Sunday, June 30, 2013

As Doctors Leave Syria, Public Health Crisis Looms

Listen to the Story 4 min 54 sec Playlist Download Transcript   Enlarge image i

Refugees fill cans with water inside a camp in Baalbek, Lebanon, for Syrians who have fled the fighting in their country.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Refugees fill cans with water inside a camp in Baalbek, Lebanon, for Syrians who have fled the fighting in their country.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

The death toll in Syria's ongoing civil war may now be as high as 100,000. As the violence mounts, another emergency is looming: a public health crisis across the region.

That's the conclusion of a new study published by the British medical journal The Lancet. Syria's health care system is near collapse. Outbreaks of disease are on the rise in the country, and refugees sheltered beyond the border are also at great risk.

One medical clinic in a poor neighborhood in Beirut is always busy. The two-story building is up a narrow street of cinder-block homes. Syrian refugees have moved in, adding to the crowding and the caseload, Dr. Abdul Kader Abbas says. He says he's treated 758 Syrian families here � many already sick when they arrived in this densely packed neighborhood.

"With the additional numbers," Abbas says, "we are afraid that any disease could spread easily in such circumstances." That's the same warning spelled out in the latest Lancet report.

Seventy percent of Syria's medical professionals have fled the country. Public health researchers Dr. Adam Coutts and Dr. Fouad Fouad say there has been a dramatic rise in communicable disease.

For example, Coutts says, there were 7,000 cases of measles in northern Syria in the past few months after a vaccination program was disrupted by war, and the list is growing to include TB, leishmaniasis, typhoid and cholera, which will come up during the summer months.

Leishmaniasis is spreading so fast among the displaced people inside of Syria that it is now called the "Aleppo boil" � for the running skin sores transmitted by sand fleas. Fouad says with the collapse of Syria's health care system, many Syrians have not had any medical care or medicine for more than two years.

When you consider chronic diseases like diabetes, Type 1 and 2, and cancer, Fouad says, you start to see that more people are dying of disease rather than war.

Disease moves easily across boundaries along with the refugees. Coutts and Fouad warn this could lead to a public health crisis for the entire region. By the end of this year, the Syrian refugee population is expected to reach more than 3 million.

In Jordan, the patient load in hospitals has jumped 250 percent in the past five months. Lebanon's health system is under strain with more registered refugees than any of its neighbors.

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"With this huge influx of refugees now in Lebanon," Fouad says, "the number will come to change the whole system."

One expected change is in the school system. U.N. officials estimate that when school starts in the fall, Syrians will outnumber Lebanese kids in the country's public schools. That worries Hayda Mohammed Al Jeeshi, the nurse at the health care center.

She says many Syrian kids missed childhood vaccinations before they fled to Lebanon and that puts Lebanese children at much greater risk. The measles outbreak that started in northern Syria is now showing up among the refugee community in Lebanon.

Scrambling to care for one of the world's largest refugee populations is another burden of the Syrian war. The U.S. government has upped its contribution to host countries to more than $800 million, with an additional $300 million pledged this month for food, shelter and health care.

"Diseases don't care whether you're for Assad, or against Assad, or uninterested in politics," says Anne Richard, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for refugees, who was in Lebanon this week. "It strikes everyone, as an equal opportunity."

Share Facebook 1Twitter Google+ Email Comment More From Middle East Lack In Leadership Hurts Palestinian Peace ProspectsNewsAmerican Killed At Protest In Egypt ID'd As Kenyon StudentEgyptian Protests Grow ViolentAs Doctors Leave Syria, Public Health Crisis Looms

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Saturday, June 29, 2013

Administration Clarifies Insurance Rules For Contraceptives

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Friday, June 28, 2013

Maine Once Again Allows Mail-Order Canadian Drugs To Cut Costs

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Test-Driving The Obamacare Software

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Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Men Pick Robotic Surgery For Prostate Cancer Despite Risks

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Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Top Medicare Prescribers Rake In Speaking Fees From Drugmakers

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Friday, June 21, 2013

FDA OKs Prescription-Free Plan B For All Ages, Ending Battle

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Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Infections From Contaminated Injections Can Lurk Undetected

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House Passes Bill That Would Ban Abortions After 20 Weeks

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Monday, June 17, 2013

FTC Can Sue Firms In 'Pay For Delay' Drug Deals, Court Rules

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Friday, June 14, 2013

Men: Don’t Wait for a Wakeup Call When it Comes to Your Health

As a group, we men are not known for doing a very good job of taking care of our own health.

National Men�s Health Week, from June 10 through Father�s Day on June 16, is a good time for us to start taking responsibility and doing what�s needed to stay healthy and active. That means eating right, taking the time to exercise, and�yes�talking to our doctors about what checkups we need.

Many health problems are preventable or more easily treated if we�re proactive about our health. The good news is the Affordable Care Act ensures that most health insurance plans cover recommended preventive services at no out-of-pocket cost.

Some of these services that are particularly important to men ages 40 to 64 include blood pressure and cholesterol checks, flu shots and tobacco cessation services.

Make sure your fathers, grandfathers, friends and uncles on Medicare know that they are eligible for these and other preventive services such as a yearly wellness visit, with no co-pays or deductibles.�

On October 1, 2013, there will be a new way for men to find affordable, quality health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace. You will be able to compare private insurance plans at the new Health Insurance Marketplace on HealthCare.gov and purchase the one that best suits your needs and wallet, for coverage starting January 1, 2014. You will also be able to use the same website to find out if you�re eligible for free or lower-cost coverage.

Beginning next year, you can�t be turned down or charged more because of a pre-existing condition, such as diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, or because of the type of work you do.

Educate yourself and get information to share with all the men in your life -- your sons, brothers, fathers, uncles, cousins, partners, and friends -- by signing up now at HealthCare.gov.

During National Men�s Health Week, let�s man up and take control of our health�for the peace of mind and security that we and our families deserve.

There�s no better Father�s Day gift for the fathers and men � and women and children � who care for us.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

New York Hospitals Shelve Rivalries For Proton Beam Project

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Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Feds Drop Opposition To OTC Sales Of Morning-After Pill

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GOP Hospital Executive Calls For Single-Payer

After spending 25 years in the health care field, most of it related to making hospitals more efficient and effective, I have become skeptical of many of Washington�s reform efforts, especially by my party, the GOP.

One of the biggest problems with health care is escalating, uncontrolled expenditures, taking a larger and larger proportion of our GNP. However, what Rep. Paul Ryan and the GOP want to talk about is the federal budget and cost-shifting via Medicare and Medicaid.

Experts in health care economics differ on many things. But one thing they all agree on is that raising the age for Medicare will do virtually nothing to reduce the overall cost of health care in this nation.

Under the Affordable Care Act, everyone must have insurance or be taxed. Medicare has a 3 percent administrative overhead while the private sector has run 28 percent, coming down to 20 percent as required by the ACA. Raising the Medicare age simply shifts the insurer from the government to less efficient private providers. This dumps the extra cost into the lap of the senior, who at 65 is probably unemployed and unemployable. There are no overall cost savings via efficiencies with Ryan�s Medicare �voucher� proposal.

Dr. Gerald Friedman, professor of economics at the University of Massachusetts, was in Charlotte recently for the launching of a physician advocacy group, Health Care Justice. Friedman indicated that U.S. per capita health care cost is $7,920. That compares with $3,323 in Sweden, $2,984 in Finland and only $2,686 in Italy. He points out that people in these countries are healthier than in our country and things are getting worse here. In 2001 among the non-elderly, 14 percent did not see a doctor for needed medical care. The figure rose to 26 percent in less than a decade.

Friedman pointed out that the most basic financial problem with U.S. health care is the for-profit insurance system. Insurance company profits have increased 250 percent in the last decade, Friedman said. The head of Cigna made a whopping $29 million in 2009 while health care premiums and increased deductibles are eating up more and more of workers� wages.

He further pointed out that the administrative cost of health care insurance is one of the major drivers of escalating health care costs from 1980 to 2005. According to Friedman, the administrative cost of private insurance will be $200 billion in 2013. In the U.S. billing costs run $83,975 per doctor per year versus only $22,205 in Ontario.

This is waste, pure and simple. Although the Affordable Care Act pushed through by the Democrats does not do enough to solve the issue, the current GOP proposals totally ignore it.

A related area is prescription drugs. We pay 60 percent more than other countries. Our nation is in effect providing a subsidy to all the others. Why should we pay more to develop drugs that are used elsewhere, not just here?

What is the best course of action to provide better health care and reduce the growth of national health care expenditures? Dr. Friedman�s cure is to move to single payer.

Single payer would drive down costs because Medicare (or a utility-like private single payer insurer) would have leverage to keep costs down. With no other game in town, providers would be forced to operate more efficiently. Drug companies would be pressured to give Americans the same drug pricing that is found elsewhere.

Friedman pointed out that in multiple state studies (independently done by several groups), single payer turns out to save money. In his own studies, he has shown savings of around 20 percent for North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, and even more in Colorado and Maryland.

According to Friedman, a national single payer system would produce enormous savings, $18.7 billion per year. Surely, at a time when wage earners are being faced with ever increasing premiums and higher deductibles, we should at least consider Medicare for all or a similar single payer system.

The real question is whether either party is willing to stand up to the drug and insurance lobbies and do what is best for America.

Jack Bernard is a retired health care executive, former Jasper County, Ga., commission chairman and former chairman of the Jasper County Republican Party.

GOP Hospital Executive Calls For Single-Payer

After spending 25 years in the health care field, most of it related to making hospitals more efficient and effective, I have become skeptical of many of Washington�s reform efforts, especially by my party, the GOP.

One of the biggest problems with health care is escalating, uncontrolled expenditures, taking a larger and larger proportion of our GNP. However, what Rep. Paul Ryan and the GOP want to talk about is the federal budget and cost-shifting via Medicare and Medicaid.

Experts in health care economics differ on many things. But one thing they all agree on is that raising the age for Medicare will do virtually nothing to reduce the overall cost of health care in this nation.

Under the Affordable Care Act, everyone must have insurance or be taxed. Medicare has a 3 percent administrative overhead while the private sector has run 28 percent, coming down to 20 percent as required by the ACA. Raising the Medicare age simply shifts the insurer from the government to less efficient private providers. This dumps the extra cost into the lap of the senior, who at 65 is probably unemployed and unemployable. There are no overall cost savings via efficiencies with Ryan�s Medicare �voucher� proposal.

Dr. Gerald Friedman, professor of economics at the University of Massachusetts, was in Charlotte recently for the launching of a physician advocacy group, Health Care Justice. Friedman indicated that U.S. per capita health care cost is $7,920. That compares with $3,323 in Sweden, $2,984 in Finland and only $2,686 in Italy. He points out that people in these countries are healthier than in our country and things are getting worse here. In 2001 among the non-elderly, 14 percent did not see a doctor for needed medical care. The figure rose to 26 percent in less than a decade.

Friedman pointed out that the most basic financial problem with U.S. health care is the for-profit insurance system. Insurance company profits have increased 250 percent in the last decade, Friedman said. The head of Cigna made a whopping $29 million in 2009 while health care premiums and increased deductibles are eating up more and more of workers� wages.

He further pointed out that the administrative cost of health care insurance is one of the major drivers of escalating health care costs from 1980 to 2005. According to Friedman, the administrative cost of private insurance will be $200 billion in 2013. In the U.S. billing costs run $83,975 per doctor per year versus only $22,205 in Ontario.

This is waste, pure and simple. Although the Affordable Care Act pushed through by the Democrats does not do enough to solve the issue, the current GOP proposals totally ignore it.

A related area is prescription drugs. We pay 60 percent more than other countries. Our nation is in effect providing a subsidy to all the others. Why should we pay more to develop drugs that are used elsewhere, not just here?

What is the best course of action to provide better health care and reduce the growth of national health care expenditures? Dr. Friedman�s cure is to move to single payer.

Single payer would drive down costs because Medicare (or a utility-like private single payer insurer) would have leverage to keep costs down. With no other game in town, providers would be forced to operate more efficiently. Drug companies would be pressured to give Americans the same drug pricing that is found elsewhere.

Friedman pointed out that in multiple state studies (independently done by several groups), single payer turns out to save money. In his own studies, he has shown savings of around 20 percent for North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, and even more in Colorado and Maryland.

According to Friedman, a national single payer system would produce enormous savings, $18.7 billion per year. Surely, at a time when wage earners are being faced with ever increasing premiums and higher deductibles, we should at least consider Medicare for all or a similar single payer system.

The real question is whether either party is willing to stand up to the drug and insurance lobbies and do what is best for America.

Jack Bernard is a retired health care executive, former Jasper County, Ga., commission chairman and former chairman of the Jasper County Republican Party.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

A Restaurant Brainstorms How To Afford Obamacare

Listen to the Story 6 min 43 sec Playlist Download Transcript   Enlarge image i

Clyde's of Georgetown, part of the 14-restaurant Clyde's Restaurant Group, is just one of many restaurants trying to navigate the changes the Affordable Care Act will bring.

Courtesy of Clyde's Restaurant Group

Clyde's of Georgetown, part of the 14-restaurant Clyde's Restaurant Group, is just one of many restaurants trying to navigate the changes the Affordable Care Act will bring.

Courtesy of Clyde's Restaurant Group

Almost 20 percent of American workers are working part-time, a historic high. Those part-time workers will be able to get health coverage beginning next year under Obama's Affordable Care Act, but many business owners worry about how they'll pay for it.

Business owners like Clyde's Restaurant Group, a family-owned chain of 14 restaurants in the Washington, D.C., area. For half a century, Clyde's has been a meeting place for politicians and lobbyists � like those who passed the Affordable Care Act � to meet over drinks away from Capitol Hill.

Restaurants face particular challenges adapting to the new health care laws. Supplemented by tips, most restaurant employees work for low wages. That means restaurant owners must pay a relatively larger portion of premiums than other businesses to make health care affordable.

It's not as simple as just cutting employee pay or raising prices to bring in the extra money needed, Clyde's Chief Financial Officer Jeff Owens says. Clyde's has had to rethink its business plan.

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"It started out as a brainstorming exercise for us," Owens says. "We were able to sit in a room and ... list out any ideas that would generate either cost savings or additional revenue."

Some of those ideas included things like using paper napkins over cloth, reducing portion sizes and, of course, staffing changes. There's also raising prices, which Owens says is last on the list.

"It's a tricky thing, because it's hard to forecast what the decrease in your traffic is going to be," he says.

All of this, in order to prepare for bearing the increased cost of covering employee health care under Obamacare.

"For one to two years it's been the No. 1 issue on our radar," he says. "We're not trying to run away from it, but it's a frightening proposition."

Share Facebook Twitter Google+ Email Comment More From Business U.S.DNI Calls Reporting On Government Surveillance 'Reckless' U.S.Tech Giants Deny Granting NSA 'Direct Access' To ServersAround the NationPuerto Rican Flags Wave To New York's Parade GoersBusinessA Restaurant Brainstorms How To Afford Obamacare

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Datapalooza: A Concept, A Conference And A Movement

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Friday, June 7, 2013

30 Million to Remain Uninsured Under Obamacare

Harvard and CUNY researchers say 4.9 million Texans and 3.7 million Californians will still be uninsured in 2016

A study released today on the Health Affairs blog finds that between 29.8 million and 31.0 million people will remain uninsured after the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in 2016 and breaks down those figures by state.

The research team from Harvard Medical School and the City University of New York School of Public Health projects that the demographic composition of today�s uninsured population will change little under Obamacare.

The share of the uninsured who are U.S. citizens will rise slightly from 80 percent to 81 percent. White persons (of all ethnicities) will continue to constitute 74 percent of all uninsured Americans. About 59 percent of the uninsured will have incomes between 100 percent and 399 percent of poverty, while 27 percent will have incomes below poverty.

The researchers also estimated uninsured figures for each state (see table below).

The study analyzed Census Bureau data on current patterns of uninsurance, and used a coverage prediction model based on the model used by the Congressional Budget Office.

The researchers projected two coverage scenarios for each state. One assumed that the state turns down a Medicaid expansion and the other assumed that the state implements Medicaid expansion despite the Supreme Court ruling that such expansion is optional. The national estimates use the Advisory Board Company�s latest summary of which states are likely to participate in the Medicaid expansion.

Study co-author Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, a professor at CUNY and visiting professor of medicine at Harvard, said: �Many people believe that Obamacare will cover everyone. But the reform is so deeply flawed that 30 million or more will still be uninsured after it�s fully implemented. Even if the Supreme Court hadn�t let states of the hook for Medicaid expansion, 26 million would have been uninsured. We need to replace Obamacare with a simple single-payer system that would cover everyone.�

Lead author Dr. Rachel Nardin, chief of neurology at Cambridge Health Alliance and assistant professor of neurology at Harvard, commented: �Even in Massachusetts, where a reform like Obamacare has been in place since 2006, too many patients still can�t get the care they need. Hundreds of thousands are still uninsured, and many more have such skimpy coverage that they face unaffordable co-payments.�

�The Uninsured After Implementation of the Affordable Care Act: A Demographic and Geographic Analysis,� Rachel Nardin, M.D., Leah Zallman, M.D., M.P.H., Danny McCormick, M.D., M.P.H., Steffie Woolhandler, M.D., M.P.H., David Himmelstein, M.D. Health Affairs blog, June 6, 2013.

Fat Doctors Make Fat Patients Feel Better, And Worse

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Thursday, June 6, 2013

Fat Doctors Make Fat Patients Feel Better, And Worse

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NIH Chief Rejects Ethics Critique Of Preemie Study

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