Weekly Poll: Medicare Wins with Affordable Care Act

Medicare Wins with Affordable Care Act

By Pam Taylor

Despite well-documented examples of Medicare abuse and the latest suggested bi-partisan remedy (Is Curbing Medicare Waste, Fraud in the Cards?), Medicare is critical to the 40 million Americans 64 and over, as well as to others with disabilities, who must rely on it for quaility health care. And critical to Medicare is the Affordable Care Act.

 

Not only does the Affordable Care Act protect beneficiaries from significant increases in costs or cuts, provisions in the Act have resulted in significant declines in premium fees for the second year in a row.  And in 2012, premiums are projected to be 11.5 percent below 2010 premiums. 

Also by 2012, all beneficiaries will have access to Medicare-covered preventive services without paying a co-pay or deductible, including an annual wellness visit with their doctors.  The Act has not only strengthened consumer protections, it provides the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) with the authority to offer better Medicare plan choices.

 

According to CMS Administrator Dr. Donald Berwick, because of new provisions in the Affordable Care Act, “Medicare Advantage and prescription drug benefits are stronger than ever, and beneficiaries will continue to have access to a range of affordable products.” 2012 Medicare Advantage premiums fall and projected enrollment rises

The Affordable Care Act is a win for millions of Americans.  Why are opponents trying to turn back the clock without countering with meaningful and timely measures for improving health care services and delivery?  I say, let’s get politics out of health care reform.  

What say you?

Former HHS Secretary Says Diversity Is Key to Better Health

Former HHS Secretary Says Diversity

Is Key to Better Health

 

 

Dr. Louis W. Sullivan, the former US Secretary of Health and Human Services from 1989-1993 blames the lack of racial and ethnic diversity among the nation's health professionals for the growing gap in health disparities between whites and minorities.

"Having a more racially and ethnically diverse health professions workforce will enhance communication between health professionals and our nation's population," Dr. Sullivan said. "Improved communication between health professionals and the individuals they serve will foster trust and understanding that will influence health outcomes. If we are successful in increasing diversity, this will result in improved health status in the long run among our nation's minorities."

Speaking at the recent National Medical Association Convention held in Washington, DC, July 23-27, the president emeritus of the Morehouse School of Medicine, offered several strategies for promoting diversity in the health care professions from strengthening K-12 education in math and science to increasing financial aid to minority students interested in health care.

For his complete text, read Increase in minority health professionals to reduce disparities.

IOM: Protecting Women and Wallets?

IOM: Protecting Women and Wallets?

NPR reported that the Institute of Medicine delivered a potentially game-changing announcement today: “it recommends that the federal government consider putting "the full range of Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptive methods" on the list of services for women that would be covered by insurers without a copay.”

According to the article, free contraceptives could serve for positive change surrounding the number of unwanted pregnancies in our country (currently about 50 percent), including financial strains on families and infant and mother health between pregnancies.

Detractors argue that government-mandated birth control would violate the religious rights of those whose beliefs forbid contraceptives, and those who hold that some forms of contraceptives act as precursors to abortion.

Click here to read and listen to the full story.

“Companies propose curbing junk food ads for kids?”

“Companies propose curbing junk food ads for kids?”

The nation’s largest food companies say they will cut back on advertising unhealthy foods to children. The move by General Mills, Kellogg and other industry giants comes as the federal government released stricter standards for marketing junk food to children.

An online search did not produce a copy of the coalition’s new marketing standards. That’s not good. Without access to the standards, there’s no way to measure change and hold the food marketers accountable.

Childhood obesity in America has more than tripled in the past 30 years. Junk food consumption is linked to the alarming increase. Let’s do more than hope that the companies are on the up and up. Let’s demand to see their new marketing standards.

For Better Health Care, Gold Card Only (If You Have One)

For Better Health Care, Gold Card Only (If You Have One)

Most European countries view the United States' health care system as crazy. Where most Europeans have access to health care, Americans (supposedly we're living in the land of plenty), are either paying high health care rates or forgoing treatment and medications due to their inability to afford proper care. To widen the gap between "have" and have nots," those who can afford health care are receiving extra attention from their doctors by paying for "concierge" health care. By paying a higher membership fee, affluent patients can get more of their doctors' time during the week or weekends, with more attention to their needs. Some doctors have expressed concerns that this practice could lead to "higher paying clients receiving better care." When did having your health care needs met by your physician become a VIP service? Don't we all deserve this without paying for VIP treatment, or whipping out the gold card?

To learn more, view "Patients Pay Doctors More for VIP Treatment" on KMBC.com (Kansas City, Mo.)



Breastfeeding cop forced to take unpaid leave

“Breastfeeding cop forced to take unpaid leave”

A breastfeeding DC police officer has been forced to take leave without pay after the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) refused to allow her to work at a desk job. The department’s chief of police, a woman and mother, upheld MPD’s new policy to deny reasonable options for breastfeeding moms.

The Draconian decision by MPD is mind-boggling. There is no sound justification for rejecting the mother’s right to express her milk for nurturing her baby. MPD’s own physician backed the officer’s request. After all, going back on the street would require the mom to wear a bullet-proof vest. The heavy protective gear would cause major discomfort and potentially compromise the mother’s lactation. 

For MPD’s information, breastfeeding is proven to be beneficial to babies, moms and employers. The Le Leche League, which promotes a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother, lists the following benefits:

 

Benefits for Baby

·         Antibodies in breast milk protect the baby from illness.

·         Breastfeeding promotes appropriate jaw, teeth and speech development as well as overall facial development.

 

Benefits for Mother

·         Breastfeeding is linked to reduced rates of breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

·         A breastfeeding mother can feed her baby even during stressful times such as when normal supplies of food and water are not available.

·         Breastfeeding saves time for mothers.

 

Benefits for Employers

·         Breastfed babies are healthier babies; thus, mothers who are employed outside the home are likely to miss fewer days of work.

What do you think about breastfeeding on the job? Send us your comments.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/07/breast-feeding-dc-cop-forced-take-leave-without-pay?page=0%2C0%2C0%2C1

http://www.llli.org/faq/advantagetoddler.html

America’s Oral Health is in Crisis

America’s Oral Health is in Crisis

More than a decade since the U.S. Surgeon General called America’s poor oral health a “silent epidemic,” oral health diseases remain prevalent among the nation’s underserved populations. Blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans bear the burden of poor oral health more than any other racial or ethnic groups, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the largely majority-minority town of Windsor, North Carolina, the unabated crisis is playing out. A new study by the local government says a shortage of dentists and lack of access to dental care is to blame. In 2010, there were only 15 dentists for 109,000 low-income residents in the county. And almost no private dentist in the area will accept Medicaid because the reimbursement rates are below market rate.


Oral health is critical to overall health.


Reform efforts should focus on integrating oral health into health care and increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates for dentists.


Read More: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110616/ARTICLES/110619585?template=printpicart