A representative of the Obama administration offered vigorous support of the Affordable Care Act, when he spoke at a recent meeting of the Alliance for Retired Americans Florida.
"We're doing a better health care for all Americans," said Anton Gunn, regional director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "Since the adoption of the Affordable Care Act, the state of Florida has received $ 110 million, and 255,000 people have been supported with prescription drugs. Many people do not insurable insurance coverage now."
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a reform of public health insurance coverage increases pre-existing condition and expands access to health insurance to nearly 30 million Americans.
The meeting, held at the South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road in Delray Beach, attended by about 250 people.
Gunn, whose office represents 59 million people living in eight southeastern states, said it is time for the country to invest in Medicare in order to strengthen the program in the long run.
"How do we do? Stop Medicare fraud and waste," he said. "[Palm Beach County] is ground zero for Medicare fraud. We had staff complete a rental office and 68 new agents of the FBI Academy."
Several forum attendees expressed support for a single-payer health care. Among his priorities was the passage of HB 676, which provide coverage for all U.S. residents.
Dorothy Seigel, a retiree from Boynton Beach, said he wanted to urge politicians to local, state and national levels to address health problems. She said she appreciated the opportunity to hear a discussion of the issues.
"This forum addressed definitely my problems," said Siegel, "especially the single-payer Medicare for all [number]. That's the number one priority for me. I passed HB 676."
Added Fort Lauderdale resident Jim Weldon, "single payer is the only way to control Medicare costs."
Joseph Abruzzo, State Representative District 85, echoed the concerns Siegel. He said he had not given up the fight for a Medicare program that covers all residents.
"I will be submitting a bill for universal health care in the Florida House," he said. "One day [the Democrats] to take over the Florida House and a bill like this will happen. I was a little sad we did not get HB 676 passed."
Attendees laud health care reform at Alliance meeting
Healthcare Consumer Confidence Steadies in May, According to Thomson Reuters Sentiment Index
American confidence in his ability to access and pay for better health care in May, according to a consumer confidence index produced by Thomson Reuters.
Surveyed for the index reported a better outlook when asked if they had experienced a reduction or loss of insurance coverage in the last three months. In general, the Thomson Reuters Consumer Sentiment Index rose three points of Health from 95 April to 98 May, a statistically significant increase.
"This renewed confidence is encouraging when compared with the numbers last month, but month to month variability in confidence could be an indication of uncertainty based health consumers," said Gary Pickens, head of research at Thomson Reuters Center for Health Google Analytics.
The index, based on the pulse of Thomson Reuters (TM) Health Survey, consists of two parts:
* A retrospective component indicators experiences of respondents in the last three months. Keep track of postponing, delaying or canceling health services and if they have difficulty paying for medical care or health insurance. In May, consumer confidence retrospective showed significant improvement in the level of the index, up five points to 98 from a record low on 93 April.
* A prospective component indicators of respondents' expectations for the next three months. In May, consumer confidence rose slightly to 97 prospective, one point higher than it had been in April.
Thomson Reuters The Healthcare Consumer Sentiment Index is updated monthly. A full report on the results of May is available here: http://healthcare.thomsonreuters. com / indexes / assets / CHSI_Findings_may.pdf
The PULSE Thomson Reuters Health Survey collects information about health behaviors, attitudes and use of more than 100,000 U.S. households per year. It is representative of all U.S. adults and households. The Consumer Sentiment Index of Health is based on survey responses from a subset of 3,000 participants each month. His baseline measurement of 100 was established in December 2009.
Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters is the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. We combine industry expertise with innovative technology to deliver critical information to decision makers in the financial, legal, tax and accounting, health, science and media, driven by the organization's most trusted news world. Headquartered in New York and major operations in London and Eagan, Minnesota, Thomson Reuters employs more than 55,000 people and operates in over 100 countries.
For more information, visit www.thomsonreuters.com.
CONTACT
Brian Erni
631.656.9736
brian@jroderick.com
Single payer healthcare: Vermont's gentle revolution
Vermont is a land of first proud. This small New England state was the first to join the 13 colonies. Its constitution was the first to prohibit slavery. It was the first to establish the right to free education for all - public education.
This week, Vermont have another novelty: the first state in the nation to offer single-payer health care, eliminating costly insurance companies that many believe are the main cause of our health care costs spiral. In a single-payer system, health care providers both private and public are allowed to operate, as they have always done. But instead of the patient or the patient's private company health insurance pay the bill, the state does. It is basically Medicare for all - just lowering the eligibility age for the day we are born. The state, the purchase of such health services for the entire population, they can negotiate favorable rates, and can eliminate the huge overhead of the for-profit insurance companies impose.
Vermont hired Harvard economist William Hsiao to reach three alternatives to the current system. The single-payer system, Hsiao wrote, "will produce a saving of 24.3% of total health spending between 2015 and 2024." An analysis by Don McCann, MD, of Physicians for a National Health Program said:
"[T] hese plans cover everyone without any increase in spending since the efficiency of single-payer would be enough to pay for those currently uninsured or underinsured So here's the really good news -.. Single-payer works "
Governor of Vermont, Peter Shumlin explained his intention to sign the bill:
"Here is our challenge. Our premiums go up 10, 15, 20% a year. This is true in the rest of the country. They are killing small business. They are killing the middle class Americans, who have been kicked in the teeth in recent years. What our plan will do is create a group, get the benefits of insurance companies, the profits of pharmaceutical companies, others are mining the system to do a lot of money off of our illnesses, and ensure that we are using those dollars to make Vermont healthy. "
Speaking of firsts healthy, Vermont can become the first state of the shutter of a nuclear power plant. Vermont's legislature is the first to be granted the right to determine its nuclear future, to set environmental policy in the hands of the people.
Vermont Another first was the legalization of same-sex civil unions. Then the state is false and became the first legislature in the nation to legalize gay marriage. After being passed by the House and Senate of Vermont, former Gov. Jim Douglas vetoed the bill. The next day, April 7, 2009, the House of Representatives and the Senate overturned the governor's veto, so the Vermont Freedom to marry the Act the law of the land.
Vermont has become an incubator for innovative public policies. one of Canada's health system payer began as an experiment in one province, Saskatchewan. Was promoted in 1960 by the late Prime Minister of Saskatchewan, Tommy Douglas, considered by many to be the largest in Canada. It was such a success that was quickly adopted across Canada. (Douglas is the grandfather of actor Kiefer Sutherland.) Maybe the law of Vermont health care to start a similar transformation, national.
The anthropologist Margaret Mead famously said:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. In fact, the only thing that ever has."
Just replace "group" with "State", and you have Vermont.
• Denis Moynihan contributed research for this column
Source:http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/may/25/healthcare-vermont
Americans want to "keep Medicaid as it is": survey
More than half of Americans do not want to cut Medicaid funding and are skeptical of changing the way the federal government funds, the health program for the poor, according to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation released on Wednesday.
Currently, U.S. states administer Medicaid partial refunds for the federal government. The health reform law passed last year made more people eligible for the program and also increased some rates of reimbursement.
Recently, Republicans in Congress have raised the idea of moving away from rebates and towards the sending state a fixed amount of money each year for the program, which can take up one third of the state budget.
Kaiser survey found that 60 percent of the people "would prefer to keep Medicaid as it is with the federal government to ensure coverage and minimum standards for benefits and eligibility."
Only 13 percent supported major reductions in Medicaid spending to reduce the U.S. deficit, and 30 percent supported minor reduction.
Medicaid was thrust into the spotlight this week as the administration of President Barack Obama and Congress work to close a deal to reduce the deficit by $ 1 billion.
In recent talks, the negotiators discussed over Medicaid to Medicare, the health insurance program for the elderly, saying that the two forms of intervention represents almost a quarter of federal spending.
Kaiser said that Americans have a strong attachment to Medicaid, with approximately half reporting that someone in your life have been helped at some point. He added about 69 million people are covered by Medicaid this year.
As the recession that began in 2007 led the U.S. unemployment rate to 10 percent, many of those who lost their jobs and health insurance sponsored by employee returned to Medicaid. This created additional pressure on states, which also had to pay unemployment compensation, while its revenues dropped to the lowest levels in decades.
The 2009 plan launched in federal stimulus extra money for Medicaid, the last of which will be sent in June.
Some governors, including Haley Barbour of Mississippi, support the idea of Medicaid funds as a block grant.
Republicans, including House Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton and ranking Senate Finance Committee member Orrin Hatch, calling for reforms to the program to lower costs.
"We are concerned that the program is failing patients, is a target for waste, fraud and abuse, and bankruptcy of state and federal governments," said the two leaders in a letter to 50 governors earlier this week.
Republicans say the block grants would also give states more control over the program.
Many Democrats against subsidies that keep the program to respond quickly to increased demand as observed during the recession. They say that means state block grant will pay more for the program.
Source:http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/25/us-usa-healthcare-medicaid-idUSTRE74O5BE20110525