Noren for Senate

2012 US Senate Race New York

2010-10-19T20:05:00.000-07:00

Kirsten Gillibrand, the Governor Paterson appointee, will likely win the 2 year U.S. Senate seat. She won the Primary with only about 75% of the Democratic vote. The crucial race coming up is the 6 year term. I intend to do a better job at getting on the ballot and being the 'non-corporate' Democratic alternative to her. I am fiscally conservative and socially progressive. Stay tuned...the excitement is just beginning. There is room for REAL Grassroots Democracy and I won't be pandering; I will be addressing issues from objectivity as humanly as possible. I need your support. Email me at norenforsenate@gmail.com
As a Health Care provider, we are getting crushed by the bean-counters in Washington DC...I am the 'anti-bean counter candidate'. We need to protect providers and patients at the same time.
My Act Blue donation tab will be active after Novembers elections. In the mean time, checks can be mailed to me directly and will follow FEC rules strictly. I will not accept individual donations if you work for Health Insurance companies, Banking, Gas/Oil, Pharmaceutical Giants and no PAC money. Email me if you'd like to donate. $10, 20, 50,100 dollar amounts are very welcome! If you've come here first, go to www.norenforsenate.com for more info.
Dr. Scott Noren

Jobs bill costs taxpayers/some benefits but...

2010-02-15T14:45:00.000-08:00

See the following info on Schumer/Reid/Hatch Jobs Bill
The good the bad and the ugly
Senator Schumer remains the #1 recipient of Insurance lobby money in the entire US Senate.
Senator Gillibrand remains the #1 recipient of Commercial Banking money in the entire Congress (House AND Senate)
The bill started this way:
http://blog.timesunion.com/nypotomac/schumer-hatch-tax-plan-lands-in-jobs-bill/756/
Now the headlines read:
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/02/13/hatch-opposes-reids-jobs-bill/
My comments on the whole deal:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dr-scott-noren-us-senate-candidate-from-new-york-comments-on-jobs-bill-of-schumerreidhatch-84397477.html

I suggest that we create a better business environment by redirecting the wealth away from the health insurance industry and back towards individuals and businesses.

2009-11-19T20:50:00.000-08:00

Went to the DEC Meeting at the State Theater in Ithaca for public comments on the DEC document regarding Marcellus Shale gas drilling/fracking. I oppose any new studies because we know the likely eventual consequences...ruining of the waterways and aquaphors. The end-all result is an environmental and social catastrophe of immense magnitude for NY. I will post my speech here and on the web site asap.
I signed a petition to ban fracking. I believe in a National ban on fracking, period.

To see where Ms. Gillibrand stands and to see she still has alliances with and gets Lobby money from Gas/Oil...here is a portion of her Press Release:

"The Marcellus Shale represents a tremendous economic opportunity for New York, and I commend DEC for recognizing the importance of harvesting and producing new sources of energy to address the growing need for energy throughout the state. However, our quest for new sources of energy and potential economic growth should not come at the expense of good, clean air and safe drinking water for all New Yorkers," Senator Gillibrand wrote in her letter to New York Governor David Paterson. "New York has an abundant supply of fresh, clean water, and we must learn from the accidents that other states have already experienced to avoid damage to our own precious natural resources."

You can see she is speaking from a position that clearly entertains the idea that fracking could be permissible if assurances can be made for it's safety. My contention is that it will never be proven safe enough to ensure that our water supply will not be in danger. She is clear on this and hold her to her word.

Staten Island Dems Meeting/Nov. 17th 2009

2009-11-19T20:48:00.000-08:00

Thanks for having me come speak...a very open-minded group of Democrats and in need for more representation by the City Council.
Look forward to coming back again if invited.

Arianna Huffington at Ithaca College

2009-11-03T19:04:00.000-08:00

Went to see Arianna Huffington speak at Ithaca College here tonight. Kudos to the Park Foundation and others for sponsoring it. She talked and entertained simultaneously but discussed getting the truth out and ignoring left to right issues. I agree. Afterwords, I had a chance to meet her and say hello.
I gave her an envelope with a flyer and a request for Huffington Post coverage inside. I introduced myself and then walked away letting others get photo ops. I talked to a couple friends outside in the lobby and then gathered the courage to go back and pose the following:
I told her that, as she described "old media" (print), it costs $35,000 to place a Full page ad in the New York Daily News. It costs $65,000 for an unscheduled ad in the NY Times. I told her that advertising in her Huffington Post (New media) was too expensive for a US Senate candidate like me currently. How can an FEC (Federal Election Commission) registered candidate like myself ever compete and get covered if the costs are so much? How exactly can you 'get the truth out' as a candidate like myself? I asked if she would consider having a candidate forum for major offices on Huffington Post. We'll see...I'd like to be interviewed by them even better!
Good night.
Scott Noren DDS

Health care discussion Wednesday October 14th

2009-10-12T15:10:00.000-07:00

Health Care Discussion
Wednesday, October 14th
JCC, 5655 Thompson Road Syracuse, NY
7:30-8:30 PM (will start promptly at 7:30!)
The headlines today are an indicator that the insurance companies are still
trying to pull a fast one..let's talk about it and what can be done

October 6th Health Care Meeting/Town Hall

2009-08-27T21:17:00.000-07:00

Albany Public Library, Main Branch 6-8:30 PM
Health Care reform talk by Dr. Noren
What the government can, can't, should and shouldn't do
What you can, can't, should and shouldn't do

Introduction to this blog and myself

2009-07-26T21:47:00.001-07:00

I've rearranged the posts so I can keep the intro at the top here

My name is Scott Noren and I am an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon. I am a fiscally conservative, registered Democrat. I live in Ithaca, NY and am in private practice. I have had many life experiences with which I feel contribute to usefulness to public service. I spent 31 years in Chicago, and was born in Park Ridge, Illinois. I attended college and dental school and other training there. I spent 1 year in New Orleans doing an oral surgery externship. I did my Oral Surgery residency in Kansas City, Missouri. I spent 6 years in the US Army; there were some good experiences but it was clouded by working with some folks who forgot the Army values.

Talking Points
• Truly represent all of New York State and the US
•No PAC or Lobby money accepted for this campaign
•Congressional and Senate members who sit on Committees should not receive donations from sectors they oversee (I would make this a high priority Bill)
•Medical and dental practices should have a cap on liability insurance premiums (much less than what they are currently)
•A simultaneous cap on patient tort claims
•Would write a Bill to cap maximum family and individual health insurance premiums at $700 per month nationally for family and $275 for individuals..improving the policies by eliminating waiting periods, no tie to the job (should be available for the same rate whether employed or not); eliminating high deductibles (limits) and generally, in writing, improving service. Eventually, NO SHAREHOLDERS for public insurance would be allowed by law.
•Would actually read the National Intelligence Estimate BEFORE voting for another war (unlike most of the previous Senators…6 read the one for Iraq)
•Work on the monumental overhaul of the Medicare system to reduce the trillions in future deficits
•Creation of L3C type (Vermont low-profit) business models in NY to create jobs and provide services that will be self-sustaining post stimulus package (green energy projects as well as the mobile dental van for indigent dental care in NYS and nationally). Also the Federally granted/assisted use of new manufacturing using robotics and competing in a global economy (create good jobs and compete on overhead costs).

I have focused a great deal of my attention to fiscal responsibility, especially by local and Federal government. We know that AIG, after receiving billions in bailout money, rewarded it’s executives with millions in bonuses. This cannot continue. We elect Senators and Congressional members who sit on committees, yet take donations from the very sectors they oversee, including the financial sector. This also cannot continue. I alone will not make this happen. As a group, we need to think beyond party lines and really change and reform government.
BOTTOM LINE: I WANT TO BE PERSISTENT FOR 6 YEARS AND GET OTHER CANDIDATES FROM OTHER STATES TO RUN THE SAME WAY WITHOUT LOBBY MONEY OF INDIVIDUAL SPECIAL INTEREST MONEY FROM INSURANCE, GAS/OIL, FINANCIAL/BANKING AND PHARMACEUTICAL AREAS.
TO DO THIS, IT WILL TAKE PEOPLE, YOU-TUBE, FACEBOOK, TWITTER TO GET THOSE STATES WHERE THEIR SENATOR OR CONGRESSMAN/WOMAN WHO REFUSES TO GO ALONG WITH THIS CHANGE TO EITHER GO ALONG OR VOTE THEM OUT!!! NOT A DAY WILL GO BY THAT THERE ARE NOT PHONE CALLS AND ALL THE ABOVE TRYING TO GET EACH UNWILLING LEGISLATORS' VOTERS TO CHANGE THEIR ATTITUDE.

Part of the problem is that people have lived beyond their means, but in many cases the government has overspent, underestimated and under-regulated the financial sector. They have over regulated the health care providers and under regulated the insurance industry. I intend to make improvements to health care and not promise the whole kit and caboodle falsely like others have.

Only individual donations will be accepted now and during office; that includes ADA, AAOMS, etc. No insurance or Wall Street donations will be accepted. I hope you will consider supporting me both with small and large donations as individuals as you can and in spirit. Follow my campaign at www.Norenforsenate.com
Sincerely,

Scott Noren, DDS

Economic impact of the health care system

2009-07-09T20:58:00.000-07:00

Your monthly budget may have taken a hit with this economy. The Congress and Senate are bantering on health care; if they pass a very ‘rushed package right now, regulations for health care providers would go through the roof based on past performances of Medicaid and Medicare.

We experienced a breach in computers by hackers around the 4th of July this year of the US Treasury, Federal Trade Commission, and the Transportation Department.
If they institute an E-medical record, who is to say that the security of those records will be adequate?
Part of my health care plan would regulate the health insurance industry by law, not by persuasion or “free market” tendencies. Below is an example of what we are blowing in monthly costs by allowing Congress and the Senate to remain in the ‘pockets of the insurance industry’.

Let's say a company has 1,000 workers with health insurance. If you reduced the monthly health care premium BY LAW even by $100 per month, this would save the company and its employees a whopping $100,000 PER MONTH! Using this premium reduction nationally, you can get billions in savings personally and by business large and small, at no extra cost to taxpayers. Eventually, health insurance in the private sector needs to be not for profit, and this needs to be a mandated federal transition over no more than 5 years.

The savings from premium reduction could be used to hire more workers laid off, unemployed or underemployed. Waiting periods, deductibles and non-portability will be written into law that these items will go away. Your insurance should not be tied to your job...that brings up the whole portability issue for "self-insured" large companies.
The insurance lobby is an impediment here; in my platform, we get rid of lobby and PAC money, period. Legislators who refuse to go along with this are not helping you out. This is the only way to true reform.

Additionally, to make this work, we need to seriously reduce smoking, obesity and diabetes. Personal responsibility or lack thereof is responsible for billions of wasted health care dollars ($150 billion per year for diabetes alone).

I am an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon running for US Senate in New York on issues that affect the entire country and especially medical and dental providers nationwide.

Novel ways to stimulate job growth and compete globally

2009-06-15T21:54:00.000-07:00

If you want to see how the American manufacturing industry can be rebuilt with less workers per factory, good pay and put America back competitively in the global market, here's a link to the future
http://www.computerweekly.com/blogs/inspect-a-gadget/2009/03/video-bmw-factory-run-by-robots---amazing.html

Patient Non-Compliance issues and waste

2009-05-21T20:03:00.001-07:00

Patient non-compliance: cost to taxpayers, the country, and to the health of the public:
I see many patients on a monthly basis that require Oral Surgery care yet are non-compliant with anti-hypertensive or diabetes medical management. Prior to treatment, as needed, they are directed back to a health care provider to reinstate the treatment. They follow this regimen almost universally because they realize that their health is severely compromised and that routine office oral surgery treatments, often pain-alleviating, will not be done until they are stabilized medically.

Treatment of stroke, peripheral vascular disease, blindness, loss of limbs and rehabilitation costs are in the billions of dollars. If a higher percentage of these patients followed more sensible lifestyles and were compliant with their medications, the cost to health care and utilization of the health care system would plummet.

One of the most effective way to bridge this gap in communication is via the County Health Department systems nationwide. Millions of dollars are wasted on ineffective education programs in libraries and hospital conference rooms instead of direct patient intervention. Dedicated staff in these departments could contact patients from lists provided by private and public clinics. These lists would be patients deemed by the provider as non-compliant with therapy whether due to economic, behavioral, or transportation limitations. Patients would be contacted on a daily or weekly basis until the provider felt that they were achieving better results, i.e. better HbA1C results for diabetic patients, average blood pressures, and various other clinical parameters. Funding for this could be state or federal and could be supplemented by the pharmaceutical industry. Phone reminders can be more effective if the staff is personable and caring. I was told by the NYS Department of Public Health there would be HIPAA concerns. This would not be the case if public health departments were deemed ‘limited health care providers’ and as such, would be privy to this data. Of course, having all preventative care always included as a no-extra-charge in a private policy, by law, will have to passed absolutely.

The pharmaceutical industry loses billions of dollars per year due to patient non-compliance with their medications. The pharmaceutical industry is aware of this http://www.in-pharmatechnologist.com/Industry-Drivers/Non-compliance-costs-drug-industry-dear

As on can see, they are more concerned with the economic loss vs benefit to patients health. This can be used as an incentive to provide some type of tax or voluntary contribution by pharma to a national county health department initiative as mentioned above.

Equally important is better communication of doctors with their patients and in-office education (link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1604357&dopt=Citation Physicians would benefit economically because their patients would visit when they were supposed to and the insurance would be billed for those visits. President-elect Obama is supportive of better electronic office communications. We need to work on this but not rush it through by 2011.

Results of the initiative could be reviewed in two-year increments and published by the Surgeon General to Congress.

For a very comprehensive review on the costs of patient non-compliance, see the link for the White Paper: http://www.idspackaging.com/Common/Paper/Paper_187/The%20Issue%20of%20Patient%20Non-Compliance-%20Response.htm

Sample tele-program and results: http://www.atmeda.org/news/2004_presentations/m1d2.dimmick.ppt#292,30,Conclusions

Most importantly, patients will benefit from a) less sick time b) increase in lifespan and quality of life 3) decreased burden on family and society to take care of preventable medical conditions, and as important 4) drastically lower premiums for health insurance. How many families in the middle class could sign up for a family policy if it were ½ of what the current averages are?

Two hugely overlooked problems are costs for providers tuition for medical and dental school. When medical, dental, nursing etc schools are free, then let’s talk about how to reduce health care costs more efficiently. Neurosurgeons go through 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school and 7 years of residency; do you think they can survive strictly Medicaid/Medicare-like pay?

Secondly, let’s say you get rid of all the health insurance agencies, health plans, etc.What happens to their jobs and what effect does this have on the economy? Have you heard any politician talk about how they would take care of that astronomic unemployment headache? I’ve heard they would ‘merge’ those workers. It’s not a slam dunk easy thing to deal with. It is laid out very simplistically (the merge phenomenon) but is very complicated.

The local health department teaches health classes at public forums….we know how many people attend those; you know, people who have 9-5 jobs line up for public health forums at 12 noon on the other side of town?. The reality is that we need better preventative programs. Education needs to start at the middle school and high school levels and more PSA's on healthy lifestyles on T.V. and cable.