Tag Archives: healthcare

Sour Grapes, Low Hanging Fruit, and Fine Wine…

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I’ve written about Obamacare often. (Here’s one such article– you can find more searching for Obamacare or PPACA via the search box to the right.)  So have others. While the original goal of the concept was to improve the health of Americans, it seems that we settled for insuring most Americans and making health care more accessible.  (A valid goal, but far less lofty.)  But, there always is the hope that we can reduce the costs of healthcare, too.

Continue reading Sour Grapes, Low Hanging Fruit, and Fine Wine…

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Another Example of Unintended Circumstances

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While reading the New York Times (NYT) this past Sunday (What?  You don’t?), I was struck once again how the law of unintended circumstances comes into play.  [Ed:  This was written 3 June 2012.]  The Times’ front page article headline read:  “The $2.7 Trillion Medical Bill”, which really focused on just one medical procedure- colonoscopic exams.

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Healthcare Costs- Controversy and Data

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We discussed uncompensated care a few days ago, where I mentioned the variation in health care costs across the US. But, is that variability related to the cost of living in the various regions of the US? Or, is it attributable to the relative health of folks in various regions?

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Uncompensated Care

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Lately, data are indicating that the seemingly inexorable rise in our health care costs may be attenuating. Is this real? Or, just an artifact? Given that there are large variations in health costs across the US, what does this trend mean for our local, state, and federal taxes.  And, given that these difference in regional costs will become exacerbated as more (Republican) states refuse to run their own health care exchanges, some of us are in for  additional costs.

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Doctor, Doctor, Mr. MD, Can You Tell Me What’s Ailing Me?

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When I got married in 1989, the last time I had visited a physician’s office was more than a quarter century earlier.  Oh, I’d been to hospitals (broken arms, shattered glass, shattered vertebrae, horrendous wrecks), but to a physician per se- nope.

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Three Pillars

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Without changing America- dramatically- we have to recognize that the three pillars of our society are going to have to be modified.  We are not going to replace one of those pillars in this generation.  (I would hope we do so within 30 years, however.).  What are those three pillars?  Housing, Manufacturing, and Healthcare.   Given these facts, it’s not surprising that our economy is limping along- despite our stated efforts.

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Who are you going to call?

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Seconds count when you are in medical trouble.  And, now, a new company, EmergencyLink, may be able to help medical health personnel respond more completely to the situation.  But, it requires us to do something now to make that possible.  And, they (EmergencyLink) need to figure out how to respond more quickly, too!

Continue reading Who are you going to call?

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Healthcare Rebates?

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So, here it comes- or not.  The PPACA (Obamacare) stipulates that health care insurers are required to justify their health care premiums.  And, should they spend less than 80% of those premiums on benefits (this is called the medical loss ratio ) for small companies and individuals or 85% of  large company insurance costs on benefits, they are “legally overcharging” these subscribers.

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Doc- is that all you’re gonna do?

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What do Rafeal Soriano (New York Yankees), Brett Favre (Minnesota Vikings), and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) have in common?  They all rely (or have relied)  on the services of a renowned orthopaedic and sports physician, Dr. James Andrews, from Gulf Breeze Florida. His clinic, The Andrews Institute, founded in concert with Baptist Health Care,  works with students and professionals, as well as effects  research and provides education to patients and physicians. His newest research is bound to throw sports professionals for a loop- and probably many of us ‘regular’ folks, as well. Continue reading Doc- is that all you’re gonna do?

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Coming soon- to your mailbox (US Postal or eMail)

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You know that despite all the hoopla, lawsuits, demonstrations, whatever, most people have already begun to benefit from the Health Insurance Reform (Patient Protection &Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590) and the Health Care & Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4872) passed in 2009.  It would have been nice to have a real health reform bill, but given the first sentence, it’s not surprising that the half-a-loaf logic obtained.

Continue reading Coming soon- to your mailbox (US Postal or eMail)

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