Archive | March, 2011

Mayo finds heart patients skip meds due to costs; self-rationing in health continues

By on March 30, 2011 in Health Consumers, Health Economics, Health social networks, Pharmaceutical, Prescription drugs

If you are a person with heart disease and you have received treatment at the Mayo Clinic, you’re certainly a fortunate health citizen. The hospital was just ranked #2 best hospital in the U.S. by US News & World Report. However, if that’s you and the costs of post-op treatment — namely prescription drugs — [...]

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One-half of U.S.health consumers want electronic access to doctors – including online medical records

By on March 28, 2011 in Aging and Technology, Health Consumers, Health social networks, HITECH Act

Most U.S. health consumers would be keen to take advantage of alternative communications for their health care encounters. Of these 6 in 10 people, 72% would like nurse helplines, 60% email, and 1 in 3 would use a private online forum for their health. However, only 1 in 10 would use some form of social [...]

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Wellness is the new health benefit (a double entendre)

By on March 25, 2011 in Complementary and alternative medicine, Employers, Health Consumers, Health engagement, Health Plans, Obesity, Prevention and wellness

Wellness and disease prevention were the meta-themes at Health 2.0′s Spring Fling held earlier this week in San Diego. where the discussions, technology demonstrations, and keynote speakers were all-health (as opposed to health care), all-the-time. Dr. Dean Ornish told the attendees in the standing-room-only ballroom space that the joy of living is a greater motivator than the fear [...]

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Health consumers spend more out-of-pocket than the Federal government counts

By on March 23, 2011 in Complementary and alternative medicine, Health Consumers, Health Economics, Prescription drugs, Prevention and wellness

Consumers have  been shell-shocked with health care costs — an increasing proportion of household spending in the U.S. This is true for the increasing costs consumers bear in the traditional health system. However, consumers are continuing to spend discretionary income on non-traditional health services such as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) providers and products, along [...]

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Where have all the doctors gone? What physician supply means for health reform

By on March 21, 2011 in Affordable Care Act, Health Economics, Health reform, Medicaid, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Physicians, PPACA

The good news that was packaged in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), that is, health reform, was that millions of uninsured Americans would receive health insurance coverage through the Medicaid program. But insurance doesn’t equal access; there’s a limiting factor that’s a formidable obstacle in many of these millions of newly-insured people getting care: the physician [...]

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