Comments for Health Policy and Communications Blog http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog A Forum for Discussing and Analyzing Healthcare Issues Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:05:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 Comment on Doctors Communications to Patient’s Family by Bedside Bad Manners – 3rd Edition | Top Health Coverage http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2010/02/10/doctors-communications-to-patients-family/#comment-35275 Bedside Bad Manners – 3rd Edition | Top Health Coverage Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:09:04 +0000 http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2010/02/10/doctors-communications-to-patients-family/#comment-35275 [...] the doctor said, and we should prepare ourselves.” The Health Policy and Communications blog points out that this doctor mistakenly neglected to include the family in his “continuum of [...] […] the doctor said, and we should prepare ourselves.” The Health Policy and Communications blog points out that this doctor mistakenly neglected to include the family in his “continuum of […]

]]> Comment on Miscommunicating the Government’s Powers for Health Reform by Dentist West Covina http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2010/02/08/miscommunicating-the-governments-powers-for-health-reform/#comment-35140 Dentist West Covina Tue, 23 Feb 2010 07:08:42 +0000 http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2010/02/08/miscommunicating-the-governments-powers-for-health-reform/#comment-35140 This was a pertinent post. an interesting and well-written article! I came across your post while trying to find a source for health-related topics. This is valuable information presented in a clear, concise manner. Your posts always show me that you really have some indepth knowledge about this. Quite a valuable read i must say. -Shane This was a pertinent post. an interesting and well-written article! I came across your post while trying to find a source for health-related topics. This is valuable information presented in a clear, concise manner. Your posts always show me that you really have some indepth knowledge about this. Quite a valuable read i must say. -Shane

]]> Comment on Doctors Communications to Patient’s Family by Amir http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2010/02/10/doctors-communications-to-patients-family/#comment-34672 Amir Thu, 18 Feb 2010 04:17:20 +0000 http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2010/02/10/doctors-communications-to-patients-family/#comment-34672 The current proposal in Congress does not address any of the most meaningful issues in health care: 1) The need for single-payer insurance Multi-payer systems inflate health care costs and give 8-12% of total health system costs to private insurers in system waste 2) True universality of coverage in a plan that doesn’t create a second-class citizenry of the insured Congressional plans still leave 10-15% of our country insured and create a second-class system of the poor insured that will place them below Medicaid recipients with respect to stigma and prioritization of care 3) The crisis of doctor shortages and primary care deficits in American medical care Doctors are retiring at record rates and they are only being replaced at 75-85% rate because of a monopoly and market-control of the MD control by the AMA. Also, we have a 2/3 primary care / specialist ratio and 40% less per-capita doctors than the best European and Scandinavian countries. We have plenty of dermatologists and radiologists but not enough doctors to complete basic screenings and offer fundamental preventative care 4) Tax shortages for the Federal government and a lack of funding for the Medicare (and Social Security) trust funds With a $13 trillion deficit and annual budget deficits of greater than $500B, our country and our entitlement programs are heading for bankruptcy without a 7% across the board tax cut. The idea of providing greater benefits without tax hikes is a myth impossible through policy 5) Tort reform and the end of defensive medicine The featured research section of my website discusses the true costs of defensive medicine, which are high and staggering. Most studies that indicate these costs are 0.5% of total system costs are flawed econometric studies that poorly measure true indirect effects on health care costs within our American system My website addresses these issues, and many more, as they related to health policy, comparative health systems and public health. I encourage you to all check the site out and appreciate your visits. Every visit also raises money that goes 100% to charity to fight disease. [Editors Note: This identical comment has been posted on several other blogs and online news sites.] The current proposal in Congress does not address any of the most meaningful issues in health care:

1) The need for single-payer insurance Multi-payer systems inflate health care costs and give 8-12% of total health system costs to private insurers in system waste

2) True universality of coverage in a plan that doesn’t create a second-class citizenry of the insured Congressional plans still leave 10-15% of our country insured and create a second-class system of the poor insured that will place them below Medicaid recipients with respect to stigma and prioritization of care

3) The crisis of doctor shortages and primary care deficits in American medical care Doctors are retiring at record rates and they are only being replaced at 75-85% rate because of a monopoly and market-control of the MD control by the AMA. Also, we have a 2/3 primary care / specialist ratio and 40% less per-capita doctors than the best European and Scandinavian countries. We have plenty of dermatologists and radiologists but not enough doctors to complete basic screenings and offer fundamental preventative care

4) Tax shortages for the Federal government and a lack of funding for the Medicare (and Social Security) trust funds With a $13 trillion deficit and annual budget deficits of greater than $500B, our country and our entitlement programs are heading for bankruptcy without a 7% across the board tax cut. The idea of providing greater benefits without tax hikes is a myth impossible through policy

5) Tort reform and the end of defensive medicine The featured research section of my website discusses the true costs of defensive medicine, which are high and staggering. Most studies that indicate these costs are 0.5% of total system costs are flawed econometric studies that poorly measure true indirect effects on health care costs within our American system

My website addresses these issues, and many more, as they related to health policy, comparative health systems and public health. I encourage you to all check the site out and appreciate your visits. Every visit also raises money that goes 100% to charity to fight disease.

[Editors Note: This identical comment has been posted on several other blogs and online news sites.]

]]> Comment on Checklists and Physicians’ Behaviors by Health Policy and Communications Blog » Blog Archive » The Path Forward for National Health Reform http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2010/01/12/checklists-and-physicians-behaviors/#comment-33106 Health Policy and Communications Blog » Blog Archive » The Path Forward for National Health Reform Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:44:44 +0000 http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2010/01/12/checklists-and-physicians-behaviors/#comment-33106 [...] not the specific decisions made by clinicians for individual patients.  Similarly, the use of surgical checklists is an operational process that has been shown to reduce errors, increase the quality of care, and [...] […] not the specific decisions made by clinicians for individual patients.  Similarly, the use of surgical checklists is an operational process that has been shown to reduce errors, increase the quality of care, and […]

]]> Comment on Morphing Medical Homes into Advanced Primary Care Model by Health Policy and Communications Blog » Blog Archive » The Path Forward for National Health Reform http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2009/10/18/morphing-medical-homes-into-advanced-primary-care-model/#comment-33104 Health Policy and Communications Blog » Blog Archive » The Path Forward for National Health Reform Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:41:51 +0000 http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2009/10/18/morphing-medical-homes-into-advanced-primary-care-model/#comment-33104 [...] Proceed rapidly with the Advanced Primary Care (APC) model type of Medical Home demonstration they announced last September - and which I wrote about previously. [...] […] Proceed rapidly with the Advanced Primary Care (APC) model type of Medical Home demonstration they announced last September - and which I wrote about previously. […]

]]> Comment on Health Reform’s Rock & Roll by Rebecca Bramlett http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2010/01/21/health-reforms-rock-roll/#comment-32420 Rebecca Bramlett Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:51:30 +0000 http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2010/01/21/health-reforms-rock-roll/#comment-32420 The health care crisis is a real issue that has to be addressed. The American public has shown the government that they are not satisfied with Obama’s presidency, just as they were not satisfied with Bush. Healthcare reform is a very complex problem that Democrats as well as Republicans agree needs to be addressed, however, bipartisanship is a very optimistic goal in achieving healthcare reform. The bottom line is that healthcare needs to be delivered more efficiently to contain costs. The health care crisis is a real issue that has to be addressed. The American public has shown the government that they are not satisfied with Obama’s presidency, just as they were not satisfied with Bush. Healthcare reform is a very complex problem that Democrats as well as Republicans agree needs to be addressed, however, bipartisanship is a very optimistic goal in achieving healthcare reform. The bottom line is that healthcare needs to be delivered more efficiently to contain costs.

]]> Comment on Be Prepared for the Outcomes of Health Reform by Health Policy and Communications Blog » Blog Archive » Health Reform’s Rock & Roll http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2009/06/08/be-prepared-for-the-outcomes-of-health-reform/#comment-32309 Health Policy and Communications Blog » Blog Archive » Health Reform’s Rock & Roll Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:18:25 +0000 http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2009/06/08/be-prepared-for-the-outcomes-of-health-reform/#comment-32309 [...] I wrote about the long and convoluted path health reform legislation would likely travel. And in a post last June I stated that many factors could change the course of the legislative process. “Being prepared is [...] […] I wrote about the long and convoluted path health reform legislation would likely travel. And in a post last June I stated that many factors could change the course of the legislative process. “Being prepared is […]

]]> Comment on Managing Expectations for Federal Health Reform by Health Policy and Communications Blog » Blog Archive » Health Reform’s Rock & Roll http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2009/01/28/managing-expectations-for-federal-health-reform/#comment-32308 Health Policy and Communications Blog » Blog Archive » Health Reform’s Rock & Roll Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:17:04 +0000 http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2009/01/28/managing-expectations-for-federal-health-reform/#comment-32308 [...] may also be illuminating for the path ahead, and are consistent with some of my predictions:  A year ago I wrote about the long and convoluted path health reform legislation would likely travel. And in a [...] […] may also be illuminating for the path ahead, and are consistent with some of my predictions:  A year ago I wrote about the long and convoluted path health reform legislation would likely travel. And in a […]

]]> Comment on Direct to Consumer Advertising: Drugs, Hospitals, Research…. by Dental Corpus Christi http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2008/10/23/direct-to-consumer-advertising-drugs-hospitals-research/#comment-31797 Dental Corpus Christi Wed, 13 Jan 2010 07:49:55 +0000 http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2008/10/23/direct-to-consumer-advertising-drugs-hospitals-research/#comment-31797 Very interesting and well written article. I found your blog on Google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google Reader. Keep up the good work! - Shane Very interesting and well written article. I found your blog on Google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google Reader. Keep up the good work! - Shane

]]> Comment on Quality, Checklists, Patient Education, the TV Show ER, and Comparative Effectiveness by Health Policy and Communications Blog » Blog Archive » Checklists and Physicians’ Behaviors http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2009/03/16/quality-checklists-patient-education-the-tv-show-er-and-comparative-effectiveness/#comment-31770 Health Policy and Communications Blog » Blog Archive » Checklists and Physicians’ Behaviors Tue, 12 Jan 2010 23:42:02 +0000 http://www.healthpolcom.com/blog/2009/03/16/quality-checklists-patient-education-the-tv-show-er-and-comparative-effectiveness/#comment-31770 [...] as Change Agents Patients can also be Change Agents.  As I’ve previously written, if patients asked their doctors if they use checklists for things like surgery and inserting [...] […] as Change Agents Patients can also be Change Agents.  As I’ve previously written, if patients asked their doctors if they use checklists for things like surgery and inserting […]

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