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Category Archives: Health Care

Sebelius back on hot seat over health care, website

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WASHINGTON Republicans blistered Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Wednesday over the nation's health care law, challenging her honesty, pushing for her resignation and demanding unsuccessfully she concede that President Barack Obama deliberately misled the public.

"We're not in it to just give you a rough time. We're in it to try and hopefully get it right," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, at a hearing where Republicans all of whom had voted against "Obamacare" focused on the program's flawed website as well as costs, policy cancellations, security concerns and other issues.

At a Dallas synagogue Wednesday, Obama assured volunteers that their efforts to sign people up for coverage would be well worth the trouble. "As challenging as this may seem sometimes, as frustrating as healthcare.gov may be sometimes, we are going to get this done," Obama said.

During two hours in the Senate Finance Committee witness chair, Sebelius parried some thrusts and listened impassively to others.

Treated more gently by Democrats than Republicans, she said at one point, "Clearly the opposition is still quite ferocious, and I'm just hoping that people understand what their options are, what their benefits could be and what their opportunities are."

She offered few if any concessions about a program that she observed "passed both houses of Congress, was signed by the president and upheld by the Supreme Court."

Nor did she provide much in the way of new information about the launch of a website that she has conceded was deeply flawed. She disclosed that the so-called punch list for repairs had included "a couple of hundred functional fixes" at the time the administration launched its urgent rescue mission last month.

"We're not where we need to be," she said.

She added that the Web portal now is handling large volumes of material with fewer errors. However, as she testified, the website, http://www.healthcare.gov, was running sluggishly.

Republican criticism and questions have turned in recent days into other areas, some blending policy and politics.

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Sebelius back on hot seat over health care, website

Bill O’Reilly: Obama Believes Ends Justify the Means on Health Care ‘Deceit’ – Video

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Bill O #39;Reilly: Obama Believes Ends Justify the Means on Health Care #39;Deceit #39;
10/31/13 - Bill O #39;Reilly has never explicitly called President Obama a liar in the health care debate, but said Thursday night that there has been "deception...

By: WeNeedASavageNation

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Bill O'Reilly: Obama Believes Ends Justify the Means on Health Care 'Deceit' - Video

Health Care Reform: Incremental Change or Fundamental Shift?

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During the U.S. News & World Hospital of Tomorrow conference, panelists in the health care reform break-out session discussed the changes underway in the health care system and if they represent incremental change or a fundamental shift.

[More Hospital of Tomorrow Forum coverage: usnews.com/hospitaloftomorrow]

Panelists included David Burik, the Managing Director who co-leads Navigant's Healthcare Strategy, Dr. Gene Lindsey, M.D. CEO Emeritus and Vice Chair of Atrius Health, and David W. Johnson, Managing Director and Sector Head for Healthcare and Higher Education at the Public Finance and Infrastructure Group.

Burik began by asking about lessons can we learn from the Massachusetts health exchange and apply to a national model. Some of the findings of the Navigant study indicate that there are no national players, yet, in the healthcare system.

"So, if we're not national, what are we?" Burik asked. "The principal consolidation in this industry is local."

Burik also wondered: "Who is going to have primary care models?" He predicted the answer is in the "Walmarts, the Walgreens," and also in the clinics which are expanding their affiliate care centers, including The Cleveland Clinic (27 Affiliates), MD Anderson Cancer Center (9 affiliates), the Mayo Clinic (14 affiliates) and Duke Lifepoint Healthcare (4 affiliates).

Here are a few additional highlights of the Navigant study.

"In 2011, the Top 20 (by admissions) health systems operated 20 percent of the hospitals and captured 26 percent of total U.S admissions," he said. "In 2003, the Top 20 operated 18 percent of US hospitals and captured 23 percent of admissions."

"Will the market or government have a larger hand in the result?" The short answer, Burik offered, is yes. We are seeing that change through exchanges that are introducing health insurance plans with narrow networks.

Dr. Gene Lindsey, of Altrius Health, began by asking "Why are organizations consolidating?" and specifically addressed why Altrius came to be. The short answer was "to create capitol."

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Health Care Reform: Incremental Change or Fundamental Shift?

Health Care REIT Q3 FFO & Revs Top

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Health Care REIT Inc. (HCN), a real estate investment trust (:REIT), which operates senior housing and health care real estate, reported third-quarter 2013 normalized funds from operations (:FFO) of 97 cents per share, a cent ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate and up 6 cents year over year.

The improved results were primarily attributable to robust revenue growth. Alongside, the company registered decent same-store NOI.

Normalized Funds available for distribution (FAD) in the reported quarter stood at 86 cents per share, up from 82 cents per share in the year-ago period.

Behind the Headlines

Total revenue reached $786.9 million, escalating 70.4% year over year. The figure also substantially exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $728 million. Total same-store (cash NOI (net operating income) increased 3.7% from the year-ago period. This included a 9.4% rise in the seniors housing operating portfolio.

Notable Quarterly Activities

During the quarter, Health Care REIT accomplished the sale/leaseback transaction with Avery Healthcare for $212 million (140 million) in the UK. The portfolio comprises 14 seniors housing communities with 940 beds.

Also, the company closed the triple net lease deal with Emeritus Senior Living (ESC) for a portfolio of 38 senior housing communities. Notably, the properties were previously owned by Health Care REIT in an 80%/20% joint venture with Merrill Gardens. As per the deal, Health Care REIT acquired Merrill Gardens 20% interest in the JV for $173 million, which includes pro rata mortgage debt of $74 million.

In addition, Health Care REIT sealed the buyout of $95 million worth of hospital acquisitions (at a blended yield of 9.5%) and medical office building worth $50 million (at a blended yield of 6.9%). Moreover, the company finished the development of 2 seniors housing triple-net assets for $38 million (at a blended initial yield of 8.1%) and 1 medical office building for $9 million (at an initial yield of 8.3%).

Year-to-date, as of Nov 5, Health Care REIT has garnered $412 million from asset divestitures and $66 million from loan payoffs.

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Health Care REIT Q3 FFO & Revs Top

#GetCovered: Because Insurers Can No Longer Impose Lifetime Limits on Health Care – Video

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#GetCovered: Because Insurers Can No Longer Impose Lifetime Limits on Health Care
Adele #39;s daughter Lily was diagnosed with a severe case of cerebral palsy. By the age of 3 months she was already halfway to her lifetime maximum of health be...

By: The White House

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#GetCovered: Because Insurers Can No Longer Impose Lifetime Limits on Health Care - Video

Rpt: Obama Admin Officials Knew In 2010 That 93 Million Could Lose Health Care Coverage – Video

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Rpt: Obama Admin Officials Knew In 2010 That 93 Million Could Lose Health Care Coverage
Employer Health Insurance Your Turn Coming Soon Wake The Hell Up America Your Republic Freedom In Grave, Grave Danger!!! Rpt: Obama Admin Officials Knew In...

By: Mass Tea Party

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Rpt: Obama Admin Officials Knew In 2010 That 93 Million Could Lose Health Care Coverage - Video

The Barriers to Children Getting Mental Health Care – Dr. Anne Glowinski – Video

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The Barriers to Children Getting Mental Health Care - Dr. Anne Glowinski
Anne Glowinski, M.D., M.P.E., spoke at the NYU Child Study Center #39;s Grand Rounds on Sept. 30, 2011. Her talk was entitled "Global Perspectives on Child Mental Health." Millions of children...

By: NYU Langone Medical Center

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The Barriers to Children Getting Mental Health Care - Dr. Anne Glowinski - Video

National health care overhaul hits home in Alamance County through community forum

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One rocky month into the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, a health care forum in McKinnon Hall found the issue far from settled on Monday.

Three invited professionals joined nine lay panelists from campus and the local community to expose the people behind the largely political debate. The panel was sponsored by a partnership between Elon University and the Burlington Times-News.

Each person left uninsured by the Affordable Care Act is an avoidable tragedy, according to Ginette Archinal, medical director of student health at Elon.

My personal point of view about health care is that we have a moral responsibility to provide affordable, basic health care to everybody in society, she said. I find it morally reprehensible that so much of our society does not have access to basic health care.

And now more than ever, these health care needs are increasing thanks in no small part to preventable lifestyle choices such as smoking, poor nutrition and lack of exercise, said Miles Grunvald, a first-year medical student at the University of Vermont and Class of 2013 alumnus.

Kenn Gaither, associate dean of the School of Communications, moderated Mondays Community Connections forum on health care. Photo by Michael Bodley, assistant news editor.

There will always be chronic diseases that will be costly to our country, but by encouraging preventative measures we can work to eliminate them, he said.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 65 percent of North Carolina adults are overweight and 28 percent are obese. Higher obesity rates are tied to greater need for health care, Grunvald said.

The less health care the average person requires, the reduced the strain is on a universal health care system, said Preston Hammock, president and COO of Alamance Regional Medical Center.

The most expensive place to get care is the hospital. To fix this, weve got to keep people out of the hospital, he said. It is absolutely the right thing to do to have that patient live at home and contribute that much more to society.

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National health care overhaul hits home in Alamance County through community forum

Health care provider comments on rape case

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The health care company whose now fired employee is accused of raping a patient issued comments on the case and the former worker Monday.

The ex-employee, 37-year-old Marcus Fox, was arrested Friday and remains in the Montgomery County Jail on three counts of rape.

Deputies said he worked as an in-home health care aide in the Washington Twp. home of the 81-year-old victim, who has Alzheimer's and dementia.

Deputies said they do not know exactly how long the situation had been going on. Fox, when pressed by investigators, told them he estimated it started "two or three weeks ago, maybe a month."

Monday, Pat Luers, owner and president of BrightStar, the in-home health care provider with locations in Centerville and South Dayton, said his company was "saddened and disturbed" to learn of the allegations.

"Our heart goes out to the family, and we are working closely with them and doing everything possible to help them through the situation," Luers said.

"Stringent screening standards were followed when this individual was hired including criminal background checks; none of which indicated any cause for concern. We took immediate action when we were made aware of the situation including removing the accused individual from all patient care and notifying proper authorities. He has since been terminated," Luers said.

Luers said BrightStar is continuing to cooperate with the local authorities in the case.

Fox has been fired, Luers told News Center 7's Yuna Lee.

"The family has chosen to continue working with our agency," he noted. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this difficult time."

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Health care provider comments on rape case

Hollywood targeted to give health care law a boost

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LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The health care overhaul might get a Hollywood rewrite.

The California Endowment, a private foundation that is spending millions to promote President Barack Obama's signature law, recently provided a $500,000 grant to ensure TV writers and producers have information about the Affordable Care Act that can be stitched into plot lines watched by millions.

The aim is to produce compelling prime-time narratives that encourage Americans to enroll, especially the young and healthy, Hispanics and other key demographic groups needed to make the overhaul a success.

"We know from research that when people watch entertainment television, even if they know it's fiction, they tend to believe that the factual stuff is actually factual," said Martin Kaplan of the University of Southern California's Norman Lear Center, which received the grant.

The public typically gets as much, if not more, information about current events from favorite TV programs as mainstream news outlets, Kaplan said, so "people learn from these shows."

California Republican strategist Jonathan Wilcox, who has taught a course on politics and celebrity at USC, said the attempt to engage Hollywood was coming too late to influence views, and he doubted fictionalized TV would play into families' decisions about health care.

"This is an attempt to use entertainment pop culture to fix a political challenge," he said. "It will be received as a partisan political message, no matter how cleverly it's delivered."

Hollywood is known for supporting Democratic candidates and causes Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler are among a long list of celebrities who have made a pitch for the law but there is no guarantee the entertainment industry will be in lockstep with the White House on health care.

Just last week, a "South Park" episode was largely devoted to mocking a malfunctioning website billed as a "simple, integrated portal" for health services. When it's being demonstrated for students, a laptop instead starts playing Lionel Richie's "All Night Long (All Night)."

About 16 percent of Americans are uninsured and surveys have shown many still know little or nothing about the health care law even though sign-ups for insurance have started. The challenge for the law's supporters is to connect with the millions of Americans who for whatever reason haven't paid attention.

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Hollywood targeted to give health care law a boost

Health Care Practitioners Gather to Heal Christchurch

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Health Care Practitioners Gather to Heal Christchurch

Press Release 5/11/13

The ongoing and arguably the growing needs of the people of Christchurch for support in stress related illnesses are not going unnoticed. In March 2012, 70 health care practitioners gathered for a weekend and set up in the Geo-domes of Hagley Park, to participate in Heal Christchurch and delivered 2000 free treatments to over 1100 visitors. This weekend, they are returning to repeat the exercise and will be based at the YMCA Christchurch.

Three years on from the beginning of the earthquake turmoil and the needs of the people of Christchurch have not dissipated. News articles announcing statistics relating to the number of antidepressants being prescribed and divorce rates, sit alongside proclamations of how many insurance claims have been settled or disputed.

Travelling from afar afield as California, Box Hill and Toowoomba in Australia, Auckland, Wellington, Nelson and Cromwell, health care practitioners are making their way at their own expense to join their Christchurch colleagues in gifting treatments. Their modalities include chiropractic, naturopathic, herbal medicine and therapeutic massage and their aim is to contribute to the health and aid the recovery of the people in the earthquake damaged city.

John Loveday is one of the practitioners attending Heal Christchurch. He is a chiropractor who owns a successful wellness practice in Nelson and repeats his journey having attended the Heal Christchurch event of 2012. He is joining 30 other practitioners and volunteers who are taking appointments and contributing to the event.

The first Heal Christchurch event in 2012 proved phenomenally successful, says John Loveday, with a post event survey of attendees showing 93% satisfaction rating. Since the in inaugural Heal Christchurch, John has undertaken to list the event as a charitable trust to assist the organisation in raising funds to operate the event. This year sponsors from Red Seal, Alexanders Marketing, Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa and the USA based One Net Research Foundation are amongst businesses who contributed their support.

There are many stress related illnesses the practitioners at Heal Christchurch will be able to address, says John Loveday. They may vary from sleep disorders, headaches and body aches, to mood swings and depression and we emphasise that all age groups and families with children are welcome.

A Facebook page and website http://www.healchristchurch.net guides people through the explanation of how the event works and allows online booking of appointments. For those living in the Garden City the facts remain that roads, homes, communities, businesses and families are strained, broken and need support and we are here to do our bit to help, says John.

END

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Health Care Practitioners Gather to Heal Christchurch


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