Most cases of pink eye (conjunctivitis) don ’t require antibiotics
If you or your child has ever had acute conjunctivitis or “pink eye,” you know how nasty it can be. “Crusty,” “goopy,” “bloodshot,” “itchy,” and “gritty” are all common words used to describe the eye condition that affects some six million people in the US every year.
What is conjunctivitis exactly?
Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is the thin membrane that covers the whites of the eyes. There are three main types of conjunctivitis: allergic, viral, and bacterial.
Allergic conjunctivitis often accompanies other allergy symptoms like itchy, runny nose or sneezing.
Viral con...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - July 17, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Mallika Marshall, MD Tags: Cold and Flu Drugs and Supplements Eye Health Infectious diseases Source Type: blogs
Beyond ‘Repeal and Replace’: Physicians Renew The Call For Delivery System Improvement
The last few months have been an anxious time in health care policy with calls to repeal, replace, repair, and delay repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Daily, elected officials face angry constituents fearful of losing their coverage. What is clear is that voters want affordable, convenient, technologically enabled, high-quality medical care. We believe such care is possible, but only by leveraging the “doctor-patient” relationship and transforming how medical care is structured, measured, and reimbursed.
We are physicians who have led two of the nation’s highest-performing health care systems: Kaiser P...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - July 12, 2017 Category: Health Management Authors: Robert Pearl and Norman Chenven Tags: Featured Following the ACA Health Professionals Payment Policy Quality ACOs Bundled Payments EHRs value-based payment Source Type: blogs
Things to think about while working on a possible new project
The other day I received two emails which turned out to maybe be pivotal. One from someone I worked on the Jung and feminism book asked me what I am working on these days. Good question. The other was an invitation to apply for a multidisciplinary retreat to develop a next step in our work - intimidating and intriguing. Both emails set me off on a lot of reflection and a mixture of excitement and anxiety. As is my habit when an new possibility is gestating, I spent time today cleaning out old files and ran across this piece on the state of Post-Jungian psychoanalysis and psychotherapy by Andrew Samuels. Which led...
Source: Jung At Heart - July 11, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: blogs
Shopping For a Health Insurance Plans Again. Seriously?
By PAUL KECKLEY
On the golf course, my son Jason has an uncanny ability to hit any tree within earshot of his intended target line. It’s fait accompli in his book. And his reaction is always the same: “seriously!”
The same is his plight with health insurance. Though a self-employed healthy single male with a successful career and no need for government assistance in buying coverage, he just got this letter from his insurer:
“The last seven years within the health insurance market have led all of us to decisions we have never before considered. It has remained a very challenging environment as the debate over the 20...
Source: The Health Care Blog - July 10, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: John Irvine Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
Shopping For a Health Insurance Plan Again. Seriously?
By PAUL KECKLEY
On the golf course, my son Jason has an uncanny ability to hit any tree within earshot of his intended target line. It’s fait accompli in his book. And his reaction is always the same: “seriously!”
The same is his plight with health insurance. Though a self-employed healthy single male with a successful career and no need for government assistance in buying coverage, he just got this letter from his insurer:
“The last seven years within the health insurance market have led all of us to decisions we have never before considered. It has remained a very challenging environment as the debate over the 20...
Source: The Health Care Blog - July 10, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: John Irvine Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
The Messenger Also Matters: Value-Based Payment Can Support Outreach To Vulnerable Populations
With the proliferation of value-based payment initiatives and implementation of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) coverage expansions, states have had many opportunities in recent years to improve the health of vulnerable populations through health promotion, prevention, and care coordination. We believe value-based payment models can and must support accountable health care delivery systems in partnering with community-based “messengers” to engage vulnerable individuals in health education and promotion. We explore one such messenger program, ACCESS, a Brooklyn-based project of the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban ...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - July 10, 2017 Category: Health Management Authors: Ruth C. Browne, Marilyn Fraser, Judith Killen and Laura Tollen Tags: Health Equity Medicaid and CHIP Population Health Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health New York New York State Social Determinants of Health value-based payment vulnerable populations Source Type: blogs
Beyond “ Repeal and Replace ”
BY DANIEL STONE, MD
The toxic polarization of Washington politics might lead even the most stubborn optimist to abandon any hope for bipartisanship on healthcare. Despite endemic pessimism, the flagging efforts to forge a Republican consensus on “repeal and replace” might set the stage for overdue efforts at compromise. Congress will be tempted to move on to more promising areas such as tax reform and infrastructure funding. That temptation should be resisted. The threat to the nation posed by the current state of American healthcare calls for Congress to resurrect the long lost spirit of bold bipartisanship.
Before c...
Source: The Health Care Blog - July 5, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: John Irvine Tags: Uncategorized ACA CBO Daniel Stone Medicare Medicare Advantage Repeal Replace Source Type: blogs
Growth Of ACOs And Alternative Payment Models In 2017
Conclusion
Alternative payment models that feature increasing accountability for improving patient care and lowering costs continue to expand. Their impact will likely grow as providers are subject to greater risk and develop the competencies to succeed. But, the payment model is not an end in itself. To achieve better value across the American health care system, more progress is needed to refine and align alternative payment models, and to help all types of health care providers develop the capabilities needed to succeed in them.
Note 1
Numbers vary slightly from previous estimates due to revised tracking and estimation ...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - June 28, 2017 Category: Health Management Authors: David Muhlestein, Robert Saunders and Mark McClellan Tags: Costs and Spending Featured Hospitals Organization and Delivery Payment Policy Population Health Quality ACOs Alternative Payment Models Source Type: blogs
The Downstream Consequences Of Per Capita Spending Caps In Medicaid
Medicaid, the government program that provides health insurance coverage to low-income and disabled Americans, is the largest payer for health care in the United States in terms of enrollees and the second-largest payer (behind only Medicare) in terms of spending. Escalating health care costs, a growing federal budget deficit, and fiscal challenges in many states have led to calls to reform the program to decrease spending growth. Recent federal reform proposals from House and Senate republicans would change the current financing system in which the federal government guarantees a share of total program spending to states ...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - June 26, 2017 Category: Health Management Authors: Timothy Layton, Ellen Montz and Thomas McGuire Tags: Costs and Spending Featured Following the ACA Insurance and Coverage Medicaid and CHIP Payment Policy Population Health American Health Care Act per capita spending cap system Source Type: blogs
If Your Premiums Go Down but Coverage Gets Worse, Does Your Healthcare Matter?
By JASON CHUNG
Picture this. Amy becomes pregnant while working as a high school teacher. Her employer’s health insurance plan pays bill was covers the maternity bills and she happily raises her twins.
Fast-forward a few years. She’s decided to become an entrepreneur and runs a small business. She becomes pregnant again but, this time, finds that her $400 a month individual health insurance policy won’t cover the expenses. In fine print, she discovers that she needed to purchase a special rider to activate maternity care benefits. She’ll have to pay $10,000+ out of pocket now, putting her burgeoning business at ris...
Source: The Health Care Blog - June 26, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: John Irvine Tags: Uncategorized ACA AHCA Coverage Jason Chung Pre-existing conditions Premiums Source Type: blogs
Will Senate Republicans Get 50 Votes to Repeal the ACA?
By DAVID INTROCASO
THCB readers are well aware this coming week Senate Republicans plan to begin debate on passing their amended version of the House-passed American Health Care Act (AHCA), titled the Better Care Reconciliation Act. As of today, June 23rd, immediate reactions by Republican senators to the June 22nd released discussion draft have been limited largely because members immediately left town after the draft’s release. The Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO’s) score, that will again be influential, is expected this Monday or Tuesday. Senate debate on the legislation will likely begin next W...
Source: The Health Care Blog - June 24, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: John Irvine Tags: Uncategorized AHCA CBO David Introcaso Repeal Replace Senate Republicans Source Type: blogs
Health Wonk Review is up at Managed Care Matters
Never one to disappoint, Managed Care Matters’ Joe Paduda hosts a double edition of the Health Wonk Review. Part One is Repeal and Replace and Part Two is everything else. (Source: Health Business Blog)
Source: Health Business Blog - June 23, 2017 Category: Health Management Authors: dewe67 Tags: Announcements Blogs Policy and politics Source Type: blogs
New Health Wonk Review at Managed Care Matters
Joe Paduda has posted the Heath Wonk Review, the double edition at Managed Care Matters. (Source: Health Wonk Review)
Source: Health Wonk Review - June 23, 2017 Category: Health Management Source Type: blogs
Health Affairs Web First: Significant Racial Disparities Found In Hospital Readmissions
This study will also appear in the July issue of Health Affairs.
(Source: Health Affairs Blog)
Source: Health Affairs Blog - June 21, 2017 Category: Health Management Authors: Lucy Larner Tags: Elsewhere@ Health Affairs Web First Source Type: blogs
