Doc survived, uninsured patient didn't - Yahoo! News
Dr. Perry Klaassen, is a survivor of Colon Cancer for the past six years. He recently wrote an article regarding care for cancer patients. This article was not about his own care, but about the plight of the uninsured. His patient, Shirley Searcy, had the same exact cancer as Klaassen. She died 18 months after being diagnosed. Dr. Klaassen's essay appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association. How many people have to die the way Ms. Searcy did before health care reforms are in place?
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Sunday, April 1, 2007
States Driving Health Reforms - washingtonpost.com
States Driving Health Reforms - washingtonpost.com
Pennsylvania is the latest in a number of states trying to solve the problem of health care for their citizens. So far Massachusetts, Vermont and Main have adopted universal health care programs with California and Illinois soon to follow. According to this article in Sunday's Washington Post, these states universal health care initiatives are in response to the federal governments lack of action on the issue of health care in this county.
Drew Altman, CEO of the Kaiser Family Foundation, is very optimistic about these initiatives, "We can't reform state by state, but a handful of pace setting states can help show the way for national reform, if in fact a new president and Congress can get their act together in 2009."
Pennsylvania is the latest in a number of states trying to solve the problem of health care for their citizens. So far Massachusetts, Vermont and Main have adopted universal health care programs with California and Illinois soon to follow. According to this article in Sunday's Washington Post, these states universal health care initiatives are in response to the federal governments lack of action on the issue of health care in this county.
Drew Altman, CEO of the Kaiser Family Foundation, is very optimistic about these initiatives, "We can't reform state by state, but a handful of pace setting states can help show the way for national reform, if in fact a new president and Congress can get their act together in 2009."
Some Hospitals Call 911 to Save Their Patients - New York Times
Some Hospitals Call 911 to Save Their Patients - New York Times
Here is another example of Medicaid abuse. Doctor's who set up specialized hospitals, are able to pick and choose the types of procedures they will treat. According to the New York Times these procedures are usually very expensive. This would be great if they could be considered full service hospitals. If an emergency arises as in the case with one patient, Steve Spivey, this type of hospital is not equipped to handle an emergency situation.
This recently occurred in Texas. Mr. Spivey began to experience irregular breathing and the staff called 911 because they did not have the equipment to handle such an emergency. The paramedics inserted a breathing tube, and Mr. Spivey was taken to a full service hospital where he died a short time after arriving. The Texas hospital that called 911 is now barred from treating Medicaid and Medicare patients.
The doctors who setup specialized hospitals defend themselves by saying, that because they are concentrating only on certain procedures they are providing better care for their patients. The inability to handle a medical emergency when a patient is in distress, does not sound like quality health care to me.
Here is another example of Medicaid abuse. Doctor's who set up specialized hospitals, are able to pick and choose the types of procedures they will treat. According to the New York Times these procedures are usually very expensive. This would be great if they could be considered full service hospitals. If an emergency arises as in the case with one patient, Steve Spivey, this type of hospital is not equipped to handle an emergency situation.
This recently occurred in Texas. Mr. Spivey began to experience irregular breathing and the staff called 911 because they did not have the equipment to handle such an emergency. The paramedics inserted a breathing tube, and Mr. Spivey was taken to a full service hospital where he died a short time after arriving. The Texas hospital that called 911 is now barred from treating Medicaid and Medicare patients.
The doctors who setup specialized hospitals defend themselves by saying, that because they are concentrating only on certain procedures they are providing better care for their patients. The inability to handle a medical emergency when a patient is in distress, does not sound like quality health care to me.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
The President pays a visit......
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The President visited Walter Reed health center and apologized for the conditions of the center today. The report said it was the first time he had personally visited the center since the scandal of conditions there broke. The president and the firs lady did visit the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in December, but I am sure the President was shielded from the conditions of the center that were reviled by the Washington Post.
I can't contain my anger. The president apologizing for the treatment of America's service men makes me angry WHY? It's the president's fault that their over there! So after a month of charges, resignations, and special reports on wounded troops , he comes and says I am sorry. Sorry for what! For having them in Iraq where Americans are targeted daily, guarding oil? I can't began to understand our President. But I want to support our troops they are our most distinguished citizens in my opinion, and I hope we bring them home soon.
The President visited Walter Reed health center and apologized for the conditions of the center today. The report said it was the first time he had personally visited the center since the scandal of conditions there broke. The president and the firs lady did visit the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in December, but I am sure the President was shielded from the conditions of the center that were reviled by the Washington Post.
I can't contain my anger. The president apologizing for the treatment of America's service men makes me angry WHY? It's the president's fault that their over there! So after a month of charges, resignations, and special reports on wounded troops , he comes and says I am sorry. Sorry for what! For having them in Iraq where Americans are targeted daily, guarding oil? I can't began to understand our President. But I want to support our troops they are our most distinguished citizens in my opinion, and I hope we bring them home soon.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Candidates Outline Ideas for Universal Health Care - New York Times
Candidates Outline Ideas for Universal Health Care - New York Times
Check out this article. It gives you an idea of the Universal Health Care plans presidential hopefuls are proposing. At least these hopefuls have an idea what could be done. What is our President doing?
Check out this article. It gives you an idea of the Universal Health Care plans presidential hopefuls are proposing. At least these hopefuls have an idea what could be done. What is our President doing?
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
HILLCast
Hillary outlines her plan for health care very vaguely in this web cast. I appreciate her approach but I don't like the fact she gives us no strategy on how she is going to present a plan for universal health care. Didn't she and Bill try before without success? I need facts to make me believe she can do it this time.
Protecting Our Seniors
Aged, Frail and Denied Care by Their Insurers - New York Times
The New York Times recently did a piece highlighting the problems with insurers paying the claims of their for the terminal ill patients. According to this article insurers will do everything including sending incorrect forms to patients, to deny their claims. According to the article:
“The bottom line is that insurance companies make money when they don’t pay claims,” said Mary Beth Senkewicz, who resigned last year as a senior executive at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. “They’ll do anything to avoid paying, because if they wait long enough, they know the policyholders will die.”
This article highlights the reason insurance companies need to be regulated. Universal Health care would allow people to choose insurance plans that may protect them from this type of abuse.
The New York Times recently did a piece highlighting the problems with insurers paying the claims of their for the terminal ill patients. According to this article insurers will do everything including sending incorrect forms to patients, to deny their claims. According to the article:
“The bottom line is that insurance companies make money when they don’t pay claims,” said Mary Beth Senkewicz, who resigned last year as a senior executive at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. “They’ll do anything to avoid paying, because if they wait long enough, they know the policyholders will die.”
This article highlights the reason insurance companies need to be regulated. Universal Health care would allow people to choose insurance plans that may protect them from this type of abuse.
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