Singapore #39;s Affordable Health Care System Excellence
Singapore has the best health care system at the best price, according to Dr. William Haseltine. In this video Haseltine highlights his new book, "Affordable...
By: BrookingsInstitution
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Singapore's Affordable Health Care System Excellence - Video
Published on: 17th Jun 2013
Mobile health technology has substantial potential for improving access to health care in the developing world and in remote regions of developed countries, states an article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
In many countries, access to health care is hampered by lack of medical professionals and health care infrastructure, limited or poor equipment, sporadic power and other obstacles. However, the development of remote-presence medical devices can help fill this void by connecting people in remote locations with experienced health care professionals for real-time assessment.
Smartphones, tablets and other consumer devices are being used in health care, but applications are limited because of processing capacity, privacy issues and signal variability.
"The next step in the evolution of mobile telemedicine is the development of portable, dedicated medical communication devices capable of providing real-time remote presence and transmission of diagnostic-quality medical data from a range of peripheral diagnostic devices that will allow point-of-care therapeutic intervention," writes Dr. Ivar Mendez, University of Saskatchewan, with coauthor.
Pilot tests by the authors using a mobile-presence device in the remote Bolivian Andes mountains with pregnant women allowed an obstetrician in Halifax to monitor the baby's heartbeat, communicate with the mother and conduct a complete prenatal ultrasound with the help of an onsite nurse.
"Mobile remote-presence devices for telemedicine have the potential to change the way health care is delivered in developed and developing nations," write the authors. "The availability of cellular network signals around the globe and rapidly increasing bandwidth will provide the telecommunication platform for a wide range of mobile telemedicine applications. The use of low-cost, dedicated remote-presence devices will increase access to medical expertise for anybody living in a geographical area with a cellphone signal."
There are some barriers to implementation of these solutions, such as perceived high costs (about $25 000 for the device plus connectivity charges) as well as medical liability, patient confidentiality, physician payment and other policy issues. However, the public's appetite for these solutions and the promise they have for improving access to health care may help remove barriers for remote-presence medicine in remote communities.
"This switch from the current model of centralized diagnosis in large medical facilities to point-of-care diagnosis could dramatically increase medical efficacy by removing barriers of time and distance, reducing wait times and decreasing the cost of health care delivery," state the authors.
As the rapid advance of technology continues to transform many areas of society, the medical field will see increasingly sophisticated tools and devices to improve point-of-care diagnosis.
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Mobile Health Devices Can Improve Health Care Access in Developing Countries
Federal cuts to refugee health care are unethical and unnecessary, according to heath experts in Hamilton.
What health care providers are seeing is people having to choose between rent and food and health care. The government frames this as a cost-saving measure and a way to discourage bogus refugee claimants. But what I see on a day-to-day basis is that it denies sick people the medical care they need. Its uncompassionate, said Dr. Tim OShea, a specialist in internal medicine and infectious disease and Assistant Professor of Medicine at MacMaster University.
Last year, the federal government cut drug, dental and vision coverage offered to refugee claimants who have not been in Canada long enough to qualify for provincial health coverage.
The changes also ensure that failed refugee claimants would only be treated for sicknesses that posed a public heath risk.
Ottawa said that the cuts were designed to prevent bogus and failed refugee claimants from having access to health care that Canadian citizens do not have access to.
Some in health care reject the argument that public health is being served by the rule change, and charge that it might even be compromised.
Terri Bedminster, Director of Operations at Refuge: The Hamilton Centre for Newcomers Health described a Catch-22 situation in which refugees might be afflicted with a disease like HIV, but cannot visit a health care centre to get tested because they are unable to afford it.
Its a shame, and public health is not being protected [by the cuts], said. Ms. Bedminster. No one is trying to milk the system, they just want care. Theyre in need.
Patients are confused and concerned about their health care status, according to those on the front lines.
Sue Grafe, a nurse practitioner that has worked with refugee patients for thirteen years, said that many of the families she sees are worried that they will not be able to get the help that they need, and that their health care issues might spiral out of control.
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Hamilton advocates say cuts to refugee health care are unethical
Yaron Answers: Health Care In Emergencies Under Capitalism
Yaron Brook answers a question from Dan: "In a capitalist society, if a person is knocked unconscious in an accident, can a hospital charge for treatment wit...
By: AynRandInstitute
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Yaron Answers: Health Care In Emergencies Under Capitalism - Video
IRS - Search Seizure - IRS Raided California Health Care Provided Med Records - Wake Up America!
Lawsuit Filed Against IRS Over Raid - Up To 60 Million Personal Medical Records Taken IRS - Search Seizure IRS Raided California Health Care Provided - Wak...
By: Mass Tea Party
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Citi: Money2 for Health On The Scene: Citi Health Care Investor Conference
Citi Money2 for Health #39;s June Felix recently attended the 14th Annual Non-Profit Health Care Investor Conference in New York City to discuss the challenges o...
By: CITI
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Citi: Money2 for Health On The Scene: Citi Health Care Investor Conference - Video
The Affordable Health Care Act (Obama Care)
Health Care Reform.
By: Michael Paysour
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Mounting scandals at the Internal Revenue Service are jeopardizing critical funding for the agency as it gears up to play a big role in President Barack Obama's health care law.
Obama sought a significant budget increase for the IRS for next year, when the agency will start doling out subsidies to help people buy health insurance on state-based exchanges. Congressional Republicans, however, see management problems at the IRS as an opportunity to limit the agency's funding just as it is trying to put in place the massive new law.
Republicans have been fighting the health care law ever since Democrats enacted it in 2010 without a single GOP vote. Unable to repeal the law, some Republicans hope to starve it by refusing to fund its implementation.
The IRS scandals are giving them a timely excuse.
"I think it's safe to say they're not going to get the kind of increase they're asking for," said Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., chairman of the House appropriations subcommittee that funds the IRS.
"The question is, based on their bad behavior, are they going to end up with less money?" Crenshaw said.
Last month, the IRS was rocked by revelations that agents had targeted tea party and other conservative groups for extra scrutiny when the groups applied for tax-exempt status during the 2010 and 2012 elections. A few weeks later, an inspector general's report said that the agency had spent lavishly on employee conferences during the same time period.
From 2010 through 2012, the IRS spent nearly $50 million on employee conferences. In 2010, the agency used money that had been budgeted to hire enforcement agents to instead help pay for one conference that cost $4.1 million, according to the watchdog's report.
Three congressional committees and the Justice Department are investigating the targeting of conservative groups, and much of the top leadership at the IRS has been replaced.
Obama appointed a new acting IRS commissioner, Danny Werfel, a former White House budget official. Werfel is conducting an internal review of the agency and is expected to issue recommendations for changes by the end of June.
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The Associated Press FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2009, file photo, Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., speaks at a health care news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Far from reversing course, Senate Democrats who backed President Barack Obamas health care law and now face re-election in GOP-leaning states are reinforcing their support for the overhaul even as Republicans intensify their criticism. Mark Begich of Alaska, Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Landrieu of Louisiana and Kay Hagan of North Carolina will face voters in 2014 for the first time since voting for the Affordable Care Act _ commonly called Obamacare _ three years ago. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
By BILL BARROW/Associated Press/June 15, 2013
ATLANTA (AP) Far from reversing course, Senate Democrats who backed President Barack Obamas health care law and now face re-election in GOP-leaning states are firming up their support for the overhaul even as Republican criticism intensifies.
Mark Begich of Alaska, Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Kay Hagan of North Carolina will face voters in 2014 for the first time since voting for the Affordable Care Act also known as Obamacare three years ago. They arent apologizing for their vote, and several are pursuing an aggressive strategy: Embrace the law, help voters use it and fix what doesnt work.
I dont run from my votes, Begich told The Associated Press. Politicians who sit around and say, Thats controversial so I better run from it, just ask for trouble. Voters may not always agree with you, but they respect people who think about these issues and talk about them.
That means, Begich said, reminding voters that as a candidate in 2008 he called for prohibiting insurers from denying coverage based on existing health problems, ending lifetime coverage limits and making it easier for workers to leave a job and still have insurance, an option they'll have under new exchanges that consumers can begin using to buy individual policies this fall.
Theres a lot of good that people will realize as this all comes online, the first-term senator said.
Republicans argue just the opposite that theres a lot of bad in the sweeping law. More than a year before the elections, they use the law to pummel the four Democrats, three of them from the conservative South and all from states that Republican Mitt Romney carried last fall.
Begich highlighted that Senate Democrats have voted to repeal parts of the law: paperwork for businesses and a tax on medical equipment. And he promised aggressive outreach to help constituents use the exchanges and other consumer benefits.
Landrieu has gone on the offensive, too, criticizing Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and her states Legislature for refusing federal money to broaden Medicaid insurance for more low-income Americans. Along with the exchanges, the optional Medicaid expansion anchors the laws insurance coverage extension.
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2014 Senate Democrats firm up health care support - Boston.com
WASHINGTON -- Mounting scandals at the Internal Revenue Service are jeopardizing critical funding for the agency as it gears up to play a big role in President Barack Obama's health care law.
Obama sought a significant budget increase for the IRS for next year, when the agency will start doling out subsidies to help people buy health insurance on state-based exchanges. Congressional Republicans, however, see management problems at the IRS as an opportunity to limit the agency's funding just as it is trying to put in place the massive new law.
Republicans have been fighting the health care law ever since Democrats enacted it in 2010 without a single GOP vote. Unable to repeal the law, some Republicans hope to starve it by refusing to fund its implementation.
The IRS scandals are giving them a timely excuse.
"I think it's safe to say they're not going to get the kind of increase they're asking for," said Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., chairman of the House appropriations subcommittee that funds the IRS.
"The question is, based on their bad behavior, are they going to end up with less money?" Crenshaw said.
Last month, the IRS was rocked by revelations that agents had targeted tea party and other conservative groups for extra scrutiny when the groups applied for tax-exempt status during the 2010 and 2012 elections. A few weeks later, an inspector general's report said that the agency had spent lavishly on employee conferences during the same time period.
From 2010 through 2012, the IRS spent nearly $50 million on employee conferences. In 2010, the agency used money that had been budgeted to hire enforcement agents to instead help pay for one conference that cost $4.1 million, according to the watchdog's report.
Three congressional committees and the Justice Department are investigating the targeting of conservative groups, and much of the top leadership at the IRS has been replaced.
Obama appointed a new acting IRS commissioner, Danny Werfel, a former White House budget official. Werfel is conducting an internal review of the agency and is expected to issue recommendations for changes by the end of June.
Continued here:
Published: Saturday, June 15, 2013, 9:00p.m. Updated 12 hours ago
WASHINGTON David Peabody is apprehensive about the new health care law. Ericka Haverkos is hopeful about it.
These Ohio residents one the owner of a small landscaping business in Columbus and the other a college student who works part time as a cashier are emblematic of millions of Americans who next year will have to adapt to the most sweeping changes in the delivery of health care since the establishment of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965.
To Peabody, the law will impose steep costs on his company and force him to decide whether to insure his 65 workers or pay a fine to the federal government. To Haverkos, who says she has a learning disability, it could mean access to a doctor who could prescribe the medication she needs.
All across the nation, millions of people are facing the reality of a new era in health care. Signed into law in 2010 by President Obama and known as the Affordable Care Act, the law will extend health care coverage to more than 20 million of the 47 million Americans without insurance.
For people who haven't been able to find affordable insurance, they are going to love it, said Elise Gould, a health insurance analyst at the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning nonprofit organization in Washington.
The law's critics contend it's going to frustrate Americans with its complexities, new regulations and blizzard of fees and taxes that they claim will deal a major blow to a fragile economy still recovering from the 2008 financial crash.
When asked to describe how efficiently the law is being implemented, Thomas Miller, a health policy analyst at the conservative oriented American Enterprise Institute in Washington joked: Coming along just fine. Steady as she goes right into the cliff. Don't mind that iceberg. The Titanic got past it.
A Kaiser Family Foundation survey in April found that 49 percent of Americans lack the information to understand how the law works. More alarming to the Obama administration, a recent Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll showed that 49 percent of Americans believe the law is a bad idea while just 37 percent call it a good one.
The law extends coverage in two ways. It expands the eligibility for Medicaid, which provides health coverage to low-income people. For those making too much money to qualify for Medicaid, the law offers federal subsidies for families of four earning $33,000 to $94,000 a year so that they can buy their plans through exchanges operated by the federal government or their state.
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Theres one thing that almost all Medicaid patients in South Carolina have in common.
Who qualifies for Medicaid in South Carolina?
Different states have different rules to determine Medicaid eligibility, and on that spectrum, South Carolinas rules are stricter than some.
Single adults without children dont qualify for Medicaid here, with a few exceptions, including pregnancy, blindness and breast or cervical cancer.
Children under 19 who live in families earning less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level may qualify for a Medicaid card. That income threshold is a moving target based on the size of families. For example, families of four can earn up to $3,925 a month for children to qualify for Medicaid, but families of five can earn up to $4,595 a month.
There is a resource limit of $30,000 per family.
Parents and adult children in those families do not qualify for Medicaid unless they earn much less. The net income threshold for a family of four drops to $961 a month and $1,126 for a family of five for adults to qualify.
Source: S.C. Department of Health and Human Services
Its not that theyre lazy, unmotivated to find work, or that they lie about their income to qualify for free health care.
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Health care providers vent frustrations about Medicaid system, patients
Is Health Care for Small Business in Critical Condition? by OPEN Forum
For more info, please visit: http://www.openforum.com/yourbusinesstv Each week MSNBC #39;s Your Business features experts to share their secrets for improving yo...
By: americanexpressOPEN
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Is Health Care for Small Business in Critical Condition? by OPEN Forum - Video
Affordable Health Care Still A Dream For Rural Kenya
Even as the Jubilee government promises to ensure every Kenyan gets access to affordable health care, Kenyans especially those living in rural Kenya will hav...
By: K24TV
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Affordable Health Care Still A Dream For Rural Kenya - Video
Rep. Fredette and his "man #39;s brain" oppose health care funding
Maine House Republican Minority Leader Ken Fredette speaks against accepting federal funding to expand health care in Maine. The funding doesn #39;t cost the sta...
By: mainepeoplesalliance
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Rep. Fredette and his "man's brain" oppose health care funding - Video
Congress Members Hill Staff Fear They Can #39;t Afford Health Care Under Obamacare! Can America?
If Congress Staff Can #39;t Afford Health, How The Hell are Taxpayers Going To!!!!!! Wake The Hell Up America!! Congress Members Hill Staff Fear They Can #39;t Aff...
By: Mass Tea Party
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WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
The high, volatile and often hidden cost of health care is one of the most pressing issues confronting Americas citizens and businesses today. As multiple news reports have revealed, comparable health care services can vary widely in price even within the same metropolitan area driving up costs for patients and their employers.
Next Tuesday, Castlight Health co-founder and CEO, Giovanni Colella, M.D., along with Steven Brill, J.D.; Suzanne Delbanco, Ph.D; and Paul B. Ginsburg, Ph.D. will participate in a United States Senate Committee on Finance hearing to outline how improved health care transparency is essential in helping address the health care cost crisis. The hearing will take place at 10:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, June 18, in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC.
Colella will discuss how the availability of health care cost and quality data empowers consumers to make smarter decisions about their care, in turn helping the market become more efficient and effective. Colella will also highlight policy proposals that could help increase transparency in the health care market.
The American health care system is broken, and much of this is based on the fact that there is no transparency into what kind of care an individual will receive, and at what cost, said Colella. However, for the first time in many years, there is hope and a movement towards transforming the health care industry for the better. This responsibility should be shared by a number of parties, including policy-makers, technology companies, health care providers and insurers. Through a collective effort to ensure individuals have the information they need to make informed health care decisions, we can give our nation the health care system we all deserve.
The hearing will be live-streamed on the United States Senate Committee on Finances website. The live stream can be accessed here: http://www.finance.senate.gov/hearings/
Additional information on the hearing can be found here: http://ow.ly/m1k7H
About Castlight Health
Castlight Health enables employers, their employees, and health plans to take control of health care costs and improve care. Named #1 on The Wall Street Journals list of The Top 50 Venture-Backed Companies for 2011 and one of Dow Jones 50 Most Investment-Worthy Technology Start-Ups, Castlight Health helps the countrys self-insured employers and health plans empower consumers to shop for health care. Castlight Health is headquartered in San Francisco and backed by prominent investors including Allen & Company, Cleveland Clinic, Maverick Capital, Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Oak Investment Partners, Redmile Group, T. Rowe Price, U.S. Venture Partners, Venrock, Wellcome Trust and two unnamed mutual funds. For more information, please visit our web site at http://www.castlighthealth.com or call (415) 829-1400.
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Castlight Health CEO to Testify in Senate Finance Committee Hearing on Health Care Transparency
Its called the Affordable Care Act, but President Barack Obamas health care law may turn out to be unaffordable for many low-wage workers, including employees at big chain restaurants, retail stores and hotels.
That might seem strange since the law requires medium-sized and large employers to offer affordable coverage or face fines.
But whats reasonable? Because of a wrinkle in the law, companies can meet their legal obligations by offering policies that would be too expensive for many low-wage workers. For the employee, its like a mirage attractive but out of reach.
The company can get off the hook, say corporate consultants and policy experts, but the employee could still face a federal requirement to get health insurance.
Many are expected to remain uninsured, possibly risking fines. Thats due to another provision: the law says workers with an offer of affordable workplace coverage arent entitled to new tax credits for private insurance, which could be a better deal for those on the lower rungs of the middle class.
Some supporters of the law are disappointed. It smacks of todays Catch-22 insurance rules.
Some people may not gain the benefit of affordable employer coverage, acknowledged Ron Pollack, president of Families USA, a liberal advocacy group leading efforts to get uninsured people signed up for coverage next year.
It is an imperfection in the new law, Pollack added. The new law is a big step in the right direction, but it is not perfect, and it will require future improvements.
Andy Stern, former president of the Service Employees International Union, the 2-million-member service-sector labor union, called the provision an avoidance opportunity for big business. SEIU provided grass-roots support during Obamas long struggle to push the bill through Congress.
The law is complicated, but essentially companies with 50 or more full-time workers are required to offer coverage that meets certain basic standards and costs no more than 9.5 percent of an employees income. Failure to do so means fines for the employer. (Full-time work is defined as 30 or more hours a week, on average.)
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Health care law may still leave insurance unaffordable for low-wage workers
Non-partisan forum held to explain the Affordable Health Care Act, more popularly known as Obamacare.
Terms like "Obamacare" and "Health care reform" are often tossed around without clear definition or explanation of what they mean.
On Sunday afternoon, the York branch of the NAACP #2294 and York's Jewish Community Center co-sponsored a free, nonpartisan forum designed to explain the Affordable Health Care Act, more popularly known as Obamacare.
"There are a lot of facets to the Affordable Health Care Act that will affect individuals and families. The more familiar people are with what is included within the law, the more prepared they will be to make decisions," said Dr. Kenneth Woerthwein, a retired York-area physician who helped plan the event.
Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, senior policy advisor and former president of the National Physicians Alliance, offered an informed overview of the Affordable Health Care Act, which was signed into law on March 23, 2010 and will be fully implemented in January 2014.
"I think there is a lot of frightening misinformation regarding this new law, particularly with seniors. I encourage everyone to take an hour of their time and educate themselves," Arkoosh said.
She explained how the law will affect Medicare and Medicaid programs, and what changes will follow for seniors, families and individuals, especially women.
Afterward, she noted that those who already have access to health insurance and Medicare shouldn't notice many changes beyond minor adjustments. What
However, the law also allows for the creation of health insurance marketplaces, or "exchanges," where they can shop for affordable coverage, beginning on Oct. 1. Under the act, insurers can no longer deny coverage for pre-existing conditions and young adults can stay on parental insurance until age 26.
Arkoosh said that while the Affordable Health Care Act comes with a price tag of $1 trillion dollars, Americans spent $2.6 trillion on health care in 2012. Economists are hopeful that the law will have a "stabilizing" influence on the health care industry, she said.
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WATERTOWN, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Massachusetts Health Quality Partners (MHQP) has been awarded a two-year grant from the ABIM Foundation to advance the organizations Choosing Wisely campaign. The goal of this effort is to encourage physicians and patients to discuss medical tests and procedures that may be unnecessary, and in some instances cause harm. Reducing unnecessary medical care can improve quality for Massachusetts patients.
The Massachusetts health care environment provides a fertile ground for Choosing Wisely to take hold, said Barbra G. Rabson, executive director of MHQP. As a Commonwealth we have made it a priority to find ways to achieve high quality and affordable care.
As a multi-stakeholder organization with a long history of focusing on improving quality, patient experience and appropriate use in Massachusetts, MHQP plans to integrate the Choosing Wisely program into its existing initiatives and will disseminate the lists from participating specialty societies to help physicians and patients talk in partnership about making important health care decisions.
"More care is not necessarily better care, said John McDonough, Professor of Public Health Practice and Director of the Center for Public Health Leadership at the Harvard University School of Public Health. The Choosing Wisely campaign provides concrete evidence and steps that both patients and providers can take to make sure that patients get the right care in the right way, and only that."
The grant extends the reach of the ABIM Foundations nationally renowned Choosing Wisely campaign, a program aimed at helping physicians, patients, and other health care stakeholders work together to ensure an appropriate level of care is delivered at the right time and in the right setting. To do so, Choosing Wisely has compiled lists from various medical specialty societies of evidence-based recommendations to aid physician-patient conversations about what is necessary and appropriate care.
"The Choosing Wisely recommendations are developed based on clinical evidence, and endorsed by physicians to help support conversations with patients," said Dr. Judith Melin, Associate Chief Quality Officer, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center and member of MHQP's Physician Council. These patient-physician conversations are a key part of providing care that is high-quality and focused on the patient's needs."
Consumer Reports has partnered with the specialty societies to develop patient engagement materials that can aid patients and their families to better understand when care is helpful or can cause more harm than good. These materials will help patients talk with their doctors about their choices and allow them to make better informed decisions about their care.
Patients and their families want and need to have information like this readily available if they are to become better partners informed about care, says Lucy Costa, a member of MHQPs Patient and Public Engagement Council. With a strong mission that includes patient engagement and collaboration, MHQP is the right organizations to lead Massachusetts stakeholders in spreading the messages of Choosing Wisely.
To advance the Choosing Wisely campaign MHQP will:
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Massachusetts Health Quality Partners Helps Physicians and Patients Talk About Health Care Decisions