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1950 records returned

Hospital Governance And The Quality Of Care [Web Exclusives]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Hospitals' boards may influence the quality of care that hospitals provide, but their engagement in quality-related issues is largely unknown. We surveyed a nationally representative sample of board chairs of 1,000 U.S. hospitals to understand their expertise, perspectives, and activities in clinical quality. We found that fewer than half of the boards rated quality of care as one of their two top priorities, and only a minority reported receiving training in quality. The large differences in board activities between high-performing and low-performing hospitals we found suggest that governing boards may be an important tar...
Source: Health Affairs - November 6, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Jha, A. K., Epstein, A. M. Tags: Web Exclusives Source Type: journals

A Survey Of Primary Care Physicians In Eleven Countries, 2009: Perspectives On Care, Costs, And Experiences [Web Exclusives]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This 2009 survey of primary care doctors in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States finds wide differences in practice systems, incentives, perceptions of access to care, use of health information technology (IT), and programs to improve quality. Response rates exceeded 40 percent except in four countries: Canada, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States. U.S. and Canadian physicians lag in the adoption of IT. U.S. doctors were the most likely to report that there are insurance restrictions on obtaining medication and treatm...
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Schoen, C., Osborn, R., Doty, M. M., Squires, D., Peugh, J., Applebaum, S. Tags: Access To Care, Health Reform, International Issues, Physicians, Public Opinion, Health Spending, Consumer Issues, Health Information Technology Web Exclusives Source Type: journals

Evidence Of An Emerging Digital Divide Among Hospitals That Care For The Poor [Web Exclusives]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Some hospitals that disproportionately care for poor patients are falling behind in adopting electronic health records (EHRs). Data from a national survey indicate early evidence of an emerging digital divide: U.S. hospitals that provide care to large numbers of poor patients also had minimal use of EHRs. These same hospitals lagged others in quality performance as well, but those with EHR systems seemed to have eliminated the quality gap. These findings suggest that adopting EHRs should be a major policy goal of health reform measures targeting hospitals that serve large populations of poor patients. (Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Jha, A. K., DesRoches, C. M., Shields, A. E., Miralles, P. D., Zheng, J., Rosenbaum, S., Campbell, E. G. Tags: Access To Care, Health Reform, Hospitals, Business Of Health, Health Spending, Health Information Technology Web Exclusives Source Type: journals

Hypertension, Diabetes, And Elevated Cholesterol Among Insured And Uninsured U.S. Adults [Web Exclusives]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this paper we explore whether uninsured Americans with three chronic conditions were less likely than the insured to be aware of their illness or to have it controlled. Among those with diabetes and elevated cholesterol, the uninsured were more often undiagnosed. Among hypertensives and people with elevated cholesterol, the uninsured more often had uncontrolled conditions. Undiagnosed and uncontrolled chronic illness, which is common among insured people, is even more frequent among the uninsured. (Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Wilper, A. P., Woolhandler, S., Lasser, K. E., McCormick, D., Bor, D. H., Himmelstein, D. U. Tags: Access To Care, Health Reform, Insurance Coverage, Medicaid, Chronic Care, State/Local Issues, Health Spending, Consumer Issues, Variations, Demography Web Exclusives Source Type: journals

Uninsured Adults With Chronic Conditions Or Disabilities: Gaps In Public Insurance Programs [Web Exclusives]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Among nonelderly U.S. adults (ages 25–61), uninsurance rates increased from 13.7 percent in 2000 to 16.0 percent in 2005. Despite the existence of public insurance programs, rates remained high for low-income people reporting serious health conditions (25 percent across years) or disabilities (15 percent). Residents of southern states had even higher rates (32 percent with health conditions, 22 percent with disabilities). Those who did not belong to a federally mandated Medicaid eligibility category were about twice as likely as others to be uninsured overall, and uninsurance among this group increased more rapidly o...
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Pizer, S. D., Frakt, A. B., Iezzoni, L. I. Tags: Access To Care, Health Reform, Insurance Coverage, Medicaid, Chronic Care, State/Local Issues, Health Spending, Consumer Issues, Variations, Demography Web Exclusives Source Type: journals

Magnetic Resonance Imaging And Low Back Pain Care For Medicare Patients [Web Exclusives]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a technology frequently used to evaluate low back pain, despite evidence that challenges the usefulness of routine MRI and the surgical interventions it may trigger. We analyze the relationship between MRI supply and care for fee-for-service Medicare patients with low back pain. We find that increases in MRI supply are related to higher use of both low back MRI and surgery. This is worrisome, and careful attention should be paid to assessing the outcomes for patients. (Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Baras, J. D., Baker, L. C. Tags: Access To Care, Medicare, Business Of Health, Chronic Care, Research And Technology, Health Spending, Consumer Issues Web Exclusives Source Type: journals

Adoption And Spread Of New Imaging Technology: A Case Study [Web Exclusives]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Technology is a major driver of health care costs. Hospitals are rapidly acquiring one new technology in particular: 64-slice computed tomography (CT), which can be used to image coronary arteries in search of blockages. We propose that it is more likely to be adopted by hospitals that treat cardiac patients, function in competitive markets, are reimbursed for the procedure, and have favorable operating margins. We find that early adoption is related to cardiac patient volume but also to operating margins. The paucity of evidence informing this technology’s role in cardiac care suggests that its adoption by cardiac-o...
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Ladapo, J. A., Horwitz, J. R., Weinstein, M. C., Gazelle, G. S., Cutler, D. M. Tags: Access To Care, Business Of Health, Chronic Care, Research And Technology, Health Spending, Consumer Issues Web Exclusives Source Type: journals

Calorie Labeling And Food Choices: A First Look At The Effects On Low-Income People In New York City [Web Exclusives]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We examined the influence of menu calorie labels on fast food choices in the wake of New York City’s labeling mandate. Receipts and survey responses were collected from 1,156 adults at fast-food restaurants in low-income, minority New York communities. These were compared to a sample in Newark, New Jersey, a city that had not introduced menu labeling. We found that 27.7 percent who saw calorie labeling in New York said the information influenced their choices. However, we did not detect a change in calories purchased after the introduction of calorie labeling. We encourage more research on menu labeling and greater a...
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Elbel, B., Kersh, R., Brescoll, V. L., Dixon, L. B. Tags: Health Promotion/Disease Prevention, Legal/Regulatory Issues, Consumer Issues, Determinants Of Health Web Exclusives Source Type: journals

New York City's Fight Over Calorie Labeling [Web Exclusives]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In 2006, New York City’s Health Department amended the city Health Code to require the posting of calorie counts by chain restaurants on menus, menu boards, and item tags. This was one element of the city’s response to rising obesity rates. Drafting the rule involved many decisions that affected its impact and its legal viability. The restaurant industry argued against the rule and twice sued to prevent its implementation. An initial version of the rule was found to be preempted by federal law, but a revised version was implemented in January 2008. The experience shows that state and local health departments ca...
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Farley, T. A., Caffarelli, A., Bassett, M. T., Silver, L., Frieden, T. R. Tags: Health Promotion/Disease Prevention, Legal/Regulatory Issues, Consumer Issues, Determinants Of Health Web Exclusives Source Type: journals

Ownership Statement [Letters]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Tucker, J. Tags: Letters Source Type: journals

Weakest Links In Polio Vaccination [Letters]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Arya, S. C., Agarwal, N. Tags: Letters Source Type: journals

Private Insurance In Taiwan: An Author Responds [Letters]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Cheng, T.-M. Tags: Letters Source Type: journals

Private Insurance In Taiwan [Letters]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Yu, S., Lin, A. Tags: Letters Source Type: journals

Ethical Prescribing: The Authors Respond [Letters]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: James, C. D. Tags: Letters Source Type: journals

Ethical Prescribing [Letters]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Carrera, P. M. Tags: Letters Source Type: journals

Polio Vaccine: The Authors Respond [Letters]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Kaufmann, J. R., Feldbaum, H. Tags: Letters Source Type: journals

Major Reason For Nigerian Boycott Of Polio Vaccine [Letters]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Frishman, A. Tags: Letters Source Type: journals

Tele-ICU: The Authors Respond [Letters]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Berenson, R. Tags: Letters Source Type: journals

Tele-ICU: Positive Return On Investment [Letters]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Rufo, B. Tags: Letters Source Type: journals

eICU: More Data Are Now Available [Letters]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Rosenfeld, B. Tags: Letters Source Type: journals

Tele-ICU And Clinical Quality [Letters]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Miller, M. D. Tags: Letters Source Type: journals

Tele-ICU: Much-Needed Evidence [Letters]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Everett, W. Tags: Letters Source Type: journals

Deconstructing Medical Hype [Book Reviews]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Goozner, M. Tags: Book Reviews Source Type: journals

Killing The Greatest Killer--Smallpox [Book Reviews]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Musgrove, P. Tags: Book Reviews Source Type: journals

Boundary Politics And AIDS Policy [Book Reviews]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Weinreb, A. Tags: Book Reviews Source Type: journals

GrantWatch: Outcomes [GrantWatch]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Tags: GrantWatch Source Type: journals

Cancer Screening And Age In The United States And Europe [DataWatch]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We compare cancer screening rates between the United States and Europe. Many European countries have organized screening programs, whereas the U.S. approach is relatively decentralized. Many European countries, unlike the United States, also impose upper age limits on screening. Overall, European screening rates were 22–88 percent of the corresponding U.S. rates. U.S. residents are more likely to be screened at younger ages, when the expected benefit from early detection is the greatest, but also at older ages, when the expected benefit is declining. (Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Howard, D. H., Richardson, L. C., Thorpe, K. E. Tags: Access To Care, Health Promotion/Disease Prevention, Health Reform, International Issues, Health Spending, Consumer Issues, Variations DataWatch Source Type: journals

Adverse Selection In The Medicare Prescription Drug Program [DataWatch]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The Medicare Part D drug benefit created choices for beneficiaries among many prescription drug plans with varying levels of coverage. As a result, Medicare enrollees with high prescription drug costs have strong incentives to enroll in Part D, especially in plans with more comprehensive coverage. To measure this potential problem of "adverse selection," which could threaten plans’ finances, we compared baseline characteristics among groups of beneficiaries with various drug coverage arrangements in 2006. We found some significant differences. For example, enrollees in stand-alone prescription drug plans, especially ...
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Riley, G. F., Levy, J. M., Montgomery, M. A. Tags: Access To Care, Insurance Coverage, Managed Care - Medicare, Medicare, Business Of Health, Health Spending, Insurance Market DataWatch Source Type: journals

Participation Of Academic Scientists In Relationships With Industry [DataWatch]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Relationships between academic researchers and industry have received considerable attention in the past twenty years. However, current data on the prevalence, magnitude, and trends in such relationships are rare. In a mailed survey of 3,080 academic life science researchers conducted in 2007, we found that 52.8 percent have some form of relationship with industry. Life science faculty with industry research support were more productive than faculty without such support on virtually every measure. However, we also found a significant decrease in industry support of university research, which could have major consequences f...
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Zinner, D. E., Bjankovic, D., Clarridge, B., Blumenthal, D., Campbell, E. G. Tags: Ethical Issues, Health Professions Education, Legal/Regulatory Issues, Business Of Health, Research And Technology, Health Spending DataWatch Source Type: journals

Dying Of A Treatable Disease [Narrative Matters]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Keirns, C. C. Tags: Access To Care, Health Promotion/Disease Prevention, Hospitals, AIDS/HIV, Personal Experience ( Narrative Matters ), Physicians, Consumer Issues Source Type: journals

Innovation In Namibia: Preserving Private Health Insurance And HIV/AIDS Treatment [MarketWatch]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Namibia, a lower-middle-income country in sub-Saharan Africa, suffers from a huge HIV/AIDS burden. An influx of donor funding in 2004–2007 increased support for publicly provided HIV care and treatment. This raised concern that private funding would be "crowded out," thereby leading to a reduction in the overall resources used to treat patients. In 2006 the Namibian medical aid industry, with donor support, created a special fund to subsidize private health insurance, including HIV/AIDS services. The program allowed both low- and higher-income people to be covered. Crowding out valuable private resources was avoided ...
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Schellekens, O. P., de Beer, I., Lindner, M. E., van Vugt, M., Schellekens, P., de Wit, T. F. R. Tags: Access To Care, Health Reform, Insurance Coverage, AIDS/HIV, International Issues, Business Of Health, Health Spending, Consumer Issues, Insurance Market MarketWatch Source Type: journals

Microinsurance: Innovations In Low-Cost Health Insurance [MarketWatch]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Microinsurance—low-cost health insurance based on a community, cooperative, or mutual and self-help arrangements—can provide financial protection for poor households and improve access to health care. However, low benefit caps and a low share of premiums paid as benefits—both designed to keep these arrangements in business—perversely limited these schemes’ ability to extend coverage, offer financial protection, and retain members. We studied three schemes in India, two of which are member-operated and one a commercial scheme, using household surveys of insured and uninsured households and inte...
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Dror, D. M., Radermacher, R., Khadilkar, S. B., Schout, P., Hay, F.-X., Singh, A., Koren, R. Tags: Access To Care, Health Reform, Insurance Coverage, International Issues, Business Of Health, Health Spending, Consumer Issues, Insurance Market MarketWatch Source Type: journals

How Private, Voluntary Health Insurance Can Work In Developing Countries [MarketWatch]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Could voluntary insurance markets exist in developing countries? We used data from the World Health Survey for eleven countries to estimate, at different income levels, variation in total medical spending and spending for hospitals, physicians, and outpatient drugs. The goal was to generate estimates of risk premiums that consumers might pay for insurance coverage and to calculate likely insurance administrative costs. We conclude that insurance covering either hospital spending or total spending is feasible for much of the population, but not insurance for physician services or medicines. Spending varies by income, so ins...
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Pauly, M. V., Blavin, F. E., Meghan, S. Tags: Access To Care, Health Reform, Insurance Coverage, International Issues, Business Of Health, Health Spending, Consumer Issues, Insurance Market MarketWatch Source Type: journals

Expanding The Biopharmaceutical Industry's Involvement In Fighting Neglected Diseases [Perspective]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The increasingly recognized need for new products for so-called neglected diseases, which afflict large numbers of people but have received relatively little industry investment, presents a clear example of a "strategic" corporate responsibility. Addressing neglected diseases can be important to "health diplomacy" and other national interests as well. Because industrial capabilities are essential to the development of new drugs and vaccines for these diseases, specific policy initiatives to attract more companies to do such work should also be further developed. (Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Geraghty, J. A. Tags: Access To Care, Health Promotion/Disease Prevention, International Issues, Business Of Health, Public Health, Health Spending Perspective Source Type: journals

A Business Plan To Help The 'Global South' In Its Fight Against Neglected Diseases [Neglected Diseases]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Although neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) threaten the health of those living in the developing world, innovation directed toward addressing NTDs is comparatively meager. Health biotechnology firms in rapidly growing economies in the global South are developing and selling vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics for these diseases to local markets. In this paper we identify a pipeline of sixty-two NTD products from seventy-eight "Southern" companies. We also propose creation of a Global Health Accelerator—a new nonprofit organization whose mission would be to support and help grow this Southern source of affordable...
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Frew, S. E., Liu, V. Y., Singer, P. A. Tags: Access To Care, Health Promotion/Disease Prevention, International Issues, Business Of Health, Public Health, Health Spending Neglected Diseases Source Type: journals

Spurring New Research For Neglected Diseases [Neglected Diseases]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
A very small proportion of global spending for biomedical research is for neglected diseases. However, neglected diseases account for a sizable percentage of the global burden of disease, especially in low-income countries. For-profit pharmaceutical and biotech companies are unlikely to conduct significant additional research on neglected diseases without financial incentives. This paper examines the benefits of providing a tax credit to encourage companies to conduct preclinical research on neglected diseases in the laboratory or in animals. This strategy could lead to a new generation of treatment options for the people ...
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Anderson, G. F. Tags: Access To Care, Health Promotion/Disease Prevention, International Issues, Business Of Health, Public Health, Health Spending Neglected Diseases Source Type: journals

Progress In Public-Private Partnerships To Fight Neglected Diseases [Perspective]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In the global fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), public health partnerships involving donations of medicines by pharmaceutical companies are enabling access to treatment for millions of people worldwide. These partnerships collaborate with other disease programs and a range of key stakeholders to develop and improve programs to control and eliminate NTDs. Although progress is being made against NTDs, continued success depends on a policy environment that supports appropriate levels of engagement and collaboration from all participants. (Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Gustavsen, K., Hanson, C. Tags: Access To Care, Health Promotion/Disease Prevention, International Issues, Business Of Health, Public Health Perspective Source Type: journals

How Four Once Common Diseases Were Eliminated From The American South [Neglected Diseases]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Four major diseases stigmatized the American South in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries: yellow fever, malaria, hookworm, and pellagra. Each disease contributed to the inhibition of economic growth in the South, and the latter three severely affected children’s development and adult workers’ productivity. However, all four had largely disappeared from the region by 1950. This paper analyzes the reasons for this disappearance. It describes the direct effects of public health interventions and the indirect effects of prosperity and other facets of economic development. It also offers insights into the invalu...
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Humphreys, M. Tags: Access To Care, Health Promotion/Disease Prevention, International Issues, Public Health Neglected Diseases Source Type: journals

Zoning For Health? The Year-Old Ban On New Fast-Food Restaurants In South LA [Web Exclusives]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
A regulation banning new fast-food establishments for one year in Los Angeles, California, was passed unanimously by the city council in July 2008. It was motivated by health concerns and excessive obesity rates in South Los Angeles. However, it might not have had the impact that was intended. This paper reviews the empirical evidence for the regulation and whether it is likely to target the primary levers of obesity. We argue that the premises for the ban were questionable. For example, the density of fast-food chain restaurants per capita is actually higher in other parts of Los Angeles than in South LA. Other changes, s...
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Sturm, R., Cohen, D. A. Tags: Health Promotion/Disease Prevention, Legal/Regulatory Issues, Consumer Issues, Determinants Of Health Web Exclusives Source Type: journals

Massachusetts Health Reform: Employer Coverage From Employees' Perspective [Web Exclusives]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study provides an update on employers’ responses under health reform in fall 2008, using data from surveys of working-age adults. Results show that concerns about employers’ dropping coverage or scaling back benefits under health reform have not been realized. Access to employer coverage has increased, as has the scope and quality of their coverage as assessed by workers. However, premiums and out-of-pocket costs have become more of an issue for employees in small firms. (Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Long, S. K., Stockley, K. Tags: Access To Care, Health Reform, Insurance Coverage, Business Of Health, State/Local Issues, Health Spending, Consumer Issues, Insurance Market Web Exclusives Source Type: journals

Closing The Schools: Lessons From The 1918-19 U.S. Influenza Pandemic [Web Exclusives]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
When the novel strain of A/H1N1 influenza first appeared in spring 2009, closing schools was initially a common and often challenging strategy implemented in many communities. Arguments for and against closing schools are likely to arise anew if influenza spikes in the fall of 2009. Policymakers and community officials considering this and other nonpharmaceutical responses can learn from the experiences of ninety-one years ago, during the 1918–19 influenza pandemic that killed thousands of Americans. Analysis of the school closure policies of forty-three U.S. cities during that pandemic shows that smooth implementati...
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Stern, A. M., Cetron, M. S., Markel, H. Tags: Health Promotion/Disease Prevention, Legal/Regulatory Issues, Maternal And Child Health, Public Health, Consumer Issues Web Exclusives Source Type: journals

The Dangerous Shortage Of Domestic Violence Services [Web Exclusives]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Domestic violence is a serious, preventable health problem affecting more than thirty million Americans annually, yet little is known about federally funded service provision. We used the National Census of Domestic Violence Services, an innovative victim-safety focused survey, to count services provided by more than 2,000 programs. During the twenty-four-hour survey period, 48,350 people used these services. The results show substantial unmet demand for services (10 percent of requests) because of resource constraints, particularly in rural, economically disadvantaged, and minority communities. Greater funding of domestic...
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Iyengar, R., Sabik, L. Tags: Health Promotion/Disease Prevention, Maternal And Child Health, Public Health, Consumer Issues Web Exclusives Source Type: journals

Senator Edward M. Kennedy: Making Common Cause With Adversaries While Committed To Health Reform [Web Exclusives]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Marmor, T. R. Tags: Health Reform, Politics, Consumer Issues Web Exclusives Source Type: journals

Senator Edward M. Kennedy: The Master Legislative Craftsman [Web Exclusives]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Nexon, D. Tags: Health Reform, Medicare, Politics, Consumer Issues Web Exclusives Source Type: journals

Portrait Of A Policy And Political Entrepreneur [Web Exclusives]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
(Source: Health Affairs)
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Blumenthal, D. Tags: Health Reform, Politics, Consumer Issues Web Exclusives Source Type: journals

Containing Costs And Improving Care For Children In Medicaid And CHIP [Web Exclusives]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The current health reform debate is greatly concerned with "bending the curve" of cost growth and containing costs, particularly in public programs. Our research demonstrates that spending in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is highly concentrated, particularly among children with chronic health problems. Ten percent of enrollees (two-thirds of whom have a chronic condition) account for 72 percent of the spending; 30 percent of enrolled children receive little or no care. These results highlight the importance of cost containment strategies that reduce avoidable hospitalizations among child...
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Kenney, G. M., Ruhter, J., Selden, T. M. Tags: Access To Care, Health Reform, Insurance Coverage, Insurance Coverage - Children, Managed Care - Medicaid, Maternal And Child Health, Medicaid, Business Of Health, Quality Of Care, Health Spending, Consumer Issues Web Exclusives Source Type: journals

How A New 'Public Plan' Could Affect Hospitals' Finances And Private Insurance Premiums [Web Exclusives]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Two key health reform bills in the House of Representatives and Senate include the option of a "public plan" as an additional source of health coverage. At least initially, the plan would primarily be structured to cover many of the uninsured and those who now have individual coverage. Because it is possible, and perhaps even likely, that this new public payer would pay less than private payers for the same services, such a plan could negatively affect hospital margins. Hospitals may attempt to recoup losses by shifting costs to private payers. We outline the financial pressures that hospitals and private payers could expe...
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Dobson, A., DaVanzo, J. E., El-Gamil, A. M., Berger, G. Tags: Health Reform, Hospitals, Insurance Coverage, Business Of Health, Health Spending, Politics, Consumer Issues, Insurance Market Web Exclusives Source Type: journals

Job-Based Health Insurance: Costs Climb At A Moderate Pace [Web Exclusives]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Each year the Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer Health Benefits takes a snapshot of the state of employee benefits in the United States, based on interviews with public and private employers. Our findings for 2009 show that families continue to face higher premiums, up about 5 percent from last year, and that cost sharing in the form of deductibles and copayments for office visits is greater as well. Average annual premiums in 2009 were $4,824 for single coverage and $13,375 for family coverage. Enrollment in high-deductible health plans held steady. We offer new insights about health risk assessments and how firms responded ...
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Claxton, G., DiJulio, B., Whitmore, H., Pickreign, J., McHugh, M., Finder, B., Osei-Anto, A. Tags: Access To Care, Health Reform, Insurance Coverage, Insurance - Employer-Based System, Managed Care, Business Of Health, Health Spending, Consumer Issues, Insurance Market Web Exclusives Source Type: journals

Understanding The Current Population Survey's Insurance Estimates And The Medicaid 'Undercount' [Web Exclusives]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The widely cited Census Bureau estimates of the number of uninsured people, based on the Current Population Survey, probably overstate the number of uninsured people. This is because of a Medicaid "undercount": Fewer people report to survey takers that they’re covered by Medicaid than program administrative data show are enrolled. Our study finds that the undercount can be explained by the inability of people to recall their insurance status accurately from the previous year. We suggest that other data sources, such as Census’s American Community Survey, should be studied to determine whether they would provide...
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Klerman, J. A., Davern, M., Call, K. T., Lynch, V., Ringel, J. D. Tags: Access To Care, Health Reform, Medicaid, Business Of Health, Consumer Issues Web Exclusives Source Type: journals

Neglected Tropical Diseases: Moving Beyond Mass Drug Treatment To Understanding The Science [Neglected Diseases]Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) represent a major health burden in many developing countries. To date, global efforts to control thirteen parasitic and bacterial infections that affect more than 1.4 billion people have relied on mass drug administration. This singular approach should now be expanded to a more comprehensive suite of tools including coordinated community-based programs, vector control, local training, education, and environmental change. In addition, an intensive basic research agenda is urgently needed to develop effective diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic interventions to stay one step ahead of th...
Source: Health Affairs - November 3, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Mahmoud, A., Zerhouni, E. Tags: Access To Care, Health Promotion/Disease Prevention, International Issues, Public Health, Research And Technology Neglected Diseases Source Type: journals