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OPTIMIZERx's Five Tips to Save on your Prescriptions
Women's stake in health care reform
September 29, 2009
Women — and men who care about women and our future generations — should be involved in the health care debate in Washington, D.C. There are many reasons why. Women’s health care needs are generally greater than men’s, particularly in their reproductive years...
Weight Loss Helps Sleep Apnea
September 29, 2009
Losing weight may help obese people as well as their partners sleep better by easing sleep apnea symptoms. A new study confirms that weight loss can significantly improve and potentially eliminate sleep apnea symptoms in obese people...
Clip and click for prescription coupons
September 29, 2009
I recently needed an antibiotic eye ointment that costs $50 (with insurance). I searched the house for one of those pharmacy offers for a $25 gift card with a new prescription, and finally found one in a pile of papers. Expired. (Kmart had one in last Sunday's newspaper -- too late for me but perhaps not for you)...
Employers, workers to pay more for health coverage
September 28, 2010
Healthcare premiums paid by large U.S. employers have more than doubled over the last decade, but the costs to their employees more than tripled, a study released Monday found.
And next year companies can expect healthcare costs to rise nearly 9% on average the largest increase in five years as they confront an aging workforce, large medical claims and changes brought by healthcare reform.
And next year companies can expect healthcare costs to rise nearly 9% on average the largest increase in five years as they confront an aging workforce, large medical claims and changes brought by healthcare reform.
Consumers Cut Health Spending, As Economic Downturn Takes Toll
September 28, 2008
Despite an aging and growing U.S. population, consumers are cutting back spending on everything from doctors' appointments to preventive tests to prescription drugs. Health-policy experts say that patients' short-term care cutbacks could lead to more medical problems and higher spending down the road.
Health-Benefit Costs Rise Most in Six Years, Surpassing $15,000
September 27, 2011
The average cost of a family policy climbed 9 percent in 2011 to $15,073. Employees are paying 28 percent of premiums on average, rising 131 percent since 2001.
Who Pays for Health-Care Reform, and Is It Fair?
September 25, 2009
No one is against expanding health coverage on principle. As we come down to crunch time, the health-reform debate is all about money. Once you accept that health insurance plans must meet some minimal criteria and that everyone has to have one (or pay a penalty), you are left with the issue of funding...
U.S. health care reform may cost Texas $60 billion: Governor
September 25, 2009
Texas may have to spend an extra $60 billion over 10 years and double the number of residents insured by Medicaid under health reform bills in Congress, Republican Governor Rick Perry said on Wednesday. Perry, one of a few Republican governors who opposed the extra unemployment benefits Congress included in its economic stimulus plan...
Health expense accounts could face cuts
September 25, 2009
The health care bill proposed last week by the Senate Finance Committee would pare tax-free health expense accounts.
That's troublesome to workers such as Frank Mallak, who takes advantage of the flexible spending account (FSA) offered by his company. Every year for 11 years, Mallak, who lives with his wife, Jan, in Pittsburgh, has made the maximum contribution of pretax dollars to his FSA. He uses the funds to pay for his asthma, diabetes and arthritis prescription drugs, as well as chiropractor bills...
That's troublesome to workers such as Frank Mallak, who takes advantage of the flexible spending account (FSA) offered by his company. Every year for 11 years, Mallak, who lives with his wife, Jan, in Pittsburgh, has made the maximum contribution of pretax dollars to his FSA. He uses the funds to pay for his asthma, diabetes and arthritis prescription drugs, as well as chiropractor bills...
Use of hand sanitizer soars with concern over swine flu
September 24, 2009
Few people use soap correctly, say proponents of 60% alcohol sanitizers. When Sandy Summers picks up her children - ages 6 and 10 - at elementary school, they're greeted with squirts of hand sanitizer.
U.S. approves H1N1 vaccine, says enough for everyone
September 24, 2009
U.S. health officials have approved vaccines from four drugmakers to help prevent the H1N1 swine flu, ensuring there will be enough to inoculate Americans who want the protection, U.S. Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told lawmakers on Tuesday.
2009 H1N1 Vaccination Recommendations
September 24, 2009
With the new H1N1 virus continuing to cause illness, hospitalizations and deaths in the US during the normally flu-free summer months and some uncertainty about what the upcoming flu season might bring, CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has taken an important step in preparations for a voluntary 2009 H1N1 vaccination effort to counter a possibly severe upcoming flu season.
Almost 1 million young adults get health insurance
September 23, 2011
Almost 1 million young adults have signed on to new health insurance policies, government statistics released Wednesday show. Government officials credit the new federal health care law for making that possible...
SPIN METER: $2 trillion in health savings? Where?
September 21, 2009
It was a watershed moment in the health care struggle: Leaders of the insurance, hospital and other medical industries stood with President Barack Obama at the White House and promised steps to save $2 trillion over the next decade.
Whatever happened to those savings, announced with much fanfare well before Congress had written any of the costly health overhaul bills now in play?
Whatever happened to those savings, announced with much fanfare well before Congress had written any of the costly health overhaul bills now in play?
Lack of Health Insurance Linked to Deaths
September 21, 2009
new Harvard study released last week found that an estimated 45,000 deaths each year are associated with a lack of health insurance coverage—a finding that is likely to bolster the case for health insurance reform currently being debated in Congress this fall.
Young Adults Likely to Pay Big Share of Reform's Cost
September 16, 2009
As health-care legislation advances through Congress, the young adults who were so vital to President Obama's election are emerging as a significant beneficiary of his top domestic priority, but they are also likely to play a major role in funding any reform.
Senate's 10-year health fix would cost US $856B
September 16, 2009
Sen. Max Baucus on Wednesday brought out the much-awaited Finance Committee version of an American health-system remake — a landmark $856 billion, 10-year measure that starts a rough ride through Congress without visible Republican backing.
How to Keep Prescription Costs Low
September 15, 2009
The high prices of prescription medications can force people into making choices they don't want to. Fortunately, there are ways to pay less at the pharmacy without compromising your health -- no matter what insurance you have.
Mercer: 2009 Health Costs Ease by Shifting Costs to Employees
September 15, 2008
Mercer’s complete survey results won’t be released until later in the year, but for the 1,317 employer health plan sponsors that have responded so far, the total cost to renew their current health plans – if they were to make no changes – would grow by 8 percent on average. Small employers (those with 10–499 employees) would see an even higher increase, of about 10%.
Government Becoming Insurer for More People
September 14, 2009
More people are getting their health insurance from the government as the number of individuals with coverage from an employer declines, according to figures released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Small Businesses Wary of Health Reform Costs
September 14, 2009
President Barack Obama emphasized in his speech Wednesday that health-care reform is imperative to small businesses, and that key proposals – such as health-care exchanges, tax credits and a government-run public option – would expand or improve coverage. But small-business advocates remain wary about the fine print and ultimate price tag of Mr. Obama's plan.
Diagnoses vary on Obama health-care speech
September 10, 2009
While some were moved to tears by the president's soaring rhetoric, others were moved not at all. Where some saw a new clarity, others saw more vagueness. And while some praised him for reaching out to Republicans, there were those who felt he was overreaching in some ways and not reaching far enough in others.
Obama's Speech to Congress Is Last-Ditch Effort at Bipartisanship
September 10, 2009
President Obama is giving bipartisanship one last chance. In an effort to revive a sickly health care reform bill, the president will make a primetime address to both houses of Congress next week -- a joint-session whose very gathering implies an issue of critical importance to the nation.
Congress may consider tax on executives' health plans
September 08, 2009
Lawmakers are looking at a levy on top-tier medical coverage - the kind that most corporate executives enjoy - to help finance healthcare reform. Some fear that such a tax could trickle down badly...
Baucus Urges GOP to Support His $900B Health Reform Bill
September 08, 2009
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus is urging three Republican colleagues to sign off on the $900 billion health-care reform package they have helped to negotiate over the past two months, in order to add a bipartisan proposal to the mix before President Obama's speech to Congress on Wednesday...
Will safety net hospitals survive health reform?
September 08, 2009
Janie Johnson has no health insurance, so when she cut her toe while giving herself a pedicure, she limped to the emergency room at one of Chicago's safety net hospitals and waited her turn."I'm 44, but I probably look about 55 right now," Johnson joked in Stroger Hospital's emergency department...
Small-business owners see changes headed their way under health care reform
September 07, 2010
Ask small-business operators how they’re preparing for health care reform and they all but throw up their hands. They haven’t had time to digest it.The devil’s in the details. They don’t have the details.
Employers with 50 or more employees know this: The new law has employee coverage mandates looming for them in 2014.
Employers with 50 or more employees know this: The new law has employee coverage mandates looming for them in 2014.
U.S. health reform estimates need long view: study
September 03, 2009
WASHINGTON - The Congressional Budget Office may be missing potential savings from various health reform proposals by not looking at efforts to manage or prevent expensive, chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, researchers said in a study released on Tuesday...
Democrats Target High Earners to Help Fund Health Plan
September 03, 2009
Senate Democrats are revisiting proposals to raise taxes on high-income people to help pay for an overhaul of the health-care system.
The main proposal getting renewed attention is one by President Barack Obama that would limit the federal tax deductions for higher-income families...
The main proposal getting renewed attention is one by President Barack Obama that would limit the federal tax deductions for higher-income families...
Millions in U.S. Can't Afford Health Insurance
September 03, 2009
Most people in the United States who try to buy an individual health insurance policy on their own never end up getting coverage, often because the premiums are just too expensive, according to a new study...
Employees beware: Higher healthcare costs ahead
September 01, 2011
Large employers expect big increases in healthcare costs in 2012, and say they'll pass more and more of those costs on to their workers. That's the result of a new survey by the National Business Group on Health, a trade group for these large companies.
The big riddle: How to lower health costs
September 01, 2009
Health reform has a lot of goals. But the hardest will be to reduce costs. Here are a few ideas under consideration.
Healthcare cost rise 5.7% over last twelve months
October 31, 2011
The S&P Healthcare Economic Indices show that health care costs in the United States have risen 5.73% over a 12-month period ending in August of 2011.
House bill greatly expands health care coverage
October 30, 2009
There was rock music instead of trumpets as Speaker Nancy Pelosi and fellow House Democrats used every flourish Thursday to frame their new $894 billion health care measure as historic legislation on par with the creation of Social Security in 1935 and Medicare in 1965. The nearly 2,000-page bill would transform the health care landscape. Many of its consequences would remain unclear for years to come...
Legislation Should Focus On Reducing Costs by Preventing and Curing Disease
October 30, 2009
As lawmakers debate health care
reform, business innovator Lou Weisbach and Clinton White House health care
advisor Dr. Richard Boxer are available for interviews to discuss a glaring,
missing element of the forthcoming health care legislation: reducing health
care costs -- and saving lives -- by preventing and curing disease...
reform, business innovator Lou Weisbach and Clinton White House health care
advisor Dr. Richard Boxer are available for interviews to discuss a glaring,
missing element of the forthcoming health care legislation: reducing health
care costs -- and saving lives -- by preventing and curing disease...
House leader applauds Reid public option move
October 27, 2009
Majority Leader Steny Hoyer says House leaders are pleased that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is including government-sponsored insurance in the Senate's health care bill. Hoyer told reporters Tuesday that Reid's move doesn't really change the calculus in the House, where Democratic leaders already planned to write a public insurance option into their bill.
Halloween treats are just fine in moderation
October 27, 2009
Costumes have filled the racks and bags of candy line the shelves. Children all over Oklahoma are trying to figure out what to dress up as for Halloween. In addition, children have visions of a trick-or-treat bag stuffed with sugary, sticky and sweet treats. While the children are excited about trick-or-treating, many parents may be wondering how all of this candy will fit into a nutritious diet...
A Halloween treat: Kids' safety
October 27, 2009
While candy may be the only thing on kids' minds this Halloween, parents need to be thinking of something else: the safety of their children while trick-or-treating. To help parents prepare, Toys "R" Us and Safe Kids Worldwide have teamed up to offer tips for a fun and safe Halloween...
Are decorative contact lenses safe for kids' Halloween costumes?
October 27, 2009
My child wants to use decorative contact lenses as part of a Halloween costume. Is there any danger to kids' eyes when using this product?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration winces every time Halloween rolls around because of fears ...
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration winces every time Halloween rolls around because of fears ...
Companies focus on worker health to curb costs
October 26, 2011
More employers are giving workers the option to tame health insurance costs for next year if they provide a blood sample and reveal details about their health habits. As they present employees with benefits options for 2012, some companies also are offering lower rates to those who quit smoking, lose weight or take other measures to improve their health...
Clock ticking on Democrats' health care reform
October 26, 2009
Time growing short, Democratic leaders in the House and Senate still face key decisions if they are to achieve President Barack Obama's goal of passing legislation to remake the nation's health care system by year's end. In the House, that means setting conditions under which the federal government would sell coverage in competition with private industry...
Experts Say Antitrust Repeal Unlikely to Spur Health Insurance Competition
October 26, 2009
Democratic lawmakers are seeking to stir up competition by stripping health insurers of their protection from certain federal antitrust laws, although experts shrug off the effort as largely symbolic. Speaker Nancy Pelosi said last Thursday she plans to include a measure that would remove the health insurance sector's exemption from...
Recession Slows Growth of Medical Tourism from 2007-2009: Deloitte Center for Health Solutions Report
October 26, 2009
While the economic
recession has eroded the growth rate for medical tourism by approximately 13.6
percent from 2007 to 2009, the economic recovery may help spur a sustainable
35 percent annual growth rate for the medical tourism industry by 2010...
recession has eroded the growth rate for medical tourism by approximately 13.6
percent from 2007 to 2009, the economic recovery may help spur a sustainable
35 percent annual growth rate for the medical tourism industry by 2010...
House moves closer to healthcare public option
October 21, 2009
Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives moved closer on Tuesday to agreeing on a broad healthcare reform plan that would include the most liberal version of a government-run public insurance option. House members leaving an evening meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said a "robust" public option...
In U.S., 39% Say View on Healthcare “Depends” on Details
October 21, 2009
While the majority of Americans appear to have made up their minds on healthcare reform, 39% say their support for a final healthcare bill will depend on how the details still being worked out in Congress are resolved. The finding comes from a USA Today/Gallup poll conducted Oct. 16-19. In addition to the 39% of Americans still on the fence...
Overuse of antibiotics adds $20B/year to the cost of healthcare in the U.S.
October 21, 2009
Antibiotic-resistant infections like MRSA and VRE are now adding $20 billion a year to the cost of U.S. healthcare, a problem bred by overuse of antibiotics by providers, according to recent research. This figure comes from a study by a Boston-based group calling itself the Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics, which worked in cooperation with John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County...
McCain, Obama healthcare plans at a glance
October 20, 2008
John McCain would turn to the free market to improve healthcare. He’d provide tax credits of $2,500 per individual and $5,000 per family to help them buy insurance. Barack Obama would take a very different approach.He’d build on the current private/public system.
Expert Panels' Won't Improve Health Care
October 19, 2009
At a town-hall meeting in New Hampshire this summer, President Barack Obama explained why government "expert panels" are an essential part to overhauling the health-care system. Right now the United States spends $6,000 more per person each year than other advanced nations and isn't healthier for it. He said these panels would reduce wasteful spending by providing "guidelines" for doctors on which procedures to perform...
Workers Will Pay More for Health Care, Consulting Firm Says
October 19, 2009
No matter what happens with health-care reform this fall, employees should expect to pay more for health insurance in 2010 -- especially with co-pays and deductibles. That's according to data from Hewitt Associates, a human-resources consulting firm...
October is National Family Health Month
October 19, 2009
“Family Health Month” is a month-long campaign in which the AAFP and family physicians urge everyone to take a closer look at their health by conducting a personal health inventory…
Toddlers at Risk of Unhealthy Diets
October 19, 2009
Children between the ages of 1 and 2 have shown slight improvements in diet over the past six years, but a lack of guidelines for this age group may be setting them on the path to unhealthy eating, researchers say…
Halloween Safety Tips
October 19, 2009
Halloween is a fun time for kids, but it is also an important time to be extra vigilant for possible safety hazards so that your children have a fun and safe Halloween. Some tips to make Halloween safe include...
Health reform cost? Nobody really knows
October 15, 2009
There's nothing like getting a good grade. That's how the Congressional Budget Office's preliminary analysis of the Senate Finance health reform bill is being portrayed. CBO, the nonpartisan arbiter on the cost of legislation, estimated this week that the Finance Committee bill would reduce the country's deficits by $81 billion over 10 years...
Hidden Costs of Medicare Advantage
October 15, 2009
Patrick Higney, 66, doesn't want to give up the freebies that come with his zero-premium Medicare Advantage plan: free aspirin and free Band-Aids, a free blood pressure machine and a free ear thermometer...
Senate may raise physicians’ Medicare payment fees
October 15, 2009
The Senate is poised to take action on a costly bill to hike Medicare payments to physicians just weeks before bringing a sweeping healthcare overhaul to the floor. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Wednesday morning quietly set in motion legislation that could cost more than $200 billion over 10 years...
Baucus health care bill clears committee hurdle
October 14, 2009
Sen. Max Baucus' two-year mission to shepherd health care reform legislation through Congress cleared a key hurdle Tuesday when the Senate Finance Committee voted to approve his landmark bill. "This is our opportunity to make history," Baucus, who chairs the panel, told fellow senators before they voted 14-9 to approve the measure...
Prescription Abandonment: Walk-Aways Aren’t Just for Mortgages Anymore
October 13, 2010
Have you ever gone to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription only to walk away empty-handed after seeing the price? That’s happening much more often these days, even for people with private health insurance, as the WSJ’s Jonathan Rockoff reports. In fact, almost 10% of new prescriptions for brand-name drugs were “abandoned,” as the industry calls it...
Prescription Abandonment: Walk-Aways Aren’t Just for Mortgages Anymore
October 13, 2010
Have you ever gone to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription only to walk away empty-handed after seeing the price? That’s happening much more often these days, even for people with private health insurance, as the WSJ’s Jonathan Rockoff reports. In fact, almost 10% of new prescriptions for brand-name drugs were “abandoned...
A H1N1 flu to-do (and don't do) list
October 13, 2009
Swine flu vaccines are rolling out this month -- finally. Health-care workers in Indiana and Tennessee were the first to get the nose-spray version, while New Yorkers clamoring for the H1N1 vaccine finally had their chance too...
Benefits still years away, even if health care passes
October 12, 2009
Sixty years is how long Democrats contend they’ve been pushing for legislation that provides health care access for all Americans. They’ll have to wait a little longer if President Barack Obama gets a bill to sign this year. Under the Democratic bills, federal tax credits to help make health insurance affordable for millions of low- and middle-income households won’t start flowing until 2013...
New Bill Would Raise Rates, Says Insurance Group
October 12, 2009
After months of collaboration on President Obama's attempt to overhaul the nation's health-care system, the insurance industry plans to strike out against the effort on Monday with a report warning that the typical family premium in 2019 could cost $4,000 more than projected...
Health Bills In Congress Won't Fix Doctor Shortage
October 12, 2009
Even as Congress moves to expand health insurance coverage to millions of Americans, it's doing little to ensure there will be enough primary care doctors to meet the expected surge in demand for treatment, experts say. The American Academy of Family Physicians predicts that the shortage of family doctors will reach 40,000 in the next 10 years...
Take steps to prevent youth sports injuries
October 12, 2009
The return of fall sports and youth athletes back on the field means millions of youngsters will experience an injury even before their sports season is officially over. Youth sports account for almost four million emergency room visits each year…
Avoiding back pain in winter sports
October 12, 2009
Whether you’re a snowboarder, skier, snowmobiler, or skater, you need to know how to take care of your back in winter conditions. Otherwise, the sudden twists and bumps from winter sports can sideline you with painful muscle strains and tears...
Football programs hope to block spread of H1N1
October 12, 2009
The H1N1 flu already has at tacked some college football programs across the coun try this season, and teams are trying to fight back.H1N1, or "swine flu," generally spreads the same way other viruses do: by an infected person contaminating another person...
What's Missing From Health Care Reform
October 06, 2009
After months of deliberations, all of the relevant congressional committees have wrapped up their preliminary discussions on health care reform. And to hear Sen. Ron Wyden tell it, one can almost hear the corks popping along K Street as industry lobbyists celebrate...
Vote on Key Health Bill Delayed for Cost Report
October 06, 2009
Senators learned Monday that a committee vote on health-care reform will be pushed back to later this week, and perhaps into next week, as they await an estimate on how much the overhaul would cost...
Immunizing Against the Swine Flu: Who, When and by What Means
October 06, 2009
Q. Who should be vaccinated against swine flu?
A. Eventually, everyone, except for people who have the same allergies — primarily, allergy to eggs — that make annual flu shots dangerous for them. But for now, the first vaccine batches are reserved for those most at risk...
A. Eventually, everyone, except for people who have the same allergies — primarily, allergy to eggs — that make annual flu shots dangerous for them. But for now, the first vaccine batches are reserved for those most at risk...
Immunizing Against the Swine Flu: Who, When and by What Means
October 06, 2009
Q. Who should be vaccinated against swine flu?
A. Eventually, everyone, except for people who have the same allergies — primarily, allergy to eggs — that make annual flu shots dangerous for them. But for now, the first vaccine batches are reserved for those most at risk...
A. Eventually, everyone, except for people who have the same allergies — primarily, allergy to eggs — that make annual flu shots dangerous for them. But for now, the first vaccine batches are reserved for those most at risk...
How to Give Yourself a Breast Exam
October 05, 2009
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), women should begin giving themselves breast self-exams (BSEs) in their 20s. Getting to know how your breasts normally look and feel will help you detect subtle changes (if they occur) that could signal breast cancer...
Breast cancer patient finds healing in program
October 05, 2009
Noble Circle’s holistic approach focuses on whole foods, nutrition, and physical and emotional health in its mantra of “not only surviving, but thriving” beyond cancer. Above all, the group celebrates the friendship of women of all ages, from all walks of life, who undergo an intensive 10-week session...
Breast cancer research advancing
October 05, 2009
Today the chance of a woman being diagnosed with invasive breast cancer is 1 in 8. The chance of it killing her is 1 in 35. And it remains the second leading cause of cancer death for American women behind lung cancer...
Phase I Study of Preventive HIV Vaccine Shows Improved Immune Responses
November 30, 2009
A Phase 1 study of a preventive HIV vaccine testing a novel delivery mechanism known as electroporation – the use of electrical pulses to increase the immune responses elicited by DNA vaccines – was recently completed in New York City...
World AIDS Day spotlights part of memorial quilt
November 30, 2009
On Tuesday, World AIDS Day, a 1,200-square-foot section of the AIDS Memorial Quilt will be on display at George Mason University in Fairfax County. More than 100 panels will be shown in a day-long commemoration as part of the school's HIV Awareness Week...
HIV/AIDS cases rise for women
November 30, 2009
According to the World Health Organization, AIDS is the leading cause of death among women between the ages of 15 and 44. Originally, health officials thought HIV and AIDS mostly affected homosexual men. However, women have always suffered from the disease...
Medicare in America: 'It has to get better'
November 29, 2011
As administrator of Medicare and Medicaid, Donald Berwick has been in charge of paying for the health care of nearly one in three Americans. He has also had an important role in implementing last year's health reform law, which uses the Medicare system as a big lever to change how doctors and hospitals do business, in hopes of containing costs. Before taking the job -- which he'll leave in early December -- the Harvard-trained pediatrician was a leading advocate for quality and patient safety, and often a blunt critic of our health system...
Survey: More Than Half of Chronically Ill U.S. Adults Skip Needed Care Due to Costs
November 25, 2008
A new Commonwealth Fund survey of chronically ill patients in eight industrialized nations—Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States—finds that those in the U.S. are by far the most likely to forgo care because of the cost, as well as the most likely to experience medical errors, care coordination problems, and high out-of-pocket costs.
13 tips to a stress-free Thanksgiving
November 24, 2009
By now, you've probably gathered your Thanksgiving recipes and made your grocery list. Now, it's time to ensure that all goes smoothly on Thursday. Here are tips to make life easier in the days ahead:
More people expected to travel by car this Thanksgiving
November 24, 2009
The roads are likely to be more crowded this Thanksgiving, North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization predicts. AAA said about 33.2 million people will use an automobile to travel more than 50 miles from their home. That's 700,000 more than last turkey day...
Thanksgiving Cranberries Have Amazing Health Benefits
November 24, 2009
Cranberry sauce is typically served with a traditional Thanksgiving Day meal. Giving thanks on this holiday for foods that have great health benefits is a great way of showing our appreciation for foods that look great, are delicious to eat and have health benefits that many people aren't aware of...
At 2,074 pages and $849 billion, Senate health bill arrives
November 19, 2009
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Wednesday unveiled a sweeping health care bill that would expand health insurance coverage to 30 million more Americans at an estimated cost of $849 billion over 10 years. Reid and other Senate Democrats cited an analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office for the coverage and cost figures.
Great American Smokeout urges smokers to seek help for addiction
November 17, 2009
If you're betting that you can quit smoking Thursday during the Great American Smokeout, the odds are against you. This isn't to say you shouldn't try. Smoking is hazardous to your health, and the longer you smoke, the more likely it is your habit will kill you...
America's health report card: D-
November 17, 2009
Americans are paying billions for what experts call "treatable illnesses." But the exorbitant amount we're paying, a new report says, is growing exponentially.Currently, the U.S. is spending more per capita on health care than any other nation...
Quitters get a shot in the arm with smoking vaccine
November 17, 2009
Steve Ballou, an ex-smoker for more than a decade, started slipping back into his old ways with cigars. He'd have one when he was out with the guys, then when he was driving home from work, then one after dinner...
As US health care reform looms, cost of medications climbs
November 17, 2009
With US health care reform at a critical stage, non-generic prescription drug prices have risen sharply in the past year even as other consumer prices generally eased.The American Association of Retired People (AARP) found in a study released on Monday that prices for brand name prescription drug have shot up 9.3 percent since October 2008...
Time Crunch Looms for Health Bill
November 17, 2009
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is pressing to advance his version of health-care legislation past a key juncture this week in a bid to avoid a timing crunch that could otherwise kick the proposed revamp into next year. Republicans will likely filibuster the "motion to proceed," which simply allows the Senate to begin debate...
Rising obesity will cost U.S. health care $344 billion a year
November 17, 2009
If Americans continue to pack on pounds, obesity will cost the USA about $344 billion in medical-related expenses by 2018, eating up about 21% of health-care spending, says the first analysis to estimate the future medical costs of excess weight. These calculations are based on the projection that in 10 years 43% of Americans adults may be obese, which is roughly...
Drug costs hiked prior to reforms
November 16, 2009
Even as drug makers promise to support Washington's health care overhaul by shaving $8 billion a year off the nation's drug costs after the legislation takes effect, the industry has been quietly raising its prices at the fastest rate in years. In the last year, the industry has raised the wholesale prices of brand-name prescription drugs by about 9 percent, according to industry analysts. That will add more than $10 billion to the nation's drug bill, which is on track to exceed $300 billion this year...
American Diabetes Month
November 10, 2009
With over 24 million Americans living with diabetes and thousands more who have it and are not yet aware of their diagnosis, no matter how hard we try diabetes is not going away quietly. November is American Diabetes Month...
Living with diabetes, one teen's story
November 10, 2009
November is American Diabetes Month, and at this point Brittany Reid has lived more of her life with diabetes in tow than without. A trip to the doctor revealed the source of Brittany's abnormal symptoms. The diagnosis she and her family received was that she had Type 1 (also known as juvenile) diabetes...
How to save money on diabetes supplies and care
November 10, 2009
Keeping diabetes under control can be supply-laden and pricey. People with the condition often need at least one daily medication, a glucose meter, lancets and glucose testing strips. Some diabetes medicines are now generic and cost as little as $3 or $4 a month, or may be free through some insurers...
Poll Shows Public Wants Obama and Congress to Reduce Healthcare costs!
November 10, 2008
So much for the energy crisis. According to a new poll, reducing healthcare cost was one of the three biggest agenda item for Barack Obama and the newly elected congress.
Healthcare bill faces tough path in Senate
November 09, 2009
After a landmark win in the House of Representatives, President Barack Obama's push for healthcare reform faces a difficult path in the Senate amid divisions in his own Democratic Party on how to proceed. On a 220-215 vote, including the support of one Republican and opposition from 39 Democrats...
Where is your health insurance premium heading?
November 09, 2009
This is the season when employees learn how much their health care costs will change next year. Hewitt Associates LLC, a human-resources research firm outside Chicago, estimated in a recent survey that workers would see an average 10 percent increase. Locally, the numbers, percentages and repercussions vary markedly, depending on the extent of the coverage, the employer’s willingness...
Health care costs rising, but there are ways to tackle costs
November 03, 2010
It’s that dreaded time of year again. Employees are beginning to find out how much more they’ll be ponying up for health insurance in 2011, and (surprise, surprise) costs are going up, again.
The increase is typical of what workers have seen in last three years — around 10 percent.
The increase is typical of what workers have seen in last three years — around 10 percent.
Programming the brain
November 03, 2009
Researchers characterized a previously unknown regulatory protein known as nSR100 and described its role in neuronal development. This marks the first time this family of proteins has been found to play a specific role in tissue development in the body. The findings were published in the prestigious journal Cell last month...
Coping with Alzheimer's disease
November 03, 2009
When a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, life as you know it will most likely change. An early diagnosis of Alzheimer's allows you to take part in decisions about care, transportation, living options, financial and legal matters. You can also participate in building the right care team and social support network.
Take Preventative Steps to Reduce Risk
November 03, 2009
Every 70 seconds, an American is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, defined as a gradual loss of brain cells. It results in challenges in communicating, learning, thinking and reasoning that ultimately affect one's daily life...
The
November 02, 2009
Drew Altman, CEO of the Kaiser Family Foundation, recently wrote about the "third school" for controlling costs – not the regulators, not the marketeers, but the system reformers who believe controlling costs will come by "creating a smarter health care system with the information base, new delivery models and payment incentives that will improve quality and lower costs...
Senate, House Move Closer on Health Bills as Battle Goes Public
November 02, 2009
After months of private wrangling, the fight over legislation to revamp the U.S. health-care system will soon spill onto the House and Senate floors.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will seek a vote as early as this week while trying to pacify fellow Democrats who say her bill isn’t strong enough and others who fret that federal dollars might...
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will seek a vote as early as this week while trying to pacify fellow Democrats who say her bill isn’t strong enough and others who fret that federal dollars might...
Health Savings Accounts Are Becoming a Big Investment Business
May 27, 2010
When health savings accounts (HSAs) first came along, critics said that these tax-favored accounts, which must be combined with high-deductible insurance plans, would mainly benefit the healthy and the wealthy. A new report from J.P. Morgan (JPM) says that’s exactly what’s going on — and also indicates that HSAs are becoming a big business...
Study Points to Health Law’s Penalties
May 24, 2010
About one-third of employers subject to major requirements of the new health care law may face tax penalties because they offer health insurance that could be considered unaffordable to some employees, a new study says. The study, by Mercer, one of the nation’s largest employee benefit consulting concerns, is based on a survey of nearly 3,000 employers...
No, You Can't Keep Your Health Plan
May 21, 2010
President Obama guaranteed Americans that after health reform became law they could keep their insurance plans and their doctors. It's clear that this promise cannot be kept. Insurers and physicians are already reshaping their businesses as a result of Mr. Obama's plan. The health-reform law caps how much insurers can spend on expenses and take for profits. Starting next year, health plans will have a regulated...
Soaring Costs Raise stakes for Health Reform
May 21, 2009
The dramatic escalation of U.S. medical costs are pushing lawmakers to reach a deal on a major healthcare revamp that seeks to extend coverage to all Americans,a leading U.S. senator said...
Healthcare Reform Changes Lead Employers to Rethink Retiree Prescription Benefit Strategies
May 20, 2010
As the nation's healthcare system begins to understand and address the impact of the recently enacted healthcare reform legislation, employers must assess their current and future retiree prescription benefit options, according to executives from Medco Health Solutions, Inc...
Healthcare overhaul's tax provisions have small firms crying foul
May 18, 2010
Small businesses fear that they may face expensive new payroll paperwork requirements as part of little-known tax provisions in President Obama's healthcare overhaul. Starting in 2012, the law would require all businesses to file special forms with the Internal Revenue Service not just for freelancers who work for them, as in the past...
Health Care Premiums on the Rise.
May 17, 2011
Milliman Inc. says health care costs for a family of four will rise 7.3% in 2011 to $19,393 for those insured through work, with employee out-of-pocket expenses up 9.2% this year versus 6.6% last year.
Pfizer Will Provide Prescriptions for Free to Jobless
May 15, 2009
Pfizer said Thursday that it would provide 70 of its most widely prescribed drugs, including Lipitor and Viagra, free to people who have lost their jobs and health insurance.
Coping With Rising Retiree Medical Costs
May 14, 2012
Take steps now to protect yourself against rising health care costs during retirement.
Now That Health Care Reform Is the Law, What Happens Now?
May 13, 2010
Health care reform - officially known as The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – is now the law of the land. The law is a collection of new rules, regulations, and policies. In this year alone there are over 25 changes that will go into effect. Some of the biggest changes won’t happen for several years and some changes will be phased in...
Health insurance for the under-26 crowd
May 12, 2010
The federal government unveiled details this week about how people up to age 26 can get covered by their parents' health insurance policies, as part of the health care reform law. Consumers now have details about how one of the law's most-buzzed about provisions will actually work -- and how much it will cost them...
Rules Let Youths Stay on Parents’ Insurance
May 11, 2010
The White House issued rules on Monday allowing young adults to remain covered by their parents’ health insurance policies up to age 26. The promise of such coverage has attracted great interest. Employers and insurers say they have been flooded with inquiries...
Upfront costs complicate Obama's health care plan
May 11, 2009
The upfront tab could reach $1.2 trillion to $1.5 trillion over 10 years, while expected savings from wringing waste and inefficiency from the health care system may take longer to show.
No easy answers on health-care tax credits for small businesses
May 10, 2010
To small-business owners, it can seem like every deal offered by the government comes with much head-scratching and a ton of paperwork. The latest example is a tax credit offered in the new federal health-care law to encourage small businesses to provide insurance for employees...
Health Care Increasingly Out of Reach for Millions of Americans
May 09, 2012
Having trouble finding a doctor? You’re not alone. Tens of millions of adults have seen their access to health care dramatically worsen in the last decade.
Consumer-directed health plans grew 27% in 2009
May 05, 2010
More people in 2009 than in 2008 signed up for high-deductible health insurance combined with some form of health savings or reimbursement account, and much of this growth is due to the increasing number of small businesses offering employees this option. This is according to an analysis of Mercer's National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans released April 14 by the American Assn. of Preferred Provider Organizations...
New health-care law might make your doctor more informed, efficient, responsive
May 04, 2010
Fifty years from now, it is likely that almost all doctors will be members of teams that include case managers, social workers, dietitians, telephone counselors, data crunchers, guideline instructors, performance evaluators and external reviewers. They will be parts of organizations...
President Obama's health care reform may one day help New Yorkers, meanwhile rates soar
May 03, 2010
Health care reform is a done deal, but there's one heart-stopping trend that no law has yet to fix for New Yorkers: Skyrocketing health insurance premiums. Consider these stats: Since 2000, health care premiums in New York have risen an average of 97%...
Healthcare reform vital, U.S. health agency says
March 31, 2009
Reform of the U.S. healthcare system is vital this year because of growing costs and worsening care, the Health and Human Services Department said in a report on Monday.
The Price If Health Care Is Overturned
March 30, 2012
In arguments before the Supreme Court this week, the Obama administration might have done just enough to keep the Affordable Care Act from being ruled unconstitutional. Those who believe in limited government had better hope so, at least.
Spring into action with these cleaning tips
March 30, 2010
Everyone knows there are basically two kinds of people in the world. The first, and most annoying, group is unaffected by a feeble winter sun, overcast skies and a general feeling of inertia. These compulsive cleaners follow a rigid regimen of housecleaning year-round and enthusiastically dust, vacuum and polish, whatever the weather...
Cesarean Rates Reach Record High
March 30, 2010
Cesarean rates have reached a record high in the United States, with nearly one-third of babies born that way in 2007, a new government report shows. Between 1996 and 2007, the C-section rate rose by 53 percent, with similar rises seen among all age, racial and ethnic groups, according to the report released Tuesday...
A Change Of Delivery
March 30, 2010
It's hard to imagine being fired by your doctor, especially just before giving birth. But that's what Debbie Fields says happened to her last December when her desire for a vaginal birth after Caesarean (VBAC) was quashed by her obstetrician. Fields wanted to go into labor naturally; her OB insisted on scheduling a planned C-section one week before her due date...
Savings on allergy meds are nothing to sneeze at
March 28, 2011
It’s spring, and for many of us that means allergy season. And that can be expensive. Look for coupons and rebates for both prescription and over-the-counter drugs at OptimizeRx.com
The Intrusion of Government in the Prescription Drug Market
March 26, 2012
A New York bill, sending customers from the most efficient and low-cost option to a more expensive choice, could drive up the cost of prescription drugs for everyone.
Health Care Costs Are Greater For Women In Most States
March 23, 2012
Insurers administrating a "gender rating" are charging higher costs to women, even though they tend to take better care of their health than their male counterpart.
House of Representatives Approves Health-Care Reform Bill
March 23, 2010
After a year of fierce partisan debate, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives late Sunday night passed the landmark $940 billion health-care reform bill, which would extend health insurance coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans, prevent insurance companies from denying coverage to people with preexisting medical conditions and cut the federal deficit by an estimated $138 billion over the next decade...
What's in the Bill
March 23, 2010
The $940 billion health-care overhaul will take nearly a decade to roll out in full. A look at the key parts of the bill and when they go into effect.
2010
Coverage
■Subsidies begin for small businesses to provide coverage to employees.
■Insurance companies barred from denying coverage to children with pre-existing illness...
2010
Coverage
■Subsidies begin for small businesses to provide coverage to employees.
■Insurance companies barred from denying coverage to children with pre-existing illness...
Neb. AG Says Health Reform Violates Constitution
March 23, 2010
Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning said Monday the federal health care reform bill violates the U.S. Constitution and his state will join others in challenging the Democrat-backed measure.
''It tramples on individual liberty and dumps on the states the burden of an unfunded mandate that taxpayers cannot afford,'' Bruning said...
''It tramples on individual liberty and dumps on the states the burden of an unfunded mandate that taxpayers cannot afford,'' Bruning said...
Health care reform now faces Senate challenge
March 22, 2010
Now that the House has passed the Senate's health care reform bill and a package meant to reconcile differences between the House and Senate bills, the next step is for members of the Senate to sign off on those changes...
How To Charge $1.6 Million For a New Drug And Get Away With It
March 21, 2012
From the lab to your medicine cabinet, pushing a drug may take more than you'd think...
Inside America’s Drug Shortage
March 21, 2012
The first in a two-part series investigating why critical prescription drugs are in short supply in the U.S.
Ten ways to save on prescription drugs
March 20, 2009
Dr. Jack Rodman's heart sank when he heard the news: One of his elderly patients with a heart condition had a stroke because she couldn't afford the medicines he'd prescribed her.
The survey, released this week, found that 28 percent of Americans have taken steps such as not filling prescriptions, skipping dosages and cutting pills in half without the approval of their doctor, and even sharing prescriptions with a friend.
The survey, released this week, found that 28 percent of Americans have taken steps such as not filling prescriptions, skipping dosages and cutting pills in half without the approval of their doctor, and even sharing prescriptions with a friend.
Millions could receive insurance rebates in 2012, despite industry opposition
March 19, 2012
Ready for another round of stimulus? This time, it's courtesy of the insurance industry -- though Uncle Sam is forcing the payouts.
Prescription Drug Coupons: Good or Bad?
March 19, 2012
Claims against drug-makers, stating that prescription coupons are turning consumers away from low-cost generics, have now lead to a heavy lawsuit. Has promotion become a crime in the world of Pharma?
Healthcare reform 'fixes': What does the House want to change?
March 17, 2010
Since Senate Democrats lost their filibuster-proof majority with the election of Sen. Scott Brown (R) of Massachusetts, Democratic leaders have decided to try to pass the Senate's version in the House – in part to avoid the Senate's procedural hurdles as much as possible. The problem is, many in the House don't like the Senate bill and won't pass it...
Unraveling the Mystery of Prescription Drug Prices
March 16, 2012
Saving money on prescription costs could be easier than one may think...
Eye Health and Safety Should Be Job One
March 16, 2010
Job-related eye strain and injuries cost the American economy billions each year in lost productivity, but 90 percent of those problems could be prevented with simple measures, such as having workers wear properly designed and fitted protective eyewear, experts say...
Green Tea May Ward Off Eye Disease
March 16, 2010
Substances found in green tea work their way into the tissues of the eye and could protect against common eye diseases like glaucoma, researchers say. The findings, published in the current issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, suggest that the substances, known as catechins, are absorbed by the lens, retina and other parts of the eye...
Did Ancient Egyptian Makeup Have Protective Powers?
March 16, 2010
The stunning eye makeup worn thousands of years ago by Queen Nefertiti and other Egyptian royals may not have been used to enhance beauty alone: New research suggests that the ancient cosmetics may have helped prevent or treat eye disease...
Healthcare reform: Do House Democrats have the votes to pass it?
March 15, 2010
Both Democrats and Republicans are digging in for a week that may – or may not – produce a vote in the US House on healthcare reform.
For the House to approve the legislation, 216 lawmakers must vote “yea.”
For the House to approve the legislation, 216 lawmakers must vote “yea.”
State Insurance Experts See Flaw in Obama’s Plan to Curb Health Premiums
March 09, 2010
At the heart of President Obama’s drive to rein in health costs is a proposal for federal review and regulation of health insurance premiums, with a new agency empowered to block excessive rate increases...
Hospitals Celebrate National Nutrition Month by Emphasizing Plant-Based Menus
March 09, 2010
Hospitals across the nation are celebrating National Nutrition Month by changing their food service offerings and staging events to draw more attention to their participation in the Health Care Without Harm Balanced Menus program, which advocates a "Less Meat, Better Meat" approach to hospital food service operations...
Wine may help women keep weight in check
March 09, 2010
The study started out with nearly 20,000 trim middle-aged and older women. Over time, women who drank alcohol in moderation put on less weight and were less apt to become overweight compared to non-drinkers. This was true even after taking into account various lifestyle and dietary factors that might influence a woman's weight...
Tax soda, pizza to cut obesity, researchers say
March 09, 2010
The researchers, writing in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine on Monday, suggested taxing could be used as a weapon in the fight against obesity, which costs the United States an estimated $147 billion a year in health costs...
Cost-Conscious Healthcare
March 07, 2012
Are you getting too much healthcare for your money or too little? Maybe sometimes you feel like it's a little of both. You might be right.
8 Health Mistakes to Avoid
March 07, 2012
There are many different things that can be detrimental to your health - but here are eight health mistakes you really need to avoid.
Expecting final push on health-care reform, interest groups rally for big finish
March 03, 2010
Washington interest groups have burst back into action in hopes of bolstering or defeating a new Democratic push on health-care reform legislation, sparking another wave of rallies, lobbying efforts and costly advertising campaigns.
National Nutrition Month Marks the Coming of Spring
March 03, 2010
With the month of March comes the season for new beginnings, and the launch of National Nutrition month sponsored by the American Dietetic Association. Take this opportunity to spring into healthy eating habits, while planning ways to get in some physical activity with better weather on the way. By thinking ahead, you can drop those extra pounds and improve your overall health in preparation for enjoying some fun in the sun...
Nutrition experts battle industry groups over sugar
March 03, 2010
Before you chug down another regular soda, or spoon sugar into your tea or coffee, consider this: There's a heated debate going on over the health risks of consuming too much sugar, high-fructose corn syrup and other caloric sweeteners...
Obama Presses Ahead on Healthcare Reform
March 03, 2009
His introduction of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) for secretary of health and human services marks an attempt to press for reforms even amid the economic crisis.
Reconciliation showdown ahead on health care?
March 01, 2010
With the health care summit showing no sign of getting either side to budge, lawmakers are staking out positions in the battle many believe is imminent: a presidential effort to push legislation through without Republican support.
States to miss health care deadline
June 28, 2010
Beginning Thursday, residents in most states will be able to apply for new federal health coverage for people denied insurance because of medical problems, but some of the nation's largest states will miss the deadline, according to state insurance departments.
The key early program of the nation's new health law aims to provide affordable coverage to about 200,000 people with pre-existing medical conditions, such as cancer or...
The key early program of the nation's new health law aims to provide affordable coverage to about 200,000 people with pre-existing medical conditions, such as cancer or...
$1 Trillion: Senate Goal for Healthcare Plan
June 26, 2009
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus said the cost of health-care options being weighed by his panel can be cut to his goal of $1 trillion, potentially removing a major stumbling block to the legislation’s passage.
The Entrepreneur's Guide to Health-Care Reform
June 24, 2010
On March 23, the face of health care in the United States changed dramatically when President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) into law. The legislation makes sweeping changes in the nation's health-care system, including how health coverage is obtained and what it covers...
Obama announces agreement with drug companies
June 22, 2009
President Barack Obama on Monday welcomed the pharmaceutical industry's agreement to help close a gap in Medicare's drug coverage, calling the pact a step forward in the push for overhaul of the nation's health care system.
Health safety net frays with fixes still years off
June 21, 2010
Despite passage of the landmark health care overhaul this spring, the nation's health system is continuing to fray, raising the prospect that the country could experience a crisis before the law establishes a health care safety net in 2014...
AMA estimates claim payment errors cost $17 billion
June 20, 2011
“A 20 percent error rate among health insurers represents an intolerable level of inefficiency that wastes an estimated $17 billion annually,” said AMA Board Member Barbara L. McAneny
House Democrats Offer Draft Health-Care Overhaul Bill
June 20, 2009
House Democrats presented a draft of a broad-based overhaul of the U.S. health-care system that includes a mandate that employers insure their employees or pay a penalty equal to 8 percent of their payroll.
President Obama's speech to American Medical Association
June 16, 2009
From the moment I took office as President, the central challenge we have confronted as a nation has been the need to lift ourselves out of the worst recession since World War II. In recent months, we have taken a series of extraordinary steps, not just to repair the immediate damage to our economy, but to build a new foundation for lasting and sustained growth.
Health care costs might top $4T by 2017
June 16, 2009
By 2017, total health care spending will double to more than $4 trillion a year, accounting for one of every $5 the nation spends, the federal government projects.
The 6.7% annual increase in spending — nearly three times the rate of inflation — will be largely driven by higher prices and an increased demand for care, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said Monday. Other factors in the mix include a growing and aging population. The first wave of baby boomers become eligible for Medicare beginning in 2011.
The 6.7% annual increase in spending — nearly three times the rate of inflation — will be largely driven by higher prices and an increased demand for care, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said Monday. Other factors in the mix include a growing and aging population. The first wave of baby boomers become eligible for Medicare beginning in 2011.
Eight Ways Health Reform Affects You Today
June 15, 2010
Did your last tanning session cost more? Are you more self-conscious ordering a scone at Starbucks because the menu board says it is 490 calories? Is your kid allowed to stay on your health insurance even though he turned 25? You may be among the beneficiaries of health reform--or one of the victims--depending on how you look at it...
Report: Employers to see 2011 medical costs jump
June 14, 2010
Companies that offer employee health insurance expect another steep jump in medical costs next year, and more will ask workers to share a bigger chunk of the expense, according to a new PricewaterhouseCoopers report. For the first time, most of the American workforce is expected to have health insurance deductibles of $400 or more, the consulting firm said in a report released to The Associated Press...
Health Costs After 65: Ouch, Even With Medicare
June 12, 2008
These days, there's one milestone birthday plenty of people look forward to: the one when they become eligible for Medicare and can leave all their health care worries behind. That's the hope, anyway. But the reality is that turning 65 takes care of only a little more than half of subsequent medical expenses.
Obama attacks McCain on health care
June 10, 2008
By Caren Bohan Thu Jun 5, 4:48 PM ET
BRISTOL, Virginia (Reuters) - Barack Obama enjoyed his first campaign swing as the likely Democratic presidential nominee on Thursday, visiting the election battleground of Virginia to mock Republican foe John McCain's health care proposals.
BRISTOL, Virginia (Reuters) - Barack Obama enjoyed his first campaign swing as the likely Democratic presidential nominee on Thursday, visiting the election battleground of Virginia to mock Republican foe John McCain's health care proposals.
McCain campaign responds to Obama healthcare attack
June 10, 2008
Published: June 5, 2008
The Bristol Herald Courier sent John McCain’s campaign a synopsis of criticisms leveled earlier today in Bristol by Barack Obama. McCain spokesman Crystal Benton issued the following rebuttals.
The Bristol Herald Courier sent John McCain’s campaign a synopsis of criticisms leveled earlier today in Bristol by Barack Obama. McCain spokesman Crystal Benton issued the following rebuttals.
Deficit panel eyes another bite at healthcare
June 07, 2010
The new healthcare law, signed by Obama in March, seeks to save about $500 billion from the Medicare government healthcare program for the elderly over the next decade without reducing basic benefits. But deficit hawks and even some supporters of the overhaul say more cuts are needed to improve the long-term U.S. budget outlook...
Medical bills prompt more than 60 percent of U.S. bankruptcies
June 05, 2009
This year, an estimated 1.5 million Americans will declare bankruptcy. Many people may chalk up that misfortune to overspending or a lavish lifestyle, but a new study suggests that more than 60 percent of people who go bankrupt are actually capsized by medical bills.
D.C. jumps at health-care savings in expanded Medicaid
June 01, 2010
The District asked the federal government Thursday for permission to add thousands of low-income adults to the Medicaid program, becoming one of the first jurisdictions to respond to an expansion of Medicaid eligibility in the new federal health-care law...
Americans Cut Back On Visits To Doctor
July 30, 2010
Insured Americans are using fewer medical services, raising questions about whether patients are consuming less health care as they pick up a greater share of the costs. The drop in usage is showing up as health-care companies report financial results. Insurers, lab-testing companies, hospitals and doctor-billing concerns say that patient visits, drug prescriptions and procedures were down in the second quarter from year-ago levels...
Drug prices to plummet in wave of expiring patents
July 25, 2011
The cost of prescription medicines used by millions of people every day is about to plummet.
The next 14 months will bring generic versions of seven of the world's 20 best-selling drugs, including the top two...
The next 14 months will bring generic versions of seven of the world's 20 best-selling drugs, including the top two...
Obama struggling to win healthcare debate
July 24, 2009
President Barack Obama, normally a surefooted salesman, is struggling to convince Americans that the $1 trillion U.S. healthcare system overhaul he is pushing would be good for them.
How will we pay for health-care overhaul?
July 22, 2009
An overhaul of health care, if it happens, won't be free.
Taxes will be raised, and some insurance premiums will be increased. Doctors, hospitals and pharmacies may want to charge some patients more, and insurance companies may cover less — forcing your out-of-pocket costs higher.
Taxes will be raised, and some insurance premiums will be increased. Doctors, hospitals and pharmacies may want to charge some patients more, and insurance companies may cover less — forcing your out-of-pocket costs higher.
Surtax proposal sets off a fire bell
July 22, 2009
President Obama claims health care reform will lower costs. If that's true, reformers shouldn't be calling for painful tax increases.
Yet that's exactly what House Democrats propose in their health overhaul plan, introduced last week.
Yet that's exactly what House Democrats propose in their health overhaul plan, introduced last week.
Health care reform: 'This is going to happen'
July 22, 2009
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi weighs in on the stimulus, bipartisanship, war and the CIA briefings controversy.
Pelosi seeks to spare middle class from health care tax
July 22, 2009
Ensuring that the middle class doesn't have to pay the $1 trillion-plus price for overhauling the nation's health care system will mean trimmiing billions of dollars in "fat" out of the current health care system, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told USA TODAY's editorial board Tuesday.
Health bill opens doors to Canadians seeking U.S. retirement
July 19, 2010
One of the biggest deterrents for Canadians who want to retire in the U.S. has finally been removed, and Barack Obama is to thank for it.
On March 23, the U.S. President signed into law the Affordable Care Act, creating a new program, the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, which made coverage available to those turned down by private health insurance companies because of an existing medical condition. The changes came into effect on July 1...
On March 23, the U.S. President signed into law the Affordable Care Act, creating a new program, the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, which made coverage available to those turned down by private health insurance companies because of an existing medical condition. The changes came into effect on July 1...
Health care law cuts red ink, but not nearly enough
July 12, 2010
The men and women charged with figuring out how to reduce federal deficits and debt got some more bad news this morning: the numbers keep getting worse. That was the news from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, which for the first time took into consideration...
BusinessWise: HSA can be wise choice
July 08, 2010
There are numerous benefits to having a Health Savings Account (HSA), and the funds can be used to pay a variety of medical expenses. Anyone under age 65 who is covered by a qualified high-deductible policy can open an HSA. From a tax standpoint, an HSA provides you triple savings by allowing tax deductions from gross income when you contribute to your HSA; tax-free earnings...
The Prognosis Is Compromise
July 07, 2009
For the next five weeks, Congress will attempt the daunting feat of turning a mishmash of half-written proposals into health-care reform legislation that can pass the House and the Senate before the August recess.
Let the trade-offs begin.
Let the trade-offs begin.
Paying for healthcare overhaul may fall unevenly on states
July 07, 2009
Reporting from Washington — When Congress decides how to pay for President Obama's signature healthcare initiative, some of his strongest political bastions may be footing a heavy bill.
And in a political irony, states that went for Obama's Republican rival, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, in 2008 are among those likely to benefit most from Democratic healthcare policies.
And in a political irony, states that went for Obama's Republican rival, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, in 2008 are among those likely to benefit most from Democratic healthcare policies.
Thinking about getting rid of or reducing your health care? Think again.
July 06, 2010
In light of recent economic hardship, many Americans are looking for ways they can cut costs. While some might consider reducing the amount of health care coverage they have, or eliminating it all together, opting for this short-term savings could eventually result in financial devastation...
Physicians Lack Brand Loyalty, Utilize Generics
January 31, 2012
Brand Name drugs are quickly loosing consumer loyalty to an alternative: more-cost efficient, generic drugs.
Listing Calories on Fast-Food Menus Cuts Kids' Intake
January 27, 2010
When nutritional information is available on fast-food restaurant menus, parents are more apt to pick lower-calorie foods for their kids, new research finds. Often spurred on by legislation, many U.S. restaurant chains are now posting nutrition information about their menu items. But whether this information would translate to healthier eating was unclear...
Healthy Weight Network promotes diet-free, healthy lifestyle
January 27, 2010
The holidays have come and gone, but they have left their mark by expanding many people's waistlines. Some have stuck to their New Year's resolutions about losing weight while others have failed already. This week is Healthy Weight Week, which was developed by the Healthy Weight Network...
Omega-3s may help people live longer; maybe people can lose weight on their own
January 27, 2010
Previous research has shown that heart disease patients who get a lot of omega-3 fatty acids in their diets do better than those who don't. So Ramin Farzaneh-Far of the University of California at San Francisco and colleagues looked at structures known as telomeres, which are the ends of chromosomes and which have been linked to aging...
Hatch calls for restart on health care reform
January 25, 2010
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said Sunday that Congress needs to hit the reset button on health care reform and that Republicans will work with their counterparts on new legislation -- if Democrats allow it. "I don't know one Republican who does not want health care reform...
Can Better Access to Health Care Really Lower Costs?
January 23, 2012
Health care access — as measured by the ease and timeliness with which people obtain medical services — is a key indicator of quality of care. Some people have high-quality care, with round-the-clock access to doctors. Others don’t, waiting months for an appointment, resorting to Google for medical advice and the ER for primary care. In other words, having an insurance card or even a doctor doesn’t mean you have good access to health care.
A New Search for Consensus on Health Care Bill
January 22, 2010
WASHINGTON — Even as Speaker Nancy Pelosi affirmed her commitment to pass far-reaching health care legislation this year, members of Congress and health policy experts began Thursday to deal with the reality that a smaller bill would have a better chance.
Prescription for Savings
January 20, 2010
A new Government Accountability Office study shows name brand prescription prices are skyrocketing. In fact from 2000 to 2008 the price increases ranged between 100 percent to 499 percent. In a few cases the increases were more than 1,000 percent...
Thyroid Awareness Month is the time to recognize the symptoms
January 20, 2010
Approximately 60 million Americans suffer from thyroid disease, of this group, 37 million cases are undiagnosed and untreated. There are also about 37,000 new cases of thyroid cancer each year in the United States alone. National Thyroid Awareness Month, observed in January, is meant to bring public awareness to the symptoms, risk factors and prevention of thyroid problems...
Does Restless Legs Syndrome keep you awake at night? Blame your mum
January 20, 2010
It's the end of a long day and you settle down in front of the TV. But as soon as you sink into the sofa, you feel a powerful urge to move your legs. When you do, the feeling goes away, only to return moments later when your legs start twitching. The only way to alleviate the problem is by walking around - but the sensation always comes back...
Rise in thyroid cancer among younger women baffles experts
January 20, 2010
Medicine has always been a passion for 28-year-old pediatrician Ulana Pogribina, but lately—she’s been the patient. Her ordeal began a year ago when she said she noticed something was wrong. “I was tired fairly often and had trouble losing weight. Looking back now it makes sense,” said Pogribina...
January is National Cervical Health Awareness Month
January 13, 2010
More than 11,000 new cases of cervical cancer were diagnosed in 2009, a disease that is most often caused by a common virus, the human papillomavirus (HPV). To help raise awareness of this cancer, the US Congress has designated January as Cervical Health Awareness Month.
Many people are not aware that cervical cancer is largely preventable, as it is nearly always caused by the sexually transmitted virus, HPV...
Many people are not aware that cervical cancer is largely preventable, as it is nearly always caused by the sexually transmitted virus, HPV...
Women 'too busy' to go for cancer screenings
January 13, 2010
Practical reasons could be more significant than emotional ones in explaining why many women miss cervical cancer screenings, a study suggests.
It had been thought emotional factors - such as embarrassment or fear - were largely to blame for low take-up rates...
It had been thought emotional factors - such as embarrassment or fear - were largely to blame for low take-up rates...
Humbled, Reid Hopes to Press Forward With Obama's Blessing on Health Care Tax
January 11, 2010
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid comes back to Washington next week seemingly humbled after a racially tinged gaffe forced an apology to President Obama, but the senator returns with the one bright spot -- the president's blessing on a health care bill that could end up raising taxes on thousands of middle class workers and their families...
Tips For Buying Low Cost Health Insurance
January 10, 2012
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Health spending hits $2.3T
January 05, 2010
The recession dramatically slowed U.S. health care spending to $2.3 trillion in 2008, but it still grew much faster than the economy as a whole, accounting for more than 16 percent of the nation's economic output, says a new federal analysis. The eye-popping figure of $2.3 trillion -- that's $7,681 per person -- underscores the challenges confronting President Barack Obama and lawmakers seeking to overhaul the system...
National Birth Defects Prevention Month
January 05, 2010
Every January we celebrate the New Year by toasting and cheering and spending time with family and friends. A lot of us even make a resolution—whether it’s finally cleaning out the garage, quitting smoking, going to that Pilates class every week, or just trying to be more positive. January is all about rejuvenation and rebirth...
January is National Blood Donor Month
January 05, 2010
Start off the new year right, by donating blood to the Red Cross or your local blood bank in honor of National Blood Donor Month. The process only takes an hour of your time, and results in lifesaving platelets or pints of blood for those in need. I remember the first time I signed up to give blood, as a junior in high school. Not only would I get to miss out on my Chemistry lesson, but...
Mom's Job Could Boost Baby's Odds for Birth Defect
January 05, 2010
Among working women in the United States, teachers seem to have the lowest risk of having babies with birth defects, while those who work as janitors, scientists and electronic-equipment operators appear most at risk, researchers say...
Health care overhaul: Critics on left, right unite against mandate
January 04, 2010
If there is one thing in the proposed health care overhaul that sets Michael Cannon's libertarian teeth on edge, it's the requirement that all Americans must get health insurance. "The federal government does not have the power to force you to purchase a private product," said Cannon, a health policy analyst at the Cato Institute, a free-market think tank.
7 ways the new health law will hit home this year
January 03, 2011
Opponents of the new health care overhaul law are threatening to repeal, defund and kill it in court, but that isn’t stopping Washington from implementing a number of important provisions in 2011. While many people will welcome the new benefits, some will face higher costs as a result of the law...
Health Care: Another Reason to Sock Away Cash
February 29, 2012
When 45-year-old Angelo Garaci began thinking about retirement, he knew that as a self-employed contractor, he would not be able to rely on a company pension or government benefits to pay for any future health-care costs. Therefore, he would need to strategize in order to receive optimal savings.
U.S. health care law not immune to nullification
February 28, 2011
In their battle against the federal health care legislation, Republican lawmakers in at least 11 states are turning to a centuries-old and rarely used tactic in an effort to wrest power from the federal government...
Health Care Costs: The Art of the Practical
February 27, 2012
These practical solutions to fundamental problems could be the answer to cutting massive percents off of the nation's health care costs.
Obama Budget Would Create $634 Billion Health-Care Fund
February 26, 2009
President Obama intends to release a budget tomorrow that creates a 10-year, $634 billion "reserve fund" to partially pay for a vast expansion of the U.S. health care system, an overhaul that many experts project will cost as much as $1 trillion over the next decade.
Setup for healthcare summit seems to be taking priority
February 24, 2010
The seating arrangement, not policy, has been a topic of concern for the upcoming meeting that will address cost control, deficit reduction, coverage expansion and overhaul of the insurance system. Reporting from Washington — Forget whether Washington can agree on a healthcare plan at the upcoming summit meeting. In recent days, the real impasse has been over furniture...
In GOP-led states, health-care law inspires attacks and accommodations
February 22, 2011
With battles over the president's signature health legislation underway in the courts and on Capitol Hill, a third line of attack is forming in the states: Practically every week, a Republican governor or lawmaker announces a new effort to kill the health-care law or undercut its implementation...
A cautionary tale in healthcare reform
February 22, 2010
Spurred by heart-wrenching stories of sick people denied health coverage, the state of New York did what many of President Obama's critics say he should do now -- it passed a relatively simple law requiring insurers to accept all applicants.
Other states have taken similar steps, making narrowly targeted changes instead of trying to overhaul their whole healthcare systems.
Other states have taken similar steps, making narrowly targeted changes instead of trying to overhaul their whole healthcare systems.
Disordered thinking on eating disorders
February 22, 2010
This week marks 2010 National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. One of the three goals of the week is to “reduc[e] the stigma surrounding eating disorders” by properly informing people that “eating disorders are serious, life-threatening illnesses—not choices—and it’s important to recognize the pressures, attitudes and behaviors that shape the disorder...
Love Your Body Week Brings Awareness to Eating Disorders
February 22, 2010
Today is the beginning of Love Your Body Week (LYBW), a campaign which was started in 1998 by the National Organization for Women (NOW) Foundation to call attention to negative and harmful advertising, its impact on women and girls’ self esteem, and eating disorders.
It is estimated more than 11-million Americans have an eating disorder. Women are more likely than men to have eating disorders...
It is estimated more than 11-million Americans have an eating disorder. Women are more likely than men to have eating disorders...
Acting out against anorexia
February 22, 2010
Ironically, it was a Grade 7 health class warning of the dangers of anorexia and bulimia that offered Megan Carty a roadmap for developing an eating disorder. For those vulnerable to bulimia and anorexia, a little information can be too much. For Carty, the fateful class told her how to lose unhealthy amounts of weight. Carty would spend two months being treated at CHEO...
Drug Costs Pose Smaller Financial Burden Amid Generic Boom
February 20, 2012
Americans are using more prescription drugs, but the financial burden of those drugs on families is falling, according to a new study. A big reason is the rise of generics.
Costs for individual health plans soar
February 20, 2009
At a time when more people are forced to buy their own health insurance because of job losses, costs for many individual policies are soaring.
Gates defends health-care fee increase for retirees
February 17, 2011
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates on Wednesday defended his plan to increase by $5 a month the fee retired working-age military personnel pay for family health-care coverage, after a member of Congress called it a "breach of trust." Appearing before the House Armed Services Committee, Gates described it as "a modest increase" in the enrollment fee to TRICARE...
Luger death illustrates risks in high-speed Winter Games
February 16, 2010
The continual addition of daredevil extreme sports to the Olympic program, combined with technological and physical advancements that push the limits of speed in more traditional winter pursuits, have made the Winter Games an increasingly high-flying circus of terrifying rides, uncontrolled speeds and, in some cases, pure danger...
Winter Olympics: Experts discuss altitude and performance
February 16, 2010
For winter sports athletes, including Olympians competing in Vancouver this week, the altitude of the sports venue can have a significant impact on performance, requiring athletes in skill sports, such as figure skating, ski jumping and snowboarding, to retool highly technical moves to accommodate more or less air resistance...
Trickle-down Olympic fitness for the rest of us
February 16, 2010
"It seems clear there is a trickle-down effect at least in some sports," said Dr. Phillip Clifford of the American College of Sports Medicine. "The number of young girls taking figure skating lessons explodes after each winter Olympics...
With health-care reform stalled, debate heats up regarding state approaches
February 15, 2010
Proponents of leaving health-care reform to the states have gained momentum as national legislation stalls in Congress, setting off a new debate over who is best able to tackle one of the nation's thorniest social issues...
Health Care Cost: Small Fixes Won't Cut It
February 10, 2012
The CBO's recent, disheartening report surfaces faults within 10 Medicare programs. Could a few practical reformations within the healthcare system save us all?
Give heart-healthy gifts for Valentine’s Day
February 09, 2010
There are a number of ways to show you care on Valentine’s Day with gifts from the heart that are good for it, too. Lisa Cohn, a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association, shares her ideas for heart-healthy gifts that will make this Sunday a memorable one...
Learn to Beat Heart Disease During February, American Heart Month
February 09, 2010
There's a lot you can do to reduce your risk of heart disease and improve your chances for a longer, healthier life. Cardiologists from The Polyclinic in Seattle recommend that you first, learn more about some of the risk factors for heart disease. Then, take steps to minimize those risks over which you have some control, like lifestyle choices and seeing your doctor regularly...
Clinton-era staffers worry Democrats will quit on health care overhaul if Obama fails
February 08, 2010
As President Barack Obama's health care overhaul legislation wobbles in Congress, aides who shaped Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton's failed attempt at reform in the 1990s are adamant that the Democrats can't afford another health care disaster. But they're divided on whether scaling down Obama's plan would be an acceptable solution.
Obama's promised health care overhaul delayed
February 07, 2009
President Barack Obama's push to revamp the costly and inefficient U.S. healthcare system was facing delay even before Tom Daschle, who was chosen to head the initiative, withdrew his nomination as health secretary.
A Remedy for Runaway Health-Care Costs
February 06, 2012
States are taking steps to coordinate care for "duals"— patients eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid coverage. That's good news for patients, managed-care companies like UnitedHealth and Humana, and Uncle Sam.
Heart-Healthy Tips for February
February 06, 2012
Listen to your heart this "heart-healthy" month; it'll return the favor.
CBO Budget Report Shows Impact of Healthcare Costs and Aging Population
February 03, 2012
The aging of the country's population continues to create struggles for the nation's healthcare budget...
Give Kids a Smile During National Children's Dental Health Month
February 02, 2010
Each February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Developing good habits at an early age help children prevent dental issues into adulthood...
Children Likelier to See Dentist if Parents Go Too
February 02, 2010
Parents who make regular visits to the dentist are more likely to take their children to the dentist, a new study shows...
Bone Loss May Accompany Dental Implants
February 02, 2010
Bone loss around dental implants occurs in about one in four patients, a rate far higher than previously thought, a Swedish researcher says.
Thesis author Christer Fransson analyzed the X-rays of more than 600 people who received dental implants, and found that 28 percent of the patients had lost some amount of supporting bone around their implants...
Thesis author Christer Fransson analyzed the X-rays of more than 600 people who received dental implants, and found that 28 percent of the patients had lost some amount of supporting bone around their implants...
Dems' missteps led to health breakdown
February 01, 2010
Democrats say they never saw it coming, but the breakdown of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul was abetted by their own mistakes. It wasn't just a political fluke brought on by the surprise election of a Republican senator in true-blue Massachusetts.
Next step: Turn two health care bills into one
December 28, 2009
The Senate on Thursday passed its version of the health care bill, inching the country closer to the biggest expansion of medical coverage since Medicare was enacted more than four decades ago.
Senate Democrats declared victory after the 60-39 party line vote, but one of the most complicated tasks is still ahead.
Senate Democrats declared victory after the 60-39 party line vote, but one of the most complicated tasks is still ahead.
How to Stick to New Year's Resolutions
December 28, 2009
Millions and millions of us will be making New Year's resolutions -- all well-intentioned -- but most of which will be broken before long. Yet, there are things you can do to make it more likely you'll actually keep at them, as Dr. Wendy Walsh, a clinical psychologist, explained on "The Early Show" Monday.
Alcohol and Fireworks Don't Mix! Warns National Council on Fireworks Safety
December 28, 2009
New Year's Eve is a wonderful time to celebrate the start of a new year. And fireworks are a wonderful way of celebrating. However, all too often, New Year's Eve festivities involve excess alcohol. Just like driving and drinking do not mix, shooting consumer fireworks and drinking absolutely do not mix...
Give the gift of life: Resolve this New Year's to donate blood
December 28, 2009
Give the gift of life: Resolve this New Year's to donate blood. The heart of many New Year's resolutions are based on self-improvement. Things such as lose weight, get healthy, go to the gym, start running, etc. While those are all admirable goals...
More small businesses are offering health benefits to workers
December 27, 2010
The increase is partly attributed to a tax credit created by the nation's new healthcare law. Some insurers are aggressively marketing the break, which can offset up to 35% of a company's costs...
Season's drinkings: How much is too much at holidays?
December 21, 2009
According to research by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 35 percent of American adults don't drink at all and 37 percent engage in low-risk drinking. The study, Rethinking Drinking: Alcohol and Your Health, defines low risk for men as fewer than five drinks on any single day and no more than 14 a week. Women are considered low risk if they drink fewer than four drinks in a given day and less than seven a week...
A New Year, A New Beginning, A New You
December 21, 2009
In this season of celebration, a new year begins. To keep the celebration going and improve our overall health and increase our energy, good nutritional choices and a commitment to a more active lifestyle are key. It's all about choices, after all. Last month, we talked about self-care resolutions. Now we get to put them into action. It's easy and fun to do...
Christmas 2009 in America: A Joyful Season in Not So Joyful Times
December 21, 2009
This Friday, millions of American Christians will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, their lord. Many families will sing traditional Christmas carols and exchange gifts around decorated trees. And many will attend special church services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Reporter Jerilyn Watson spoke with David Denoon, senior minister at the First Congregational Church of Evanston, Illinois, near Chicago. This is his second year there...
Health care bill 2009: what happens next
December 21, 2009
Healthcare reform is very close to becoming the law of the land. But if it passes the Senate, as now appears almost certain, it still will have one last summit to climb if it is to make it to the White House for President Obama's signature. That final obstacle? It's a congressional conference committee, where the Senate bill must be harmonized with the version of health legislation approved by the House in November.
DUI for the holidays
December 16, 2009
In 2008, law enforcement agencies in Cowlitz County made 887 arrests for driving under the influence. That's one DUI arrest for every 134 people living in the county. By comparison, if you drink and drive in Clark County, your odds of being arrested drop to one in 245.
fire safety tips for holiday season
December 16, 2009
The Seymour Volunteer Fire Department warns that there is a greater risk for fires during the holiday season.
To combat the risk, SVFD Volunteer John Perry gave residents some tips they can use to help prevent holiday fires.
“If you have a live tree remember to keep it watered and don’t let it dry out,” said Perry, “and don’t put too many sets of lights in one socket...
To combat the risk, SVFD Volunteer John Perry gave residents some tips they can use to help prevent holiday fires.
“If you have a live tree remember to keep it watered and don’t let it dry out,” said Perry, “and don’t put too many sets of lights in one socket...
Have stress-free, happy holiday season
December 16, 2009
Many things contribute to holiday stress including fatigue, financial limitations, loneliness and distance from family and friends.
Stress is defined as any change we must adapt to in our daily life. That includes anything from shopping for that perfect gift to facing the holiday without friends or family nearby. What can we all do to have a healthy, happy holiday season...
Stress is defined as any change we must adapt to in our daily life. That includes anything from shopping for that perfect gift to facing the holiday without friends or family nearby. What can we all do to have a healthy, happy holiday season...
Senate Hits New Roadblocks on Health Care Bill
December 14, 2009
Democratic leaders hit a rough patch Friday in their push for sweeping health care legislation, as they tried to fend off criticism of their proposals from a top Medicare official, Republicans and even members of their own party.
Lieberman opposes Medicare at 55
December 14, 2009
Dashing the hopes of Democratic lawmakers Sunday, Sen. Joseph Lieberman signaled he would oppose a health care bill that includes a proposal to expand Medicare to people as young as 55.
The independent Connecticut senator has told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid...
The independent Connecticut senator has told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid...
In health-care reform, no deficit cure
December 09, 2009
As the long battle over health care is rejoined in the Senate this week, experts remain deeply divided over whether the legislation would rein in soaring health-care costs or simply add millions of people to a system that is already driving the nation toward bankruptcy. Optimists say the $848 billion package drafted by Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) contains all the most promising ideas for transforming the health-care system and encouraging doctors and hospitals to work more efficiently...
RISING HEALTH COSTS PROMPT WOMEN TO NEGLECT HEALTH
December 09, 2008
A new survey highlights another troubling aspect of the current financial crisis: many women have failed to seek health care for themselves or their families to save money. Findings also indicate that many women say their health has gotten worse over the past five years.
Worries grow that health overhaul could price out many
December 07, 2009
President Obama has promised that the nation’s health care overhaul will make medical insurance available - and affordable - for everyone. But while bills in Congress would make insurance more accessible for millions of Americans, advocates worry that the Senate bill would impose significant financial burdens on some of the families who will now be required to buy coverage...
How to Buy Safe Toys This Holiday Season
December 07, 2009
The dismal results of a study on the presence of harmful chemicals in U.S. toys means parents should maintain vigilance this holiday season as they shop for loved ones. The fast-approaching holiday season and accompanying consumer blitz bring with it an annual battery of warnings about toy safety...
7 ways to reduce holiday stress
December 07, 2009
Along with the many and varied expectations of what holidays are supposed to be — groaning tables of Grandma’s homemade goodies, jolly uncles snoring by a roaring fire, family games of Parcheesi (and no sore losers) — come the stresses of trying to fulfill those expectations...
Holiday Eating Without the Guilt -- or the Pounds
December 07, 2009
If you love the five-week holiday smorgasbord from Thanksgiving to New Year's, but are already stressing about the added pounds you'll have to sweat off come Jan. 1, help is at hand.It's possible, say nutrition experts, to enjoy holiday eating and make it to 2010 weighing the same as you do today.
Healthcare Reform: How it Affects Your Business
December 06, 2010
There’s good news and there’s bad news when it comes to the implications of the new health care law for small businesses.
“No doubt, the law does some good things by bringing insurance to people who are sick and couldn’t afford it, and by bringing insurance exchanges and increased portability of health plans,” said Robert Graboyes, senior health care adviser for the National Federation of Independent Business...
“No doubt, the law does some good things by bringing insurance to people who are sick and couldn’t afford it, and by bringing insurance exchanges and increased portability of health plans,” said Robert Graboyes, senior health care adviser for the National Federation of Independent Business...
End Of COBRA Subsidy Adds To Debate About Need For Public Health Option
December 03, 2009
Peter Verzi of Hartford had neck surgery in April that involved drilling six screws in his vertebrae, and in October he had a cyst removed from his left buttock. The neck procedure alone would have cost Verzi $48,000 if he didn't have health insurance. Fortunately for the 62-year-old laborer, the bills are covered by a Health Net group plan offered through an apartment management company that employed Verzi for 6½ years until he was laid off in January...
Weak economy puts new spotlight on medical pricing
December 03, 2009
Consumers are increasingly turning to the Web to compare medical fees as the economy and less generous health benefits squeeze household budgets. Shopping around for lower-priced medical care has never been easier. More than 30 states have passed laws that require online publication of medical fees by hospitals and other health care providers.
Clinical pharmacists can fill in healthcare gaps
December 03, 2009
When he arrived for his first visit, the 55-year-old diabetic had no idea what constituted a healthy diet, says pharmacist Steven Chen.
"He ate two or three dinners a night, such as two whole pizzas about an hour apart." And he didn't know how to manage low blood sugar attacks. "He would eat an entire pie or cake instead of the recommended one serving of carbohydrate every 15 minutes."
"He ate two or three dinners a night, such as two whole pizzas about an hour apart." And he didn't know how to manage low blood sugar attacks. "He would eat an entire pie or cake instead of the recommended one serving of carbohydrate every 15 minutes."
Some Health Premiums to Rise
December 01, 2009
The Senate's health bill will keep insurance premiums roughly the same for most Americans and may raise them for some people who buy coverage on their own, according to a new analysis that came the day the Senate kicked off debate on the bill. Democrats and the White House have described the bill as a powerful mechanism for lowering health costs, both for the government and for Americans who face sharply rising insurance premiums...
Do you want a health-care system or a healing system?
August 31, 2009
The current debate over health-care reform has been about politics and money. There is no escaping either factor. Huge vested interests are spending millions of dollars a day to pressure Congress into minimal reform. But even if the political system were pure as snow, an aging American population makes it inevitable that the health-care system is going to grow more and more expensive.
Health Bill Would Cut Drug Spending for Many on Medicare, Budget Office Says
August 31, 2009
WASHINGTON — Medicare beneficiaries would often have to pay higher premiums for prescription drug coverage, but many would see their total drug spending decline, so they would save money as a result of health legislation moving through the House, the Congressional Budget Office said in a recent report.
Cash-Poor Governments Ditching Public Hospitals
August 30, 2010
Faced with mounting debt and looming costs from the new federal health-care law, many local governments are leaving the hospital business, shedding public facilities that can be the caregiver of last resort...
New Projections on Budget Gap Heighten Concerns on Reform
August 28, 2009
On Tuesday, the White House Office of Management and Budget projected that the U.S. budget deficit will reach more than $9 trillion over the next decade, giving critics of health care reform efforts new fuel to attack Democrats' large-scale proposals to expand coverage
Survey: Healthcare costs to rise 10.6% in 2009
August 26, 2008
Healthcare costs to rise 10.6% in 2009 according to a survey of insurers by Aon Consulting Worldwide, although healthcare costs are expected to rise in 2009, it would be the smallest increase in six years.
Big employers expect 2011 health cost hike
August 23, 2010
Large employers expect their health care benefit costs to rise 8.9 percent next year, and more will ask their employees to make a bigger contribution, according to a survey from the National Business Group on Health. The nonprofit, which works with big companies on health care costs...
Poor health care communication can cost money, lives
August 16, 2010
At least that's the conclusion the American Medical Association has made, and it's one of the reasons the medical establishment has put the concept of health literacy under the national spotlight. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has included improved health literacy as an objective in its report, "Healthy People 2010...
Strange Bedfellows? Industry Groups Join In Effort to Push Health Care Reform
August 12, 2009
Healthy Economy Now -- a group that includes the pharmaceutical industry, doctors, union interests, business interests and advocacy groups -- is spending millions to pressure members of Congress to get on board with health care reform.
What Will Health Care Reform Cost You?
August 11, 2009
Health care reform, if it passes, will cost about $1 trillion over the next 10 years. Negotiators in the Senate and House are now saying they've winnowed the cost down to "only" $900 billion or so. Where will that money come from? Look in the mirror.
The Cost of Dying: End-of-Life Care
August 09, 2010
Every medical study ever conducted has concluded that 100 percent of all Americans will eventually die. This comes as no great surprise, but the amount of money being spent at the very end of people's lives probably will. Last year, Medicare paid $55 billion just for doctor and hospital bills during the last two months of patients' lives...
Prices for some drugs skyrocket
August 08, 2008
The number of brand-name drugs with increases of 100% or more could double this year from four years ago, researchers from the University of Minnesota say. Many of the drugs are older products that treat fairly rare, but often serious or even life-threatening, conditions.
Medicare Stronger, Social Security Worse in Short Run, Report Finds
August 06, 2010
WASHINGTON — Medicare will remain financially solvent for 12 additional years, until 2029, because of the cost-cutting measures in President Obama’s recently enacted health care legislation, the program’s trustees projected on Thursday...
Medicare Stronger, Social Security Worse in Short Run, Report Finds
August 06, 2010
WASHINGTON — Medicare will remain financially solvent for 12 additional years, until 2029, because of the cost-cutting measures in President Obama’s recently enacted health care legislation, the program’s trustees projected on Thursday...
White House Affirms Deal on Drug Cost
August 06, 2009
WASHINGTON — Pressed by industry lobbyists, White House officials on Wednesday assured drug makers that the administration stood by a behind-the-scenes deal to block any Congressional effort to extract cost savings from them beyond an agreed-upon $80 billion.
Why some American values are obstacles to insurance system overhaul
August 06, 2009
Reformers must overcome attachments to individualism, capitalism, experts say
Missouri voters approve challenge to federal healthcare law
August 04, 2010
The ballot measure challenges the requirement that Americans buy insurance starting in 2014. It is likely to have little practical effect, but underscores continued GOP hostility to the new law...
Some health care numbers don't tally
August 04, 2009
Some of President Barack Obama's health care numbers don't seem to add up. And that's complicating his efforts to pass his top domestic priority.
Obama could be falling into the same trap that snagged George W. Bush when he was pushing private accounts for Social Security as part of his "ownership society" in 2005. Bush's claims that the proposal would help shore up Social Security's long-term finances were hard to document mathematically and wound up feeding greater public skepticism.
Obama could be falling into the same trap that snagged George W. Bush when he was pushing private accounts for Social Security as part of his "ownership society" in 2005. Bush's claims that the proposal would help shore up Social Security's long-term finances were hard to document mathematically and wound up feeding greater public skepticism.
Proposed Tax Tests Obama on Campaign Vow
August 04, 2009
WASHINGTON -- A proposed tax on generous health-insurance packages presents a challenge to President Barack Obama, who promised during his campaign not to raise taxes on the middle class.
Health-Care basics: spend or save?
August 02, 2010
Old-school mercury versions, which are hard to read and can break, have gone the way of the Walkman. An inexpensive digital thermometer (about $6) is the new classic and more than adequate for the average person...
Healthcare Costs and Social Security Could Cause Economic Woes
August 02, 2008
With accelerating healthcare costs, an aging population, and a shrinking Social Security surplus, the country is on an unsustainable path—and the longer action is delayed, the more difficult and painful its choices, Gene Dodaro, the acting comptroller general, told the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday. He said the scope and magnitude of the country's budget problems made two things essential: an examination of all aspects of federal revenue and spending, and a reform of the healthcare system.
Medicare adds to do-not-pay list
August 01, 2008
Medicare is adding to its do-not-pay list for hospitals two new categories of preventable conditions it won't cover, a much smaller number than it had been contemplating.
Americans losing confidence in healthcare
April 29, 2010
Americans are steadily losing confidence in their ability to get healthcare and pay for it, despite the passage of healthcare reform legislation, according to a survey published on Wednesday...
Health care law to allow young adults to stay on parent's plan
April 28, 2010
A provision of federal health care reform that takes effect later this year will allow young adults to stay on their parents' health insurance plan up until age 26. But some major insurers say they won't make young consumers wait. They plan to start extending that coverage to...
30 Ways to Cut Health Care Costs
April 27, 2012
30 surprisingly creative ways to save that will allow you to pay the lowest price without sacrificing quality...
Next in health care war: Applying the law
April 27, 2010
The debate in Congress over President Obama's health care law is done. The battle over how to carry out the law is just getting started.
Dozens of special-interest groups that helped shape the 10-year, $938 billion health care measure over the past year...
Dozens of special-interest groups that helped shape the 10-year, $938 billion health care measure over the past year...
States Warn of ‘Obamacare’ Scams
April 26, 2010
In Illinois, a telemarketer recently sold an elderly woman a fraudulent health insurance plan that supposedly protected her against “death panels,” the state insurance director says. In Alabama, a con artist has been offering “government health care reform” insurance over the phone in exchange for customers’ bank account numbers, according to the local Better Business Bureau...
11 Ways to Slash Prescription Costs
April 25, 2012
MSN suggest great ways to save, including Optimizerx!
AARP Bulletin Releases New Comprehensive User's Guide to Health Care Reform
April 23, 2010
In the wake of President Obama signing health care reform into law, AARP Bulletin today released a new user's guide to help consumers navigate the details of the new law and how it will impact them both now and further down the road when it is fully implemented. This special section features must-know details, including changes to Medicare...
Miss. Ballot Sought Against Requiring Health Care
April 22, 2010
Two Republican state lawmakers want Mississippi voters to have a say in whether health insurance should be required, and they're proposing a ballot initiative that's a direct response to recent federal health care overhaul...
Oklahoma lawmakers to sue over federal health reform
April 21, 2010
Leaders of the Oklahoma House and Senate said on Tuesday they plan to file a lawsuit to block President Barack Obama's reform of the U.S. healthcare system. House Speaker Chris Benge and Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee...
1 in 5 Americans is postponing health care
April 21, 2009
Twenty percent of Americans say they have delayed or postponed medical care, mostly doctor visits, and many said cost was the main reason, according to a survey by Thomson Reuters released on Monday.
Co-Payments Go Way Up for Drugs With High Prices
April 21, 2008
Health insurance companies are rapidly adopting a new pricing system for very expensive drugs, asking patients to pay hundreds and even thousands of dollars for prescriptions for medications that may save their lives or slow the progress of serious diseases.
After reform, 23 million to remain uninsured
April 20, 2010
The federal health care overhaul is expected to provide 32 million uninsured Americans with coverage by the time it's fully in place in 2019.
But even under the Obama-sponsored reforms, about 23 million people will remain uninsured for reasons including exemptions from the requirement to buy health insurance, the Congressional Budget Office estimates...
But even under the Obama-sponsored reforms, about 23 million people will remain uninsured for reasons including exemptions from the requirement to buy health insurance, the Congressional Budget Office estimates...
Massachusetts health-care reform leader could play larger role nationally
April 19, 2010
Don't be surprised if you start hearing the name Jon Kingsdale a lot in the near future.
Kingsdale has been widely credited with leading the implementation of the state law -- getting people to comply with Massachusetts's mandate to obtain health insurance, and setting up the Connector...
Kingsdale has been widely credited with leading the implementation of the state law -- getting people to comply with Massachusetts's mandate to obtain health insurance, and setting up the Connector...
42% of Texas biz leaders less likely to offer health care coverage
April 19, 2010
Forty-two percent of Texas business leaders recently polled say recent health care reform will make their companies less likely to offer health care coverage to their employees.
Overall, Texas business leaders believe...
Overall, Texas business leaders believe...
Focus On Quality of Life May Cut Health-Care Costs
April 18, 2012
The stipulations for "quality" of life may be different than you'd think...
7 health mysteries explained
April 18, 2012
Why we get 'brain freeze,' what causes hiccups and other miscellaneous body trivia.
Lower rates could bring more uninsured into gov't health plan
April 18, 2011
Detroit — Organizers behind a state-operated, pooled insurance plan for uninsured people with pre-existing conditions said today the federal government has approved some lower rates for the insurance, which should help reach more in need and increase participation...
Healthcare Prices Still Baffle Consumers
April 16, 2012
Citizens are still struggling to get straight answers about the cost of common medical procedures despite state efforts aimed at lifting the veil on medical pricing.
The Downside Of Health-Care Reform
April 16, 2010
Health policy experts and medical societies are concerned about a shortage of primary care physicians, which will be even worse when the Affordable Care Act unleashes an estimated 32 million newly insured patients on the healthcare system. And if you’re wondering what effects that might have on hospitals, a new study of striking hospital nurses suggests that the short-term result won’t be pretty...
US lawmakers cancel company healthcare tax hearing
April 15, 2010
U.S. lawmakers planning to grill executives from AT&T Inc (T.N), Deere & Co (DE.N) and others over predicted financial hits blamed on the recent health care overhaul have abruptly canceled the hearing. Two Democrats on the House of Representatives' Energy and Commerce Committee, Henry Waxman and Bart Stupak, sent colleagues a memo on Wednesday citing "the request of several of the companies" in nixing the hearing.
Georgia Insurance Commissioner Balks at Request on New Health Law
April 14, 2010
The insurance commissioner of Georgia has chosen not to comply with a federal request to create a state pool for high-risk insurance plans, opening a new front in the resistance by state Republican officials to the new federal health care law...
Cleanliness Leads to Rise in Allergies, Asthma
April 14, 2010
Cleanliness may be next to godliness, but it also appears to be the cause of the significant increase in allergies, asthma, eczema, and autoimmune conditions. A University of Montreal study finds that the more we attempt to clean up our child’s environment, the more he or she is at risk for developing allergies or an immune problem...
Alzheimer's and Diet: Good for Heart May Be Good for Brain
April 14, 2010
A diet rich in fruits and vegetables as well as omega-3 fatty acids may not only be good for your heart -- it may also reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Looking at more than 2,000 dementia-free adults ages 65 and older, researchers revealed that persons who consumed a Mediterranean-type diet...
Even As Memory Fades, Emotions Linger
April 14, 2010
People with memory loss can still "remember" feelings associated with happy and sad experiences, a new study has found. University of Iowa researchers showed clips of happy and sad movies to five patients with memory loss. The patients couldn't remember what they had watched, but they did retain the emotions triggered by the movie clips...
Health law may worsen U.S. doctor shortage
April 12, 2010
As the only family doctor around for almost 35 miles, Dr. George Holmes III did it all.
He was the obstetrician, the emergency room physician, the pediatrician - anything you needed him to be, for as many hours as it took. An office visit cost $5, or maybe Mama's homemade pie...
He was the obstetrician, the emergency room physician, the pediatrician - anything you needed him to be, for as many hours as it took. An office visit cost $5, or maybe Mama's homemade pie...
Obama Sets up Formal Office for Healthcare Reform
April 10, 2009
President Barack Obama set up an executive office for healthcare reform at the White House on Wednesday, saying the overhaul was one of the biggest priorities for the first year of his presidency.
Fight Over Premium Hikes Just Beginning
April 09, 2010
Insurers' premiums played a key, if ironic, role in the waning moments of the national health reform debate. Outrage over Anthem Blue Cross's proposed double-digit hike for individual policyholders was one of the factors that helped congressional Democrats gain...
Florida says challenge to healthcare reform widens
April 08, 2010
Five more U.S. states are joining a Florida-led group of states in a lawsuit challenging President Barack Obama's overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system, Florida's attorney general said on Wednesday. The joint lawsuit led by Florida and now grouping 18 states was filed on March 23 by mostly Republican attorney generals...
Scam alert issued on new health care law
April 07, 2010
Beware of scam artists taking advantage of the new health insurance law to peddle phony policies, President Barack Obama's top health official warned consumers Tuesday.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius issued the fraud alert as she also announced new benefits for seniors and low-income people...
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius issued the fraud alert as she also announced new benefits for seniors and low-income people...
Autism: goodbye childhood, hello adulthood?
April 07, 2010
I have officially crossed that invisible line that all parents eventually reach - when their child becomes an adult and suddenly, their world is different. With typical children it manifests itself...
Online resources for information on health-care reform
April 06, 2010
The ink was hardly dry on the health-care overhaul law when foundations, industry groups and consumer advocates began putting together guides to the new rules. Here are some Web sites worth keeping an eye on...
Rising Health Costs Cut Into Wages
April 06, 2008
Higher Fees Squeeze Employers, Workers:
Recent history has not been kind to working-class Americans, who were down on the economy long before the word recession was uttered. The main reason: spiraling health-care costs have been whacking away at their wages.
Recent history has not been kind to working-class Americans, who were down on the economy long before the word recession was uttered. The main reason: spiraling health-care costs have been whacking away at their wages.
Healthcare reform and our inconvenient Constitution
April 05, 2010
The question of questions for the politician should ever be — “what type of social structure am I tending to produce?” But this is a question he never entertains. (Herbert Spencer, “The Coming Slavery.”)
It is hard for an abstraction to win against a poor mother with a kid who is uninsured. But this kind of phenomenon has been the story for a long time...
It is hard for an abstraction to win against a poor mother with a kid who is uninsured. But this kind of phenomenon has been the story for a long time...
Drug costs rise as economy slides
April 05, 2008
People with health insurance are having more trouble paying for prescription drugs as higher out-of-pocket costs for medications and a slowing economy strain family budgets...
Prescription Co-Pay Sticker Shock Predicts Optimizerx.com
April 05, 2008
"Brace yourself for some sticker shock," says David Harrell, CEO of OptimizeRx.com, a website for prescription savings. "The combination of higher costs and reduced coverage you're likely to find the next time you fill a prescription may even make you feel a little sick."
Candidates go opposite ways on health care
April 05, 2008
Republican presidential candidate John McCain says the United States is approaching a "perfect storm" of problems that "will cause our health care system to implode" if the next president doesn't act. Democratic rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton would agree. But that's about where agreement over health care ends.
Most Americans take medications, many can't afford them
April 05, 2008
Despite widespread insurance coverage, many Americans say they have trouble paying for drugs. Significant minorities report not filling a prescription, cutting pills in half or skipping doses to cut costs.
The Public On Prescription Drugs and Pharmaceutical Companies
April 05, 2008
More than four in ten Americans report problems paying for needed prescription medications for themselves or their family, with 16 percent saying it is a serious problem.
Prescription CoPay Costs Increase in United States
April 05, 2008
According to the 2007/2008 results, generic co-pays on PPO plans are $10.99. When comparing the generic price to the non-formulary price on PPO plans, there is a difference of $31.32. For prescriptions used monthly, that difference can equate to $375.84 for just one prescription over the course of a year.
Health Tracking Poll: Election 2008
April 05, 2008
Health care ranks third as the issue that they want presidential candidates to discuss during the campaign -- named by 28% of voters, behind the economy (45%) and Iraq (32%). Party differences exist, with health care ranking second for Democrats, third for independents, and fourth for Republicans.
