higher fee.
Since 92% of people will not incur more than $5,000 per year in medical expenses, the middle class has been fleeced under ObamaCare in so many ways. Many patients have received subsidies. But this just means that taxpayers are forced to pay part of their premiums, and the patients are still stuck with those deductibles and the higher negotiated fees.
So what is really happening?
Insurance premiums have soared, and the insurance companies love it. They keep a percentage of the bloated premiums for “operating costs.” Hospitals are buying physician practices, and Medicaid and Medicare have agreed to pay the hospitals higher fees for the same service in the same location. No government official has been able to explain why.
The ratepayers and taxpayers are the “forgotten men” in our medical system. Hospital and Insurance executives are now commanding compensation that exceeds $1 million. One CEO of a consolidated hospital system in central New Jersey receives $9 million per year. What exactly does he do to merit this high salary? The usual reason for lavish executive pay is that the official brings lots of revenue into the business. The big hospital systems are businesses that profit massively at the expense of patients and taxpayers—although the excess might be called something other than profit if the hospital is tax-exempt (allegedly “nonprofit”).
Our politicians are complicit in this heist, as last year insurance companies and hospitals were among the ten greatest contributors to the campaigns of legislators who allow this scam on the middle class to continue.
The best recommendation would be for patients with high deductibles to hide any connection with an insurance company and negotiate the best cash prices for services. Find a physician who is in no network and who can help navigate where to find cash-friendly sources of medicines, labs, and x-rays.
Patients with their doctors need to take control of medical care once again.
________________________________
Dr. Alieta Eck graduated from the Rutgers College of Pharmacy and the St. Louis University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO. She studied Internal Medicine at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ and has been in private practice with her husband, Dr. John Eck, MD in Piscataway, NJ since 1988, affordablehealthinc.org. She has been involved in health care reform since residency and is convinced that the government is a poor provider of medical care.
Dr. Eck testified before the Joint Economic Committee of the US Congress in 2004 about better ways to deliver medical care in the United States. In 2011, she testified before a Senate Health Committee chaired by Senators Bernie Sanders and Rand Paul– about ways to avoid non-urgent visits to the emergency rooms.
In 2003, she and her husband founded the Zarephath Health Center, a non-government free clinic for the poor and uninsured that currently care for about 300 patients per month utilizing the donated services of volunteer physicians and nurses. It is only open 12 hours per week. zhcenter.org
She is working to pass NJ S239, a bill that would provide medical malpractice protection for the private practices of physicians who donate 4 hours per week in a clinic like the ZHC. njaaps.org
Dr. Eck was the 2012 President of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons and serves on the board of Christian Care Medi-Share, a faith based medical cost sharing ministry.
She was the Republican nominee for the US Congress for NJ12 in 2014.
In March, 2015, she chaired a meeting of the National Physicians Coalition for Freedom in Medicine, about 30 physicians, who gathered in Washington, DC to draft a “One-Page Plan” to restore affordability, promote patient choice and retain quality in medical care. https://aaps.wufoo.com/forms/m11okp2x1yjc8qf/
Dr. Eck spoke at the National Press Club in Washington, DC in June, 2016 to help unveil the Wedge of Health Freedom, an initiative of the Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom, with President Twila Brase. JointheWedge.com
