QUICK READ: Spending too much leisure time in front of a TV or computer screen appears to dramatically increase the risk for heart disease and premature death from any cause, perhaps regardless of how much exercise one gets, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Obesity is the leading cause of death in America, costing the health care system $1.72 trillion and it’s getting worse.
Category Archive: Cost of healthcare in the U.S.
QUICK READ: Because of the pandemic people are putting off annual physicals and going to see their doctor for health problems that could become worse. Sure telehealth can be of some help but technology can’t replace a person-to-person conversation with an HCP.
QUICK READ: Bernie Sanders embarrassed himself on national TV last night admitting that he had no idea how much Medicare for all would cost. It’s clear from national polls that people don’t like the idea of not having a choice when it comes to healthcare but they do want relief from high health insurance costs that are eating paychecks.
QUICK READ: Our healthcare costs are out of control. It’s time to stop blaming drug prices and admit that both our healthcare system is broken and that Americans are to blame for our own ills. Tough times mean tough choices.
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- By 2030, nearly one in two adults will be obese, and nearly one in four will be severely obese.
- In as many as 29 states, the prevalence of obesity will exceed 50 percent, with no state having less than 35 percent of residents who are obese.
- Well-intentioned efforts like limiting access to huge portions of sugar-sweetened soda, the scientists note, are effectively thwarted by well-heeled industries able to dwarf the impact of educational efforts by health departments that have minuscule budgets by comparison.
- Yet too many people believe pharma wants people to stay sick so they can make money.
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- During the State of the Union on Tuesday night, President Trump said his administration is “taking on the big pharmaceutical companies.
- Democrats quickly responded by getting to their feet, holding up three fingers, and chanting, “H.R. 3! H.R. 3!” H.R. 3 is the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act.
- The measure requires Medicare to negotiate for lower prices on insulin and other life-saving medicines and was passed by the House in December. Now, the bill is sitting in the Senate
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- The global cost of mental illness through lost productivity, absences and staff turnover is estimated to be around $2.5tn annually.
- While some companies are adding wellness programs measurement effectiveness is lacking.
- Despite strong data supporting the effectiveness of wellness initiatives, a recent survey by Employee Benefits News (EBN) of 245 benefits managers, administrators and human resources professionals, reported that only 44% of respondents are currently running one.
- Every dollar invested in the intervention yielded $6 in healthcare savings.
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- The February 2019 KFF Health Tracking Poll finds a majority of adults, including seniors, are in favor of many policy options aimed at curbing prescription drug costs.
- There is majority support – across party identification – for many current policy proposals like international reference pricing and transparency in drug advertisements.
- Both of these policy proposals are supported by large majorities of Democrats and independents, and a majority of Republicans.
- There is also bipartisan support for allowing the federal government to negotiate with drug companies to get a lower price for people with Medicare, which covers 60 million Americans.