Medicine prices should not go up, says Health Minister

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SEGAMAT: The Government is observing prices of drugs and medicine closely to ensure they do not escalate due to the diesel and petrol price hike, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.

He said the ministry would ensure that the drugs and medicine prices would not develop into an issue.

We are very mindful of making sure medicine prices are always controlled, he said after opening the Universiti Teknologi Mara mobile dental clinic and oral health programme at Felda Palong Timur here yesterday.

He said medicine manufacturers could not increase prices at will as the products were bought on consignment through Pharmaniaga Bhd.

To that extent, I do not think it will affect our prices as far as local (production) is concerned, he said, adding that the Cabinet had stated that the cost of other things such as food and medicine should not increase because of the fuel price hike.

When asked about the suggestion that allowances of members of parliament should be trimmed to help the Government reduce its financial burden, Dr Subramaniam, who is Segamat MP and MIC deputy president, said he supported the initiative that could help strengthen the countrys economic position.

However, he said it should be taken to the Parliament for discussion before a decision was made.

To a question on incumbent MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivels intention to give up the post by 2016 and hand over the duty to him, he said: We will wait until then (to comment about the matter).

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Medicine prices should not go up, says Health Minister

UMass Medical School Health Policy Experts to Present at 2013 Medicaid Enterprise Systems Conference

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WORCESTER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Several health policy experts from UMass Medical Schools Commonwealth Medicine division will present at the annual Medicaid Enterprise Systems Conference (MESC). A range of presentations will focus on how state collaborations can support the mission of Medicaid in an era of health reform and transformation.

Key presentations from health policy and technology leaders within Commonwealth Medicine will highlight how reuse and sharing on technology projects can aid development of complex health insurance marketplaces and Medicaid eligibility systems. Experts will also present on how state-based exchanges can develop performance metrics to evaluate the systems being built to expand access to health insurance for millions of Americans under the Accountable Care Act.

This years annual MESC will take place from Sept. 8-12 at the Charleston Area Convention Center, 5001 Coliseum Drive, North Charleston. A booth at the conference (Booth #42) will also highlight Commonwealth Medicines expertise in providing Medicaid agencies with program and technical support, including integrated eligibility systems.

6-p.m.

Rick Perro, Senior Director of Data Management Services, UHealthSolutions

Poster Presentation: Analyzing Medicaid Waiver Data

3-4 p.m.

Scott Keays, M.P.H., Center for Health Policy and Research, UMass Medical School

Natasha Dolgin, candidate for M.D., Ph.D., UMass Medical School

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UMass Medical School Health Policy Experts to Present at 2013 Medicaid Enterprise Systems Conference

Sarvis’s Libertarian campaign is out and about

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Robert Sarviss quixotic campaign to become Virginias next governor released a schedule of events Friday that includes pressing the flesh in downtown Richmond and making a call for an interview with AltDaily, an alternative publication in the Virginia Beach area.

Were trying to reach out to real voters, Sarvis campaign spokesman John V. LaBeaume said Friday.

Sarvis, a Fairfax County resident who is running as a Libertarian, has touted a poll conducted by students at Emerson College showing he has received 10 percent support. He could also benefit from the fact that many Virginia voters find the major party candidates Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II (R) and Terry McAuliffe (D) to be unlikable.

Because of the negatives that are so high for the two other guys, people are just ecstatic to hear about this guy, LaBeaume said. In the past few days, weve been inundated with calls for bumper stickers and signs.

The Harvard-educated Sarvis said he would avoid culture wars and focus on expanding personal freedom through support for issues such as gay marriage and economic liberty by reducing taxes, his Web site says.

His schedule Friday includes an appearance at the Sycamore Square shopping center in Midlothian; recording a video and doing a question-and-answer session at the Virginia Chamber of Commerce for its members guide; doing a video interview with students at Virginia Commonwealth University; and greeting people at South 12th and Cary streets in Richmond. Then hes going to talk with AltDaily.

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Sarvis’s Libertarian campaign is out and about

Kazakhstan V Faroe Islands (2-1). FIFA World Cup Qualifier. Goals and Highlights in HD 06/09/2013 – Video

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Kazakhstan V Faroe Islands (2-1). FIFA World Cup Qualifier. Goals and Highlights in HD 06/09/2013
http://i-videoz.com/show_football.php?id=367 t=Kazakhstan-2-1-Faroe-Islands http://i-videoz.com/show_football.php?id=367 t=Kazakhstan-2-1-Faroe-Islands http:...

By: falxuz babakulov

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Kazakhstan V Faroe Islands (2-1). FIFA World Cup Qualifier. Goals and Highlights in HD 06/09/2013 - Video

Xi warns Abe over Diaoyu Islands

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President encounters Japanese leader in St. Petersburg before summit

Japan should handle sensitive issues including the Diaoyu Islands in a correct way to control divergence and seek a resolution, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday.

Instead of an official bilateral meeting, Xi encountered Abe in the VIP room for participating leaders and had a brief talk before the 8th G20 Leaders' Summit was held in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Thursday.

China-Japan ties are facing grave difficulties, which "we are unwilling to see", Xi said. "The Chinese side is willing to further advance the China-Japan strategic ties of mutual benefit on the basis of the four Chinese-Japanese political documents."

Tokyo's policymakers embarked on a media campaign two weeks ago to accuse Beijing of being reluctant about the first encounter of the two leaders after Abe and Xi assumed office.

The Japanese side had hoped to force Beijing to change policy and make a concession on the standoff during the international summit, but failed, observers said.

"Japan should face up to history and keep an eye on the future, correctly deal with such sensitive issues as the Diaoyu Islands and history issues, and seek a way to properly manage differences and address the problems," Xi said.

Abe said he had been looking forward to seeing Xi, adding: "I am eager to improve Japan-China relations."

Tokyo's goal was simply realizing "the meeting itself rather than anything of substance", said Lu Yaodong, director of the department of Japanese diplomacy of the Institute of Japanese Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"Tokyo had not prepared any substantial proposal but empty phrases for the so-called Japan-China leaders encounter. The brief talk on Thursday definitely ended up with no substance provided by Abe," Lu said.

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Pacific Islands Forum closing statement from Oxfam NZ

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The 2013 Pacific Islands Forum in the Marshall Islands is over, and the Pacific islands leaders are heading home with empty promises. Despite the efforts of the Prime Minister of the Marshall Islands and other Pacific countries, New Zealand and Australia refused to strengthen their commitment to take action on climate change.

Barry Coates, Executive Director of Oxfam New Zealand commented: "Our commitments on climate change have been weakened over the past months even as the evidence and the impacts have increased. It is shameful that the Prime Minister and other developed nations would go to this Forum meeting being held on an island group that has been battered by extreme weather and profess to be acting in solidarity, while refusing to take on their responsibilities for preventing even worse disasters in future."

Climate leadership requires action. New Zealands inaction is in stark contrast to the commitments made by the Pacific island countries themselves as they press for urgency in UN climate change negotiations, convert their energy to renewables wherever possible, and try to defend themselves against the devastating impacts of extreme weather and the mounting impacts of climate change.

The Forum was also marked by the open discussion of issues that have, until recently, only been talked about behind closed doors, notably the role of Australia and New Zealand in the Pacific Islands Forum. There is growing resistance to the dominant role that Australia and New Zealand are seen to play in the Pacific Islands Forum, and a new assertiveness by the Melanesian countries within the sub-regional Melanesian Spearhead Group. These were key issues highlighted in the Pacific Plan Review headed by former Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, Sir Makere Morauta. The Forum has agreed to a special meeting in six months time to consider the report.

Barry Coates: "New Zealand has failed to support our Pacific neighbours and friends on climate change. We are likely to look back on this Forum meeting as a turning point in our relationship with the Pacific and we can expect further erosion of our ties and influence as the role of China and other countries grows."

Oxfam New Zealand is calling for a new approach towards the Pacific. Taking action to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions needs to be accompanied by fundamental reform of the Pacifics regional institutions to focus far more on the needs of the vulnerable and marginalised people, particularly those in remote rural areas and outer islands.

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Pacific Islands Forum closing statement from Oxfam NZ

U.S. brings climate message to Pacific Islands

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Published: Sept. 6, 2013 at 8:26 AM

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- The U.S. Interior Department said its representatives at a Pacific Islands Forum in the Marshall Islands will address climate change and resource management.

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell leads a U.S. delegation that includes representatives from the Departments of Energy, State and Health and Human Services.

The forum began its meeting Friday in Majuro, Marshall Islands.

"Secretary Jewell's participation in the dialogue and meetings with Pacific leaders will address a range of issues with Pacific Island nations, including global climate change and natural resource management, sustainable development, economic growth and security," the Interior Department said Thursday.

European representatives said they were carrying a message of climate cooperation with them to the meetings.

Scientists say rising sea levels, which may be due to declining polar ice levels, are threatening low-lying regions like Micronesia and the Marshall Islands.

Marshall Islands President Christopher Loeak issued a plea for attention to the issue during an address last year before the U.N. General Assembly.

The U.S. Interior Department has oversight of federal programs and funds Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau.

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U.S. brings climate message to Pacific Islands

The right’s health care “revolution” is a scam

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The consumer-driven healthcare revolution, trumpeted one conservative think tank a few years back, has only just begun.

Now, for anyone who has ever been inconvenienced by an encounter with the healthcare system or even worse, been on the receiving end of poor quality care, a medical error or a misdiagnosis a greater focus on consumer satisfaction might sound like just the right medicine for American healthcare.

So should we celebrate the recent rise of consumer-driven or consumer-directed healthcare plans? The premise of CDHPs essentially high-deductible plans, with an option for a health savings account is straightforward enough: If you shop for services with your own money, youll use less healthcare and hunt for better bargains, in the process forcing providers to improve quality.

CDHPs have grown rapidly in recent years. From a trivial 4 percent in 2006, CDHPs now account for a full 20 percent of all employer-based insurance plans. The trend seems set to continue in 2014: A survey from the National Business Group on Health last month found that CDHPs were considered the most effective tactic to control rising costs by large employers, with 72 percent already offering a CDHP, and 22 percent planning to offer only CDHPs in 2014.

Id wait to break out the bubbly, for, despite the utopian claims of its enthusiasts, CDHPs are more about cash than quality, more about cost shifting than consumer empowerment.

The consumer-driven healthcare revolution, it turns out, is likely to be neither revolutionary nor consumer-driven, but instead will only manage somehow to make the misfortune of getting sick an even worse experience.

One irony of the current craze with consumer-driven care is that its adherents seem surprisingly unaware that we already had an experiment with true market medicine in this country in the 19th century.

From the beginning, argues the legal professor T. S. Jost in his critique of the consumer-driven movement, Health Care at Risk, there was only consumer-directed health care in the United States. Patients paid out of pocket, there was no health insurance, and there were an impressive variety of equally ineffective practitioners, frequently engaged in brutal competition.

The system (if it can be called that) was basically a disaster, with the presence of a healthcare marketplace doing little to encourage quality in that golden age of quackery. What ultimately did improve quality at least to some extent was good old-fashioned regulation: medical licensure laws, the closure of low-quality medical schools, the Pure Food and Drugs Act, and so on.

Meanwhile, the poor of that era were generally left at the mercy of scattered and frequently inadequate charitable facilities if they were lucky. In later years, hospitals would not infrequently reject or otherwise dump sick patients deemed poor financial investments, a notorious practice that wasnt really addressed again, with regulation until the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act of 1986.

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The right’s health care “revolution” is a scam

A look at health care savings plans

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NEW YORK (AP) -- Health care is an alphabet soup of abbreviations and acronyms, and the ways one can save to pay for medical care are no different. Here's a breakdown of health care savings plans:

HSA:

Health Savings Account. Think of it as a 401(k) for health care. An individual sets aside money, pre-tax, into a special bank account that can be used for medical expenses. Companies often make contributions to the account for their employees. HSAs are portable, meaning they can be taken with the employee when they leave a company. If used correctly, HSAs help lower taxes three ways: the contributions reduce your taxable income, gains from the invested money are tax free, as are withdrawals for eligible medical costs.

HRA:

Health Reimbursement Arrangement. A company sets aside money to pay for an employee's eligible medical expenses. While some plans allow an employee to roll over the balance year to year, an employee cannot contribute to the account and the amount of money is typically not portable. Eligible health care expenses reimbursed by the employer are considered tax free for the employee.

FSA:

Flexible Spending Account. An employee sets aside pre-tax dollars in an employer-sponsored account to pay for health care expenses. The key feature of a FSA is "use it or lose it." An employee must use all money in his or her account during the coverage period (typically a full year) or forfeit any leftover money. FSAs also exist for mass transit costs and child care expenses.

HDHP:

High-deductible health plan. A type of health insurance that has a minimum deductible of $1,200 for individual coverage or $2,400 for family coverage. HDHPs are primarily used to cover catastrophic illnesses and medical emergencies. HSAs can only be used with HDHPs. Another name for HDHP is "Consumer Driven Health Plan" or CDHP.

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A look at health care savings plans