Consumer Health Coalition
Aging and Health Healthy Children and Families Healthcare Access and Marketplace Access for People with Disabilities

Health Care Access in the News: september 04 - september 10, 2006

Consumer Health Coalition (CHC) has highlighted major news headlines and studies related to health care access from the past week. We hope you find this information interesting and useful!

 

ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

TO FIGHT STUTTERING, DOCTORS LOOK AT THE BRAIN
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
By Andrew Pollack, The New York Times

“It is estimated that about 1 percent of the population worldwide stutters, though that figure may be high. Men who stutter outnumber women by a ratio of about 4 to 1, for reasons not known. In most cases, stuttering begins between ages 2 and 6, when a child is just learning to speak. Those who stutter say the condition — marked by repetitions of syllables, long silences and the contortion of the face as a person seems to try to force the words out — can exact a terrible emotional toll. Many talk of jobs or promotions not received, of relationships broken or not pursued."

For full story: Click here

NEW YORK MENTAL HEALTH PARITY LAW TO BE VOTED ON THIS MONTH
Thursday, September 0, 2006
Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report

“The New York state Senate this month is expected to approve legislation that would require insurance companies to provide mental health coverage at the same level and out-of-pocket cost as other coverage, the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin reports. Sisa Moyo, a spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D), said the Assembly has not set a date to act on the bill, adding that the Assembly hopes to reconvene before the end of the year. Otherwise, the Assembly would vote on the measure in January 2007 with an immediate effective date, Silver said."

For full story: Click here

SUBSTANCE USE SEMINARS COMING UP
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“For National Recovery Month, FamilyLinks, will provide three community seminars that stress that substance-use disorders are treatable diseases. The seminars, at 250 Shady Ave., Shadyside, are appropriate for people in recovery, family members of those in recovery, and parents of children of any age. Sept. 11: Parenting, the 12-Step Approach, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Sept. 18: Raising Resilient Children, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Sept. 25: Raising Drug-free Children, 6:30-8:30 p.m. For more information on the seminars, which require registration, call 412-924-0115 or e-mail dmurphy@familylinks.org."

For full story: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06249/719223-114.stm  

AGING & HEALTH

SURVEYS SHOW MOST PHARMACISTS, DOCTORS BELIEVE MEDICARE DRUG BENEFIT HELPS PATIENTS, THOUGH MOST THINK IT IS TOO COMPLICATED AND REPORT BENEFICIARIES EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS
Friday, September 08, 2006
By Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report

“Most pharmacists and physicians believe that the Medicare prescription drug benefit has helped beneficiaries save money on their medications but also believe that the program is overly complex, according to two surveys released on Thursday by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Drew Altman, president and CEO of the Kaiser Family Foundation, in a statement said, "We have surveyed seniors many times, and now pharmacists and doctors, and the story is remarkably consistent: The benefit is providing help to millions as intended, but there are also problems, and the complexity of the law is an issue for many" (Dow Jones, 9/7).”

For full story: http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=39687

HIGHER DEMAND FOR ASSISTED LIVING CREATES WAITING LISTS, HIGHER PRICES FOR CARE
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
By Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report

"Increased demand for assisted living facilities has made waiting lists "increasingly common" and has led to higher prices, the Wall Street Journal reports. Occupancy at the 36,000 assisted living facilities nationwide has reached "near saturation" at 95%, and the average annual cost for such facilities -- without health care expenses -- reached about $35,000 in 2005, a 33% increase from 2002, according to a recent survey by MetLife. Medicaid in most cases does not provide coverage for assisted living facilities, although some states have begun to allow coverage for such facilities, which cost less than nursing homes, to reduce costs."

For full story: http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=39615  

HEALTHY CHILDREN & FAMILIES

MANY ADULTS NEED HELP UNDERSTANDING BASIC MEDICAL INSTRUCTIONS, AS MOST ARE WRITTEN AT ABOVE-AVERAGE LEVEL, STUDY SAYS
Thursday, September 07, 2006
By National Center for Education Statistics, Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report

“Fewer than one in six U.S. adults have proficient health literacy, according to report released on Wednesday by the National Center for Education Statistics, the AP/San Francisco Chronicle reports. Participants older than age 65 had lower health literacy levels than younger participants. Whites and Asians had higher health literacy levels than blacks, Hispanics and American Indians. Hispanics had lower health literacy levels than any other racial group. The report indicates that health care providers, health insurers and pharmaceutical companies must improve their communication skills to ensure patients understand basic medical instructions, said Rima Rudd of the Harvard School of Public Health said."

For full story: http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006483

NUMBER OF UNINSURED CHILDREN RISES FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1998, CENSUS DATA SHOW
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
By Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report

“The number of children younger than age 18 who lack health insurance has increased for the first time since 1998, according to data from the Census Bureau, the Washington Post reports. Out of the nation's nearly 74 million children, about 8.3 million, or 11.2%, lacked insurance in 2005, compared with nearly eight million children, or 10.8%, in 2004. Some experts attribute the increase to a trend among businesses to address rising health costs, according to the Post. John Lumpkin, a senior vice president at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, said, 'The only reason that [the] number (of uninsured children) isn't worse is because we have Medicaid and SCHIP.'"

For full story: http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=39614  

HEALTH CARE POLICY & MARKETPLACE

SURGERY ABROAD AN OPTION FOR THOSE WITH MINIMAL HEALTH COVERAGE
Sunday, September 10, 2006
By Mark Roth, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Medical tourism has existed for years, but until recently, it mainly consisted of Americans traveling abroad for cosmetic surgery, or wealthy foreigners coming to the U.S. for organ transplants and other advanced medical procedures. Today, however, travel to India, Thailand, Malaysia and Latin America for medical care is being driven by Americans who don't have health insurance or have only minimal coverage. Many of those folks are self-employed business owners, or professionals who have been denied insurance coverage because of pre-existing conditions, or employees who are being asked to bear an increasing share of their companies' health insurance premiums."

For full story: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06253/719928-114.stm

COMMUNITY TRACKING STUDY ONLINE UPDATED WITH 2004-05 PHYSICIAN SURVEY RESULTS
Thursday, September 07, 2006
By Center for Studying Health System Change

"Want to find out how many hours of charity care physicians typically provide? Or whether doctors believe they can spend enough time with their patients? How about the percentage of physicians earning more than $300,000 a year? Answers to these questions and many others are available through HSC's CTSonline, which was recently updated with results from the 2004-05 Community Tracking Study (CTS) Physician Survey."

For physician survey: http://hschange.org/index.cgi?file=cts1

COUNTYWIDE PLAN TO BAN SMOKING DEBATED
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
By Moustafa Ayad, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“The majority of the more than 40 people who addressed council last night spoke in support of the bill, citing personal experiences of loved ones stricken by lung cancer, asthma or bronchitis and patients they have seen slip away due to increased exposure to smoke. While those in support of the bill point to the health benefits and cleaner work environments the ban would institute, smoking advocates and some business owners say the bill encroaches on their personal liberties and unnecessarily targets small-business owners. The bill will go back to the council's Health and Human Services Committee, where it may be amended. Council members will then likely vote on the legislation at a regularly scheduled council meeting Sept. 26."

For full story: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06249/719327-114.stm

CAMPAIGN'S ON TO GET PITTSBURGH MOVING
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
By Jack Kelly, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“Dr. Jakicic, 42, is head of the University of Pittsburgh's Department of Health and Physical Activity. He wants to make Pittsburgh the healthiest city in America. Dr. Jakicic is head of Pittsburgh On the Move, a communitywide initiative for better health. Pittsburgh is one of 20 communities in America on the Move, an initiative that began in Colorado in 2001."

For full story: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06249/719224-114.stm

THE QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE EXPLORED IN FOUR-PART PBS SERIES REMAKING AMERICAN MEDICINE™... HEALTH CARE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
By Association for Community Health Improvement

“The four one-hour programs are scheduled to air on PBS on October 5, 12, 19 and 26 at 10 p.m. As many as 98,000 Americans die each year in hospitals due to preventable medical errors. One million more are injured. In fact, medical errors kill as many people per year as breast cancer, HIV-AIDS and car accidents. These and other equally startling statistics underscore the chaotic conditions within the American health care system. Remaking American Medicine™...Health Care for the 21st Century explores the quality crisis and the innovative solutions being undertaken by providers, patients and their families to transform the care provided by the institutions we all depend on."

For full story: http://www.ramcampaign.org/pages/presskit_overall_series_release.htm

INTERPRETING THE NUMBERS: HEALTH INSURANCE TRENDS
Monday, September 04, 2006
By The Urban Institute

“The latest figures show 46.6 million Americans without health insurance. Most are low income. More alarming, the majority of these uninsured people either worked (at least part time) or lived in a working family, which means that a main culprit for no coverage was the drop in employer-sponsored insurance. The rise in uninsurance has also been attributed to rising health care costs, the economic downturn, and public program cutbacks. The importance of high costs as a reason for being uninsured has risen rapidly, growing steadily for both adults and children. Although cost is an important issue for all populations, costs concerns were most prevalent among Hispanics, noncitizens, and those likely to face the highest cost -- the aging and the disabled."

For full story: http://www.urban.org/toolkit/issues/healthinsurance.cfm#findings

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