If that's anything like the time she offered to watch my ice cream cone, she's going to eat your baby. Just sayin'

Good news, Rita. Lorra said she can watch Kamden while we run the race on Sat. morning. She's looking forward to seeing you guys!

here's what the internet told me:

HIPAA does not prevent your doctor from sharing your information with your insurer. In fact, it has a rule explicitly allowing such sharing without your consent, as both entities are considered authorized under HIPAA. It does, however, prevent the insurer and doctor from sharing your health information with your employer.

HIPAA also limits the price difference for smokers to 20% of the employee premium in any group plan, and this difference is only allowed if a wellness program is instated allowing the smokers to cover the cost of smoking-cessation programs (but not requiring they succeed in quitting). This rule is true of any "health factor".

And if your insurance company, or any third party hired by them, is collecting your personally identifiable health information, HIPAA requires that information be transmitted encrypted, all entities be authenticated, and all data be corroborated. Anyone wishing to host such systems is required to document their security systems and perform risk analysis to meet government compliance audits. In comparison, transmission and storage of your credit card information is regulated by the credit card companies themselves.

doctor appointment at 4 today.

Just when I was feeling fit and young again....Frankie is taking the PSAT/NMSQT today.

I think I'm qualified to be a health coach, what with my AO-fit training and all.

Well, Frank stated my objection better than I could have. I know what the doctor's privacy policy is and what his/her credentials are. I don't know what a "health coach" has been trained to do. I don't know the data retention or security policy of the database. AND they cannot guarantee that my health information will not be used in the future to preclude me from job offers (since our health is tied to our jobs). Insurance companies have already set a precedent for doubling the cost of insurance for smokers, what is to keep them from having a different rate based on your illness? In extreme terms, we could possibly end up one day with a "perfect" blond-haired, blue-eyed society.

As for unions, the ones we have in my office are for the hourly workers. But, as Frank points out the professionals have to jump ship every few years to get a raise. That is bad for the company and the individual. (especially if there is a pre-existing condition to deal with for the health-insurance transfer - ha!).

minor errata: the penalty for not getting the blood draw (sorry, the discount for getting the totally voluntary blood draw) is $50/month.

My objection to this is twofold: first, the heavy-handed carrot/stick approach to this is thinly veiled. Even those who oppose it are unwilling to pay the $50/month price to defy the insurance company's wishes. Second, this is a violation of the employees' HIPAA privacy. By participating in a voluntary program we consent to releasing health information that should be held as confidential between a patient and their doctor.


My thoughts on the union issue are as follows, a major perq the union can offer white collar workers is a relative pay grade for senior staff. It is often the casse in the white collar world that raises to not keep pace with increasing starting salaries. I was given the advice, by a senior faculty member in Logan, to forget long-term commitment to a single institution, but rather to jump ship every five years. He had taught and researched at that school for 35 years, and he pointed to the new faculty members acrosss the room and observed to me that every one of them was paid more than he. Whatever one's opinion is on the value of tenure and retention, one should acknowlege that there is some value to the institution in having long-term commitment and institional memory. For what it's worth.

Arrival (HOU): November 21, 11:14 AM CST (morning)
Departure (HOU): November 25, 6:44 PM CST (evening)

A paper on U.S. Anti-Union Consulting. The comment about foreigners wanting unionization reminded me of it.

yes, really, I want him to get the blood draw...but he knows what bad news awaits. Then Big Brother will tell him how to live his life. Hence the opposition.

We are joining MEA/MFT and along with that NEA/AFT, so that makes sense.

taod, when i was at WSU the grad students tried to unionize. there was a great debate between the econ grad students about it. ultimately, what i learned from it is that unions make sense when the work required is low-skill and there are not other opportunities for work close by.

the other funny observation was that all the US econ grad students were opposed to being unionized, and all the foreign grad students were for it.

also, the UAW was the union that would have gotten all our due, so it really made no sense.

big brother who helps pay for your health care is watching... not sure what is wrong with them asking you to know your health information you are a player in this game too.

Yeah, Frank's insurance requires him to have a blood draw done (free) or pay $100.

Seriously, anyone want to offer up their thoughts on unions? I know they've done good for many people, but I'm not exactly hurting...or maybe I'm hurting and don't know it. Every other Montana university has joined the union already.

My health coach says "don't skip your burpees anymore." I only have to do 8 today.

I have to decide if I want to put all our personal health information on a "secure" website and submit myself to phone calls with a "health coach" or pay $800 extra per year for insurance. Big Brother is watching.

Nobody else can decide for you, you've got to decide to join the union by yourself.

Need a little help with a decision...should I join the faculty union so that I can vote on the collective bargaining agreement? Not really sure my vote is going to matter and I voted against MSU joining a union in the first place. If they ratify the agreement, I have to join anyway. Should I pay the $100 just so I can vote?

too many typos in it?
admission bar too low at your university?

ARGH! Why don't the read the syllabus?

Day 3 of the Relho 100 day health challenge has passed with 100% completion still! Yay! October rain did not stop the exercising.

Next up is Saturday with a 30 min walk.

ao: does sideways flying count as a burpee?

Made it to Denver around 6pm with only one quick stop in Colorado Spring airforce base due to microbursts. Flying sideways in a plane only slightly more scarier than the 2.5 hr drive from Denver to Vail. So ready for bed now.

So cute, so cute, so cute! Can you bring him to MSP this weekend?

cause I browse slickdeals every day...

$10 carhartt shorts

If you add an additional pair, you get $3 off both pairs... shipping for me was $5 and no tax here... so $20 for two pairs. Now I hope they fit come next spring.

*I have no idea the quality of these

I have tried but it doesn't want to stay down yet.

nice move ant rita.can you brush his hire?

burpees are hard

I'm gonna do the 100 day burpee challenge with you, but I'm already a day behind.

yes, cookies do make life better!

Day 1 kicked off the Relho 100 day health challenge with a 100% success rate. Go team! Thursday is a 30 min walk/run.

What a lucky girl!