A proposed “Medicare Essential” plan, that bundles all parts of Medicare services – hospital, clinician, prescription drug, and commonly purchased supplemental coverage – could save the system $180 billion over the next 10 years while improving care for recipients. According to a new report from the Commonwealth Fund and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public […]
The FDA’s ruling yesterday allowing the Plan B emergency contraceptive to be sold over the counter to anyone over age 15 naturally has both critics and supporters buzzing today. In a statement, Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards called the ruling an “important step forward to expand access to emergency contraception” that will […]
Well, this sure is depressing. Amid all the news about more Americans gaining health insurance, the to-do over New York City Mayor Bloomberg’s war on super-sized sugary drinks, and efforts to provide healthier school lunches, there’s this: The U.S. ranks at or near the bottom in nine key areas of health: infant mortality and low […]
Secretary of Health and Human services Kathleen Sebelius announced the department’s 2014 budget today, with strong support for mental health and anti-gun violence services. Flanked by a dozen agency heads, including CDC, NIH, Indian Health, and Department of Aging, Sebelius discussed the need to balance fiscal responsibility with ensuring the nation’s health and scientific leadership. […]
Alzheimer’s disease is number six on the list of leading causes of death in the U.S. – fifth if you’re over 65. It is the only cause of death among the top 10 in America without a way to prevent it, cure it or even slow its progression according to the Alzheimer’s Association. The organization released […]
Day One at the Association of Healthcare Journalists conference in Boston and I already feel like a better journalist. Today focused in part on skepticism. This morning, Marshall Allen of ProPublica helped us make more sense of hospital ratings. When an organization or facility pronounces a “tops in…” or “ranked one of the best in…” […]
Before leaving to attend this week’s Association of Health Care Journalists conference, I wanted to share a video from the Go Red for Women campaign. With no disrespect to the men out there, women are under enormous stress — juggling career, family, perhaps school or volunteer work too. Our culture expects us, as Sheryl Sandberg said, to […]
