Same Doctor Visit, Double the Cost

Reno in the news again for healthcare...

My friend and gym buddy, David Hubbard, shares his story...

Uvealblues

Insurers Say Rates Can Surge After Hospitals Buy Private Physician Practices; Medicare Spending Rises, Too

After David Hubbard underwent a routine echocardiogram at his cardiologist's office last year, he was surprised to learn that the heart scan cost his insurer $1,605. That was more than four times the $373 it paid when the 61-year-old optometrist from Reno, Nev., had the same procedure at the same office just six months earlier.

"Nothing had changed, it was the same equipment, the same room," said Dr. Hubbard, who has a high-deductible health plan and had to pay about $1,000 of the larger bill out of his own pocket. "I was very upset."

But something had changed: his cardiologist's practice had been bought by Renown Health, a local hospital system. Dr. Hubbard was caught up in a structural shift that is sweeping through health care in the U.S.—hospitals are increasingly acquiring private physician practices.

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Lake Tahoe clearer, but more complicated

Despite an extreme weather year, clarity at Lake Tahoe improved in 2011, but underlying trends show the overall picture is more complex than previously thought.
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David Hoffman--Congratulations!

David Hoffman, a Sageridge graduate, has just been named by Bloomberg Media one of the top 25 young entrepreneurs in America!!! He and his two co-founders have created a social media tool for upcoming bands...

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Summer of Service Northern Nevada

Pete Parker, a great individual focused on charity/philanthropy projects here in Reno has a new project going. 
Check it out!
Uvealblues
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Gibbons to Deliver Emergency State of State

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) -- Nevada's budget is so far out of balance that by one account the state could lay off every worker paid from the general fund and still be $300 million in the red. The economic downturn has hit so hard that prisons may be closed, entire colleges shuttered and thousands left without jobs.
(..)
Lynn Hettrick, deputy chief of staff, said the governor wants to try to avoid more layoffs, because the state must pay the full cost of unemployment benefits for affected workers. Nevada, with a 13 percent unemployment rate, is on track to borrow $1 billion from the federal government to meet jobless claims because its unemployment insurance trust fund has gone broke.
(..)

Still, budget cuts could result in thousands of layoffs, mainly teachers, with the shock waves reverberating through Nevada for years to come.
''Most people living in Nevada have never experienced anything like this,'' said Guy Rocha, a historian and former state archivist. ''The last time we had an economic crisis of this magnitude was the Great Depression.''

One nation, seven sins

The question of evil and where it lurks has been largely ignored by the scientific community, which is why a recently released study titled
“The Spatial Distribution of the Seven Deadly Sins Within Nevada” is groundbreaking: Never before has a state’s fall from grace been so precisely graphed and plotted.

Gold-Plated Economy in Nevada Town Becomes Rare Beacon for the Jobless

ELKO, Nev. -- Gold fever has inoculated this historic cow town from the state's economic malaise, making it an island of relative prosperity in a state flooded with unemployed workers.

While Las Vegas, Reno and other onetime hot spots reel from the real-estate crash and wider recession, this area's gold-mining operations are adding jobs and spreading wealth in surrounding Elko County. The area boasts 26,700 jobs, up from 25,500 a year ago, while Nevada has lost many jobs. Construction is up here, as are taxable sales

Twig and Turtle Launch Party!

For all locals, please check out the launch party of Candice Towell's new photography business, Twig and Turtle March 19th. Candice is an amazing photographer who has taken our family portraits as well as pictures of my daughter. She is also a skilled photojournalist who has braved incredibly dangerous situations to document the plight of many unfortunate people. For example, she went to Kenya last year around this time despite the political uprisings (which caused me to cancel my trip to Kenya during the same time) and published her work in the Reno Gazette. She also routinely does fundraisers for various causes in Africa.

From her website...
"Candice is an award-winning, independent photojournalist who graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, in 1999. That same year she began her career working as a staff photographer at the RGJ, teaching photography at UNR, and working as a freelance photojournalist. She has earned numerous awards ranging from the William Hearst Organization, the National Press Photographers Association, the NPPA's Women in Photojournalism Conference and the Associated Press. She has extensive experience working in Africa and her intimate coverage in East Africa won five awards by the National Press Photographers Association. Candice has freelanced for several international press agencies and non-governmental organizations and her images have appeared in hundreds of publications, including US News and World Report, The New York Times, NEED Magazine, USA Today and Stern Magazine. Her favorite subject: documenting her very imaginative daughter. Candice teaches digital photography at UNR and works out of her home for Twig & Turtle,candicetowellweddings and ctowellphotos.com."

Jackie Greene

For local Reno denizens, a great young talent, Jackie Greene, is coming to Bartley Ranch--a great outdoor venue.
I was initially turned onto Jackie Greene, by my good friend Albert Vitale, who several months ago flew in with his wife from Salt Lake City to join us for a Jackie Greene show at the Crystal Blue Club in Lake Tahoe. It was a great show--with great energy and musicianship.

Jackie combines the troubador style of Johny Cash, the lyrical wit of Bob Dylan, and the energy of Bruce Springsteen to create a very unique style.

Check him out!

Bring Bri Back

~ Official Brianna Information Site ~

Brianna Zunino Denison
Brianna's website is dedicated to her safe return!

Abducted January 20, 2008 in Reno Nevada
If you have any information please call now!

Reno Police Department Tip Line: 775-745-3521
Secret Witness Line: 775-322-4900

Clouds over Reno

This picture depicts the mood over Reno as we continue to search for Brianna Denison...


For more on Brianna, check out the Reno Gazette Journal updates here

Another photo from the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival

Shakespeare At Lake Tahoe

This Shakespeare lover had the opportunity to see a fantastic performance of"Romeo and Juliet" at an outdoor venue at Lake Tahoe last week:
The picture says it all...

RICARDO COBO IN CONCERT

I recently learned of an organization entitled the sierra guitar society, headed by Larry Aynesmith of Incline Village. They aim to bring classical guitarists to Reno. We were fortunate to see the beautiful Paraguayan guitarist Berta Rojas last month. Her musicality blew me away. There are only two guitarists I have seen who have opened my "ears and eyes" to new ways of approaching the guitar--Jeff Beck and Berta. (Also Berta signed my CD: "To Deep with Love..Berta)." :)

Next week the Columbian guitarist, Ricardo Cobo, will be coming to Reno. I think we will try and see him at the Trinity Church--a fantastic venue for music. Hope to see you there.

TWO CONCERTS
JULY 22
Concert: 7:00pm Sunday July 22, 2007
Location: Cal Neva Resort, Frank Sinatra Celebrity Showroom,
2 Stateline Road, Crystal Bay, NV

JULY 24
Concert: 7:30pm Tuesday July 24, 2007
Location: Trinity Episcopal Church, 200 Island Avenue, Reno, NV

Tickets for each concert at door, $10 to $25
Tel.: 775-338-1671
Email: sierraguitar@yahoo.com
Web: www.sierraguitar.org

Los Lobos

"The wolves" put on a great concert last night at Barley Ranch. Originally from East LA, Los Lobos put together a great night of Latin flavored Rock and Roll last night. They thankfully asked the fans to supercede the "Rules" from security and to get up and dance. The crowd willingly obliged!
It was a festive night. We were fortunate to share the evening with our good friends who are very Latin oriented as well!

Here is a video of Chuco's Cumbia.
BTW, if you are local to Reno, do make an effort to check out some concerts at Bartley Ranch this summer it is a great venue. The concert listing can be found at 1moe.com.

Ciao's

For all local Reno-ites, if you haven't checked out "Ciao's" lately, I would highly recommend it. In fact, this is the first time I have been inspired to write a restaurant review on this blog! We had a fantastic dinner with great friends their last night.

The dining area is elegant and subdued-the tables spaced out far enough to allow initimate conversation with our friends. We all agreed that from the mojitos on, the entire meal was delectable.

Items we tried included a mushroom and cream soup topped with fontina cheese, after which one of our companions remarked "I am balanced and in harmony with the world." Every bite was to be savored... The most interesting of the salads we ordererd was one with succulent heirloom tomatoes, festooned with caramelized watermelon slices, and fresh mozarella-- drizzled with a balsalmic reduction. For the entrees, we had eroasted escalade with a basil chiffonade and ricotta stuffed pascilla pepper, halibut with zucchini flowerettes, and filet mignon with olive oil shipped potatoes and calabria chile demi glace--all elegantly presented and perfectly prepared. The desserts were a flourless chocolate torte (which my wife orders every time we dine here) and a savory dessert consisting of heirloom tomatoes and some minimally sweet cherries in a pie crust accompanied by a basil and mint sorbet.

Overall it was a wonderful time shared with our friends in a charming and intimate setting, whilst enjoying exquisitely prepared cuisine. Not only was great detail evident in the preparation of each component of the meal, but our waiter was attentive and actually quite entertaining in an "English or perhaps it was "Welsh" sort of way...

Give it a try. There is also a quaint outdoor patio to enjoy our pleasant summer evenings and an extensive Italian wine list!