Comments for Health Policy and Communications Blog http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog A Forum for Discussing and Analyzing Healthcare Issues Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:44:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 Comment on Medical Homes, Hammers and Nails by Michael D. Miller MD http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2008/11/10/medical-homes-hammers-and-nails/#comment-5615 Michael D. Miller MD Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:02:52 +0000 http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2008/11/10/medical-homes-hammers-and-nails/#comment-5615 Thanks Oscar - Medical Homes are not physical entities, but rather a concept for a person to have a single group practice or clinician who is responsible for ensuring that the individual's care is coordinated among primary care and specialty services. This coordination includes ensuring that all their information is both delivered to these clinicians and they get any new information about the patient from them so they can actually do this care coordination in a prospective way. The current alternative is that patients (or their family members) are often left to do this care coordinating themselves - something that they are not experts at, may not have the resources/time/capabilities to do, and may find very difficult at a time of illness or family medical crisis. Thanks Oscar - Medical Homes are not physical entities, but rather a concept for a person to have a single group practice or clinician who is responsible for ensuring that the individual’s care is coordinated among primary care and specialty services. This coordination includes ensuring that all their information is both delivered to these clinicians and they get any new information about the patient from them so they can actually do this care coordination in a prospective way. The current alternative is that patients (or their family members) are often left to do this care coordinating themselves - something that they are not experts at, may not have the resources/time/capabilities to do, and may find very difficult at a time of illness or family medical crisis.

]]> Comment on Medical Homes, Hammers and Nails by Oscar Thibidoux http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2008/11/10/medical-homes-hammers-and-nails/#comment-5612 Oscar Thibidoux Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:15:40 +0000 http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2008/11/10/medical-homes-hammers-and-nails/#comment-5612 This seems to be a interesting idea. However, I'm having a hard time understanding the difference between this and a nursing home. This seems to be a interesting idea. However, I’m having a hard time understanding the difference between this and a nursing home.

]]> Comment on Are Online Electronic Health Records Secure? by Michael http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2008/06/18/are-online-electronic-health-records-secure/#comment-5517 Michael Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:58:05 +0000 http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2008/06/18/are-online-electronic-health-records-secure/#comment-5517 <strong>hipaa data security...</strong> I can't believe I missed this! I'm going to have to do some more reading me thinks.... hipaa data security…

I can’t believe I missed this! I’m going to have to do some more reading me thinks….

]]> Comment on Electronic Medical Records: Salvation or Sinkhole? by Practice Management Software http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2008/05/06/electronic-medical-records-salvation-or-sinkhole/#comment-5500 Practice Management Software Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:06:55 +0000 http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2008/05/06/electronic-medical-records-salvation-or-sinkhole/#comment-5500 If anyone is interested in help on choosing the best practice management software, this free white paper on <a href="http://www.nuesoft.com/news/white_papers/medical_software_vendor_integration.html" rel="nofollow">managing a smoother vendor integration</a> is a great resource. The article is provided by <a href="http://www.nuesoft.com" rel="nofollow">Nuesoft Technologies</a>, a <a href="http://www.nuemd.com/medical_software/medical_billing_software.html" rel="nofollow">medical billing software</a> and <a href="http://www.nuemd.com/medical_software/medical_practice_management_software.html" rel="nofollow">medical practice management software</a> company. If anyone is interested in help on choosing the best practice management software, this free white paper on managing a smoother vendor integration is a great resource. The article is provided by Nuesoft Technologies, a medical billing software and medical practice management software company.

]]> Comment on Managed Care/Health Insurance Direct-to-Consumer Advertising or YouTube Educational-Propaganda Videos? by Miller calls foul on Humana YouTube videos | Health Blog http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2008/11/12/managed-carehealth-insurance-direct-to-consumer-advertising-or-youtube-educactional-propaganda-videos/#comment-5236 Miller calls foul on Humana YouTube videos | Health Blog Fri, 14 Nov 2008 04:23:45 +0000 http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2008/11/12/managed-carehealth-insurance-direct-to-consumer-advertising-or-youtube-educactional-propaganda-videos/#comment-5236 [...] and presumably other media. Health Policy and Communications Blog author Michael D. Miller MD doesn’t like what he sees. I had a look at the videos myself and tend to agree with his [...] […] and presumably other media. Health Policy and Communications Blog author Michael D. Miller MD doesn’t like what he sees. I had a look at the videos myself and tend to agree with his […]

]]> Comment on National Health Spending – Lots of Confusion by Health Policy and Communications Blog » Blog Archive » Managed Care/Health Insurance Direct-to-Consumer Advertising or YouTube Educational-Propaganda Videos? http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2008/08/04/national-health-spending-%e2%80%93-lots-of-confusion/#comment-5184 Health Policy and Communications Blog » Blog Archive » Managed Care/Health Insurance Direct-to-Consumer Advertising or YouTube Educational-Propaganda Videos? Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:25:50 +0000 http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2008/08/04/national-health-spending-%e2%80%93-lots-of-confusion/#comment-5184 [...] how health care costs are growing or what really is contributing to this growth.  I believe my graphically enhanced presentation on this from August is a much clearer and accurate presentation.  In particular, their assertion that prescription [...] […] how health care costs are growing or what really is contributing to this growth.  I believe my graphically enhanced presentation on this from August is a much clearer and accurate presentation.  In particular, their assertion that prescription […]

]]> Comment on McCain Plan Would Tax 100% of Health Insurance Costs by David White http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2008/10/23/mccain-plan-would-tax-100-of-health-insurance-costs/#comment-4472 David White Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:03:11 +0000 http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2008/10/23/mccain-plan-would-tax-100-of-health-insurance-costs/#comment-4472 Here's the deal. What both McCain and Obama see is that the benefits programs, SS, Medicare, etc., will go bankrupt by the time "ALL" the babyboomers get fully involved. How to offset that? 1. Raise taxes (Obamas solution). 2. Kill off the babyboomers (McCains solution). I tell you, I myself at 60 years of age, I don't give a hoot for either plan. Over time the government has grossly rewarded the sloth of the young poor to the point that benefits from the government are overwhelming the tax revenue. I like millions of Americans consider my health insurance from my self-insured employer to be nearly equal to my salary in terms of value. McCain's ideas really, really suck. Obama is a little better, as long as he leaves companies taxes where they are. It's really hard to decide who to vote for when neither person represents very much of what this country needs. Here’s the deal. What both McCain and Obama see is that the benefits programs, SS, Medicare, etc., will go bankrupt by the time “ALL” the babyboomers get fully involved. How to offset that? 1. Raise taxes (Obamas solution). 2. Kill off the babyboomers (McCains solution). I tell you, I myself at 60 years of age, I don’t give a hoot for either plan. Over time the government has grossly rewarded the sloth of the young poor to the point that benefits from the government are overwhelming the tax revenue. I like millions of Americans consider my health insurance from my self-insured employer to be nearly equal to my salary in terms of value. McCain’s ideas really, really suck. Obama is a little better, as long as he leaves companies taxes where they are. It’s really hard to decide who to vote for when neither person represents very much of what this country needs.

]]> Comment on Direct to Consumer Advertising: Drugs, Hospitals, Research…. by Michael D. Miller MD http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2008/10/23/direct-to-consumer-advertising-drugs-hospitals-research/#comment-4462 Michael D. Miller MD Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:11:08 +0000 http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2008/10/23/direct-to-consumer-advertising-drugs-hospitals-research/#comment-4462 Diane - thanks for your comment. Your perspectives are very common, but don't reflect the reality of the pharmaceutical industry. If companies couldn't advertise directly to patients they wouldn't have any reason to lower the prices of medicines. Prices reflect how much value the medicine provides to patients and society relative to other treatment options - and in this sense they also reflect the old axiom that prices are set at what the market will bear. Many economists point out that insurance makes health care a very skewed market since patients aren't really seeing the actual costs of care, but that's another topic. And it is also important to remember that the unbiased studies (including those from the FDA and the Kaiser Family Foundation), have shown that DTC advertising has many different positive and negative effects (from societal, clinical and economic perspectives) that on balance seem to come out as a wash, or slightly positive. For example, they remind people to take medicines, get refills, and call their doctors for appointments. They also make people more aware that medicines have serious side effects. They also can irritate doctors whose patients come in asking for a specific medicine. Overall, I think DTC advertising can be a good thing - but again, it needs to be looked at within the entire context of all the information patients are getting about their medical problems. Diane - thanks for your comment. Your perspectives are very common, but don’t reflect the reality of the pharmaceutical industry. If companies couldn’t advertise directly to patients they wouldn’t have any reason to lower the prices of medicines. Prices reflect how much value the medicine provides to patients and society relative to other treatment options - and in this sense they also reflect the old axiom that prices are set at what the market will bear. Many economists point out that insurance makes health care a very skewed market since patients aren’t really seeing the actual costs of care, but that’s another topic. And it is also important to remember that the unbiased studies (including those from the FDA and the Kaiser Family Foundation), have shown that DTC advertising has many different positive and negative effects (from societal, clinical and economic perspectives) that on balance seem to come out as a wash, or slightly positive. For example, they remind people to take medicines, get refills, and call their doctors for appointments. They also make people more aware that medicines have serious side effects. They also can irritate doctors whose patients come in asking for a specific medicine. Overall, I think DTC advertising can be a good thing - but again, it needs to be looked at within the entire context of all the information patients are getting about their medical problems.

]]> Comment on ERISA: The Unbridged Chasm of Health Reform – Challenges for Massachusetts and Federal Action by jason smith http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2008/09/09/erisa-the-unbridged-chasm-of-health-reform-%e2%80%93-challenges-for-massachusetts-and-federal-action/#comment-4461 jason smith Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:54:33 +0000 http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2008/09/09/erisa-the-unbridged-chasm-of-health-reform-%e2%80%93-challenges-for-massachusetts-and-federal-action/#comment-4461 ERISA and Self insured plans skirt MA State mandate CMR 37.08 which protect people from being overcharged for infertility. ERISA and self insured plans reimburse as little as $5000 lifetime max with a 50/50 cost split. ERISA and Self insured plans skirt MA State mandate CMR 37.08 which protect people from being overcharged for infertility. ERISA and self insured plans reimburse as little as $5000 lifetime max with a 50/50 cost split.

]]> Comment on Direct to Consumer Advertising: Drugs, Hospitals, Research…. by dianelf77 http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2008/10/23/direct-to-consumer-advertising-drugs-hospitals-research/#comment-4458 dianelf77 Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:29:35 +0000 http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2008/10/23/direct-to-consumer-advertising-drugs-hospitals-research/#comment-4458 I believe that the cost to pharmacy companies of advertising prescription drugs is the main cause of the huge increase in the drugs' cost to patients. We lived many years without advertising prescription drugs and patients did just fine by relying on their doctors and/or nurses to tell them about any medicine that might help them. If the pharmacy companies were not allowed to advertise, we might see more reasonable prices for their drugs. I believe that the cost to pharmacy companies of advertising prescription drugs is the main cause of the huge increase in the drugs’ cost to patients. We lived many years without advertising prescription drugs and patients did just fine by relying on their doctors and/or nurses to tell them about any medicine that might help them. If the pharmacy companies were not allowed to advertise, we might see more reasonable prices for their drugs.

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