JANUARY 22, 2010

This Week in Health Care Reform

After months of public debate and private negotiations, health care reform discussions stalled following Tuesday’s Senate vote in Massachusetts. The Democratic Senate lost its 60th vote supermajority when Republican Scott Brown was elected to the United States Senate in the Massachusetts special election.

Health Care Reform Negotiations Post-Massachusetts Special Election

Massachusetts Election of Senate Republican Recasts Debate: Following the election of Republican Scott Brown to the Massachusetts Senate seat Tuesday night, Democratic leaders have been scrambling to revive what could now be a dying bill. The loss of the Democrat’s 60th vote in the Senate opens up the legislation to a Republican filibuster – something the Democrats have managed to avoid thus far in the debate.

House and Senate Democrats met this week to discuss how to move forward with the reform legislation in light of this election and promised Wednesday that they would push ahead. There are a number of options that Democrats are considering, but at this point they have not charted their course.

On Wednesday, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) attempted to rally House Democrats around a strategy to push the Senate bill through the House and onto President Barack Obama’s desk so as to avoid the need to again secure 60 Senate votes. However, the Speaker indicated on Thursday morning that she did not believe she has the needed 218 House votes necessary to move forward. This option would have allowed lawmakersto then propose additional modifications to the approved legislation through a process called “reconciliation,” which only requires 51 votes in the Senate.

Other remaining options:

1.
House and Senate Democrats could also quickly complete the merging of the two bills and vote on the combined package before Mr. Brown is sworn in.
2.
Democratic leaders could attempt to re-engage Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), the only Republican who voted for the Senate Finance Committee’s bill passed in October. Democrats would need to allow her to amend the bill so that she could support its passage and give Democrats the needed 60th vote; or,
3. House and Senate Democrats could essentially start over in their respective chambers and propose scaled-back versions of the bill under “reconciliation” procedures or regular order. Reconciliation procedures would greatly limit the scope of the legislation to issues only related to raising or spending federal funds; therefore, many provisions, such as creating new insurance exchanges and an individual mandate, might be excluded.

President Obama seemed to indicate that he favors having House and Senate lawmakers start over again and produce a scaled-back bill. In addition, more moderate Senate Democrats – hesitant to push through such a huge partisan bill in light of the Massachusetts election – urged leaders to slow down.
Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) has called on Senate leaders to suspend voting on health care reform until Mr. Brown is sworn into office. President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) have iterated this same message. Further, Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT) called for a bipartisan effort as the best way to achieve health care reform legislation.

Health Care Reform Negotiations Prior to Massachusetts Special Election

Senators Urge Guarantee of Government Savings: In a letter sent last Thursday to Sen. Reid, five Democratic Senators asked for the inclusion of a “fail-safe mechanism” in the final bill. This mechanism would give Congress “the tools to keep costs under control should the current savings estimates fail to materialize.”

Both the Senate and House versions of the bill rely heavily on reductions in government spending, particularly around Medicare, to help pay for reform. Republicans and some nonpartisan analysts believe the government will not follow through on these spending reductions, which will lead to soaring costs.

President Obama Pushes for Less Protection for Biologic Drugs: Last Thursday President Obama pushed for a change in the health care reform legislation that would reduce the number of years that biologic drugs were patent protected from generic competition, previously set at 12 years. White House officials and Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) were negotiating for 10 years protection or less.

Members of the news media speculated that the move to reduce biologic drug protections could be a leverage point for President Obama to pressure the drug industry to increase contributions to pay for health care reform. In fact, the Wall Street Journal reported that Congressional Democrats had already asked drug companies to contribute an additional billion or more, over and above the billion which the industry agreed to early on in the reform negotiations.

President Obama Strikes Deal with Unions: Last week Democratic negotiators struck a deal with union officials and conceded to union demands to scale back a tax on high-end insurance plans. The deal would exempt union workers from having to pay the tax until 2018, five years after the tax would apply to other workers. While the deal would help gain union support for the bill, it would also reduce the amount of tax revenue generated by about 40 percent, to billion. As such, Democratic leaders would need to find other sources of revenue to make up the difference.

Public Opinion

Exit Poll Indicates Health Care Reform as Hot Button Issue: As the ballot polls closed on Tuesday night’s Massachusetts Senate election, an exit poll conducted by Frabrizio, McLaughlin & Associates indicated that 52 percent of voters said that they oppose the federal health care reform measure and 42 percent said they cast their ballot to help stop President Obama from passing this legislation. In addition, 48 percent said that health care was the single issue driving their vote.

Polls Show Discontent: The latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll indicated that almost half of Americans believe the health care reform bill in Congress is a bad idea (46 percent). This figure is up dramatically from April when only 26 percent believed the plan was a bad idea. Further, just 33 percent say the plan is a good idea. Nearly half of those surveyed (48 percent) believe that passing the current legislation would be a “step backward.”

In addition, a new Quinnipiac University poll showed that public support for health care reform continues to decline. Thirty-four percent mostly approve, while 54 percent mostly disapprove. At the end of December, 53 percent of Americans mostly approved, while 36 mostly disapproved.

Looking Ahead

Currently, the path to health care reform is unclear. Democrats seek a way to secure the necessary votes to pass the legislation, and some now question the value of pushing such a large bill. President Obama had hoped to see a final bill prior to his State of the Union address, which has been scheduled for January 27; however, it appears this goal is likely out of reach.

Gaining a degree in health services can be done by enrolling in an accredited educational training program. There are a number of schools and colleges that provide students with the opportunity to earn the degree they desire in the field of health care. Students can enroll in a program to earn an undergraduate degree which includes an associates and bachelors, or a graduate degree which includes a master’s and doctorates level degree.

*Undergraduate Degrees

With an undergraduate degree program students who choose to pursue an associates level degree will be able to obtain their degree in as little as two years. An accredited associate degree program will allow students to study a variety of courses. Coursework may consist of studying:

Communication
Psychology
Sociology
Medical Terminology
Health Care Systems
Biology

With an accredited education at this level students can enter into careers as medical coders, billing specialist, transcriptionists, and much more. Students who wish to enter into a degree program at a bachelor’s level can do so and obtain their degree in four years. Students who earn a bachelors degree in health sciences can obtain careers in hospitals, nursing care facilities, physician’s offices, home healthcare, dental offices, and much more. With an accredited undergraduate degree students can find the employment they desire.

*Graduate Degrees

An accredited graduate degree is obtainable in the field of health services, and students can choose from masters or doctorates in the field. A master’s degree will allow students to enter into the career they desire with just two additional years of study. Coursework may include:

Planning
Health Systems
Finance
Public Health Policy
Human Resource Management
Economics of Health Care

Students who decide to pursue a degree at this level will be prepared for careers working in hospitals, physicians offices, nursing care facilities, ambulatory healthcare services, and much more. Students can enroll in a doctorates degree program once a master’s degree is obtained. With an accredited doctorates or PhD students will complete education with an additional four years of study. An accredited doctorates degree will prepare students for careers in research, teaching, nursing, mental health services, and many other related careers. By earning a graduate degree students will have the opportunity to enter into the workforce in the career of their dreams.

Although the levels of education vary some may cover the same coursework. Students can also expect to learn a variety of skills in several areas no matter what level degree they choose. Students can study sociology, anatomy, economics, public health, accounting, and health policy. Areas of study may also allow students to learn healthcare administration, epidemiology, health regulations, health law, neuroscience, and abnormal psychology. Start by enrolling in a program to learn more about topics that will be covered in training.

When looking to enter into an educational program, ensure the program carries full accreditation. Agencies like the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) can provide proof that the best education will be received. Students can learn more by requesting information about the school or college that best fits their educational need and goals. By enrolling in a health services degree program students can start the path to a new career today.

The health care reform bills being debated in Congress threaten to shut out millions of immigrants. But Congress’ exclusionary policies toward immigrants will not simply leave immigrants worse off. They will inevitably jeopardize the nation’s economy and the health of all of us.

President Obama has prioritized health care reform to ensure that millions of Americans have a fair, affordable and efficient health care system. For immigrants, this vision is far from a reality. First, the current health care reform bill treats legal immigrants unfairly. Individuals who have waited years to come to the United States will be required to wait years in order to obtain affordable health care.

Immigrants are generally younger and healthier than the U.S. population at large. However, no one is immune to falling ill or having an accident. The current health care bill would require recently arrived, legal immigrants to wait five years to obtain the only option for affordable health care coverage, Medicaid. While low-income citizens will have access to Medicaid, the most vulnerable among us will continue to wait for affordable health care despite the fact that they pay taxes for the very programs from which they are excluded. There is no sound reason for Congress to discriminate against these individuals and prevent them from receiving basic medical care.

Congress and the White House also took an unprecedented step to prohibit individuals from buying — with their own hard-earned money — an American good that could help their families. The Senate version of the health care bill forbids undocumented immigrants from purchasing private insurance at full cost in the newly created insurance marketplaces. As a result, undocumented immigrants as well as their family members, who are often U.S. citizens or legal immigrants, will likely remain uninsured and will be forced to seek care in the emergency room.

The costs of providing health care for undocumented immigrants will not disappear after passing health care reform. It is unlikely that millions of immigrants, whose contributions keep up our standard of living and our economy functioning, will be deported. Instead, the cost of care will become the financial responsibility of the patient, the provider, the local and state governments, and every single taxpayer. Moreover, in order to exclude a few, there will be additional forms, documents, and bureaucrats that the rest of us will be subjected to. Buying the mandated health insurance could feel like a trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Taxpayers will have to pay millions for this additional red tape and delay, all to keep a few people from buying health insurance with their own money.

Providers, employers, consumers, religious leaders, and state and local governments recognize that these policies are short-sighted and will cost all of us more in the long-run. Policies that attempt to exclude and ostracize immigrants also disproportionately harm all communities of color and immigrant-rich states like California and New York, further widening existing inequities in our nation. Yet because immigrants live in all 50 states, the intended and unintended consequences and costs of these restrictions will be far-reaching.

Ending discriminatory and exclusionary policies in this final round of negotiations is not only a matter of fundamental fairness and sound economics. It is required in order to not leave all of us worse off. Congress has a short window of opportunity to remove the restrictions on legal and undocumented immigrants in the health care reform bill. Doing so will not jeopardize the passage of the bill. Failing to doing so, however, will leave all of us, immigrant or not, worse off and wondering what happened to the promise of health care reform.

Q: What is home health care?
A: Home health care is a service that permits patients to receive personalized health care, maintaining their quality of life in the privacy and comfort of their homes.

Q: Why home health care?
A: Home health care is a cost-effective option for receiving health care services. Returning to one’s home and family can quicken recovery and improve the quality of life for both patient and family or caregiver.

Q: Who pays for home health care?
A: Most health insurance companies, HMOs, PPOs and Workers Compensation cover home health care. In addition, Medicare and Medicaid pay for home care services. Some insurance providers do not cover all home health services. Our staff will verify health coverage for the patient.

Q: What criteria are required for Medicare to approve services?
A: The following criteria are used to meet Medicare requirements:
• The patient is a Medicare recipient.
• The patient must be homebound. This is defined by Medicare as “normal inability to leave the home and that leaving the home requires considerable and taxing effort.”
• The skilled care must be medically necessary as determined by the physician.

Q: What if I have a problem at night or on the weekend?
A: We have registered nurses on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Q: Do I need a physician’s order for home health care?
A: Yes, all health care provided in the home occurs under direct order and supervision of the patient’s physician.

Q: What types of services can be provided at home?
A: Many medical conditions that previously required hospitalization can safely be treated in the home. Home care services may include but are not limited to:

Skilled Nursing:
• Observation and assessment of condition
• Patient and family education of disease process
• Management and evaluation of patient care plan
• Medication education and management
• Dressing changes
• Home safety education
• Wound care
• Catheter care
• Injections
• IV therapy
• Ostomy care
• Pain management
• Diabetic care
• Nutritional support

Assistance with Daily Living:
• Bathing/dressing
• Transfer/ambulation
• Light meal preparation
• Light housekeeping
• Grocery shopping
• Medication reminder
• Laundry
• Companionship/Conversation
• Reading/writing
• Pet sitting/walking
• Escort to appointments
• Live-ins
• Respite
• Exercise therapy assistance

Q: How does Paloma Home Health Care, Inc. ensure quality care in the home?
A: Providing continuous quality care to patients is paramount to all we do. All patients are given a patient satisfaction survey that is incorporated into our ongoing evaluation process to continually increase our patient satisfaction. New programs and processes are developed through our quality improvement team to promote favorable outcomes.

Q: How do I find out more about home health care?
A: Please call our office to learn more about how you can benefit more about the service, at 972 346 2013

Q: What services can Paloma Home Health Care, Inc. offer?
A: Our services include but are not limited to:
• Supportive Care Education of Disease Process
• Individual and Family Counseling
• Management and Evaluation of Patient Care
• Observation and Assessment
• Home Safety and Emergency Education
• Medication Education
• Assistance with ADLs
• Nutrition Education
• Restorative Therapy (Physical, Occupational and Speech)

Using an urgent medical care service has a lot of advantages over using a traditional doctor or hospital for when you have an emergency. You won’t wait as long as you normally would have to if you go to a hospital. You can also expect the same level of service, or even a greater level of service, than your local hospital can provide.

The staff at an urgent medical care service is full of trained professionals and doctors that put your care on priority. These care providers are fully staffed to where they can handle a great number of urgent care services at any given time. Their facility that they use is also completely modern and uses the latest in medical devices. If you have a worry about insurance claims, you can trust that your local urgent care service accepts any type of health insurance so that they can help a greater number of people.

If you or a loved one is suddenly feeling very ill, or is coming down with an infection of some sort, you should go to your medical care service first. They offer the same treatments that a hospital can offer, but at a cheaper price, and with a much shorter wait. It doesn’t make sense to rush to the hospital just to wait hours on end when you can be rushed to an urgent care service and be helped professionally and promptly.

Urgent medical care services are trained to help both adults and children alike and can take care of those day-to-day mishaps that happen often. If you sprain something, or break your finger unexpectedly, you can see your urgent medical care service first, and expect to spend a lot less than what an ER will charge you. The only thing hospitals are notorious for are long waits and expensive costs. Medical care services are known for short waits, if any, and the costs are much cheaper than any hospital or emergency room.

The main idea of the services provided by an urgent medical care center is to save people money, and to be able to help them quickly. Why make a doctor’s appointment that is a week away when you can receive medical treatment by just walking inside your local medical care service? With a staff that is trained to handle any situation, from sudden sickness, to broken bones, to work related injuries, you can trust that you will be taken care of properly, at a fair price, from a urgent medical care service. These services always take any type of insurance, and are equipped to handle the biggest emergencies.

Urgent Care Jacksonville NC

Medical Care Angier