Viewpoints: Addressing Hurdles To Organ Donation; Time To Take Action On America’s Mental Health Crisis
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
The Washington Post:
Stop Penalizing Organ Donors
The vast majority of Americans talk the talk about organ donation: Ninety-five percent say they support it. But only 50 percent walk the walk as registered donors. At a summit Monday, the White House announced measures that could reduce the gap. The White House and the universities, nonprofits and other organizations that participated in the summit hope to increase the number of yearly organ transplants in the United States, which last year surpassed 30,000 for the first time. More than 120,000 people remain on the waiting list — almost 100,000 for kidney transplants — and 22 die every day. (6/15)
Fox News:
Dear Senators, Follow US Employers' Lead And Move The Mental Health Reform Act Forward
We must work to solve the growing mental health crisis in this U.S. That’s why the time has come for presidential candidates to concern themselves and for the Senate to push forward a free and clear version of the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016 – one that is not commingled with gun rights amendments that are slowing down its progress. (Rajaie Batniji, 6/16)
Morning Consult:
Congress Should Act On Mental Health
Conventional wisdom says that Congress generally won’t achieve much in a Presidential election year as issues begin to get mired in partisan posturing. But 2016 has been anything but a conventional election year, and this Congress has the opportunity to pass two important bipartisan health bills this year. We’re talking about the mental health bills before the House and the Senate as well as the Medicare chronic care legislation under development by the Senate Finance Committee. These bipartisan proposals could improve the lives of millions of Americans and move our health care system in the direction of better integrated and higher value care. It’s time that Congress act on them. (John Rother and Wanda Filer, 6/15)
The New York Times:
Yes, Obamacare Premiums Are Going Up
Get ready for big increases in premiums under the Affordable Care Act. A new analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation examined the most popular individual plans under the new health care law in 14 major cities around the country and found that insurers were asking for increases in 2017 that are twice as big as this year’s. There is wide variation, including some places where rates will go down, but the average requested increase is 10 percent. While it will be months before insurers and regulators agree to final rates for the coming year, the Kaiser analysis confirms the signals we have seen from industry and government experts — that consumers and the federal government are likely to see much higher prices in many markets. Clearly, insurers are struggling to figure out how much to charge so they can cover their costs but still attract customers. (Reed Abelson and Margot Sanger-Katz, 6/15)
The Wichita Eagle:
KanCare Cuts Harm Hospitals, Physicians
Physician practices that accept KanCare will receive a 4 percent cut in payments for KanCare patients beginning July 2 as part of Gov. Sam Brownback’s recently announced solution to the state’s budget problems. That may seem small, but KanCare already pays below the cost of providing care, so additional cuts will result in a loss that many Kansas physician practices cannot afford. Frankly, the talk of Medicaid reimbursement cuts is causing many physicians in Kansas to question the sustainability of their practices under these conditions. (Diane Steere, 6/16)
Cincinnati Enquirer:
Good Samaritan Law Is Overdue
Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia have passed “Good Samaritan” laws to protect individuals from being arrested when they seek emergency room help for someone suffering a drug overdose. I am proud to say Ohio is now one of them. This bill may not have saved Tyler Bornstein’s life, but it will save others. (Denise Driehaus, 6/15)
Austin Statesman:
From Surviving To Thriving During, After Cancer Treatment
It is important for patients and caregivers to see that our commitment extends beyond the treatment plan – and into their lives outside of the clinic and after treatment. I believe most patients welcome the opportunity to make that connection, which is founded in a holistic and patient-centered point of view.
Oncology teams can help patients thrive during treatment by carefully monitoring their health and communicating early and often about options, expectations and outcomes. After treatment, patients take more responsibility for their daily and long-term health. For many, it’s a daunting task. (Mathew Meeneghan, 6/16)
Stat:
Gene Drive Debate Must Include Voices From Africa, Elsewhere
As the spread of mosquito-borne diseases has captured headlines in recent months, so too has a novel approach to mosquito control that might one day stop them: gene drive. Although it is in early development, this promising genetic technique could help end the transmission of many deadly pathogens, including malaria. (Richard Nchabi Kamwi, 6/15)
