November 3rd, 2009 by Dr. Val Jones in Health Policy, News, Opinion, Quackery Exposed
Tags: Amy Wallace, Christian Science, LA Times, National Press Club, Newsweek, Paying For Prayer, Phil Davis Melinna Giannini, Snake Oil, War On Science, Wired Magazine
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Today the LA Times described a bizarre and troublesome healthcare reform bill provision that would require Medicare to pay for Christian Science Prayer as a medical treatment:
…a little-noticed provision in the healthcare overhaul bill would require insurers to consider covering Christian Science prayer treatments as medical expenses.
The provision was inserted by Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) with the support of Democratic Sens. John F. Kerry and the late Edward M. Kennedy, both of Massachusetts, home to the headquarters of the Church of Christ, Scientist.
The measure would put Christian Science prayer treatments — which substitute for or supplement medical treatments — on the same footing as clinical medicine. While not mentioning the church by name, it would prohibit discrimination against “religious and spiritual healthcare.”
Of course, I had warned about this very thing over a year ago on KevinMD’s blog – something I wish the LA Times had picked up on then. Read more »
November 3rd, 2009 by KerriSparling in Better Health Network, Opinion
Tags: Diabetes, Endocrinology, Guilt, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Psychology, Type 1 Diabetes
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… and that five letter word is “guilt.”
At the ePatient conference last week, Sue Rago was talking about diabetes and the complications that can arise. “But the complications of well-managed diabetes? None.”
And despite the fact that I met and enjoyed hanging out with Sue, this statement cut right through me. Well-managed diabetes produces no complications? So diabetes-related complications are just the result of an inattentive “host,” or “slacking off?” It’s not the fault of diabetes itself? Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Six Until Me.*
November 3rd, 2009 by BarbaraFicarraRN in Better Health Network, Opinion
Tags: ePatient, ePatients, Nursing, Participatory Medicine, Physician, Rock Star
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Part 1 in a series on the e-patient and participatory medicine
There’s no question that today’s patients are savvy. Today’s patients are e-patients. Surrounded by technology, researching health information on the Internet has never been easier. Patients are engaging in communities and social networking sites and the exchange of information between patients has proven invaluable to some.
When patients visit their doctor and other health care professionals, many are armed with questions and they are not satisfied until they get answers. Patients are empowered and they want to be engaged in a relationship with their doctors and other health care professionals. They want respect, collaboration and connection. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Health in 30*
November 1st, 2009 by RamonaBatesMD in Better Health Network, Health Policy, Opinion
Tags: Americans For Prosperity, Healthcare reform, John Stossel, Town Hall
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I am not as well educated in healthcare policy or politics as Dr Wes, Dr Val, KevinMD, Movin’ Meat, or Dr Sid Schwab. I keep reading and listening, trying to understand and decide where I stand. I seem to be more of a centrist (I think).
I was not able to attend any of the previous town hall meetings held in Little Rock on healthcare, but was able to attend the one today. It was sponsored by the Americans for Prosperity. The headline speaker was John Stossel. I am happy to note it was a civil discourse though that may be due to most of them leaning the same way.
I didn’t come away any clearer than before.
I do tend to agree with Stossel that “when insurance is paying” (and not the individual) “it changes behavior.” We aren’t as engaged in the decision making when someone else is paying. However, it is very difficult to get straight answers or even estimates when it comes to healthcare. It’s easy to say what an x-ray might cost. It is difficult to estimate all the drugs, surgeries, care someone might need who has been involved in a major accident. WSJ Health Blog provides links to sites that can help with cost questions. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Suture for a Living*
October 31st, 2009 by Shadowfax in Better Health Network, Opinion
Tags: Cost, Emergency Medicine, Finance, Radiology, Revenue, Ultrasound, Utility
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What Shari Welch Said.
Ultrasound is a neat toy, and I’m all about toys. I found two opportunities to play with enhance patient care with our ultrasound today on my shift. But it doesn’t have the bang for the buck that the enthusiasts think it does. It has very narrow, but real, utility, and does nothing to generate revenue. It does in some cases enhance patient turnaround, and it certainly enhances patient satisfaction (they love cool toys as much as we do — and extra face time with the doctor to boot!). But that’s a small return on a machine costing tens of thousands of dollars. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Movin' Meat*
