Florida doctors for McCain
The McCain campaign just announced a long list of Florida doctors who support the ticket.
"As president, John McCain will work to reform our nation's health care system for the benefit of patients and health care providers alike," said State Sen. Durrell Peaden, honorary state co-chair of Florida Doctors for McCain-Palin. "His plan to offer American families a $5,000 refundable tax credit will help 47 million uninsured Americans afford health care, and relieve a major burden for families already struggling to afford their insurance premiums. Only John McCain has offered proposals to make health insurance more innovative, portable and affordable, and I am confident he will take decisions out of the hands of employers and insurance companies and restore control to patients themselves. Choice is the most important thing for patients in health care."
Full list below.
Dr. Karl Altenburger, Honorary State Co-Chair of Florida Doctors for McCain-Palin and immediate past president of the Florida Medical Association, added: "American families are deeply concerned about the rising costs of health care, especially during this time of economic uncertainty, but they are also concerned about quick, simple access to health care and acquiring the preventive care they need. Through more choice, competition, prevention, and the promotion of greater access to care, John McCain will make it possible for every American, including those with pre-existing conditions, to receive the health care they deserve."
Dr. Altenburger continued, "As a physician, I also understand the importance of John McCain's call for immediate medical liability reform; this initiative is key to ensuring that physicians and patients are not burdened by the costs of frivolous lawsuits or excessive damage awards."
FLORIDA DOCTORS FOR MCCAIN-PALIN
Honorary Co-Chairs
Dr. Karl Altenburger, Ocala
Dr. AK Desai, St. Petersburg
Dr. Frank Farmer, Daytona Beach
State Representative Rene Garcia, Hialeah
Dr. Alan Mendelson, Hollywood
State Senator Durrell Peaden, Jr., Crestview
Dr. Steve West, Ft. Myers
REGIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE
North Florida Region
Dr. Virgil Berry, Starke
Dr. Robert Brooks, Tallahassee
Dr. Coy Irvin, Gulf Breeze
Dr. Robert Ponte, Orange Park
Dr. Lewis Walker, Jacksonville
Dr. Steve Zieman, Gulf Breeze
Central Florida Region
Dr. Charles Clark, Hernando
Dr. Richard Dunn, Maitland
Dr. Gerri Ferris, Orlando
Dr. Lennard Greenbaum, Orlando
Dr. Danny Jazarevik, Ft. Pierce
Dr. Rick Lentz, Daytona Beach
Dr. Ivan Rivera, Kissimmee
Tampa Bay Region
Dr. Dennis Agliano, Tampa
Dr. Nolan Allen, Clearwater
Dr. Si Azar, Hudson
Dr. Fred Bearison, Tampa
Dr. Jayendra Choksi, Tampa
Dr. Allan Escher, Wesley Chapel
Dr. Miguel Fana, St. Petersburg
Dr. Greg Henderson, Brandon
Dr. Dan Lorch, Brandon
Dr. Frederick McFall, St. Petersburg
Dr. Alberto Montalvo, Bradenton
Dr. Ralph Nobo, Bartow
Dr. Daniel Ross, Tampa
Dr. Jim Rowsey, Clearwater
Dr. Sergio Seoane, Lakeland
Dr. Larry Taylor, Brandon
Dr. Leonides Teves, Bradenton
Dr. George Thomas, Bradenton
Dr. Rachavendra Vijayanger, Tampa
Dr. James Whitman, Longboat Key
Southwest Florida Region
Dr. E.W. Akins, Naples
Dr. Pamela Crane, Naples
Dr. Derrill Heiland, Naples
Dr. Alex Krischanowski , Naples
Dr. Mark Liberman, Naples
Dr. Lee Light, Naples
Dr. Stephen Schwartz, Naples
Dr. Frank Schwerin, Vero Beach
Dr. Mark C. Williams, Ft. Myers
South Florida Region
Dr. Debra Anzalone, Lighthouse Point
Dr. Fanancy Anzalone, Lighthouse Point
Dr. Sam Bierstock, Boca Raton
Dr. Robert Cline, Lighthouse Point
Dr. Raul Cuadrado, Lighthouse Point
Dr. Nabil El Sanadi, Ft. Lauderdale
Dr. Alberto Hernandez, Miami
Dr. Onelia Lage, Miami
Dr. Peter Lamelas, West Palm Beach
Dr. Sandra Mensonides, N. Fort Myers
Dr. Shaun Patel, Miami
Dr. Marion Thorpe, Miami
Dr. Maureen Whelihan, West Palm Beach
*
From the writers of the St. Petersburg Times, The Buzz offers the latest news in Florida politics. This is a public forum sponsored and maintained by the St. Petersburg Times. When you post comments here, what you say becomes public and could appear in the newspaper. You are not engaging in private communication with candidates or Times staffers.
Here comes tort reform. Who cares what the doctors want. All they care about is keeping their 12 car garages to store their Lexus / hummers in. You know the ones they get a tax break on.
Posted by: | October 13, 2008 at 08:33 PM
There are very little malpractice claims left in florida. They have capped damages and made it near impossible to sue for a medical mistake. No their support is about money and greed. They dont want to pay their fair share of taxes. It is not about health insurance because Mccain makes that situation worse, not better. If health insurance costs the average family $12000 a year, how is a $5000 credit going to help, especially when you tax the employer benefit. Thanks but no thanks.
Posted by: Realist | October 13, 2008 at 08:57 PM
Where is Charlie's Dad? Isn't he a DR?
Is this another sign that Crist is pulling away from McCain?
Posted by: | October 13, 2008 at 09:12 PM
yep, charlie's pulling away from mccain and going to hang with arnold in broward this friday because California's proposition 11 is the most important thing for Floridians!
Posted by: | October 13, 2008 at 09:33 PM
congratulations Rep. Rene Garcia. We had no idea you were a doctor.
Posted by: | October 13, 2008 at 09:33 PM
Health Insurance 101 - This weeks assignment: Don't Get Sick.
Mr. Realist:
If a family is covered by an employer, the employer has to pays at least 50% of the employee. If the premium is $1000/mo (fair enough), The pre-tax dollar amount would be 1000-125* (employer contribution) = $875. $875-20% (withholding tax) = $175/mo x 12 months = $2100. So a $5000 credit is mighty tasty right about now.
If your company is small and doesn't have a "Cafeteria Plan" in place you get no tax deduction without you hiring a creative CPA.
Tort reform is needed to keep the dirt-bag trip&fall lawyers at bay. I love the TV commercials that these shysters put on. They will have you believe that they are so caring. If they are so caring they should be nurses not dirt-bags.
* assume $250/mo employee premium.
"It's a Wonder to Learn!"
Posted by: Professor | October 13, 2008 at 09:49 PM
Dr.Who is for McCain too.
Posted by: | October 13, 2008 at 10:06 PM
Dr. Who is on first.
Posted by: Gator(R) | October 13, 2008 at 10:11 PM
I remember when doctors used to make decisions about our health care, instead of administrators. Let's get a government-run health care system which covers everyone for anything a DOCTOR approves. Let's let the doctors do their jobs again.
Posted by: | October 13, 2008 at 10:24 PM
wow, who knew the trial lawyers would be on the blogs on a Thursday night?
Posted by: | October 13, 2008 at 11:02 PM
Hey Peadon, you don't have to lie.
McCain's plan is pathetic and will result in more uninsured, and more doctors not getting paid.
Posted by: | October 14, 2008 at 12:03 AM
This list of doctors has a transparent political agenda. I know that because I spoke with a practitioner who said that McCain's plan will result in doctors refusing to accept insurance plans under his proposals.
McCain said we will allow citizens to pick from any insurance plan across the country and sign up. Sounds good, huh?
Well, the reality is that doctor's offices will then face the prospect of filing insurance with thousands of different insurance plans, with each patient potentially having a separate plan.
The problem is that each insurance company has their own unique filing requirements, specialized software, data specifications, etc. My friend said NO practitioner will be able to manage that kind of workload impact. As a result, each patient will be forced to pay for their services and file for their own insurance claims.
Sound good to you? More 'straight talk' with little thought from McCain. It tells me that this list of doctors are making a purely political endorsement that has nothing to do with McCain's health care plan. Makes one wonder what they expect to get from the deal?
Posted by: michaelt | October 14, 2008 at 08:53 AM
Once you've got the doctors, well, the state's pretty much wrapped up.
Posted by: | October 14, 2008 at 09:11 AM
Why hasn’t John McCain and Sarah Palin called for the immediate arrest and detention of terrorist Ayers and terrorist sympathizer Obama? Why haven’t they called for the arrest of everyone who associated with terrorist Ayers (including many prominent Republicans)?
Why do they want these dangerous threats to our National Security to roam freely around America and the halls of our government?
Why do they want to close GITMO and release all those terrorists as well?
Why do Palin and her First-Dupe support Alaska’s secession from our Union?
Why do McCain and Palin want innocent Americans to die?
Why does McCain/Palin support amnesty for illegal immigrants who place such a terrible burden on our country and its resources?
McCain/Palin = “Country First; just not OUR Country!”
Posted by: | October 14, 2008 at 09:15 AM
I'm sure that this endorsement will turn the McCain campaign around.
If my doctor was on this list I would find a new one with some concern for our country (and less for avoiding taxes).
Posted by: tom | October 14, 2008 at 12:17 PM
tom i think u need 2b ur own dr.
Posted by: | October 14, 2008 at 12:21 PM
Yep, Doc bend over and say AH!!! I wonder how many of these Doc's are feeding at the public expense and how much they are cheating out of Medicare!!
Posted by: TRUE BLUE | October 15, 2008 at 12:37 AM