tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61156745534954757732012-02-16T02:51:58.436-06:00This blog looks at healthcare issues at a National and Illinois local level. The intent is that of engaging readers to help frame problems and practical solutions that ultimately lead to better care and better value.rcpdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02149227231708993888noreply@blogger.comBlogger181100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115674553495475773.post-71296397375866892902011-08-07T09:52:00.000-05:002011-08-07T09:52:17.403-05:00

Over the past few weeks we have begun to see coverage mandates that will make up the benefit designs on Health Exchanges in 2014.  This week, HHS adopted the IOM non-evidence based recommendations to include all forms of contraception as a preventive benefit, "free" of any out-of-pocket copays or deductibles.  Whether or not we even believe appropriate as a "preventive benefit", generic birth

rcpdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02149227231708993888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115674553495475773.post-68071825077732871782010-04-13T20:18:00.003-05:002010-04-14T06:55:09.929-05:00

My Mom is age 88 and lives in an Assisted Living arrangement in Richmond because of her dementia. Other than the non-skilled care she requires, she looks healthy and takes only a baby aspirin and thyroid medication each day. Mabel (an assumed name) is 86 and lives in the same facility, requiring non-skilled care due to her disabling rheumatoid arthritis. Otherwise, Mabel is pretty healthy as well

rcpdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02149227231708993888noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115674553495475773.post-54567598990727580722010-04-11T08:14:00.000-05:002010-04-11T08:14:15.109-05:00

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

rcpdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02149227231708993888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115674553495475773.post-74339867499730132422010-03-28T15:04:00.000-05:002010-03-28T15:04:11.233-05:00

As Al Sharpton declared victory alongside President Obama this past week, he didn’t hesitate to openly declare and applaud the President as one step closer to “socializing America.” Access to healthcare services will expand and our Nation’s most vulnerable will be healthier for it. If Al said it, it must be correct. We also read the story this week by Brian Wansink. Brian is the John Dyson

rcpdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02149227231708993888noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115674553495475773.post-87877420961699980742010-03-13T11:02:00.000-06:002010-03-13T11:02:12.496-06:00

As Illinois seeks to rebuild its business economy and dig out of a $13 billion dollar budget deficit, mandated health benefits are a place to look. Visit http://www.insurance.illinois.gov/healthinsurance/mandated_benefits.pdf to learn about our State’s thirty-seven mandatory benefits, some of which became effective as the economy was tanking. These benefit mandates put financial pressure on State

rcpdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02149227231708993888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115674553495475773.post-63667577017739338432010-02-28T12:52:00.000-06:002010-02-28T12:52:35.004-06:00

At this point, thousands of pages of legislation have been devoted to reforming America's health care system. Though, as stated previously, only very recently has there been a primary shift away from access in favor of a focus on cost. Tomorrow, March 1st, Medicare is scheduled to reduce physician payments by 21%. Claims are going to be held for a couple of weeks to allow Congress an opportunity

rcpdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02149227231708993888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115674553495475773.post-3177140471750857172010-02-06T14:17:00.000-06:002010-02-06T14:17:59.258-06:00

The Wall Street Journal Weekend Interview (Feb. 6-7) with Angela Braly, by Joseph Rago, was well done. Titled “A Wasted Opportunity”, Rago interviews WellPoint’s CEO on ObamaCare’s mistakes and how to pick up the political pieces. Mrs. Braly did a nice job outlining the challenge as well as the path to reform in rather simple pragmatic terms. The salient points to my reading were as follows: 1.

rcpdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02149227231708993888noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115674553495475773.post-43140232295458780582010-01-30T23:48:00.002-06:002010-01-30T23:59:14.657-06:00

In the 2000 census the Medicare-eligible U.S. population totaled 35.1 million. By 2030 that same population is projected to grow to 69.7 million, and by 2050 to 81.9 million. The issues of improved health and longevity are further changing the equation. In the final decade of life, Medicare costs rise dramatically. The high costs associated with acute care and morbidity will simply be postponed

rcpdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02149227231708993888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115674553495475773.post-44629808758282981392010-01-23T21:32:00.000-06:002010-01-23T21:32:35.092-06:00

This morning’s WSJ ‘Letters to the Editor’ used this heading for several letters submitted regarding the January 14th op-ed by Michael Boskin, “Don’t Like the Numbers? Change ‘Em.” Art Davis of Richmond wrote, “Resolving inequities through a redistribution of income was, and is, the centerpiece of the Obama administration’s agenda. A magnanimous mission of fairness explains why the Obama team is

rcpdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02149227231708993888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115674553495475773.post-14279213532080694512010-01-11T23:39:00.002-06:002010-01-14T18:09:02.342-06:00

Today was a bit special as I reviewed our family 2010 health benefit plan. We live in Chicago and our three children attend schools in three states other than Illinois. In short, we’re all out-of-network except that I work several days a week in East Central Illinois where our in-network benefits apply. As my employer has creatively sought solutions to the high cost of health care, my

rcpdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02149227231708993888noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115674553495475773.post-50843331274146032352010-01-10T19:17:00.000-06:002010-01-10T19:17:50.921-06:00

The Latin re-ligio means to relink; to reconnect. Hence, the purpose of religion is to restore people to relationship with one another and to the Devine. As we then read the scriptures, there are several “macro-stories” centered around themes of bondage followed by liberation, exile and the journey of return, and sin and guilt followed by forgiveness. These become the stories we hear from

rcpdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02149227231708993888noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115674553495475773.post-66821633308954759492010-01-03T11:51:00.001-06:002010-01-03T11:54:25.871-06:00

Some 30 million senior citizens currently enjoy benefits through Medicare Advantage, a benefit program that uses an insurance exchange concept, defined provider networks, and negotiated provider rates. The benefit design basis is that of the Medicare program, with additional benefits added. Plans primarily compete on the attractiveness of those additional benefits and how favorable the provider

rcpdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02149227231708993888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115674553495475773.post-65377081182239869162009-12-29T11:29:00.000-06:002009-12-29T11:29:50.091-06:00

Last week a friend of mine called with questions regarding the diagnosis and future expectations surrounding his frail 82 year old Dad. A CT scan and a thin needle biopsy of a lymph node suggested a sarcoma, an unusual tumor. Surgery was described as the next step from the treating oncologist and a referral was arranged. My friend called to get my reaction. Several days later the patient and

rcpdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02149227231708993888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115674553495475773.post-38208031983703169312009-12-19T16:27:00.004-06:002009-12-21T07:13:50.078-06:00

We have all heard the story about the blind man and the elephant. The blind man can only describe the part of the elephant he can feel, making it very difficult to know for sure either the part or the animal. The health care world is like the elephant story. Most of us have little real knowledge of what goes on in the health care industry, leaving us to blindly describe only the small part we can

rcpdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02149227231708993888noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115674553495475773.post-40041982031895417402009-12-16T17:10:00.003-06:002009-12-17T16:24:00.316-06:00

2007 data collected by the National Health Statistics Group revealed the United States spent $155.7 billion on the administration of both public and private insurance programs. These costs encompass the costs of claim processing, underwriting, marketing, profits, and other administrative costs. The Public programs spent 48% ($59.5 billion) and the Private programs spent 62% (96.2 billion).

rcpdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02149227231708993888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115674553495475773.post-20310757133373486582009-12-15T17:47:00.004-06:002009-12-17T07:19:24.076-06:00

You've probably seen the infant mortality studies showing the United States ranking 5th among the nations with the highest infant mortality rates. The Netherlands, Russia, Afghanistan, and Angola are worse, in order of progression. You may not know that life expectancy is 8 years longer if you live in Hawaii vs. Washington D.C. Or, you may not be surprised to know the United States ranks #1 in

rcpdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02149227231708993888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115674553495475773.post-21249641859856049732009-12-14T17:47:00.003-06:002009-12-17T07:25:59.543-06:00

Access to health care has been in the Health care debate from the outset. A goal of health reform is to provide most Americans with the opportunity of having an insured benefit to some combination of acute and preventive health services. The focus has been on the uninsured members of our society as well as the insured members who have benefit limitations in the form of pre-existing conditions,

rcpdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02149227231708993888noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115674553495475773.post-27267747228173516382009-12-13T23:09:00.001-06:002009-12-17T07:33:34.480-06:00

Health care cost now directly consumes approximately 18 percent of the GDP and we spend about $2000 more per capita per year than countries with health care that is arguably as good as or better than that offered in the United States. Economists argue Health care is the engine that drives the US economy in job creation and in the myriad of linkages with all four of the major economic sectors

rcpdochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02149227231708993888noreply@blogger.com0