Greater Heart Risk and Stroke from Calcium Supplements in Postmenopausal Women

A new study in New Zealand has found that calcium supplements can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke amongst postmenopausal women.

Researchers at the University of Auckland conducted this study for a period of five years. During this period they studied 1,471 healthy postmenopausal women, who had been postmenopausal for more than five years. Of these 732 were given calcium supplements and 739 given placebos. They were followed up every six months for five years. The mean age of women in this study was 74 years.

For this study, researchers also checked hospital admissions record and reviewed all death certificates for study participants in order to identify any unreported events. Moreover the study excluded women who were receiving treatment for osteoporosis, already taking calcium supplements, or who were suffering from any major ongoing disease.

The findings as published in the latest issue of the British Medical Journal states that
31 out of the 732 women who were given calcium supplement suffered heart attacks, as against 21 women from the group of 739 women who were given placebo. Apart from this, 34 women from the calcium group and 25 women from the placebo group suffered strokes.
According to the researchers although the findings were not conclusive, the results of this study suggests that high calcium intakes might have an adverse effect on vascular health. Moreover researchers are of the opinion that if other studies also reveal similar results then the beneficial effects of calcium of bone will certainly be overshadowed. However, they are also of the opinion that the harmful effects of calcium should be balanced against the likely benefits of calcium on bone, particularly in elderly women

Studies such as these that highlights the detrimental effects of calcium on postmenopausal women, in fact questions the excessive importance given to calcium supplements for postmenopausal women. Till now it was believed that calcium supplements helps in maintaining bone health, and could also provide protection against vascular disease by lowering levels of LDL cholesterol, the so-called "bad cholesterol", in the blood. Hence calcium supplements were commonly prescribed to postmenopausal women. However, with such studies, the importance of calcium supplements on postmenopausal women needs to be reinvestigated.

Traffic Fumes - Dangerous to Unborn Babies

Everyday new evidences demonstrate the hazardous health effects of air pollution. A recent addition in this regard is the study, which states that exposure to heavy traffic exhaust fumes, can be detrimental to baby’s growth in the womb.

The researchers in Brisbane carried out this study. They carried out a study in order to demonstrate the effect of traffic fumes on the unborn baby. For this the ultrasound scans of 15,000 women who lived within 14 kilometer of the city center were analyzed. The findings of this study as published in the Environmental Health Perspectives Journal, concludes that pregnant women who lived closer to main roads carried smaller babies.

Speaking about this research Dr Adrian Barnett, a senior research fellow at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane highlighted some key findings from this study. According to Dr Barnett, the results were based on the average air pollution that a woman was exposed to during to her first four months of pregnancy.

As per Dr Barnett, this research has revealed some very striking results. The study has shown that higher exposure to traffic fumes during pregnancy, is likely to result in smaller babies. He further stated that having smaller babies has a lot of disadvantages as against heavier babies.

In this context he pointed out that over the years numerous studies have shown that heavier babies have a higher IQ (intelligence quotient) at age seven and lower risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes later on in adult life as compared to smaller babies.

According to Dr Barnett, the research has further brought into forefront two major pollutants namely sulfur dioxide and particulate matter that directly comes out of the car exhaust as the most harmful pollutants for the unborn baby.

When asked about the possible precautions which pregnant women can take in this regard, Dr Barnett, replied by saying that women should try and reduce their exposure to air pollution during pregnancy. He further suggested that during pregnancy instead of driving at a time when one is likely to get caught up in heavy traffic, it would be better to drive when the traffic is comparatively lower. In fact he also suggested of temporarily leaving work during your pregnancy.

The research carried out by Dr Barnett and is his team has certainly provided great insights into the effect of traffic fumes on the foetus, however, researchers say a more detailed study is needed to confirm these findings, as other lifestyle factors such as diet, smoking or alcohol consumption were not considered.

Eating Disorders - A Cause of Concern

The increase in the number of “figure conscious” youths, and the rising popularity of “size zero” models and celebrities is said to have an adverse effect on the body image of many youngsters. According to a spokesman for Beat, an eating disorder charity, these people are very vulnerable and the size zero images are certainly a contributory factor for eating disorders

Today a large number of people in the country are suffering from eating disorders. The gravity of problem of eating disorders gets highlighted from the Hospital Episode Statistics, which reveals that over the years there has been a significant increase in the number of patients with eating disorders. This is evident from the increase in the numbers of bed days which were taken up by patients suffering from eating disorders. In this regard the data on Health Service wards, in the year 2007, indicates that the numbers of bed days, which were taken up by patients suffering from eating disorders, increased up to 84,377 bed days as compared to 51,878 bed days in the year 2002.

Further more the hospital data also reveals that patients needing hospital treatment from eating disorders generally suffer anorexia or bulimia. In this regard, the hospital data reveals that the number of patient admitted with anorexia increased by 11% while that of bulimia increased up to 150% in the year 2006-2007 as compared to the admission number for the year 2005-2006.

Based on the hospital data, a gender wise study about eating disorder reveals that there has been a significant increase in the number of number of men suffering from eating disorders.

Highlighting the age factor in the context of eating disorders, the data revealed that, patients under the age of 15 accounted for 1/5th of the total number of patients admitted with eating disorder. Such kind of finding is also revealed from the study conducted by the British Pediatric Surveillance Unit, in a 13-month period to April 2006, which showed that around 206 children under 13 had been suffering from eating disorders.

Due to the increase in the number of eating disorders, last year the government announced a multimillion-pound grant to the Institute of Psychiatry to research into the problem of eating disorder.

Today a large number of steps are being taken to find solution to the problem of eating disorder. In this regard the Model Health Inquiry report, which investigated into the problem has put forth 14 non-binding suggestions, In fact it has also urged the London Fashion Week to consider forcing models to present medical certificates so as to prove that they did not have eating disorders.

Mardi Gras: From Fat Tuesday to Fasting

Some of us were unaware that yesterday, we were to throw caution to the wind in a whirlwind of eating, drinking, and partying. In a bayou country community outside of New Orleans, a particular Fat Tuesday run is explained by FoxNews as a wild send-off to the Catholic fasting season of Lent where participants walk through the countryside to gather ingredients for a communal gumbo that will be served at the end of the run. The average workday incorporates about a 30-minute express lunch hour, less the excitement of alcoholic beverages and costume.

Heart health and colon health were probably not the focus for many of us whether or not we celebrated Fat Tuesday. Exercise and diet choices that reduce belly fat will improve heart health. WebMD informs us that belly fat appears to boost inflammation and is linked to worse atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), which makes heart attacks more likely. Though contradictory to Mardi Gras practices, advices from MayoClinic for cancer prevention of the colon include eliminating tobacco and alcohol use and eating a variety of healthy foods.

With the abundance of fad diets, it can be frustrating when trying to figure out where the main focus of our health and wellness should be. Periodic fasting can be just as good for the health as sharply cutting back on calories, even if the fasting doesn't mean eating less overall, USATODAY reported a few years ago. Regardless of the diet, fast, or lifestyle we choose, it will always be more difficult to resume after a day of feasts and parades.

Paper, Scissors, Rock, VOTE: Universal Healthcare

Republican or Democrat? Christian or Mormon? Black or White? Man or Woman? HMO’s or Universal Healthcare? Paper, Scissors, or Rock? How does the burden of healthcare, universal or not, place in the 2008 Presidential campaign.

Clinton outlines her American Health Choices Plan which will: offer new coverage choices for the insured and uninsured, lower premiums and increased security, promote shared responsibility, and ensure affordable health coverage for all through a fiscally responsible plan that honors our priorities. According to the Boston Globe, during a presidential spar between ’08 Presidential Candidates, “…she was open to stringent measures to bring about universal healthcare, including withholding money from people's paychecks.”

The first step of a plan for Massachusetts crafted under former Gov. Mitt Romney, involves getting all of those who are eligible for Medicaid to sign up with a goal to ease the burden on state-funded emergency rooms by giving the poor more access to preventative care.

Obama’s plan declares to be quality, affordable and portable coverage for all with a plan to cover uninsured Americans similar to the plan available to members of Congress. Participants in the new public plan and the National Health Insurance Exchange will be able to move from job to job without changing or jeopardizing their health care coverage.

"I'm eligible for veterans' care, because of having served in the military, and I'm most proud of that," McCain said in an interview. "I have the Senate health-insurance program, and I'm also part of my wife's supplementary insurance that she has." McCain does believe that insurance reforms should increase the variety and affordability of insurance coverage available to American families by fostering competition and innovation.

The plans are well-detailed but have yet to be initiated. With so many issues at hand, Americans will hopefully be voting more wisely than with leisurely method of paper, scissors, rock.

No Disabled Child Left Behind

Most of us are familiar with President George Bush’s transformation of the federal government’s role in education, phrased as “…No Child Left Behind.” With a goal to focus on what works by spending federal dollars on effective, research based programs and practices, funds are targeted to improve schools and enhance teacher quality.

What happens to disabled children who will mature into adulthood and still require assistance with managing life? In Virginia, there are good things happening to secure a happy medium for disabled children and their families.

One program, Blue Ridge Services, provides financial resources to family members who are currently maintaining ongoing care for their disabled children who are age 18 and over. Extensive 3-4 day training is provided for the parents, with annual recertification provided by Blue Ridge Services. Generally, if a disabled person qualifies under the MR/DD waiver; their sponsor (often a parent) can leave the workforce to completely care for their child who may otherwise have to be placed in a facility.

For families who need help placing their disabled adult child into housing other than a nursing facility or group home, Junction Center for Independent Living, serves as an agent for the Virginia Housing Development Authority. They offer services to persons with disabilities, their families, and their community. Junction Center's Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program has specialized programs that assist persons with disabilities with safe, sanitary and affordable housing.

For disabled children in Virginia, the list of resources is inspiring for their families. As the presidential candidates race toward the upcoming election, Virginians can hope that our new president supports federal and state funding that leaves no disabled child behind.

An Ounce of Prevention: Coding and Billing Challenges for Physicians

As the saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". When it comes to circumventing medical coding and billing errors, getting claims paid quickly, and putting an end to the waiting game, a truer word was never spoken. As stated in an article in Medical News Today, navigating the complicated maze of rules, regulations, and correct coding initiatives present special challenges for physicians. According to MSNBC, medical billing errors are becoming more common, due to clerical errors and items being billed separately instead of as part of the surgical package, for example. Coding and billing errors are not limited to physicians and hospitals, however. Anyone can make errors at any stage of the process, and human nature being what it is, they can happen in the most efficiently run offices and can be caused by any number of factors, as outlined in For The Record Magazine. As detailed in the Physician News Digest, almost anything can happen: Two numbers in an ICD9 code become transposed accidentally; an E/M service, done with a separate procedure, does not include the necessary
-25 modifier; a service level is inadvertently upcoded without supporting documentation, or intentionally downcoded to avoid raising eyebrows.

Or maybe there's a simpler explanation: Maybe the doctor's handwriting is illegible, resulting in inaccurate interpretation and coding.

This is why it is important for everyone to take responsibility at each stage of the process: physicians, coders, office managers, billers, auditors, and medical transcriptionists. We all play a role in avoiding common coding mistakes. We are "passing the baton" to each person in the next stage of the coding process, so education on correct coding, compliance, and reimbursement is crucial, and is a neverending process. Taking this step on the front end maximizes reimbursement potential, while minimizing prospective claim denials. Remember CCI Edits are your friend, and Medicare makes them available on the web. It is also a good idea to perform random and routine self-audits. A self-audit ensures charts are accurate, legible, and complete, with all of the necessary supporting documentation to avoid claim denials. Just like an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, "a stitch in time, saves nine". So being proactive and taking the right steps to minimize potential claim denials by avoiding some common pitfalls, can reduce a lot of headaches later.

Since we are all "in this together" as the saying goes, what are some of the challenges that you face as a coder, biller, or office manager, when trying to get claims paid accurately and quickly? Name some areas where you think physicians might benefit from additional education on coding and reimbursement? How do you spot "hot spots", i.e., potential billing and coding problems that aren't a problem now, but might be a problem tomorrow or next week? What have you learned through experience? What would you tell a new coder or biller to "be on the lookout for" when it comes to coding, billing and maximizing reimbursement?

Pay the Piper AND the Doctor

Does the quality of your physician’s care depend on the quality of your insurance’s medical billing and coding? When we’re ready to “face the music” or “pay the piper” by visiting the doctor we expect to give the co-pay and leave the major financial responsibility to insurance providers, including Medicare. That means, as patients, we expect a lengthy visit by a doctor who has been well-paid for such treatment.

The unfortunate situation for most physicians is that unless a patient will pay the billed expenses out of pocket, it is unlikely that the physician will receive comparable pay for services provided.

Physician’s fees cover increasing practice expenses, costly medical malpractice insurance, and personal expenses. Many insurance companies compensate physicians 10-20% less than Medicare, although Medicare reimbursement rates were never meant to be used as a guide for private insurance companies. Perhaps physicians suffer as much as patients when it comes to medical insurance.

Pennsylvania Medical Society suggests that several ways for physicians to maximize revenue are to collect co-payments and balances due when the patient is in the office and to use automatic payment posting wherever possible which is not only efficient, but it's typically more accurate than manual posting.

Although MSNBC has reported that doctors caring for the elderly and the disabled will see a 5 percent cut in reimbursement rates when they treat Medicare patients in 2008, the government will pay physicians more to counsel patients on ways to improve their health.

America’s Great Depression

A recent conversation on a popular subject sparked a question that get us all down-depression. Is it an American phenomenon? Is the world depressed? Is there a co-pay? The latter was a trick question, the former are still perplexing, and in a way, depressing. Considering the risk factors for depression encompass most aspects of life, obtaining happiness without medication seems to be impossible.

Cymbalta provides a gamut of risk factors for depression; some are usually considered milestones, whereas others are more obvious triggers. Family history of depression, death, and stressful conflicts are listed among getting married, graduating from college, and becoming a new parent. Whatever the circumstances, depression is caused by an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain, concludes Lexapro.

A new book, Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We're Not Hurting, by Terrie Williams focuses on depression among the African-American community and offers statistics regarding depression in blacks and whites. Regardless of the race, Talk Therapy is the current label for Psychotherapy or the visit to the “Shrink.” In today’s healthcare market, most health insurance plans cover diagnosis and treatment.

Now that depression is known to encompass all aspects of life and that it is treatable, the co-pay for treatment still depends on an individual health plan.

Pork-the Other Cloned White Meat

Americans have adjusted their diets to make better use of the food pyramid for a better body image, but more importantly, for a healthier body. The probability of a better looking body has increased due to a nationwide quest for improved food sources. One such choice has been pork, popularly dubbed “the other white meat.”

Although Americans are scrutinizing their caloric intake and pork options, the origins of certain foods may soon be questioned. According to a January 16, 2008 press conference, the FDA has concluded that meat and milk from clones of cattle, swine and goats and the offspring of clones from any species traditionally consumed as food are as safe to eat as food from conventionally bred animals.

Cloned food has not reportedly uncovered any subtle hazards that might indicate food consumption risks, says Yahoo. Other reports have piqued an appetite for more information as the Washington Post announced that hundreds of cloned pigs, cows and other animals are already living on farms around the country. With the cloned community being a reality, consumers may possibly be able to identify changes since MSNBC declared “…Officials said they don’t think special labels are needed, although a decision on labeling is pending.”

Nursing Shortages in Healthcare Shortchanges Patients

Across the country, nursing colleges and universities are experiencing difficulty in their efforts to expand enrollment levels to meet the rising demand for nursing care. Several issues that magnify the problem include a shortage of nursing school faculty which restricts nursing program enrollments. Reports from 2006-2007 Enrollment and Graduations in Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing say that U.S. nursing schools turned away 42,866 qualified applicants from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs in 2006 due to insufficient number of faculty, clinical sites, classroom space, clinical preceptors, and budget constraints.

The certainty of the slow rate of registered nurses entering the profession increases the demands of currently employed nurses. In the March-April 2005 issue of Nursing Economic$, Dr. Peter Buerhaus and colleagues found that more than 75% of RNs believe the nursing shortage presents a major problem for the quality of their work life, the quality of patient care, and the amount of time nurses can spend with patients.

Eventually, this type of problem leads to job burnout, job dissatisfaction, emotional exhaustion and high turnover rates. A study in the October 2002 Journal of the American Medical Association supports these findings. With fledgling nursing care, patients and families suffer as well as medical facilities in their quest to provide adequate service.

Surely, with a well-defined problem, there are resolutions underway on various levels. Methods for combating the nursing shortages are found in a July 2007 report from PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Health Research Institute titled What Works: Healing the Healthcare Staffing Shortage. The information involves developing more public-private partnerships, creating healthy work environments, using technology as a training tool and designing more flexible roles for advanced practice nurses given their increased us as primary care providers.

The Big Payback in Healthcare

At the height of music legend James Brown’s career, the song, "The Big Payback," was a chart topping hit. In 2008, with a vast knowledge of CPT and ICD-9 Codes that gets back-logged claims submitted fast, innovative billing companies have made the James Brown classic a song that healthcare providers can sing all the way to the bank.

Reported in 2006 by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association(BCBSA), The House [of Representatives] is considering health information technology legislation (H.R. 4157) that would require providers and payers to switch from the ICD-9 billing code set to a very different ICD-10-CM/PCS (ICD-10) code set by October 1, 2009. The BCBSA is advocating for the extension of the deadline to 2012 because much has to be done before a switch to ICD-10 can be started…The efficiency of today’s company to quickly obtain information and correctly submit claims to Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as Florida Medicaid has proven to be an achievable task by New Jersey Healthcare Solutions.

Finances and proper procedures are a heavyweight with all healthcare providers. Sentara, which offers Optima as a health plan, gives the harsh reality of improper billing and coding in their 2008 Guide to Compliance and Ethics. The company and employees can be prosecuted for filing inaccurate claims for reimbursement, which carries extremely large civil fines or criminal penalties or both.

In the 1990’s, Hip-Hop artist L. L. Cool J. used "The Big Payback" as a musical backdrop for his hit single, "Booming System." Healthcare providers’ reimbursement systems can “boom” with a billing company knowledgeable to State regulations pertaining to varying types of insurances and third party payers.

Healthcare Consumer Warnings around buying Insurance

Buying healthcare insurance is scary. It’s even worse to know that there are unscrupulous companies out there that individuals need to be aware of. In fact, any time a company solicits healthcare insurance over the internet, consumers probably shouldn’t buy from them. There have been many consumer complaints about such companies, according to South Coast Today.

Insurance commissioner Nonnie Burnes had this to say about these kinds of corporations: "Somebody soliciting you by fax for something as complicated as insurance is something that should make you quite suspicious." Burnes ordered several unlicensed companies to cease advertising in Massachussetts.

Consumers should be especially wary about giving financial information over the internet or phone to these companies. Four such companies include New Jersey: Healthcare Alliance, National Alliance of Associations, Association Healthcare and Promotion Healthcare. None of the above companies were found to be licensed in the US. Burnes noted that Minnesota has also had problems with the same companies.

According to the state Division of Insurance, the companies in question distribute, via fax, advertisements for health insurance products at prices significantly below what comparable policies would cost from a licensed insurer. Consumers who contact these corporations are asked to provide credit card information or to fax a blank check. One policy promoted a $299 premium per month premium for a healthy couple.

Consumers with questions about health insurance solicitations should contact the Division of Consumer’s hot line at 617-521-7794.

Doctors Concerned about Physician Reimbursement

A group of doctors recently met with US Senator Mel Martinez to relay their concerns about physician reimbursement, according to the Ledger. Martinez responded by promoting Medicare, better access to health insurance and the shortage of medical professionals before Congress.

Some doctors were quick to comment on how Medicare paperwork and government budget-cutting has affected them and their patients. Readers are encouraged to check out New Jersey Healthcare Solutions, which improves Medicare paperwork and claim turnaround time. One doctor told Martinez that a Medicare HMN increased patient’s copays from $10 to $75, which is more than the doctor charges for a visit to see him in the office for a routine visit.

"She needs 35 radiation treatments at $75 (each time)," the doctor said. "She is thinking about doing a mastectomy because of this. This is not acceptable."

Martinez was informed about the frustration caused by constant threats to reduce Medicare payments, often resolved at the last minute with six-month delays. Providers are having difficulty in getting paid for preventative health care. Doctors are feeling pressured to see so many patients that they can’t spend enough time with each patient. In December, Congress approved a “doctor fix” which replaced a scheduled a scheduled cut of 10 percent in the Medicare reimbursement figures with a half percent increase. The increase extends only through June 20th, leaving doctors uncertain about the future.

Managing Sugar Intake for Personal Healthcare

Balancing the food pyramid with the abundance of sweets that lurk in many foods can be tricky. Natural sugars are not concerns which are found in fruits and milk, lifeclinic informs us. Added sugars should be limited, but how do we manage these?

A breakfast that includes hot cereal and coffee can provide necessary calories and energy without excess sugars. The addition of fresh bananas to sweeten the cereal or raisins is recommended by healthyliving and can eliminate the desire for refined sugar. Adding milk, semi-skimmed or skim is recommended since the natural sugars are not a concern. Foods that should be eaten sparingly because they provide calories but not much in the way of nutrition include salad dressings, oils, cream, butter, margarine, sugars, soft drinks, candies and sweet desserts.

Mayo clinic assures that a healthy breakfast refuels your body and replenishes your blood sugar (glucose), giving you the energy necessary to start a new day. For snacks, lunches, and dinner, remain mindful of added sugar in sweetened yogurt, soups, spaghetti sauces, applesauce and other foods by reading labels. The US Food and Drug Administration advises that the nutrition panel lists the amount of sugars in grams (4 grams is equivalent to 1 teaspoon) in a serving of the food. That includes sugars that are present naturally in the food as well as sugars added to the food during processing.

Medical Care in Rural Areas to Improve with Increased Government Spending

Healthcare leaders meeting with Senators recently state that it is difficult to attract quality healthcare professionals to rural areas due to poor physician reimbursement. At a recent forum, the group discussed a number of strategies to encourage more young doctors and other health professionals to rural areas, most notably being a plan to provide educational assistance to those who choose to practice in a rural environment.

Physician reimbursement was continually brought up. Readers may wish to visit New Jersey Healthcare Solutions for ways to improve physician reimbursement through enhanced coding and billing services. Physician reimbursement hits primary care physicians particularly hard and impacts the bottom line as well as physician salaries.

Congress would be necessary to make any other major changes in the way young doctors are recruited and retained in rural areas. Another tactic would be to act on the inequalities in the way the government distributes Medicare dollars. Some states have lower reimbursement rates than others and it is much worse for rural communities. Reimbursement rates have fallen about 20 percent below the government’s conservative measure of inflation for medical practice costs since 2001. The problem is made worse by a government formula that distributes Medicare dollars based on the historical pattern of individual counties’ health-care costs. This punishes those counties that have kept healthcare costs down by being efficient in the use of the healthcare dollar. Low reimbursement poses a threat to the healthcare of seniors and their access to care.

Physician Reimbursement Hampers Maryland MD Shortage

Early physician retirement and low physician reimbursement are being blamed for the shortage of physicians in Maryland. Rural areas are hardest affected. The findings were released by two Maryland state medical groups that revealed sixteen percent fewer physicians than the national average, according to the Frederick News Post. Western Maryland carries about 140 physicians per 100,000 residents, compared to a national average of about 200.

Already, patients are asked to use the overcrowded emergency rooms for care for even minor problems. Smaller ERs are diverting patients to more distant hospitals for care, which can worsen care for many patients forced to travel long distances for medical care.

The report was presented jointly by the Maryland Hospital Association and the Maryland State Medical Association and commented on the increasing numbers of doctors nearing retirement age—a factor that will likely worsen the situation. Ten percent of physicians are sixty five or older. Specialty care is particularly spotty and results in patients needing to travel to larger cities for care. One-third of practicing surgeons, for example are expected to retire by 2015.
An additional problem is that half of all the doctors who complete their residency in Maryland actually remain in Maryland to practice medicine. That number is expected to fall to 25 percent in the next seven years.

Recommendations include raising physician reimbursement rates to make the state more competitive with neighboring states. They also recommended a state-sponsored loan forgiveness program to keep more residents practicing in the state after residency.

Presidential Candidates Present Healthcare Plans

Only the democratic presidential candidates were in attendance for a forum on healthcare in Las Vegas although all candidates were invited. Six of the seven candidates presented a health plan which included political will as a mainstay amongst the various details for any given proposal. Sponsored by the Service Employees International Union and the Center for American Progress, npr gives insight into the candidates’ presentations.

A major point of interest by US citizens will involve the views of presidential candidates on out of pocket expenses. Reports from the Kaiser Network say U.S. health care spending in 2006 increased by 6.7% to $2.1 trillion. American businesses have assumed the full burden of providing healthcare for employees, while this is not the case for competitors in the global economy. The cost of healthcare has more than doubled with 47 million Americans lacking health plans.

Presidential candidates have been promising to …control and decrease cost (Hillary Clinton)…provide subsidies for those who can’t afford the group rates that are available (Barack Obama) and …give people a choice, including a government choice (John Edwards). Physicians for a National Health Reform have followed the input of presidential candidates. The organization encourages citizens to contact them via e-mail, info@pnhp.org. In this way, the average citizen can learn more on their extensive research towards a national health program.

Is Urgent Care the Answer?

Over the past decade, increasing trends of acute care facilities have been emerging across America. Seen by the average citizen as the more desirable alternative to the traditional emergency room visit, these facilities have grown in popularity. The convenience of immediate medical attention without the wait or the customary doctor’s appointment is appealing to most.

According to walk-inmedicalcare.com, they are able to provide prompt, comprehensive medical care in just minutes. The promise of these urgent care options is almost too good to be true.

There is usually an abundance of information readily available regarding the options at an acute care clinic. The wait time is always presented as minimal and meant to be understood by the patient as reasonable. Helping the patient is the primary goal of patientfirst.com which directs those in need to their numerous facilities across the country.

Even dentistry is categorized as patient oriented by patientfirstdentistry.com which uses the formal method of appointments. Many would be surprised at the variety of services provided at most acute care facilities, while others may question such compact capabilities.

Services offered in the Midwest that are listed on urgentcarecenters.org include diagnostic tests such as lab work, HIV & STDs testing, X-Rays, EKG, alcohol breath testing, and drug screening.

When considering the accessibility of quick care, findurgentcare.com gives a definition for those unsure of what to expect: Urgent Care is also known as immediate care, convenient care clinic, walk-in clinic, after-hours facility, minor illness & injury center, and on-call doctor/ physician. Common non-emergencies treated at an urgent care include a twisted or sprained ankle, cough, cold, or sore throat, minor skin rash, ear infection, cuts, bumps, & sprains, fever or flu symptoms, general wound care, and animal bites.

Regardless of the facility, quick care has become more common. The actual success of these clinics seems certain by their constant growth. The patients of these medical establishments are proving the need for this type of care as they continue to secure their personal care physicians and immediate needs in one convenient location.

Government to consider combining Healthcare Insurance with Annuity

Experts recently discussed the combination of an annuity with healthcare insurance for the elderly at the Silver Industry Conference and Exhibition which opened at the Suntec Convention Centre yesterday.

Professor Robert Merton of Harvard Business School said: “The idea of combining the annuity with healthcare insurance is that when the person has the need for extra health treatment, such as long-term care, it's less likely that they'll live long and so the extra cost of paying for that medical expense is offset by the fact that they don't have to pay the annuity for a long period.”

Singapore has been looking into Longevity Healthcare Insurance since last year. Asked if the government would go ahead with Robert Merton’s suggestion, the minister in charge of aging issues said, I think it is an interesting idea. It deserves some attention and some study.

Mr. Lim, minister in charge of aging issues said that the silver industry is a very new area but he is confident that, as the sector develops, Singapore will be able to share what it has discovered with other countries and become a healthcare leader for others.

The population over sixty years of age is expected to quadruple by the year 2050. “They're intellectually active, physically healthy, well-travelled and experienced. But precisely because of that, they're willing to spend a lot for good service and quality, and they're ideal consumers for niche products which can then become mainstream," said Ho Kwon Ping, executive chairman for Banyan Tree Holdings. “This consumer class is likely to be more demanding and more discriminating than any other.”

Electronic Medical Records Here to Stay?

Healthcare was given a boost in the last few years when electronic medical records worked their way into a host of medical offices. One of the companies servicing this form of medical record is Datamonitor, which expects to grow to $13 billion by 2012, an overall annual growth rate of 23.8 percent. Electronic medical records documents patients’ medical histories, symptoms, diagnoses, treatments, etc. They also include the financial, administrative, research and educational aspects of patient care electronically stored in a computer database.

Under ideal circumstances, the EHR or electronic health record end users will include the various providers, ancillary departments like X-ray, laboratory and pharmacies, and patients (through a personal health record portal. Payers and public health departments, as well as researchers will have limited access to medical records. Some will have access only to those parts for which they have authorized access. It is planned that EHRs will one day be connected worldwide.

Technologies like Electronic Health Records are very difficult to adopt, primarily due to the high cost of starting up such programs. Providers are very skeptical about changing the way they’ve done things and there is fragmentation within the healthcare community with multiple vendors of EHR making interoperator use complicated.

EHRs, however, are likely to become the mainstay of healthcare organizations in the future. This will allow healthcare to become more proactive, informed and helpful to patients. The quality of healthcare will improve, the information available to clinicians will increase and the speed at which collaboration of patient care, public health surveillance and medical research will be nearly instantaneous.

The Demand for Healthcare Reform

Healthcare reform is top on the list of many voters’ minds this election year. With businesses dropping more and more individuals from their employee healthcare plan and only 60 percent of businesses offering healthcare insurance, the need for some kind of insurance backing for the US public is growing.

Insurance companies are coming to realize a number of truths about the nation’s 47 million uninsured. First, they’ve discovered that this isn’t as high risk a population as once thought, according to the Wall Street Journal. In fact, 85 percent of these individuals are employed and nearly all have worked in the last year. They are also young people—most between the ages of 28 and 34. Nearly three fourths say they their health is excellent or very good. More than two thirds have a college education, at least to some degree, and most are middle class.

Given the stagnant nature of sales to large employers, selling insurance to this population is starting to look better and better. Profit pools to corporation-funded health plans are going down in the face of high costs. This means that the greatest source of future growth in selling healthcare insurance policies has shifted to the individual. Legislation in at least two states is planning to use private insurance carriers to provide subsidized healthcare policies to individuals.

Recently, insurers have been practicing the selling of private insurance plans to seniors in the Medicare Advantage Plans sold directly to those over the age of 65. Carriers are worried, however, about servicing so many more plans if changes are made to the system.

China’s Ambitious Healthcare Plan

For the first time in many years, China’s health minister has announced an ambitious program to provide basic healthcare for every Chinese citizen. Currently, according to the BBC News, Chinese citizens must pay for healthcare out of pocket in advance of receiving healthcare. Chen Zhu announced the Healthy China 2020 program that would provide a universal national health service that would provide basic healthcare service for all Chinese.

Since the Chinese economy was opened up thirty years ago, China has gradually lost its old communist style complete healthcare system. Now, a woman must pay in advance for the delivery of her baby and even emergency surgeries must be paid for in advance. Hospitals and pharmaceutical companies have become for-profit agencies and costs have been driven up. There has been a chronic lack of access and rampant corruption among healthcare providers in China.

The goals of the new system will be to reform the healthcare system and provide a national service for all citizens, including those living in the rural areas. The system is comparable to the National Health Service in the UK. The goal of the program is many and includes increasing Chinese life expectancy past the current 73 years. It is expected to be a massive healthcare reform that will bridge the gap between the Party requirements and the people’s expectations.

Coping with Rising Healthcare Costs

This is a year where many are seeing increases in healthcare coverage costs along with decreasing benefits. A total of 60 percent of individuals are covered under employer-sponsored plans, down from 65 percent in 2000. There are things you can do to reduce your costs, according to iVillage.

Start by taking care of your health. Quit smoking, work on being your ideal weight, and keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control. Be aware of preventative care. It ultimately saves you and your company a great deal of money. Some companies are actually paying a bonus for those who participate in preventative healthcare. Other companies will pay bonuses for quitting smoking or losing weight.

Stay within your network and work with your doctor to determine what’s covered in your plan and what is not. When it comes to taking medications and testing, get your in-network doctor to do the testing and try to cut down on duplicate tests, including x-rays. This is true for surgery, too. If you need surgery, make sure you stay within your plan. Make sure the anesthesiologist is within network as well and know what tests are being done by the surgeon to avoid duplication. If you need to see someone out of network, try to negotiate fees. Some will see you at a lower rate if they know and agree to it in advance.

Keep your prescription costs down by asking for samples. This is especially good for a one-time occurrence. Always, always use generics unless no generics exist. The cost for generics is considerably less and most plans have lesser copays for generic drugs. Cut down on refills by doubling the dose in the bottle and using half a bottle per month. There will be one co-pay per every two months of use. Check out different pharmacies to see if the copays are best at the pharmacy you choose.

Statistics on Understanding Healthcare

Recent research indicates that individuals don’t understand the very basics of their healthcare insurance. This survey was a telephone survey of over a thousand adults to see how much they understood about healthcare insurance. Only half of respondents were sure how much they paid for their monthly healthcare insurance premium or their annual deductable. Less than a quarter understood the terminology in their insurance policy with even basic terms proving difficult. Only 36 percent understood what an HMO was and only 20 percent understood what a PPO meant.

"It's clear Americans lack a basic understanding of health insurance terms, which may prevent them from selecting the health plan best suited to their individual needs," said Sam Gibbs, senior vice president of eHealth, Inc. "But as costs increase and responsibility for coverage shifts to the individual, these terms are becoming increasingly relevant to consumers' daily lives and their well-being."

In the study, only 71 percent knew their healthcare insurance plan’s copayment. Sixty percent knew their deductible. Even though PPOs are the most common type of insurance used by employers, only 20 percent knew what PPO stood for. While women were the decision-makers when it came to healthcare, a total of 10 percent admitted to having no idea what the terminology in their healthcare policy meant.

The solution? Some ideas include side-by-side comparison of policies or having live assistants with questions at the time the plan is signed up for. A glossary of healthcare insurance terms would also be helpful.

As it turns out, many Americans are comfortable seeking online assistance with healthcare insurance decisions. Enter sites like ehealthinsurance.com which will offer side-by-side comparisons and advice to those making healthcare decisions. Sites like these are best for those who are looking for personal insurance plans but are good sources for healthcare insurance information for anyone.

Two Healthcare Studies on Lack of Health Insurance

Two new studies have recently emerged indicating that lack of healthcare coverage is detrimental to one’s health. The studies found that uninsured individuals suffer much higher rates and outcomes of cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes when compared to those who did have healthcare coverage.

One study done at Harvard Medical School and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that uninsured and nearly-elderly persons got sicker at a quicker rate than those who had health insurance. The disparity sharply reduced when the cohort turned 65 and individuals became eligible for Medicare. Those who had no healthcare insurance reported an improvement or decrease in worsening of their health condition when they got Medicare—an issue not found in those who already had healthcare insurance.

This value was particularly noted in previously uninsured people who suffered from heart disease, stroke, diabetes or high blood pressure. They had 10 percent fewer major heart complications that would have been expected by age 72 based upon their previous health trends.

A second study by the American Cancer Society found evidence that poor healthcare insurance coverage was associated with poorer outcomes for those suffering from cancer. In addition, the uninsured were much less likely to receive the recommended cancer screening tests. They were more likely to have their cancers discovered at a later date and when the cancers were less curable. Their survival rates were less than those with healthcare insurance, including those which are treatable like breast cancer and colorectal cancer.

The two studies both indicate that there should be universal healthcare coverage for all Americans.

Private Healthcare Insurance a Bust

A yearlong Consumer Reports investigation indicates that private health insurance is out of the question for most Americans currently uninsured or under-insured. Research indicated that 89 percent of people who looked into the idea of getting health insurance didn’t do so because it was too expensive. Others were turned down for previous health reasons or failed to sign up because the program provided inadequate benefits. Those who chose a plan faced high costs and poor coverage.

This isn’t just a problem for the poor. Anyone who wishes to retire early, loses a job, is self-employed or has an adult child leaving a group healthcare plan is dealing with this very issue. Even those who are in good health face high costs or being turned down because of previous treatment for minor infirmities.

The way the states handle this type of healthcare dilemma varies widely from state to state. One could easily buy insurance in one state and be turned down in another. According to the Consumer Reports survey, 76 percent of people lacking in health insurance said they couldn’t afford to pay for an individual plan. Only about 7 percent of adults have individual insurance.

Consumer reports recommends the following tips. 1) Know your state laws. 2) Research the market by using ehealthinsurance.com. 3) Know your rights when leaving a plan. Sometimes when you leave, you may not be able to qualify for another plan. 4) Get adequate benefits. If you’re going to pay for a plan, pay for one that will cover for everything. 5) Look for high risk pools, which exist in 34 states. It is a good idea for anyone who cannot pass medical underwriting. 6) Look past the premium. See what the annual deductible and copays are. They will add to the total cost and can add up.

Healthcare Company Hopes to Trim Chinese Waistlines

A healthcare company, Dynacq Healthcare Inc. has taken on the job of trimming the waistlines of the Chinese, where men and women ages 18-24 have had a weight increase of 146.2 percent in the years between 1992 and 2002. The obesity is believed to be caused by the increase in prosperity of the country over the last 20 years.

Dynacq Healthcare has plans to increase the number of bariatric surgeries in China by more than 60 percent over the fiscal year 2006. They also plan on reducing costs of such programs as China has no national healthcare program and few individuals are insured.

In a joint venture with DeAn Corporation in China, Dynacq aspires to design, construct and own the Shanghai DeAn Hospital in Shanghai, China, where such surgeries will be done. Dynacq plans on financing the “China Project” by forming a new company that will fund the operation.

In addition to its bariatric services, Dynacq hospitals will also offer orthopedic and neurological spine procedures, as well as a sleep laboratory, pain management clinic and an area for minor emergency treatments. The hospital is expected to be up to 150 beds and eight surgical suites for bariatric surgeries, cancer treatments, cardiac catheterization, organ transplant, and obstetrical and gynecological procedures. The company will also like to partner with other businesses to build hotels, convention facilities and living quarters to accommodate the needs of physicians, surgeons, patients and their families in the medical center campus.