FEMA Hurricane Sandy Workers Win Health Benefits
That didn’t take long. Just one week after an online petition made news by calling for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to give health benefits to part-time disaster workers responding to Hurricane Sandy, the United States government changed its policy. The Office of Personnel Management, which oversees federal worker benefits, granted “certain employees who work on […]
Petition Calls For Hurricane Sandy First Responder Health Benefits
From leading evacuees through flooded streets to carrying a family pet out of a collapsing home, first responders have been dubbed the heroes of Hurricane Sandy. But not all of them had health benefits as they headed into the disaster zones this week. While local, full-time police, firefighters and EMTs have full coverage, first responders […]
Physicians Swap Traditional Practices For New Models
Last Thursday Dr. L. Markham McHenry, a family physician, held a meeting with some patients to tell them about changes he was planning. After 15 years of working in a private practice, the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based doctor is in the process of transitioning to a subscription-based model. His patients, who he said come from a range […]
Next Generation Of Doctors Will Face Training Challenges
Things are looking good for medical schools this year, with a record number of students in the 2012 class and the most diverse cohort yet. But a government freeze on residency training positions may stop that momentum in its tracks. With the nation facing a projected shortage of as many as 90,000 doctors in the […]
The Stakes Are High For Physicians In This Election Year
Despite varying political backgrounds, three health care experts are advising physicians that the presidential election will be crucial in deciding the way they practice and how it can be financed. Discussing some of the prickliest issues at stake in the health care delivery system, Dr. David Blumenthal, previously a director of health IT for the […]
Idaho, Texas: Best Places For Physicians To Practice
From the lakes of Minnesota, to the … clinics of Tennessee? The best places to practice medicine may surprise you. According to a report prepared annually by Physicians Practice, an online media and resource tool for doctors, Idaho, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas rank highest on the this year’s list, based on metrics like malpractice frequency, reimbursement […]
Study: Seniors Overspend On Medicare Part D
Seniors spent on average $368 more than they needed to on drug coverage through Medicare Part D plans in 2009 — their decisions complicated by the sheer volume of plans available and difficulties involved in determining what makes a plan a good choice, a Health Affairs study released Tuesday has found. There are 1,736 plans available to Medicare beneficiaries for purchasing prescription […]
Docs Say Concerns About ER ‘Frequent Flyer’ Use Are Overblown
When Mitt Romney advised uninsured Americans to head to the emergency room for care, analysts were quick to point out the burden of high ER costs and the danger of abusing a safety net system. But emergency departments only account for 2 percent of health care spending, according to research presented by the American College […]
Family Physicians Reject Suggestions To Have Nurses Lead Practices
With a shortage of primary care providers looming, the idea of using nurses and physician assistants to fill the gap often appears to be gaining traction. But according to a report released Tuesday by the American Academy of Family Physicians, having more nurse practitioner-led medical practices is not a viable solution. “Perceived shortages don’t justify […]
Unchecked Rise In Obesity Will Be Costly To States, Report Says
A new report analyzing obesity trends warns that health care costs will increase alongside U.S. waistlines if current rates are left unchecked. It calls for mobilizing public health efforts and expanding funding to help adults and children become leaner. Mississippi, Louisiana and West Virginia have the highest adult obesity rates, but projections of health trends for 2030 […]
Family, Community Ties Key To Fighting Chronic Disease Among Latinos, Officials Say
Mayra Alvarez, one of four daughters, said her mother makes ends meet in California by cleaning houses during the week and caring for an elderly person on weekends. And when it comes to deciding between paying for a preventive screening test for herself or spending the money on her youngest daughter’s education, she said her […]
IOM Report Focuses On $750 Billion In Inefficient Health Care Spending
“If home building were like health care,” says a new Institute of Medicine report, “carpenters, electricians, and plumbers each would work with different blueprints, with very little coordination.” With physicians, hospital administrators and insurance companies on often diverging building plans, the idea that the health care system could fall apart like a badly built house […]
Study: Decision Aids Show Promise In Reducing Medical Procedures
While policymakers debate complex changes to reduce health spending, promoting patients’ involvement in treatment decisions could have an immediate effect. A new Health Affairs report about decision aids — materials given to patients to help educate them about treatment options — shows they can help hold down costs by reducing demand for medical procedures. “The […]
Sherpaa Offers New Options For Employee Health Plans
In 2007, pediatrician Jay Parkinson, fresh from a Johns Hopkins residency program, rejected a traditional private practice model in developing his own approach to providing health care. To cut down on overhead costs and staff, Parkinson created a public Google calendar on his site for patients around Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood, where he lives, to request […]
CDC: All Baby Boomers Should Be Tested For Hepatitis C
When it comes to preventive screenings, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wants baby boomers to add one more item to the list. The CDC is calling for all Americans born between 1945 and 1965 to be tested for the Hepatitis C virus as part of expanded recommendations to limit related illnesses and deaths that were released today. Hepatitis […]
Survey: Boomers Worry About Medicare’s Future, Want More Details From Candidates
A new AARP survey suggests that baby boomers aren’t confident they can retire as planned – or that they will have access to Medicare when they do. The organization asked registered voters, including an oversample of people age 50-plus, about their five top financial concerns to measure what they call an “Anxiety Index.” Health expenses ranked […]
