Health Care and Profits, a Poor Mix
A shareholder might even applaud the creativity with which profit-seeking institutions go about seeking profit. But the consequences of this pursuit might not be so great for other stakeholders in the system — patients, for instance. One study found that patients’ mortality rates spiked when nonprofit hospitals switched to become profit-making, and their staff levels declined.
From the New York Times, good news for people with chronic health issues that are unlikely to improve:
Should the federal government cover the costs of many kinds of treatments for patients who aren’t going to get any better?
It didn’t, for many years. But after the settlement of a landmark class-action lawsuit this week, Medicare will soon begin paying more often for physical, occupational and other therapies for large numbers of people with certain disabilities and chronic conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.
Ohio voters last night voted overwhelmingly against both Republican and Democrat corporate-favoring policies in a referendum. Senate Bill 5, passed by the Republican-dominated legislature and signed into law by Republican governor John Kasich, was shot down by sixty-one percent, too large a margin for the GOP to rig the vote count in its favor. Read below the fold...
According to a new study for the Ohio Department of Insurance:
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) could cut the number of uninsured Ohio residents by 790,000 in 2017, but it also could increase premiums for the 735,000 residents who have individual coverage by more than 55%.
(emphasis added)
Actually, the 55% increase is the low end of the predicted increase.
"...the price of individual health insurance coverage might rise about 55% to 85%, excluding the impact of medical inflation...."
Meh, for me today it was 12 hrs with one client and four more with another on the west coast later before I can sleep, so this is going to be short. I'd like to fill the rest in as I respond in the comments, reading what you all have to say. But the question is: what supplements do you take? Vitamins? Oils, cremes, salves, teas, and any other delivery device that doesn't come from Big Pharma or Big Ag, that helps you feel better? Why do you take them? How did you learn about them? Why do you know they work? What scientific-standard of proof can you offer they do, if only in your case? Read below the fold...
Well, I have to Come Out. I'm a convert. It's my new religion and like any convert and evangelical, I can't stop talking about it. But dammit. This is working. So let me share. If you are bored with me, just absorb this simple part: stop cooking your food. Just, stop. Obviously you should be buying organic, local, and not-GMO. But damn, people. I laughed at Madonna when I read she went on this program, and now I feel ashamed for mocking her for what works. I always though hollywood drugs kept her in shape. Now I know. Read below the fold...
The American Health Security Act of 2011 would provide federal guidelines and strong minimum standards for states to establish and administer single-payer health care programs.
She's also got some links from her archive which speak to the same. A taste, re: the failure of health care reform in 1994:
The fantasy of bi-partisanship remains strong among precisely those Stevensonians who thought (and think) that teaching lessons to hicks is more important than having functional power.
I can't imagine why people wouldn't be enthusiastic. After all, the programs are run by very well-known brands from the insurance companies! Read below the fold...
A group of activists known as the Mad As Hell Doctors (MAHD) is on the road again throughout California, taking part in 26 rallies and town halls from Arcata to the state Capitol in Sacramento on Oct. 12.
On Sunday, Oct. 3, the group will appear from 1 to 3 p.m. in an interactive event that is free and open to the public at Mishkon Tephilo, 206 Main St., Venice.
The event is co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters, Health Care for All-California and Physicians for a National Health Program.
