MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'health care reform'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:56:01 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169531&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FtpVlZ8rFxyc%2F By Michael F. CannonThe federal government, four states, and a whistleblower have extracted a $154 million settlement from Par Pharmaceuticals for fraudulently inflating the prices it charges Medicaid, according to the Associated Press. With Medicare and Medicaid losing roughly $100 billion each year to fraud and other improper payments, however, the fact that a paltry $154 million settlement is news can only mean that federal and state governments are not even trying to combat fraud in any serious way.   As I explain in this video, that’s because politicians have almost zero incentive to do so — which makes massive amounts of fraud an inherent part of these programs: Under ObamaCare, Medicare and Medicaid fraud will only get worse. $154 Million Medicaid Fraud Settlement a... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169531 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:58:12 +0100 5169531 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139606&cid=t_124363_85_f&fid=34967&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdocisinblog%2FwNlq%2F%7E3%2FkXBEdmSDhWU%2F As individuals and small groups, physicians have proved to be an independent lot — “herding cats” a common metaphor for getting the profession to toe the line, even on matters beneficial to them. Once they have been herded under one roof, however, the job of controlling and coercing them becomes far easier. Ever hear the term “ACO”? No? Better get familiar with it, because this is your future. Accountable Care Organizations are the government’s new carrot & stick to control costs and micromanage the health care profession and industry. Those of you who’ve been around a while may remember HMOs — the insurance industry’s innovation in the late 80′s to get control of spiraling health care costs. Using a mechanism called capitati... The Doctor Is In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139606 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:24:05 +0100 5139606 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096192&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FC8uUKj_w1Lo%2F The latest video from the Alliance for Health Reform is now available. It  features Karen Davis, president of The Commonwealth Fund. Health care spending will be a target of efforts to cut the federal deficit. The best way to reduce unnecessary spending, Dr. Davis says, is to make sure everyone gets the right care, using new provider payment mechanisms such as bundled payment and value-based purchasing. In this video, Dr. Davis describes some of these payment reforms and lays out the case for greater use of comparative effectiveness research to learn “what really works.” This video is part of a series produced by the Alliance and supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care) Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096192 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:07:01 +0100 5096192 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096097&cid=t_124363_85_f&fid=34967&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdocisinblog%2FwNlq%2F%7E3%2FJj4POHfFcZQ%2F Well, now, isn’t that special… Forbes reports on a new investment vehicle, tailor-made for the get-rich-quick crowd: Playing The Odds: Hedge Funds Finance Medical Malpractice Claims: An entirely new industry has cropped up in recent years as trial lawyers set their sights on making money off physicians, corporations and other targets–particularly financing malpractice suits through hedge funds. In 2010, hedge funds invested $1 billion in these types of suits, much of it for medical malpractice cases… … the rewards can be remarkable for investors, which is why dollars are flowing into these hedge funds. Payouts can result in tens of millions of dollars. George Soros, call your office… Having milked all the money they can from sub-prime mortgages, deriva... The Doctor Is In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096097 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:27:09 +0100 5096097 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086488&cid=t_124363_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fits-all-fancy-bookkeeping-to-me.html Partners Health Care, a group of doctors and hospitals, has promised to rein in costs by $40 million. That sounds like a nice number and everything should be peachy keen. But they are not giving back any money, they are renegotiating contracts and have taken over a year to do this. Also, their assets are $11.5 billion. I have nothing against Partners and think they probably do a good job at providing health care. I also think that reducing health care costs is a good idea. I am just using them as an example here because they were in the news.It is obvious that health care costs need to be reined in. I don't think this is really doing anything. Yes they are going to renegotiate contracts from high rates to low rates and take a $40 million dollar hit. But how does this help us consumers/pati... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086488 Sun, 31 Jul 2011 12:47:00 +0100 5086488 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069477&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Finstitute-of-medicine-suggests-8-new-preventive-services-to-improve-womens-health%2F2011.07.26 Eight preventive health services for women should be added to the services that health plans will cover at no cost to patients under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, according to a report by the Institute of Medicine. The recommendations encompass diseases and conditions that are more common or more serious in women than in men. They are based on existing guidelines and an assessment of the evidence on the effectiveness of different preventive services. They include: 1) screening for gestational diabetes in pregnant women between 24 and 28 weeks and at the first prenatal visit for women at high risk for diabetes, 2) adding high-risk human papillomavirus DNA testing in addition to conventional cytology testing in women with normal cytology results starting at age 30, ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069477 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:00:00 +0100 5069477 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992681&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.changehealthcare.com%2Fdownloads%2Fhcti%2FHCTI_Q42010.pdf My mama told me you’d better shop around, as Smokey Robinson also told us. We now know it pays to shop the prices for digital imaging. The price of an MRI of the brain ranges from a low of $825 to a high of $3,600 within the Southeast region of the U.S. In the Northeast, the low is $1,540 and the high, $3,500. There are similar price “spreads” in other regions of the country for the same imaging study, and across other imaging modalities such as PET and CT. The greatest regional variances by service type are for MRI scans of the brain, varying 747% between a low price of $425 in the Southwest to a high of $3,600 in the Southeast, based on an analysis from change: healthcare‘s Q2 2011 Healthcare Transparency Index. USA Today reported on this study on June 30, 2011. Christopher Park... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992681 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:47:47 +0100 4992681 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968492&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmedical-students-deterred-from-primary-care%2F2011.06.25 Primary care physicians are getting paid more, two surveys agree, while hospital employment is rising. Internists earned $205,379 in median compensation in 2010, an increase of 4.21% over the previous year, reported the Medical Group Management Association’s (MGMA’s) Physician Compensation and Production Survey: 2011 Report Based on 2010 Data. Family practitioners (without obstetrics) reported median compensation of $189,402. Pediatric/adolescent medicine physicians earned $192,148 in median compensation, an increase of 0.39% since 2009. Among specialists, anesthesiologists reported decreased compensation, as did gastroenterologists and radiologists. Psychiatrists, dermatologists, neurologists and general surgeons reported an increase in median compensation since 2009. Regional... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968492 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 14:00:00 +0100 4968492 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960066&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fsuggestions-for-minimizing-spending-in-oncology%2F2011.06.22 Recently the NEJM ran a Sounding Board piece on Bending the Cost Curve in Cancer Care. The author’s take on this problem: Annual direct costs for cancer care are projected to rise — from $104 billion in 2006 to over $173 billion in 2020 and beyond.2…Medical oncologists directly or indirectly control or influence the majority of cancer care costs, including the use and choice of drugs, the types of supportive care, the frequency of imaging, and the number and extent of hospitalizations… The article responds, in part, to Dr. Howard Brody’s 2010 proposal that each medical specialty society find five ways to reduce waste in health care. The authors, from the Divisions of Hematology-Oncology and Palliative Care at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond VA, offer two lists: S... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960066 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 21:00:34 +0100 4960066 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4959995&cid=t_124363_85_f&fid=34967&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdocisinblog%2FwNlq%2F%7E3%2FiMBgUWNcbdY%2F Word of my demise, widespread and nefarious as it has been, is most assuredly premature. I must put these scurrilous rumors to rest… But life has been, well, most interesting… The past year or so has been one of the most challenging in many a season, on a number of fronts. Professionally, the passage of Obamacare has made it abundantly clear that the independent private practitioner is a dying breed, and likely will disappear — with the exception of cash-only, concierge-style arrangements — within the next few years. The administrative burden is crushing — unfunded mandates, such as pay-for-performance, compliance programs, HIPAA, mandated “government certified” EMRs (even though existing, non-certified ones are fully functional), and intrusive, ab... The Doctor Is In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4959995 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 22:02:32 +0100 4959995 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960048&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FsY-ZhuO_Op8%2F By Ilya ShapiroAs followers of this blog recognize, Obamacare has more constitutional defects than just the individual mandate or even the coercive use of Medicaid funds.  One issue that is getting increasing attention (see the Weekly Standard, National Review, and George Will) is this weird new entity called the Independent Payment Advisory Board. IPAB, which Sarah Palin famously labeled a “death panel,” will exercise virtually unchecked power to set Medicare reimbursement rates—without political or legal oversight by any branch of government.  It’s reminiscent of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the part of the Sarbanes-Oxley financial regulation law that the Supreme Court found partially unconstitutional last year.  Except it has the power of life ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960048 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:43:32 +0100 4960048 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4945098&cid=t_124363_137_f&fid=39091&url=http%3A%2F%2Falzheimmers.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fnew-blog-meidcal-fiction-writer-and.html Good Day. Long time no blog. I have been busy with some Health Care Issues lately. In fact I have been down to Mayo Clinic twice since I last blogged. (Great Venipuncturists at Mayo, also fairly decent restaurants in Rochester, MN) I won't bore you with the details right now, needless to say it sucks, but then you go on as best you can,  as time keeps marching on.Also I have been busy trying to survive as a Private Practice Physician in the State of Minnesota, despite the best efforts of  many bureaucracies and agencies to annihilate entities like myself: all done of course shouting the Battle Cry and in the name of health care "REFORM".  When it is all said and done, we will still need doctors to take care of patients and patient... Caregiver Survival: I Hate Alzheimers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4945098 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 03:22:00 +0100 4945098 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911448&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FcoS8mNzb_mg%2F By Ilya ShapiroATLANTA — In the most important appeal of the Obamacare constitutional saga, today was the best day yet for individual freedom.  The government’s lawyer, Neal Katyal, spent most of the hearing on the ropes, with the judicial panel extremely cautious not to extend federal power beyond its present outer limits of regulating economic activity that has a substantial aggregate effect on interstate commerce. As the lawyer representing 26 states against the federal government said, “The whole reason we do this is to protect liberty.” With those words, former solicitor general Paul Clement reached the essence of the Obamacare lawsuits. With apologies to Joe Biden, this is a big deal not because we’re dealing with a huge reorganization of the health car... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911448 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:34:39 +0100 4911448 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911481&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhealthcare-regulations-gone-wild%2F2011.06.08 We certainly have seen regulations upon regulations appear for health care over the past several years, and this letter to the editor of the Wall Street Journal (1 June 2011) from the Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Nancy A. Nord, should cause us all to pause: As a commissioner at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), I can attest that no such (regulatory reform) activity is happening at this agency. We certainly have not combed through our regulations to eliminate those that are “out-of-date, unnecessary, [or] excessively burdensome,” as he suggests is being done across the government. Instead, we are regulating at an unprecedented pace and have pretty much abandoned any efforts to weigh societal benefits from regulations with the costs im... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911481 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:00:00 +0100 4911481 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893419&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FnXbjPkLiTjY%2F By Ilya ShapiroCINCINNATI — Now for something completely different, and not just because the spirited Sixth Circuit judges were much more skeptical of the government’s position than the Fourth Circuit was last month. Unlike the panel in Richmond — Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli probably started outlining his cert petition as soon as court adjourned — here there will be at least one vote to strike down the individual mandate, and maybe even all three. And this panel should produce one or more opinions in which there will be much for the Supreme Court to grapple with. The appellate argument didn’t even begin until after a skirmish over standing provoked by the motion to dismiss the government filed last week. That mini-argument — what Judge Marti... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893419 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:19:32 +0100 4893419 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872105&cid=t_124363_88_f&fid=38959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.epmonthly.com%2Fwhitecoat%2F2011%2F05%2Ffree-market-medicine-and-lab-tests%2F As my surgical experiences come to a close, I have now begun to receive all the bills for services that were provided to me. One bill shows what one national health care provider considers “fair payment” for laboratory testing performed prior to my surgery. I matched that bill up with my insurance explanation of benefits to determine which prices go to what tests. Click on the picture below to enlarge. Fees for the lab testing were discounted anywhere from 70% to 90% off the provider’s published rates. A CBC cost $8.12 PT/PTT (coagulation studies) cost a total of $10.15 A basic metabolic panel cost $8.12 Nearly $200 in “handling fees” was waived. They accepted five bucks instead of the $16.70 they charged for drawing my blood. In summary, it would have cost me... WhiteCoat's Call Room blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872105 Thu, 26 May 2011 21:52:51 +0100 4872105 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862539&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FxqlsdGvGlEM%2F “What Does Health Reform Do for People on Medicare?”  The new health reform law benefits people on Medicare in a number of ways. This video explains some of the ways, such as ending out-of-pocket expenses for recommended screenings, checkups and other preventive services, and reducing prescription drug prices in the “doughnut hole.” Featuring John Rother, executive vice president of policy and strategy for AARP. “Will Health Reform Reduce the Federal Deficit?”   The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the health reform law will reduce the federal deficit by $124 billion by 2020. Respected analysts disagree, however. In this video, economist Joe Antos of the American Enterprise Institute explains why he believes health reform will cost much more than expected, primaril... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862539 Tue, 24 May 2011 13:06:41 +0100 4862539 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4852863&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fprediction-physicians-will-retire-earlier-and-earlier-because-medicine-is-no-longer-fun%2F2011.05.21 I wonder if we’re in danger of stifling fun in medicine. Certainly there are still fun things to do in medicine (ablating a pesky accessory pathway safely, for instance). But as I watch the newly-minted medical school graduates emerge from their long, sheltered educational cocoon, I wonder what their attrition rate will be from medicine once they see our new more-robotic form of health care community. There is a social camaraderie in medicine when you train. Maybe it’s the “misery loves company” syndrome. In medical school you stick together through thick and thin because few others understand what you’re going through. You strive for the day when, collectively, you earn the designation of “doctor of medicine.” There’s a strength in numbers. ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4852863 Sat, 21 May 2011 16:00:00 +0100 4852863 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4820857&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhy-industry-largesse-is-a-necessary-part-of-good-healthcare%2F2011.05.12 Largesse: (Form thefreedictionary.com): 1. a. Liberality in bestowing gifts, especially in a lofty or condescending manner. b. Money or gifts bestowed. 2. Generosity of spirit or attitude. Two days into last week’s Heart Rhythm Society meeting, Propublica, an independent online investigative journalism-in-the-public-interest endeavor published a series of high profile articles as part of their Dollars for Docs series. Their marquee piece, published prominently in the USA Today, chronicled the strong financial ties (the ‘largesse’) that bind medical societies to industry. Reporters Charlie Ornstein and Tracy Weber highlighted the meeting’s ‘mansion’-sized exhibits, intense advertising, and the fact that most of the opinion leaders, officers of medical societies and guideline wri... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4820857 Thu, 12 May 2011 15:30:02 +0100 4820857 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4813280&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.allhealth.org%2Fhealth-issues-sourcebook2011%2Fcovering-health-issues-2011.pdf The completely updated 200-page Alliance sourcebook, “Covering Health Issues, 6th Edition,” is now available. Written with reporters in mind, “Covering Health Issues” is useful for anyone looking for concise information on health policy issues, and experts from across the political spectrum. Chapters contain fast facts, background, tips for reporters, story ideas and experts with contact information. The book also includes an extensive glossary, ideas and examples for TV and radio reporters, and links to polls on health issues. Supported by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. To see a video demonstration of the book by Julie Rovner of NPR, click here. To see individual chapters, click on any of the chapter titles below. To download the entire sourcebo... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4813280 Wed, 11 May 2011 13:00:06 +0100 4813280 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4789633&cid=t_124363_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Frn2r9MWhDMo%2F Conceived as part of health care reform, accountable care organizations may become the next big thing in lowering cost. The basic premise involves a network of doctors and hospitals that share responsibility for providing care to patients. Each ACO would receive financial incentives to provide quality care to Medicare beneficiaries while holding down costs. And since the intiative is scheduled to launch in January 2012, there is a scramble under way among physician practices and hospitals to form ACOs. The Obama administration, meanwhile, recently proposed guidelines on how ACOs will work (look here). But what are the implications for the pharmaceutical industry? We spoke with Ian Spatz, a senior advisor to Manatt Health Solutions, founder of Rock Creek Policy Group and a former vp for pub... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4789633 Thu, 05 May 2011 20:50:41 +0100 4789633 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803299&cid=t_124363_114_f&fid=35410&url=http%3A%2F%2Fletstalkhealthcare.org%2Fblog%2Fhealth-care-uncovered%2F During the week marking the fifth anniversary of our landmark health care reform in Massachusetts I participated in WCVBTV’s Health Care Uncovered Live Summit. It was an honor to be included in the panel of leaders, and I think we made important strides towards communicating the complexity of health care reform to the public. These are some of the topics we covered: Governor Patrick’s Payment Reform Bill Shift from Fee-For-Service to Global Payments How premium prices are calculated Why transparency is important Need to focus on Preventive Care/Patient Responsibility We also answered viewer’s questions directly from Facebook, and addressed some of the concerns many people have about the health care system. I encourage you all to watch the clips of the Health Care Uncove... HPHC blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803299 Tue, 03 May 2011 12:39:27 +0100 4803299 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4780488&cid=t_124363_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FGuogHFPFGkk%2F Good morning, everyone, and nice to see you again. A sunny day is unfolding here on the Pharmalot corporate campus, where we hope we have solved our recent tech problems. We appreciate your patience. Meanwhile, we are brewing the usual cup of stimulation - our flavor today is Mocha Nut Fudge - and perusing the news of the world. Let us know if you hear something interesting. And, of course, have a productive and rewarding day… Pfizer Earnings Rise On Lower Costs (Associated Press) Novartis CEO Not Thrilled With Health Care Reform (Fortune) Shanghai Pharma Raises $2.2B, Investors Include Pfizer (Bloomberg News) Could Chemicals In Wine Improve Stent Performance? (Health Day) Teva To Buy Japanese Generic Drugmaker (Globes) FDA Approves Boehringer/Lilly Diabetes Drug (Pharma Times) Parex... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4780488 Tue, 03 May 2011 12:02:39 +0100 4780488 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4775392&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcardiologists-not-needed-a-nurse-and-a-computer-will-do%2F2011.05.02 Wait… Before reading any further, I would like to issue a warning. If your ideas about healthcare delivery are of an older ilk; if you cling white-knuckled to past dogma, please stop reading now. What follows may cause your atria to fibrillate. Last month I wrote that the best tool for treating atrial fibrillation (AF) was to give patients information—to teach them about their AF, its complications, role of lifestyle factors and the many treatment options. I didn’t say this was easy. In fact, thoroughly explaining AF takes nearly the same time it takes me to isolate the pulmonary veins–a lot longer than the 10 minutes allotted for a typical office visit. (Remember: of a 30 minute office visit, I have to review your chart, listen attentively to your story, examine you, and complete ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4775392 Mon, 02 May 2011 12:00:46 +0100 4775392 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4747882&cid=t_124363_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F9c4NOuPTQQ8%2F The US Supreme Court tomorrow will review a highly controversial issue - the constitutionality of a Vermont law that restricts the sale of prescription drug info identifying prescribers and patients for commercial marketing purposes. The practice is known in the pharma world as data mining and has been building for some two decades ever since data was gathered by market research firms, but has since sparked heated arguments over free speech, health care costs and information privacy. The information at issue includes the name of a prescribing physician, patient age and sex, the type and strength of each drug prescribed, and the date and location of prescription. Pharmacies, of course, are required by law to collect and maintain data about each prescription that is filled, and are allowed c... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4747882 Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:16:39 +0100 4747882 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4747598&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FmI-WS98fJEs%2F By Ilya ShapiroThat the Supreme Court declined to take up the Obamacare litigation before even a single appellate court had ruled on it is neither surprising nor game-changing. Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s cert petition, whatever its merits (which were several), was a long-shot to begin with as a matter of practice and procedure.  Cato, like all other interested parties, has continued filing briefs in and commenting on the various cases on appeal around the country.  The only noteworthy point here is that Justice Elena Kagan apparently participated in the consideration of the petition, which indicates that she won’t be recused when one of these cases does hit the Court.  This too isn’t terribly surprising: I’m still digging through the documents reg... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4747598 Mon, 25 Apr 2011 15:55:47 +0100 4747598 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4744914&cid=t_124363_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fcaution-on-national-healthcare.html In some ways, the UK's National Health Service is admirable and in others it is terrible - both provide lessons for us. I will note that from 1993-2002, I used to work for a British company and in countless trips to England had the opportunity to watch the local news on medical issues as well as talk to colleagues about their own personal experiences. In addition, I read BBC online just for an international perspective.It is admirable in that an entire country gets basically free medical care. NHS basically takes care of one from cradle to grave. It is a great concept and the UK has essentially made it work for decades.However, a few thoughts on the downside:- I was in the UK during a particularly bad outbreak of the flu. Hospital emergency rooms were overworked because of the number of si... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4744914 Sat, 23 Apr 2011 11:43:00 +0100 4744914 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4734261&cid=t_124363_113_f&fid=34631&url=http%3A%2F%2Fehealth.johnwsharp.com%2F2011%2F04%2F19%2Fprevention-and-lifestyle-changes-potential-for-health-care-reform%2F Dean Ornish Today I heard Dean Ornish speak and came aware more convinced that prevention of disease through lifestyle changes can have a major impact on the future of health. Particularly, the potential impact on the epidemic of diabetes in the US is huge. We all have heard about how more and more of our population is becoming obese and the subsequent increase in diabetes and metabolic syndrome. If lifestyle changes can prevent even 10 or 20 percent of the progression to these serious conditions, imaging the impact on quality of life, work productivity and healthcare costs. This Thursday, Cleveland Clinic and Slate magazine will co-host a summit on Childhood Obesity. Not only that, but he notes research on his website, Preventive Medicine Research Institute, that there is a potential impa... eHealth blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4734261 Tue, 19 Apr 2011 21:15:29 +0100 4734261 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4720042&cid=t_124363_134_f&fid=35213&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fblogspot%2FYNchP%2F%7E3%2F6_YKGZd81s8%2Fcomments-on-commentsand-then-comments.html Lilly - yes, I did enjoy my spa day.  Very much.  And my nail polish (which I never put on) hasn't chipped yet!  They did an excellent job on my hair as well.  It was a most relaxing day! 7 key components to relationships: Sandy - I have the "voice", but not the energy!  LOL!  Especially right this moment.  I keep thinking, "maybe....when he is well."  and then I have to remember - he is not going to get well.  This is probably as good as it will ever get. Lilly, yes, I agree.  It is better to remain together instead of being totally alone.  But at the very same time, I can be so alone even when he is in the house.  So I totally understand what you are saying. tunnel vision: Crazy wife.  Nope, we haven't found out anyth... Wife of a Diabetic blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4720042 Sat, 16 Apr 2011 04:07:00 +0100 4720042 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4677052&cid=t_124363_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fmore-on-health-care-costs-for-public.html Here in Massachusetts there is a state law which says municipalities must negotiate with unions whenever they want to make changes to the current health care plans and payments. So what has happened is towns are spending more and more each year of their budgets on health care for employees. A report was done by two organizations here that reviewed the costs in 14 towns. If you are a public employee in those towns, you pay an average of $11 co pay for primary care, $14 for specialists, generic drugs cost you $8, brand drugs cost $15, non-preferred brands cost $31. You also have no copayment for imaging and no deductible. Are your costs anywhere near that? And probably up to 85% of your premiums are paid by your employer. The report recommends that the state law be changed. The governor is b... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4677052 Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:16:00 +0100 4677052 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4676753&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FXPS5OEq8Kyk%2F By Ilya ShapiroA recent poll showed that 22% of Americans believe Obamacare has been repealed and 26% aren’t sure.  Yet here at Cato, we're all too aware that the massive, unconstitutional, and fundamentally unworkable overhaul of our health care system still looms on the horizon. While two lower courts have struck down Obamacare in whole or in part, three others have ruled it constitutional, including a D.C. District Court opinion that claimed for the federal government the right to regulate the “mental activity” of decision-making.  As litigation progresses to the appellate level, this latter decision has proven to be more a hindrance to Obamacare’s supporters than a help, its Orwellian pronouncement being hard to ignore while the government downplays the significance of the po... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4676753 Mon, 04 Apr 2011 19:54:33 +0100 4676753 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4670108&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fphysicians-pressured-not-to-order-tests-then-sued-if-they-dont%2F2011.04.02 Cardiologists in Connecticut are standing up to the lack of liability protection in the state’s new low-income health plan called SustiNet: The SustiNet program would create large pools of people, including those who can’t currently afford health insurance, that would theoretically drive down premium costs by competing with the plans of private insurers. Among other cost savings, it would designate a single doctor or practice for each patient, to reduce emergency care use, and create new “best-use” procedures for a variety of ailments to reduce the number of tests doctors order. But a key provision of the plan was that doctors, in return for following the new procedures and ordering fewer tests, would be protected from malpractice suits if the outcome of a case was ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4670108 Sat, 02 Apr 2011 21:00:00 +0100 4670108 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4626872&cid=t_124363_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F03%2F24%2Fif-its-evitable-i-dont-like-it%2F Situationist Contributor Aaron Kay as well as Peter A. Ubel and Gavan Fitzsimons wrote the following editorial for the Detroit Free Press.: This week it will be one year since President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law. Despite all the controversy that preceded the bill’s passage, most health policy experts confidently predicted that the public would soon embrace the legislation. To back up these predictions, they pointed out that Medicare was quite controversial when it was established in the 1960s, but rapidly grew in popularity. Much the same happened more recently with Medicare Part D, the law championed by President George W. Bush to extend Medicare coverage to medications. Recent polls belie these predictions, however, as support for health care reform has... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4626872 Thu, 24 Mar 2011 04:01:42 +0100 4626872 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4626827&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FTrEXv67U4VI%2F A year after President Obama signed health reform into law, the public remains deeply divided over the landmark legislation, with a year of political debate over its merits and the beginning stages of its implementation doing little to alter Americans’ opinions about the law. In March, one year after enactment, 42 percent of Americans hold favorable views of the law while 46 percent view it unfavorably, a basic division that has changed little during the last 12 months. (In April 2010, 46 percent had favorable views and 40 percent unfavorable ones, but both figures have ticked up and down over the last year.) Opinion of the law continues to break sharply along partisan lines, with 71 percent of Democrats backing the law and 82 percent of Republicans opposing it. About half (51%) of Ame... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4626827 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:45:14 +0100 4626827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4626832&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fphysician-salaries-increase-in-academia-and-primary-care%2F2011.03.23 Academic faculty physicians in primary and specialty care reported slight pay increases, according to the Medical Group Management Association. The organization’s Academic Practice Compensation and Production Survey for Faculty and Management: 2011 Report Based on 2010 Data, annual compensation for internal medicine primary care faculty physicians increased by 6.84% since 2009, and increased 4.46% between 2008 and 2009. Median compensation for all primary care faculty physicians was $163,704, an increase of 3.47% since 2009, and median compensation for specialty care faculty was $241,959, an increase of 2.7% since 2009. Department chairs and chiefs received the greatest compensation, $292,243 for primary care faculty and $482,293 for specialty care faculty. Primary care professors re... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4626832 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 11:00:00 +0100 4626832 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4600514&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FUnI7NNJDtIs%2F By Michael F. CannonIt has been a while since I generated a Pollster.com chart showing support/opposition to ObamaCare among only likely voters, so here goes. Note that a majority of likely voters oppose ObamaCare, and that opposition exceeds support by nearly 20 percentage points.  That's compared to a 10-point spread among all adults. Likely Voters Oppose ObamaCare by Nearly a 20-Point Margin is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4600514 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 21:28:56 +0100 4600514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592371&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FJAVZY3Aq0cM%2F By Michael F. CannonIn a March 4 article for National Review Online titled, “Mitch Daniels’s Obamacare Problem,” I explain how Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) is undermining the effort to repeal ObamaCare, and how he might do even more damage to that movement as the Republican nominee for president.  My article came under fire from Daniels' policy director Lawren Mills (in the comments section of my article), Grace-Marie Turner of the Galen Institute, and Bob Goldberg of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest. Today, NRO runs my response.  An excerpt: In brief, the trio believes that Daniels’s expansion of government-run health care is a conservative triumph. I can’t believe we’re even having this conversation... Daniels has an ObamaCare problem that could hurt the ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592371 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 12:40:37 +0100 4592371 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4581047&cid=t_124363_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fwhy-are-health-care-costs-going-up.html This is a subject of debate. The current 'pet peeve' for everyone around here is the pay given to non profit health insurance companies executives. But as this article points out, the real causes of the increases are (based on the increases from 2004 to 2009):1. Hospitals - 33%2. Doctors - 19%3. Prescriptions - 10% For hospitals it should really read 'chronic illness and prices of hospitals and doctors and medical advances and discoveries and technology'. Its those pesky medical advances that cost a lot of money. Face it, how much do you think an MRI machine or a CT machine or a 3D mammogram machine costs? What about service, calibration, and maintenance to ensure it is working correctly? These all add up. I think an MRI machine is a few hundred thousand a minimum and I could be off by a '... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4581047 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 10:25:00 +0100 4581047 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4570524&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FYk4wY15ki0Y%2F By Michael F. CannonI present you Robert Laszewski's magnificent take on ObamaCare and Wisconsin, Democrats and Republicans. ‘So How Are Democrats and Republicans Different?’ is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4570524 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 19:04:22 +0100 4570524 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4554764&cid=t_124363_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fhow-to-contain-rising-health-care-costs.html Here's the solution - stop going to the doctor. Every one asks why the health insurance premiums are going up so much. Republicans say its because of federal health care requirements but the insurance industry says that only accounts for one percentage point of the 40 (or more) percentage points being requested in some areas. Instead the insurance industry says that the reasons are:1. health care is expensive2. people are getting sick and using health careWell, let's see - why is health care expensive? Maybe because they are making us better? Maybe because things like medical school is expensive? Maybe because the pharmaceutical industry is focused on a marketing driven business model (but lets not go there this early in the day)? Maybe because things like keeping hospitals clean, or payin... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4554764 Sun, 06 Mar 2011 11:46:00 +0100 4554764 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4549738&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FamnxoVJRyRA%2F By Michael F. CannonThe latest federal judge to declare ObamaCare constitutional claimed that Congress can regulate "mental activity," like the mental activity of choosing not to purchase health insurance.  Or shoes and ships and sealing wax.  Or my book. National Review editor Rich Lowry has an excellent column explaining why this latest, ahem, legal victory for ObamaCare "delivered a more telling blow against the law in the course of ruling it constitutional than critics have in assailing it as a travesty...It's the most self-undermining defense of the constitutionality of a dubious statute since then–solicitor general Elena Kagan told the Supreme Court that under campaign-finance reform, the government could ban certain pamphlets." I’m Not So Sure I Like Your Mental Activity i... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4549738 Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:32:51 +0100 4549738 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4544941&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FJp-y5EGiAqk%2F By Michael F. CannonThe latest from Jeffrey H. Anderson, which I'll file under I-Wish-I'd-Said-That: In a newly released report, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates that, in fiscal year 2010, $48 billion in taxpayer money was squandered on fraudulent or improper Medicare claims. Meanwhile, the nation’s ten largest health insurance companies made combined profits of $12.7 billion in 2010 (according to Fortune 500). In other words, for every $1 made by the nation’s ten largest insurers, Medicare lost nearly $4... Actually, it may have been even worse than that: The GAO writes that this $48 billion in taxpayer money that went down the drain doesn’t even represent Medicare’s full tally of lost revenue, since it “did not include improper payments in its Part D pre... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4544941 Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:41:22 +0100 4544941 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4544945&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F7DYMODlxezk%2F By Michael F. CannonJudge Roger Vinson of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida has just responded to the Obama administration's "motion to clarify" his prior ruling, which declared ObamaCare unconstitutional and void.  That "motion to clarify" essentially asked Vinson, "Didn't you really mean that we can keep implementing ObamaCare while we appeal your ruling?"  Today, Vinson answered, "No." The attorneys representing the plaintiffs, who include Florida and 25 other states, argued that the administration's "motion to clarify" was actually a veiled request to have Vinson stay (i.e., set aside) his original order blocking implementation.  Vinson agreed, and therefore treated the Obama administration's "motion to clarify" as a motion to stay, which he granted.  Vin... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4544945 Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:32:21 +0100 4544945 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4536450&cid=t_124363_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FJSq-o0X96Eo%2F In 2007, US Army Major Jason Layne Davis, who was the chief cardiologist at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington, was paid $4,812 by Boston Scientific’s Guidant unit to “train” two of the device maker’s sales reps. Specifically, they watched as he implanted devices in patients during seven procedures. And between 2006 and 2009, Guidant also gave Davis meals and other goodies, while he used almost exclusively the company’s pacemakers and defibrillators. And so in January, Davis was charged with a misdemeanor for accepting funds from an illegal source and he pleaded guilty to what amounted to accepting kickbacks (here is the plea). The inference is that the federal government has opened a new front on the war against undue influence by drug and devi... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4536450 Wed, 02 Mar 2011 12:54:43 +0100 4536450 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4536049&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F_5nSumydwHM%2F By Michael F. CannonYesterday, the Senate Finance and House Energy & Commerce committees released a joint report on the costs that ObamaCare’s Medicaid mandate will impose on states.  That report, which is based on other reports, likely understates the cost of that unfunded mandate. In “Estimating ObamaCare’s Effect on State Medicaid Expenditure Growth,” Cato senior fellow Jagadeesh Gokhale constructed cost projections for the five largest states -- California, Florida, Illinois, New York, and Texas -- which account for 40 percent of the nation’s population.  Gokhale carefully decomposed and organized micro-data and state-specific administrative data on Medicaid eligibility, enrollments, benefit recipiency, and average benefits per recipient.  Gokhale’s more meticulous a... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4536049 Wed, 02 Mar 2011 12:50:03 +0100 4536049 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4532193&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FiHDgr4lwp2s%2F By Michael F. CannonThe New York Times reports: Seeking to appease disgruntled governors, President Obama plans to announce on Monday that he supports amending the 2010 health care law to allow states to opt out of its most burdensome requirements three years earlier than currently permitted. It's significant that the president is finally acknowledging that ObamaCare is unworkable and will impose enormous burdens on the states.  Or is he? A closer look shows that the president is not lifting the burdensome requirements ObamaCare imposes on states.  All he's doing is proposing to move up, from 2017 to 2014, the date on which states can apply for federal permission to impose a different but equivalently or more coercive plan to expand health insurance coverage.  Here's what the Times s... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4532193 Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:53:27 +0100 4532193 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4522095&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FG6iAbe5Zn8w%2F By Michael F. CannonIn 2006, then-Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney (R) fought for and enacted a health care law now known as RomneyCare -- though the law is so nearly identical to ObamaCare that one could call it ObamaCare 1.0.  Romney is seeking the GOP nomination for president in 2012.  But since 84 percent of Republicans want ObamaCare repealed, the fact that he paved the way for ObamaCare is causing problems for Romney among the party faithful.  The most recent manifestation came in the form of a tongue-lashing from former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee (R), whose book criticizes Romney both for enacting RomneyCare and for refusing to admit it was mistake.  In a recent interview, Huckabee said: The position he should take is to say: "Look, the reason Obamacare won't work is bec... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4522095 Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:16:59 +0100 4522095 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4507261&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Ftwq6vyeVFIM%2F By Michael F. CannonThe Washington Post reports: Practically every week, a Republican governor or lawmaker announces a new effort to kill the health-care law or undercut its implementation. Unfortunately, many of those same governors are still implementing the law when they should be outright refusing to do so. In my Kaiser Health News column today, I offer two reasons why (at least) Republican governors should stop implementing ObamaCare: Swearing an oath to support the Constitution also obligates governors to use lawful means to prevent its unlawful abuse. Governors who believe ObamaCare to be unconstitutional are as duty-bound to stop implementing the law as they are to challenge it in court... It is the height of fiscal irresponsibility to be making new spending commitments (1) when... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4507261 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 15:30:35 +0100 4507261 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4495181&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FsL1_FYAgPiw%2F By Michael F. CannonEarlier this month, President Obama's HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius took to the Washington Post's op-ed page to reassure everybody that ObamaCare "puts states in the driver's seat" and "gives states incredible freedom to tailor reforms to their needs."  One grows weary of exposing the brazen falsehoods this administration incessantly and unconscionably peddles about its corrupt, unconstitutional, and irredeemable health care law.  But here I go again: the very idea that ObamaCare puts states in the driver's seat is nonsense. States already had the power to enact all the taxes, mandates, and price controls that ObamaCare expects them to implement — and to make what few choices ObamaCare leaves them.  If you want to know what Incredible Freedom really means, look... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4495181 Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:14:00 +0100 4495181 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4495186&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FKezm3WhuHEE%2F By Michael F. CannonThe Associated Press reports that Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell (R) told the Juneau Chamber of Commerce that he will not be implementing ObamaCare: "The state of Alaska will not pursue unlawful activity to implement a federal health care regime that has been declared unconstitutional by a federal court," Parnell told the Juneau Chamber of Commerce, to applause, Thursday. The AP included a couple of interesting comments from ObamaCare supporters Timothy Jost, a law professor at Washington & Lee University, and Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA. Jost described Judge Roger Vinson (to whom Parnell referred) as "one renegade judge," when in fact two federal judges have struck down ObamaCare's individual mandate as unconstitutional.  (Since only two federal jud... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4495186 Fri, 18 Feb 2011 12:01:58 +0100 4495186 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4477696&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FHmZsgClsCq8%2F By Michael F. CannonYesterday, President Barack Obama released his proposed budget for fiscal year 2012.  Many of my Cato colleagues have already discussed why the president should be embarrassed of this document.  Chris Preble writes that the president offers "faux cuts" to military spending.  Dan Mitchell says the president is "missing in action" on entitlement reform.  Chris Edwards writes that "the Obama administration has completely chickened out on spending reforms in its new budget." They were too kind.  This budget is thoroughly dishonest, too. Back in 1997, Congress enacted automatic reductions in the price controls that Medicare uses to pay for physician services.  Congress has delayed those cuts year after year, and everyone now agrees they are politically infeasible.  ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4477696 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 14:03:14 +0100 4477696 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4477703&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FRC1HbaZdWxQ%2F By Michael F. CannonA colleague forwarded me a letter his friend received from their local hospital.  The friend needs surgery.  His health insurance has a very high deductible, so he figured he would do some comparison shopping.  He asked the local hospital to quote him a price. Here's how the hospital responded: [This] hospital typically charges between $2,360.45 and $22,290.74 for this procedure or service.  This is an estimate only... Our goal is to provide you with the most informed and accurate estimate of the cost of your treatment.  If circumstances result in a final bill that exceeds this estimate by more than 20%, we will work together with you to resolve the balance. For surgical services, the price quote does not include any physicians' charges.  The surgeon and/or anesth... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4477703 Mon, 14 Feb 2011 15:51:07 +0100 4477703 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4455261&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FYAbzkXwG0_0%2F By Hope Ditto. It has been almost a year since Congress passed the Affordable Care Act (ACA), but it seems that the questions and concerns surrounding it and its implementation are increasing rather than decreasing with time. From its legality to its funding, threats of repeal to promises to replace, buzz about the ACA from Wall Street to Main Street and up and down Pennsylvania Avenue has reached a fever pitch since the 112th Congress convened last month. We have accepted that things are currently in limbo with regards to health care reform and the provisions born from the ACA, but that does not mean that those in the health care industry can call a recess until Congress can come to some sort of consensus/final decision on health care reform. Instead, it is up to health care industry to s... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4455261 Wed, 09 Feb 2011 14:23:49 +0100 4455261 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4433060&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F02%2Fhealth-care-corporate-disinformation.html I wish I had gotten to this earlier....  In 2009, Wendell Potter, a mild-mannered former chief of public relations for for-profit health care insurance company Cigna, testified before Congress about how insurance companies manipulated public opinion to support corporate vested interests.  insurance companies make promises that they have no intention of keeping, how they flout regulations designed to protect consumers . . . and how they ‘purge’ small businesses when their employees’ medical claims exceed what underwriters expected[Kendall]In November, 2010, he published a book entitled Deadly Spin on this topic.  Starting then, a series of op-ed pieces by Potter, reviews of his book, and interviews with him provided a chilling picture about how corporate health car... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4433060 Thu, 03 Feb 2011 02:53:00 +0100 4433060 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4424401&cid=t_124363_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F02%2Fits-about-patients-stupid.html I don't care about people's politics. The opposition to or support of the new health care law. The whole point of it is to take care of people when they get sick. The judge in Florida who ruled against parts of the law. The politicians who keep speaking out about how it is unconstitutional - frankly it gets very confusing to me. The right is against it because they don't like the president. The left wants to spend more to take care of people but don't think about the budget. The whole point of the health care reform is to take care of sick people. The whole political thing is getting crazy. I think everyone should take a step back and look at the big picture with no politics or opinions on the president or the Tea Party or Sarah Palin involved. Why are we reforming health care? To take car... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4424401 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 11:01:00 +0100 4424401 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419107&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FeyTor-NgoPM%2F By Michael F. CannonFederal Judge Roger Vinson has struck down the entire so-called Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as unconstitutional.  Excerpts from the opinion: It is difficult to imagine that a nation which began, at least in part, as the result of opposition to a British mandate giving the East India Company a monopoly and imposing a nominal tax on all tea sold in America would have set out to create a government with the power to force people to buy tea in the first place… The individual mandate is outside Congress’ Commerce Clause power, and it cannot be otherwise authorized by an assertion of power under the Necessary and Proper Clause. It is not Constitutional. [O]n the unique facts of this particular case, the record seems to strongly indicate that Congress w... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419107 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 20:47:43 +0100 4419107 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419108&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FCUMhMgUR9zY%2F By Ilya ShapiroToday’s ruling vindicates the constitutional first principle that ours is a government of delegated, enumerated, and thus limited powers. Like Judge Hudson in the Virginia case, Judge Vinson recognized that the individual mandate represents an unprecedented and improper incursion beyond those powers: the federal government, under the guise of regulating commerce, cannot require that people engage in economic activity. And this is as it should be: if the only limit on congressional power were Congress’ own assessment of the wisdom of each assertion of such power, the Constitution would be obsolete — as would any conception of checks and balances. James Madison, the author of the Federalist Paper (51) explaining how man’s non-angelic nature requires ex... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419108 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 20:17:46 +0100 4419108 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419111&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F0fpYN8orlOk%2F By Michael F. CannonAn article at HealthPolicySolutions.org (“a project of the Buechner Institute for Governance at the School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado Denver”), about how ObamaCare is causing Colorado’s child-only health insurance market to implode, contains this startling admission by the top lobbyist for Colorado’s health insurance companies: “Requiring all the carriers to sell this sort of plan creates a level playing field,’’ said Ben Price, executive director of the Colorado Association of Health Plans. “This is one of those unusual situations where we’re asking for more competition. If everyone else is in the market, the risk is spread across the entire market. Each company can afford to take on more risk.” Catch that?  A ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419111 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 19:40:09 +0100 4419111 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4411662&cid=t_124363_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FKTP5HC5JeyA%2F Thanks to the recent midterm elections and this week’s State of the Union address, health care and health care reform has made its way into the headlines more often over the past few months. But one topic we haven’t seen covered very often is the frequency of health care-associated infections (or HAIs), which are any infection that patients develop at a hospital or other patient care facility that they didn’t have prior to treatment, like ventilator-related pneumonia and surgery site infections. We were shocked to learn that HAIs are one of the top ten causes of death in the U.S., with an estimated two million patients being affected by an HAI every year. But one company, Kimberly-Clark Health Care, which manufactures tubes and other sterile products used in hospitals, is... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4411662 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 17:33:47 +0100 4411662 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4405784&cid=t_124363_88_f&fid=38959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.epmonthly.com%2Fwhitecoat%2F2011%2F01%2Fgaming-obamacare%2F Remember my post a few months back about how some large companies were getting waivers so they didn’t have to pay into the new health care system? Things are getting worse.  According to this article on The Hill, the feds just granted new insurance waivers to more than 500 groups, bringing the total number of individuals covered by waivers to 2.1 million. The system just isn’t going to work. Let me get my soapbox out here. [Tap tap tap] Is this thing on? Good. First, there’s still this misconception that the “mandate” to purchase insurance will somehow translate into accessibility of medical care. It doesn’t work that way. I’ve said it before. Purchasing health insurance doesn’t mean that you have access to health care any more than purchasi... WhiteCoat's Call Room blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4405784 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:24:46 +0100 4405784 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399646&cid=t_124363_113_f&fid=34631&url=http%3A%2F%2Fehealth.johnwsharp.com%2F2011%2F01%2F25%2Fdo-emrs-improve-the-quality-of-healthcare%2F In conclusion, the editorial writers from the National Library of Medicine state, “Only when EHRs carry rich repositories can we expect EHRs to reach their promise and CDS to have measurable effects on a broad range of quality measures at the national level.” My conclusion is that the use of clinical decision support within EMRs can impact quality on a national level but that early implementation of EMRs may take time to demonstrate this impact. (Source: eHealth) eHealth blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399646 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 03:22:52 +0100 4399646 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4394426&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FpZrn4cfxoEc%2F By Michael F. CannonIt would appear that I am the Liar of the Year. The fact-checking journalists at PolitiFact.com gave their 2010 Lie of the Year award to the notion that ObamaCare is “a government takeover of health care,” and in 2009 gave the same award to Sarah Palin’s “death panels” claim.  But as I explain in my latest column for Kaiser Health News, the fact-checkers left out a few facts.  Read the column to find out what PolitiFact missed.  Here’s my conclusion: From my vantage point, the evidence shows that ObamaCare is a government takeover of health care, and Sarah Palin’s “death panels” claim was essentially true. If that makes me Liar of the Year, so be it. But another way to look at it is this: PolitiFact has now misap... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4394426 Mon, 24 Jan 2011 15:27:30 +0100 4394426 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4386426&cid=t_124363_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Fchange-i-will-be-glad-to-see.html In Massachusetts, where we have some of the most patient oriented health care laws - no issues with pre-existing conditions for years already, mandatory health insurance, etc - cities and towns, like everywhere in the country, offer health insurance to their employees and are slowly going broke as a result. The unions have had the right for years to veto changes in health insurance. So if the cities and towns try to cut back on insurance or require higher co-payments or portion of insurance paid by the employees, the unions would veto it. Some towns are currently paying 20% of their budgets for health insurance for the employees and pay for 90% of the insurance premiums. And the employees and retirees pay $5 co-payments. After decades of huge insurance premium increases the towns and citie... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4386426 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 11:26:00 +0100 4386426 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4377557&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FM6ZRGjdMFXQ%2F By Ilya ShapiroIt’s now official: 28 states are challenging the constitutionality of Obamacare in the courts. For those of you keeping score, the following six joined the Florida-led lawsuit: Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Wyoming and Maine. Then of course Virginia is pursuing its own suit, and now Oklahoma is about to file its own separate lawsuit based on its voters’ approval in November of a Health Care Freedom Act similar to Virginia’s. Sadly — if I’m allowed to stop being hard-headed and just shake my head in an “o tempore o mores” sort of way — the government opposed Florida’s motion to add the six states to its lawsuit. There was no basis for this opposition: the newcomers are for these purposes similarly situated to the existing... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4377557 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:29:49 +0100 4377557 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4372024&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fhb02FZ8jrII%2F By Michael F. CannonThe symbolism of today’s House vote is striking. Within a year of ObamaCare’s enactment, the House of Representatives has voted overwhelmingly to repeal it. That didn’t happen with Social Security. It didn’t happen with Medicare. Social Security and Medicare did not face sustained public opposition from the moment they were introduced in Congress. They did not pass by one vote, in the dead of night. They were not challenged as unconstitutional by half the states in the union.  They were not struck down as unconstitutional by a federal court within a year of enactment. The House vote to repeal ObamaCare is just the latest sign that ObamaCare goes too far, that it creates a more intrusive government than the American people are willing to accept. But ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4372024 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:46:45 +0100 4372024 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4355878&cid=t_124363_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2011%2F01%2F16%2Frepeal-of-health-care-reform-act-1-scene-1%2F New cartoon by Trussell & Trussell on Politics Daily. ‘Repeal of Health Care Reform,’ Act 1, Scene 1. The working title was ‘A Housework Orange.’ Filed under: Politics Tagged: gop, health care reform, obamacare, repeal, republican, robert donna trussell (Source: Donna Trussell) Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4355878 Sun, 16 Jan 2011 19:39:01 +0100 4355878 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4355882&cid=t_124363_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Femergency-rooms.html One of my pet peeves is the misuse of Emergency Rooms. They are not for people with sniffles, sore throats, etc. They are for true emergencies - allergic reactions to bee stings, heart attacks, appendicitis, car accidents, limbs dripping blood, etc. Personally I will not go to an emergency room unless I would die before my doctor's office next opened up. The last time I went to an emergency room was when I was told by my doctor to go to there because I needed to be admitted due to low blood counts during chemo. I waited approximately 8 hours to get admitted so I might as well as gotten a good night's sleep at home and called my doctor in the morning. If that ever happens again, I will wait until the next morning and go see my doctor and get admitted that way.I just read this account (not f... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4355882 Sun, 16 Jan 2011 12:54:00 +0100 4355882 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4337932&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FuQjaE73HQkY%2F This article discusses the various names the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has taken in the last couple of months. The insights are enlightening, take a look and let us know…What name do you think best encapsulates health care reform?   Related posts:Does Innovation in Health Care Matter? Disruptive Women in Health Care Answers this Question in a New eBook Landmark: The Inside Story of America’s New Health Care Law Missed Opportunities and the Mandate Dilemma (Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care) Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4337932 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 13:50:23 +0100 4337932 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4330970&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Fblogscan-attention-to-medtronics.html On the HealthBeat blog, Maggie Mahar takes up the case of huge royalty and consulting payments to spine surgeons by medical device company Medtronic.  We had discussed the case recently here, followed by Howard Brody on the Hooked: Ethics, Medicine and Pharma blog (see link in this post).  Ms Mahar was notably optimistic because of the continued attention to this case by the main stream media.  She argued that the increased emphasis on aspects of health care dysfunction shown by the media means "health care reform is moving ahead on the ground."  I hope she is right, but I would feel more hopeful if ill-informed, mission-hostile, self-interested, conflicted, and corrupt health care leadership was less anechoic, if health care dysfunction actually got some atte... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4330970 Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:02:00 +0100 4330970 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4313986&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F3Z8bfN325lM%2F By Michael F. CannonSomething smells fishy here. Today, the federal agency that runs Medicare and Medicaid released its estimates of national health expenditures in 2009.  Interestingly, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services re-categorized about 6 percent of national health expenditures — well over $100 billion — from “government” to “private,” at the very moment that the government share of NHE appeared set to hit 50 percent. Last year, CMS projected that government health spending would “account for more than half of all U.S. health care spending by 2012.”  But it looks like we were set to reach (have reached?) that milestone much sooner.  See the below table, which I made using CMS’s estimates from 2008 and Exhibit 5 (p. 1... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4313986 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 00:05:30 +0100 4313986 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4309637&cid=t_124363_99_f&fid=35344&url=http%3A%2F%2Fzackarysholemberger.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Fwhat-does-halachah-say-about-how-to.html Someone skeptical about halachah might ask, "Does Jewish law have anything useful to say about a public policy debate as complicated and multifactorial as health care?" Unfortunately, after reading the chapter devoted to health care in Rabbi Jill Jacobs' There Shall Be No Needy, I have to say no.I wanted Jacobs' book to provide halachic metaphors to help me understand better what it means to support health care reform - and, ideally, to help me judge the relative ethical benefits and risks of various alternatives, even in a general way. I don't need halachah to tell me about the necessity of health care, the critical role of the health care provider, or the community's role in providing such care: these are relatively uncontroversial, things that even opponents of health care reform suppor... Zackary Sholem Berger blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4309637 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 15:24:00 +0100 4309637 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4285322&cid=t_124363_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2010%2F12%2F23%2Fhealth-care-costs-and-the-uninsured-the-republicans-have-a-plan%2F New cartoon by Trussell & Trussell on Politics Daily. Health Care Costs and the Uninsured: The Republicans Have a Plan. If it’s broke, don’t fix it. Filed under: Politics Tagged: congress, gop, health care reform, newspeak, robert donna trussell, uninsured (Source: Donna Trussell) Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4285322 Thu, 23 Dec 2010 15:41:24 +0100 4285322 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4265688&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FOh8V9LhskYs%2F By Ilya ShapiroToday’s hearing in Pensacola built on Monday’s ruling out of Richmond: Judge Roger Vinson is likely to hold the individual mandate unconstitutional. And such a decision would be the most significant development possible at the district court level because the Florida case involved 20 states, with more joining the lawsuit when new governors and attorneys general assume office in January. It is unprecedented for this number of states — again, soon to be a majority — to sue the federal government and it shows the singular and extreme nature of the government’s assertion of raw power here. As Judge Vinson said during the hearing, the Supreme Court has held that the outer bounds of Congress’s regulatory power under the Commerce Clause (as exerc... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4265688 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 18:04:15 +0100 4265688 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4265689&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FwOubvfvQOi8%2F By George ScovilleThat’s the title of an upcoming FOX News Channel feature program with John Stossel, in which Cato Executive Vice President David Boaz and Director of Health Policy Studies Michael F. Cannon weigh in on some of the hidden, unforeseen, and unintended consequences of the attempts to deliver on promises our politicians make. Politicians promised that: Cash for Clunkers would save the auto industry. Increasing the minimum wage would be good for the working poor. Title IX would end gender-based discrimination in college sports. Mega-construction projects like stadiums, arenas, and conference centers would create jobs. Changing the tax code would save small farmers and the environment. Credit card reform would save us from banking fees. Reforming the health care system wo... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4265689 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 22:34:24 +0100 4265689 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4265622&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2010%2F12%2Fhigh-stakes-health-reform-employers-in-or-out.html By MICHAEL TURPIN It’s high noon for private healthcare. Over the last decade, large, medium and small employers that procure and manage over $1T of private healthcare spend for an estimated 180M Americans have been engaged in an expensive game... (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4265622 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4265622 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4245259&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2010%2F12%2Fbending-the-curve-beginning-with-birth.html By AMY M. ROMANO As I prepare for next week’s webinar on payment reform to align incentives with quality, I have been thinking a lot about how we pay for maternity care in this country, and the opportunities to rein... (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4245259 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4245259 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4225394&cid=t_124363_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F12%2Fparticipatory-medicine-new-way-of.html The Indian healthcare system has become sick. Doctors are illness experts – and not healthcare experts. Healthcare needs to learn from the revolution which has occurred in microfinancing. When given money and the freedom to use it as they see fit , even very poor people have come up with remarkably innovative ideas which could never have been planned, designed or anticipated by the traditional experts - bankers!Information Therapy - the right information at the right time for the right person - can be powerful medicine ! Ideally, every clinic , hospital, pharmacy and diagnostic center should have a patient education resource center, where people can find information on their health problem .This new model is called Participatory Medicine - and HELP is proud to be an Innovator Organisatio... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4225394 Fri, 03 Dec 2010 13:05:00 +0100 4225394 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4225223&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FglTMWj5Sjmg%2F By Michael F. CannonSupporters have gone to great lengths to make ObamaCare appear popular or to make repeal seem impossible.  But this op-ed by my friend Jonathan Cohn made my jaw drop. First, Cohn notes that the Senate recently voted down two efforts to repeal one of ObamaCare’s more unpopular provisions: the “1099 reporting tax,” which will place an enormous burden on small businesses.  ”Neither provision,” Cohn obliquely reports, “got enough votes to pass.”  He concludes: Critics of health care reform [sic] this week thought they would get their first win in the campaign to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Instead they got a lesson in just how politically challenging a wholesale repeal might be. If opponents can’t... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4225223 Thu, 02 Dec 2010 21:31:34 +0100 4225223 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214034&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2010%2F11%2Fthe-libertarian-mind.html By RONALD PIES, MD “It is an eternal obligation toward the human being not to let him suffer from hunger when one has a chance of coming to his assistance.” –Simone Weil Libertarianism is much in the news these days,... (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214034 Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4214034 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4197395&cid=t_124363_175_f&fid=39258&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmypatraining.com%2F2010%2F11%2F23%2Funderstanding-health-care-reform%2F Health Care Reform At the end of this post, you’ll find a a fine summary of the recently passed Health Care Reform law, brought to you by the Kaiser Family Foundation.  It’s a cartoon narrated by Cokie Roberts (yes, the Cokie Roberts from the news shows), and explains the basics of the law in about [...] (Source: Palpating the Field) Palpating the Field blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4197395 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 22:50:53 +0100 4197395 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4190100&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2010%2F11%2Fthe-conservative-way-forward-on-health-care-.html By RICHARD AMERLING The landslide Republican victory, in taking the House and electing some strong conservatives to the Senate, can be interpreted as a mandate to rein in government spending, and specifically to repeal ObamaCare, as these issues were clearly... (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4190100 Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4190100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4175679&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FTi9NNMChUIY%2F By Michael F. CannonAccording to the Boston Herald: The state’s health insurance connector — the highly touted agency that aims to bring cheap medical care to the masses — has turned into a legal pit bull by aggressively going after a growing number of Bay Staters who say they can’t afford mandated insurance — or the penalties imposed for not having it. The Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority is cracking down on more than 3,000 residents who are fighting state fines, and has even hired a private law firm to force the health insurance scofflaws to pay penalties of up to $2,000 a year. All told, more than 7,700 people have appealed state fines for not having health insurance, according to connector spokesman Richard Powers. The agency has hired several private attorne... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4175679 Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:45:55 +0100 4175679 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4175633&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2010%2F11%2Fhealth-reform-wont-fix-the-real-problem-unemployment.html By GEORGE PILLARI While the effects of persistently high unemployment have surfaced in the shape of reduced consumer spending, shrunken tax rolls and a host of social problems, there is yet another harsh reality lurking in the shadows. Hospitals, already... (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4175633 Tue, 16 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4175633 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4164667&cid=t_124363_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2010%2F11%2F13%2Fobama-2012-exit-right%2F New cartoon by Trussell & Trussell on Politics Daily. Obama 2012: Exit Right. Not weak, Mr. President. Commitment-challenged. Filed under: Politics Daily Tagged: bush tax cut, democrat, election 2012, health care reform, obama, political cartoon, robert donna trussell, yes we can (Source: Donna Trussell) Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4164667 Sun, 14 Nov 2010 01:59:01 +0100 4164667 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4159499&cid=t_124363_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FgwDDlcchpMc%2F So what will health care reform mean to prescription drug pricing? In response to a query from Paul Ryan, a Republican from Wisconsin who is the ranking member of the House Budget Committee, the US Congressional Budget Office has analyzed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 and come up with the following forecasts, which discuss price hikes and rebates… For instance, the new law is expected to raise prices paid by pharmacies, less any rebates paid by drugmakers to insurers, by about 1 percent, on average. That increase would slightly raise federal costs for Medicare’s drug benefit and the costs for some beneficiaries, but the new discounts would make the costs faced by other beneficiaries substantially lower. T... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4159499 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 18:13:27 +0100 4159499 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4159209&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FcA9IZ3ouTMQ%2F By Michael F. CannonReuters has helpfully published another article demonstrating that ObamaCare‘s biggest cheerleaders are the insurance and drug industries.  That’s because, barring repeal and despite the Obama administration’s fatuous rhetoric about standing up to the special interests, ObamaCare will shower those industries with massive subsidies.  Excerpts follow. Health Overhaul Should Press Ahead: Industry By Susan Heavey Thu Nov 11, 2010 1:39pm EST NEW YORK (Reuters) – Repeal reform? No thanks, say health insurers, drugmakers and others looking for a clearer picture of the U.S. healthcare market after the bruising passage of the controversial overhaul law… The new healthcare law created “a stable, predictable environment, however painful it ha... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4159209 Thu, 11 Nov 2010 21:45:07 +0100 4159209 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4159212&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FSkzPBmX6bQY%2F By Michael F. CannonThe following exchange took place yesterday on the Christian Broadcasting Network between host David Brody and Tea Party Express Chairwoman Amy Kremer. Brody: Mitt Romney…on the Massachusetts health care situation, you’re going to tell me that’s going to fly in the Tea Party movement? Kremer: Absolutely not…I’m being honest here…You can’t get away from that.  And that’s the thing is, the days of people being able to do one thing in their state in front of a microphone, and then going to Washington and doing something else. I mean, the Internet, and 24-hour news cycles changed it all, and these people don’t have short memories, they’re digging up everything from the past, and they’re not going to let go o... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4159212 Thu, 11 Nov 2010 20:37:57 +0100 4159212 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4151760&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FmQSJmRaKWns%2F By Michael F. CannonThis Reuters headline says it all: “Cigna CEO: Don’t repeal U.S. health law.” ObamaCare = A Bailout for Private Insurance Companies is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4151760 Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:22:46 +0100 4151760 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4151694&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2010%2F11%2Fhealth-care-and-the-2010-midterms.html By ROBERT LASZEWSKI The election has given us a Republican House and a still Democratic controlled Senate. But, instead of Democrats having the 60 Senators they had when health care was passed in December, they will have a slim majority... (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4151694 Mon, 08 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4151694 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107948&cid=t_124363_175_f&fid=39258&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FInsidePaTraining%2F%7E3%2FugGQCecnkno%2Fphysician-assistants-represented-in-washington As strident as midterm election politics were this year, and whatever your political stripe, you’ll probably be pleased to hear that the US House of Representatives will have its first PA in office when the 122nd Congress convenes this January.  With PA training and advocacy experience, and support from the American Association of Physician Assistants [...] (Source: Inside PA Training) Inside PA Training blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107948 Sat, 06 Nov 2010 00:03:27 +0100 5107948 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133667&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FQG5MLsIH_Zg%2F By Michael F. CannonNPR found two Republicans who caution House Republicans that their efforts to investigate ObamaCare could “backfire.” But all those hearings could also have the opposite effect — giving the administration a chance to make its case in favor of the law, a case that often got drowned out during the election campaign. “The next round of this, while there will continue to be the broad sloganeering on both sides, will presumably get a little bit more into the detail,” says Martin Corry, a health care lobbyist and former official at the Department of Health and Human Services during the Bush administration. “So if you’re a family with a 22-year-old still in college, you may not want to see that provision [that lets grown children stay on t... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133667 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:55:13 +0100 4133667 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133676&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fv6S0IWgwA-E%2F By Michael F. CannonIt wasn’t just the party of ObamaCare or its champion that took a “shellacking” at the polls yesterday.  The law took a shellacking as well.  One pollster reports: This election was a clear signal that voters do not want President Obama’s health care plan.  Nearly half (45%) of voters say their vote was a message to oppose the President’s plan…. Arizona and Oklahoma passed constitutional amendments designed to block ObamaCare’s individual mandate.  Many new governors either plan to join the 22 states already challenging ObamaCare in court, or to block its implementation in other ways.  Congressional Republicans appear determined to use every tool in their arsenal to repeal it. President Obama is striking a conciliatory note, saying... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133676 Wed, 03 Nov 2010 19:32:48 +0100 4133676 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4125229&cid=t_124363_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2010%2F11%2F01%2Fignore-your-inner-cynic-and-vote-on-tuesday%2F My new post on Politics Daily / Woman Up. Ignore Your Inner Cynic and Vote on Tuesday. “Tribute to Her,” uploaded to the Internet on Nov. 7, 2008, is a slideshow of Election Day photographs. YouTube member SailorBrownie described her post as a “dedication to all those Black Americans who went out on Tuesday and voted. We made history.” While it’s not altogether clear who is the “Her” in the title of the video, it might as well be the woman collapsed on the floor in tears. A girl nearby touches her cheek with a little confusion and a lot tenderness for the woman who is, most likely, her mother. The pictures are set to the Beatles song, “Blackbird” — a good choice, considering it was the civil rights drama playing out across the pon... Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4125229 Tue, 02 Nov 2010 03:51:56 +0100 4125229 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4118887&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FSV6PyZsNCj0%2F By Michael F. CannonToday’s NPR story, “Health Law Hardly At Fault For Rising Premiums,” was much fairer than its headline (and the sub-heads, if that’s what we call them).   ObamaCare is “hardly at fault for rising premiums?”  Really?  The story quotes an insurance-industry flack who well establishes what the Obama administration’s own regulations confirm: ObamaCare will be a major driver of premium increases for some health plans.  A sub-head calls such claims “misinformation.”  Oh?  The article does more to bolster those claims than the administration’s flack does to knock them down.  A more accurate headline would have been, “Health Law at Fault for Rising Premiums? In Some Cases, Yes.” One wonders whether, in some posh Versailles sa... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4118887 Thu, 28 Oct 2010 17:11:38 +0100 4118887 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4105669&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-new-healthcare-law-so-sad-its-funny%2F2010.10.25 Thanks to Scott Hensley over at Shots, NPR’s Health Blog, for highlighting this sad but funny video on where we’re going with healthcare. Scary what happens when theory meets reality: -WesMusings of a cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist. *This blog post was originally published at Dr. Wes* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4105669 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 13:00:00 +0100 4105669 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4097856&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2010%2F10%2Fhow-reform-law-funds-itself-strengthens-medicare-and-cuts-the-deficit-part-1.html By MAGGIE MAHAR The Mainstream Media Rarely Tries to Explain the Congressional Budget Office’s nearly unbelievable claims that the Patient Protect and Affordable Care Act can: 1) Pay for itself 2) Provide coverage for 32 million uninsured Americans 3) Trim... (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4097856 Thu, 21 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4097856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4086253&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FvbfEM-_juzE%2F By Michael F. CannonHere’s a poor, unsuccessful letter I sent to the editor of the Los Angeles Times: Three and a half million Californians may become eligible for subsidized private health insurance in 2014 under ObamaCare [“3.5 million Californians would be eligible for healthcare tax credits, study finds,” October 6], but those subsidies will not “slash the cost” of their health insurance.  As ObamaCare causes health insurance premiums to rise by as much as 30 percent, the private-insurance subsidies will shift those costs to taxpayers.  A bipartisan majority of Americans opposes ObamaCare in part because such shell games increase costs rather than reduce them. Cost-Slashing? No, Cost-Shifting. is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4086253 Wed, 20 Oct 2010 17:52:22 +0100 4086253 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4086254&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FIv2rif1wiEE%2F By Neal McCluskeyWhile politicians probably support many policies for college students in part because they think the policies will be educationally or otherwise beneficial, vote buying is no doubt also important. Of course, it’s hard to find a politician who will actually cop to the latter. On this morning’s Today show, however, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine came about as close to doing that as you could possibly hope for.  Responding to interviewer Ann Curry’s observation that President Obama has aimed a lot of campaigning at college students lately, Kaine noted that young people voted for Obama in record numbers in 2008, and “the message to young voters is pretty simple… we’ve done the largest expansion of the student loa... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4086254 Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:14:15 +0100 4086254 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4082062&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F0L1HfBXgumw%2F By Michael F. CannonObamaCare has touched off a battle between Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield and Washington State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. From the commissioner’s press release: Kreidler orders Regence BlueShield to cover children OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler ordered Regence BlueShield this morning to stop illegally denying insurance to children, effective immediately. “Regence is in clear violation of state law that prohibits insurers from denying insurance to people on the basis of age,” said Kreidler. “I was shocked and deeply disappointed when Regence announced its decision last week to stop selling insurance to kids.” The Affordable Care Act requires all health plans to cover kids with pre-existing conditions&#8230... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4082062 Tue, 19 Oct 2010 19:11:59 +0100 4082062 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4082065&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F81XNKefd6eU%2F Conclusion: “The gutting of Medicare claim goes too far…What this means for seniors is a bit murkier.”  True enough: even if ObamaCare’s implausible Medicare cuts take effect, they clearly would not “gut” Medicare.  (BTW, click here or here for a politically sustainable way to restrain Medicare spending.)  The authors also note that Medicare Advantage enrollees would lose some benefits.  But when the article claims that ObamaCare will not eliminate any “basic” Medicare benefits, it neglects to mention that Medicare’s chief actuary estimates that the law could cause 15 percent of hospitals, home health agencies, and other providers to stop accepting Medicare patients.  If your hospital no longer accepts your Medicare coverage, is th... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4082065 Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:02:13 +0100 4082065 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4086228&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2010%2F10%2Fthe-politics-of-health-reform.html By JOHN GOODMAN There will be two national elections before the new health overhaul is substantially implemented (in 2014) and a third election the year it is supposed to be implemented. Question: Will the voters reward office holders who supported... (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4086228 Mon, 18 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4086228 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4074352&cid=t_124363_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2010%2F10%2F15%2Fobamacare-delayed-stratification%2F New cartoon by Trussell & Trussell on Politics Daily. ObamaCare: Delayed Stratification. Under 65? Bad choice. Filed under: Politics Daily Tagged: health care reform, humor, political cartoon, public option, robert donna trussell (Source: Donna Trussell) Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4074352 Fri, 15 Oct 2010 05:11:59 +0100 4074352 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4073988&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2010%2F10%2Frepublican-economics-as-social-darwinism.html By ROBERT REICH John Boehner, the Republican House leader who will become Speaker if Democrats lose control of the House in the upcoming midterms, recently offered his solution to the current economic crisis: “Liquidate labor, liquidate stocks, liquidate the farmer,... (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4073988 Wed, 13 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4073988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4065346&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fb6jQh1eqyiw%2F By Michael F. CannonDuring the debate over ObamaCare, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services took issue with some of the things that some of the insurers participating in the Medicare Advantage program were telling their enrollees about the legislation.  The Government Accountability Office has just released a review of CMS’s conduct in that episode: Although CMS’s actions generally conformed to its policies and procedures, the September 21, 2009, memorandum instructing all MA organizations to discontinue communications on pending legislation while CMS conducted its investigation was unusual. Officials from the MA organizations and CMS regional offices that we interviewed told us they were unaware of CMS ever directing all MA organizations to immediately stop an activity... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4065346 Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:39:58 +0100 4065346 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4065349&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FbIcD9JzSKsI%2F By Michael F. CannonToday at the Cato Institute, Duke University Prof. Chris Conover presented his estimates of the economic losses that will be created by the taxes necessary to fund ObamaCare.  This chart is taken from his presentation: The Excess Burden of ObamaCare Here’s Conover’s full presentation (with comments by former Congressional Budget Office director Douglas Holtz-Eakin), as well as his Cato Policy Analysis, and his op-ed. A Hidden Cost of ObamaCare is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4065349 Wed, 13 Oct 2010 17:02:28 +0100 4065349 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4065355&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FVgzZLoXI_uA%2F By Michael F. CannonIn a study released today by the Cato Institute, Duke University professor Chris Conover estimates how much ObamaCare and related provisions will reduce economic output: The Congressional Budget Office has projected the 10-year, on-budget cost of [The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. ObamaCare] will be just over $1 trillion. This paper estimates PPACA will impose an additional, hidden cost of $157 billion to $494 billion in the form of reduced economic output. Related provisions (such as the so-called “doc fix”) could drive the economic losses to $550 billion, or more than half of the bill’s official cost estimates. Conover will present his paper at a Cato policy forum at 10 a.m. today.  Click here to watch online. Cato Study: ObamaCa... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4065355 Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:53:43 +0100 4065355 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4055703&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FjyWDFq34l5Q%2F By Michael F. Cannon“The Affordable Care Act offers new benefits like preventive care with no out-of-pocket cost and tools to help fight unreasonable premium increases that will save money for consumers.” — Jessica Santillo, a spokeswoman at the Department of Health and Human Services The Cognitive Dissonance of ObamaCare Supporters is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4055703 Mon, 11 Oct 2010 13:31:07 +0100 4055703 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4055682&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2010%2F10%2Fthe-massachusetts-connector-success-or-just-a-pr-coup.html By ROGER COLLIER With the passage of insurance exchange legislation in California, and the release of a template for state exchange statutes by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, many state eyes are turning towards the only existing exchange comparable... (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4055682 Sun, 10 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4055682 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4045074&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F0JMVllrwUl8%2F By Michael F. CannonBloomberg’s Caroline Baum has a great column in BusinessWeek on ObamaCare.  It leads off with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s oft-repeated remark, “We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.” Truer words were never spoken.  Heck, ObamaCare gives HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius so much arbitrary power to reshape the health care sector that Congress had to pass the law so that Pelosi could find out what is in it. Baum explains why such discretionary power is dangerous: Discretion may be the better part of valor, but it’s not something businesses can rely on for planning purposes. Corporations are already hunkered down because of (take your pick) weak demand, hurt feelings as a result of presidential persecution, or uncertainty over ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4045074 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 16:43:39 +0100 4045074 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4040520&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2010%2F10%2Fthe-madison-avenue-approach-to-health-policy.html By JOHN GOODMAN Can you sell health reform the way you sell toothpaste? Can you stop health reform the way you sell soap? A lot of people apparently believe so. I would guess that in the 10 months leading up... (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4040520 Wed, 06 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4040520 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4036888&cid=t_124363_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2010%2F10%2F06%2Fshiny-happy-health-care-reform%2F New cartoon by Trussell & Trussell on Politics Daily. Shiny, Happy Health Care Reform. Filed under: Politics Daily Tagged: health care reform, humor, obamacare, political cartoon, public option, robert donna trussell (Source: Donna Trussell) Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4036888 Wed, 06 Oct 2010 05:47:09 +0100 4036888 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4031224&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F-Cl7vkjQ51Y%2F By Michael F. CannonIn the latest Cato Policy Report, Cato adjunct scholar Arnold Kling‘s essay on the (mis)rule of experts explains why ObamaCare will fail: Despite the many pages contained in the health care legislation that Congress enacted, the health care system that will result is for the most part to be determined. The design and implementation of health care reform was delegated to unelected bureaucrats, as was done in Massachusetts. In Massachusetts, the promises of proponents have proven false, and the predictions of skeptics have been borne out. Costs have not been contained; they have shot up. Emergency room visits have not been curtailed; they have increased. The mandate to purchase health insurance has not removed the problem of adverse selection and moral hazard; inst... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4031224 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 14:57:39 +0100 4031224 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4022900&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FqCYT1eaGZXs%2F By Michael F. CannonFirst, a dozen insurers said they would stop writing child-only health insurance policies.  Now, according to the Wall Street Journal: By forcing the exit of Principal Financial Group — which ran a profitable, $1.6 billion health insurance business — ObamaCare has now left 840,000 Americans to find another source of coverage. According to The New York Times, other insurers may soon follow: More insurers are likely to follow Principal’s lead, especially as they try to meet the new rules that require plans to spend at least 80 cents of every dollar they collect in premiums on the welfare of their customers… “It’s just going to drive the little guys out,” said Robert Laszewski, a health policy consultant in Alexandria, Va. Smaller players like ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4022900 Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:09:44 +0100 4022900 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4018162&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FBsp1PgjGtVI%2F By Michael F. CannonNo, seriously.  First Lady Michelle Obama is asking nurses to promote ObamaCare to their patients. With hundreds of thousands of medical errors occurring each year — a problem that ObamaCare does nothing to address — this is exactly what I want my nurse thinking about as she’s inserting a needle into my arm. First Lady Asks Nurses to Engage in Legislative Advocacy with Their Patients is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4018162 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:00:46 +0100 4018162 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4013143&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fb7UUEW1Qu7s%2F By Michael F. CannonFrom my oped in today’s Investors Business Daily: Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) “Roadmap for America’s Future” proposes even tighter limits on Medicare’s growth, leading columnist Bruce Bartlett to opine, “the Medicare actuaries have shown the absurdity of the Ryan plan by denying that Medicare cuts already enacted into law are even worthy of projecting into the future.” On the contrary, experience and public choice theory suggest that the Ryan plan has a better shot at reducing future Medicare outlays than past efforts, because the Roadmap would change the lobbying game that fuels Medicare’s growth. For more on Ryan’s Roadmap, click here.  For more on Medicare, read David Hyman’s Medicare Meets Mephistophel... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4013143 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 13:52:16 +0100 4013143 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4013460&cid=t_124363_136_f&fid=39026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarolinemfr.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F09%2Finsuring-sick-people.html The beginnings of the new health care reform program are starting and apparently insurance companies are having to change the way they do business and start insuring sick people. Hmmm... Isn't the whole reason to have health insurance is in case you get sick? I think a shake up of the insurance industry is a good idea. I mean there are people out there who faithfully pay their premiums and then get a nasty medical diagnosis and their insurance companies drop them. Which makes me think a minute. Aren't insurance companies not supposed to know what your health issues are? It is fairly obvious. If first you submit a bill for a mammogram, and then an ultrasound, and then a biopsy, and then a consultation with an oncologist. I am sure they figured out that one. So obviously in this case, insura... Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4013460 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 10:52:00 +0100 4013460 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4013152&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FtcY8-zHMO2w%2F By Michael F. CannonWith the addition of a poll by George Washington University and Politico — completed the day before ObamaCare started sending health insurance premiums higher, making coverage less accessible for children, and destroying health insurance innovations — Pollster.com shows that among likely voters, ObamaCare now suffers a 10-point popularity gap: (As I’ve noted before, Pollster.com’s local-regression trend estimate will head off in a direction different from public opinion if the latest poll is a fluke.  But these trajectories are consistent with Pollster.com’s trend estimates for polls surveying registered voters and all adults, which incorporate many more data points.) Also worth noting: ObamaCare has never enjoyed the support of a major... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4013152 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:38:52 +0100 4013152 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4003238&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FtcY8-zHMO2w%2F By Michael F. CannonWith the addition of a poll by George Washington University and Politico — completed the day before ObamaCare started sending health insurance premiums higher, making coverage less accessible for children, and destroying health insurance innovations — Pollster.com shows that among likely voters, ObamaCare now suffers a 10-point popularity gap: (As I’ve noted before, Pollster.com’s local-regression trend estimate will head off in a direction different from public opinion if the latest poll is a fluke.  But these trajectories are consistent with Pollster.com’s trend estimates for polls surveying registered voters and all adults, which incorporate many more data points.) Also worth noting: ObamaCare has never enjoyed the support of a major... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4003238 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:38:52 +0100 4003238 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3998954&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FdfSHez0bTmw%2F By Michael F. CannonThat’s the headline of an article posted this week in Politico: Rarely have so many political strategists been so wrong about something so big. But when it comes to the health care bill, everyone from former President Bill Clinton on down whiffed on some of the more significant predictions. Democrats would run aggressively on the legislation? Nope. Voters would forget about the sausage-making aspects of the legislative process? Doesn’t seem that way, as the process contributed to the sense that the bill was deeply flawed. And Clinton’s own promise to jittery Democrats that their poll numbers would skyrocket after the bill finally passed also didn’t pan out, as the party is fighting for its life in the midterms. What can explain the miscalculation? ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3998954 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 20:17:19 +0100 3998954 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3998959&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FmP4je9Jwvv4%2F By Michael F. CannonFrom the Minneapolis Star-Tribune: Two of Minnesota’s biggest health plans said Thursday they have temporarily suspended sales of individual health insurance policies because of uncertainty related to the new federal health reform law. The moves by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and HealthPartners came on the same day some of the federal government’s most-heralded consumer protections came into effect… The insurers that have suspended individual sales say they are awaiting guidance on new rules, including those around coverage of kids with pre-existing conditions… Pam Lux, a spokeswoman for Eagan-based Blue Cross, said she expects the suspension of individual sales to be brief but could not say if it would be days or weeks. (Source: Cato... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3998959 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 14:09:13 +0100 3998959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3998961&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F_aHqsV_IXnc%2F By Michael F. CannonAn interesting update on the politics of ObamaCare appears in CongressDailyPM (subscription required): The marking of six months since the signing of the healthcare law should be a moment of celebration by Democrats, especially as several popular provisions go into effect today. But the political realities of the midterm elections have made trumpeting the law, which remains unpopular with large swaths of the electorate, a delicate balancing act for Democrats… House leaders tell their members to address the healthcare law in a way that best suits their districts… some Democratic members in the House and Senate instruct staff not to write talking points on the law’s six-month provisions… a former administration official questions if Democrats&#8217... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3998961 Thu, 23 Sep 2010 21:32:14 +0100 3998961 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3993869&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F2POxws7y4Uc%2F By Michael F. CannonRegarding ObamaCare’s first adverse-selection death spiral, Julie Rovner posts this over at Shots, the NPR health blog: The advocacy group Health Care for America Now was the first to bring the action to widespread attention. “Even for the insurance industry this behavior is surprisingly brazen,” HCAN Executive Director Ethan Rome wrote in a blog entry for the Huffington Post. “They don’t like the rules, so they’re going to take their ball and go home.” But the insurance industry trade group America’s Health Insurance Plans rejected HCAN’s contention that the companies’ refusal to sell to all comers is somehow a violation of a promise made earlier this year by AHIP CEO Karen Ignagni that insurance companies ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3993869 Thu, 23 Sep 2010 01:00:27 +0100 3993869 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3993873&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F9F7ZUgHS53A%2F By Michael F. CannonIn the wake of Senate Democrats’ inability to break a GOP filibuster of the defense appropriations bill, to which Democrats hoped to attach the pro-immigration Dream Act and a repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, the Reason Foundation’s Shikha Dalmia writes in Forbes: But if Harry Reid was the proximate cause of this bill’s demise, ObamaCare was the fundamental cause. The ugly, hardball tactics that Democrats deployed to shove this unpopular legislation down everyone’s throat have so poisoned the well on Capitol Hill that Democrats have no good will left to make strategic alliances on even reasonable legislation anymore. When a party has such huge majorities, even small gestures of reconciliation are eno... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3993873 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 18:54:03 +0100 3993873 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3993884&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FaPLQbHBbzV8%2F By Michael F. CannonThis is what happens when government price controls limit insurance companies’ ability to set premiums according to risk: Note that this adverse-selection death spiral happened before ObamaCare‘s price controls on child-only coverage even took effect.  (Of course, President Obama never calls them price controls.  He calls them “consumer protections.”  Some protection.) ObamaCare supporters are in full-blown denial: “We’re just days away from a new era when insurance companies must stop denying coverage to kids just because they are sick, and now some of the biggest changed their minds,” Ethan Rome, executive director of Health Care for America Now, an advocacy group, said in a statement. “[It] is immoral, and to blame ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3993884 Tue, 21 Sep 2010 18:09:40 +0100 3993884 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3993886&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F3TlU4KCMCaY%2F By Michael F. CannonUSA Today and Politico Pulse report that ObamaCare has prompted BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina to rebate $156 million to its customers in the individual market.  This may seem like good news.  It’s actually bad news, particularly for BCBS’s sickest customers. Pre-ObamaCare, BCBS’s customers – whether healthy or sick – had coverage with an insurer that had already pre-funded their future medical needs. Competition protected them from BCBS skimping on care: if BCBS got a reputation for skimping, it would have a hard time enrolling new customers. Post-ObamaCare, BCBS no longer needs that pile of cash, so they’re returning it to their customers. That hurts sick enrollees because BCBS is doling it out to all enrollees – not just the sick e... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3993886 Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:35:30 +0100 3993886 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3987043&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FBMKy5RTSVsM%2F By Michael F. CannonPresident Obama’s Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius is still threatening to bankrupt insurance companies who tell their customers that ObamaCare‘s mandates will increase premiums by more than 2 percent, even though her department’s projections show that, starting this week, just one of the law’s new mandates will increase some premiums by nearly 7 percent. In a CBS News story last week, Sebelius tried to defend those indefensible threats: But don’t the insurance companies have a right to make their own analyses and claims to their customers? “Absolutely, they have a right to communicate with their customers,” replied HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “We just want to make sure that communication is as... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3987043 Mon, 20 Sep 2010 14:20:35 +0100 3987043 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3980813&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FOxPvcALESeg%2F By Michael F. CannonBack in August of 2007, I issued a challenge to Jesse Larner, who blogs at HuffingtonPost.  One week later, Larner took up my challenge in a post that I’ve just finished reading. Larner very graciously admitted to a couple of misstatements, and I must reciprocate.  I wrote, “I challenge Larner to show where a Cato scholar … describes America’s as a ‘free-enterprise system of health care.’”  Sure enough, Larner found an oped where one of my colleagues wrote, “I live in a country with a free-market health-care system.”  Obviously, I disagree with that claim.  But Larner was right, and I will have to look into this. A few remaining areas of disagreement: I wrote that Larner “claims that people don’t di... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3980813 Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:56:30 +0100 3980813 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3980817&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F7wLnv6a_8s4%2F By Michael F. CannonDuring the (initial) congressional debate over ObamaCare, President Obama vilified Anthem Blue Cross of California for a 39 percent rate increase.  On Wednesday, the Hartford Courant reported that ObamaCare itself may increase premiums by similar amounts: Health insurers are asking for immediate rate hikes of more than 20 percent in Connecticut for some plans, citing rising medical costs and federal health reform laws as reasons… In what might appear to be an oddity, companies are citing a huge range of effects that the health care reform mandates will have on plan prices — from near zero to well over 20 percent. The reason is that among all the plans, some already deliver the provisions required by health reform, while others do not… Anthem Blue Cross an... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3980817 Fri, 17 Sep 2010 13:43:45 +0100 3980817 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3976485&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FykTMAi42E7c%2F By Michael F. CannonI grow increasingly amused at how some people carefully avoid saying that ObamaCare is unpopular. When Pollster.com aggregates all the various polls on ObamaCare’s popularity, it reveals that a plurality or majority of the public has consistently opposed the law since before the angry town-hall meetings of August 2009: It’s no surprise when HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius avoids the U-word by saying stuff like, “We have a lot of reeducation to do.”  (To be clear, she’s talking about reeducating you, not herself.) But it’s odd when a Washington Post news item describes the public as “profoundly ambivalent” toward the law. (According to Merriam-Webster, ambivalence means holding “simultaneous and contradictory attitu... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3976485 Thu, 16 Sep 2010 21:06:38 +0100 3976485 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3976487&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F-Sb79C4_7uY%2F By Michael F. CannonI must be losing my touch. I’ve let nearly two months pass without responding to Ezra Klein’s defense of RomneyCare, ObamaCare, and other centrally planned health care systems.  (For those who want to get up to speed: his original post, my reply, and his response.)  So here goes. Klein notes that he and I had each used flawed measures of RomneyCare’s impact on health insurance premiums in Massachusetts.  Fair enough.  But Klein ignores the study I cited by John Cogan, Glenn Hubbard, and Dan Kessler, which estimates that RomneyCare increased premiums in Massachusetts by 6 percent.  The CHK study has limitations, but it is the best estimate available.  I hope Klein addresses it. Klein’s fallback position is that even if RomneyCare increases p... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3976487 Thu, 16 Sep 2010 15:50:05 +0100 3976487 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3976462&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2010%2F09%2Fhuman-resources-and-surviving-health-reform.html By MIKE TURPIN As the first snowflakes of change fall on the eve of health reform, HR professionals may soon wake up to an entirely transformed healthcare delivery landscape. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) clearly will impact... (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3976462 Wed, 15 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3976462 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3972906&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FRJz0v7DMT98%2F By Michael F. CannonHere’s my contribution to a “one-minute debate” on ObamaCare in the Christian Science Monitor: The new health-care law’s mandates are already causing health insurance premiums to rise 3 to 9 percent more than they otherwise would. Its price controls are pushing insurers to abandon the market for child-only coverage and will soon begin rationing care to Medicare patients, partly by driving nearly 1 in 6 hospitals and other providers out of the program. Starting in 2014, when the full law takes effect, things will get really ugly. ObamaCare’s “individual mandate” will drive premiums even higher – assuming the courts have not declared it unconstitutional, as they should. Because the penalty for violating the mandate is a fraction of those premiu... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3972906 Wed, 15 Sep 2010 14:00:23 +0100 3972906 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3965393&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FVNx7y-rBzqI%2F By Michael F. CannonThe following analogy may help to explain why everyone should be troubled by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ efforts to intimidate insurance companies who say unflattering things about ObamaCare. Last month, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R), issued an opinion that state regulatory boards already have the authority to impose additional regulations on abortion clinics.  Critics pounced, claiming that the measure could shut down 17 of the state’s 21 clinics. What if Cuccinelli responded with a letter threatening to investigate clinics that “misinform” the public about the costs of such regulation? (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3965393 Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:52:58 +0100 3965393 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3965395&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FRiDBphh1ezE%2F By Michael F. CannonHere’s something else to consider about HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ threatening letter to health insurers who dare to tell their enrollees about how much ObamaCare is costing them. Sebelius threatened insurers for claiming ObamaCare will increase premiums by as much as 9 percent.  Yet there were no threats issued against the RAND Corporation when it estimated ObamaCare will increase premiums for young adults by an average of 17 percent beginning in 2014, or against Milliman Inc. when it likewise estimated premium increases of 10-30 percent for young adults.  The reasons for the disparate treatment are fairly obvious. Sebelius has less power over RAND or Milliman, and bullies always find it easier to pick on the unpopular kid. But an equally importan... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3965395 Mon, 13 Sep 2010 16:33:18 +0100 3965395 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3965397&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FiiG5XuwcTMk%2F By Michael F. CannonOn Friday, I blogged about HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ letter to the health insurance lobby, in which she attempts to stifle political speech by using the new powers that ObamaCare grants her to threaten health insurance companies that claim ObamaCare’s coverage mandates are one cause behind rising premiums.  (Never mind that the insurers’ estimates — which project that ObamaCare will increase premiums in 2011 by as much as 9 percent — are in line with those put forward by HHS.) Here’s a smattering of reactions from others. The Wall Street Journal: “The Health and Human Services secretary…warned that ‘there will be zero tolerance for this type of misinformation and unjustified rate increases.’   Zero t... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3965397 Mon, 13 Sep 2010 16:08:22 +0100 3965397 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3957864&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2010%2F09%2Fconsumers-to-pay-more-under-reform.html By MERRILL GOOZNER The latest analysis of health care reform – out this week from bean counters at Medicare – shows reform will raise health care spending slightly over the next 10 years, not reduce it as promised by President... (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3957864 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3957864 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3938306&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2010%2F09%2Fhaving-your-cake-and-eating-it-too.html By JOHN GOODMAN Have you ever wondered how anyone could possibly think that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) would lead to less health care spending? Consider that the act is expected to (a) insure more than half... (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3938306 Sun, 05 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3938306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3934474&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fpresident-obama-auto-tuned-video-of-the-day%2F Thanks to the digital age, singers no longer actually need to know how to sing, even in singing competitions. Our favorite example of pitch-correcting technology is Auto Tune, which artist T-Pain has used often (and shamelessly) to sound like a rapping robot, like he does here on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Now President Obama can transform his speeches into hip hop using the same technology. Health care reform never sounded so – cutting edge. Post from: BlissTree President Obama, Auto-Tuned: Video of the Day (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3934474 Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:00:12 +0100 3934474 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3933080&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FynRut6Tk9w8%2F By Michael F. CannonEvery year, the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust produce the leading survey of employee health benefits.  Yesterday, KFF and HRET issued their survey of health benefits in 2010 with a news release that begins: Family Health Premiums Rise 3 Percent to $13,770 in 2010… Premiums rose by just 3 percent?  Great news!  Last year, KFF/HRET guesstimated that the average cost of family coverage could hit $14,539 in 2010.  Working families saved hundreds of dollars! Not so fast, says KFF/HRET.  The main reason premiums rose less than expected is that “businesses have been shifting more of the costs of health insurance to workers through … deductibles and other cost-sharing,” said KFF president and CEO Drew Altma... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3933080 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:35:21 +0100 3933080 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3929215&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FRVx1xxEnHc4%2F By Michael F. CannonA week ago today, I questioned both the premises and purpose of an upcoming National Journal forum on ObamaCare and job creation.  The forum’s promotional materials touted the new health care jobs that the law will create as a Good Thing, even though we already have too many health care jobs.  All in all, it looked to be a very dignified pro-Obama(Care) rally, funded by one of ObamaCare’s biggest beneficiaries, the drugmaker Eli Lilly.  The Washington Examiner‘s Tim Carney picked up on the story.  Then Instapundit did added his own pithy interpretation: “Hey, the Atlantic media empire needs money. Eli Lilly has it. Plus, it boosts Obama. Win-win!”  (Actually, I believe that would be win-win-win.) To its credit, National Journal has sin... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3929215 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:04:46 +0100 3929215 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4829061&cid=t_124363_114_f&fid=35410&url=http%3A%2F%2Fletstalkhealthcare.org%2Fblog%2Fwelcome-back-lets-talk%2F Hello. My name is Eric Schultz and I am nearing the completion of my first six months as President and CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. And boy, have they been memorable. But before I get into any of that or even talk about the future of the “Let’s Talk Health Care” blog, I’d like to introduce myself to you. During the past 25 years or so, I worked both in the health insurance and health delivery space.  My first dozen years, I worked up the ranks at a national, for profit insurance company. At that point, I believed I had a broad and well-rounded view of the health care system.  But thanks to a physician executive who took a chance on me,  I stepped into the role as the Administrator of a physician group practice comprised of 25 primary care physicians.  It was a humbling e... HPHC blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4829061 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:24:03 +0100 4829061 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3907582&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FcOzoiIF6P2M%2F By Michael F. CannonCome September, National Journal will host a policy summit titled “Prescription For Growth,” funded by Eli Lilly, that will probe “the potential impact of recently passed health care reform as an economic engine” and ask whether “health care reform [will] serve as a jobs creator and accelerate growth in health-related industries?” Oy, where to begin? I suppose I could start with how a news organization that bills itself as “the leading source of nonpartisan reporting” could lend ObamaCare a positive gloss by calling it “reform” — a term that even NPR declines to ascribe to actual legislation (for that reason). Next, there’s this inane question of whether ObamaCare will spur job growth in the health ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3907582 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:29:02 +0100 3907582 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3907588&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FY2qMk0xSuC8%2F By Michael F. CannonThe Obama administration spent your tax dollars on a pro-ObamaCare ad, featuring Andy Griffith, that FactCheck.org found uses “weasel words” to “mislead” seniors about how that law would affect them.  (As I blogged previously, FactCheck.org understated the case.) Nonetheless, over at Medicare.gov, the administration is still running that dishonest ad. They should take the ad down. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3907588 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:26:57 +0100 3907588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3911649&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2010%2F08%2Fhealth-reform-without-apologies.html By JOHN GOODMAN Have you ever seen a fair, unbiased, evenhanded explanation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act? Have you ever seen anything that even appeared to be objective? I haven’t. So to fill the gap, my colleagues... (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3911649 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3911649 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3902884&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FhnFOiq83nwU%2F Earlier this year, Nobel Peace Prize winner Barack Obama signed legislation that threatens U.S. residents with prison if they fail to purchase health insurance. This week, his administration told the United Nations that this legislation shows the United States is making progress on human rights. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3902884 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:57:09 +0100 3902884 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3889072&cid=t_124363_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FvRa2WL-7944%2F Politico has obtained and published a confidential messaging-strategy presentation that essentially admits ObamaCare supporters are losing the battle for public opinion.  The presentation was delivered to professional leftists by the left-wing Herndon Alliance, based on public opinion research by Democratic pollsters John Anzalone, Celinda Lake, and Stan Greenberg, in a forum organized by the left-wing group Families USA,  “one of the central groups in the push for the initial legislation.”  It is a stark admission that the public has not warmed to the new health care law, despite predictions that they would do so.  Here’s how Politico describes the presentation and its implications: Key White House allies are dramatically shifting their attempts to defend health care... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3889072 Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:04:57 +0100 3889072