…have written to Congress and President Obama to let them know I oppose the TPP. Anna Zelivianskaia is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Illinois at Chicago. http://www.cmsdocs.org/news-publications/chicago-medicine-magazine/2016-issues/February2016.pdf…
Californians support extending Medi-Cal to undocumented residents
…somewhat 14% Oppose somewhat 25% Oppose strongly 3% Don’t know/Refused http://www.field.com/fieldpollonline/subscribers/Rls2510.pdf *** Comment: By Don McCanne, MD One of the major deficiencies in the Affordable Care Act is that undocumented…
IG report on problems with eligibility determinations in exchange plans
…to Resolving Inconsistencies Were Not Always Maintained Properly https://oig.hhs.gov/oas/reports/region9/91401011.pdf *** Comment: By Don McCanne, MD Considering the administrative complexities of the Federally Facilitated Marketplace (insurance exchanges) established by the Affordable…
Medicare Trustees Report: Part B premiums a threat to solidarity
…Medicare Advantage are increasing costs. The government pays higher costs for those in Medicare Advantage, which is managed care. http://khn.org/news/good-news-bad-news-in-medicare-trustees-report/ Medicare Trustees Report (Premiums covered in Appendix E): http://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-and-Reports/ReportsTrustFunds/Downloads/TR2015.pdf ***…
‘Health care equity key to Ebola fight’: doctors, nurses petition Obama
…is available here: www.pnhp.org/ebola. A PDF containing the petition text and the list of the signers as of April 7, 2015, is available to media professionals here or upon request…
For-profit home health agencies blasted in new analysis
…a new analysis finds. For-profit home healthcare agencies had an average cost-per patient of $4,827 compared with not-for-profit firms that had an average cost per patient of $4,075, according to…
Important AAP policy statement on high-deductible health plans
…providers, and suggests courses of action. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2014/04/22/peds.2014-0555.full.pdf Comment: By Don McCanne, MD Although this policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics is on High-Deductible Health Plans, its reach is…
Supreme Court decision: Whose religious freedom?
…or Conestoga’s plan will not be propelled by the Government, it will be the woman’s autonomous choice, informed by the physician she consults. http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/13pdf/13-354_olp1.pdf **** Comment: By Don McCanne, MD…
Just how long are those wait times at the VA really?
…to the VA with such distorted coverage is somehow of benefit to veterans. Phillip Longman is senior editor of the Washington Monthly.This appeared at the Washington Monthly’s “Political Animal” blog. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2014_06/just_how_long_are_those_wait_t050776.php…
The U.S. health system ranks last again
…a separate and lesser concern, the U.S. should devote far greater attention to building a health system that works well for all Americans. http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/files/publications/fund-report/2014/jun/1755_davis_mirror_mirror_2014.pdf Comment: By Don McCanne, MD In…
Physicians: Independent professional practitioners or employees controlled by health care’s big players?
…details can be properly planned. Dr. Edgar Lopez is a member of Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) and a founding member of the Kentucky chapter of PNHP. https://www.glms.org/Content/User/Documents/Publications/LouisvilleMedicineJune2014.pdf…
2014 Milliman Medical Index
…7.6%. http://www.milliman.com/mmi/ Milliman Research Report: 2014 Milliman Medical Index (12 pages): http://www.milliman.com/uploadedFiles/insight/Periodicals/mmi/pdfs/2014-mmi.pdf Comment: By Don McCanne, MD The Milliman Medical Index (MMI) is an important number because it represents the…