The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security says many health providers across the country have plans for how to handle patients outside the hospital so that the actual tertiary care is reserved for those who are in most need of it. Napolitano adds that this could include providing treatments in tents.
By Courtney Ann Jackson-Talk Radio News Service
A focus on prevention and wellness is key to quality health care reform, according the the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and three top HHS officials participated in a webcast Friday to clarify the Obama administration’s health care reform message.
“This is a public health opportunity, not just a physician opportunity. We believe prevention should occur not just between a doctor and a patient and not just at an individual level, but at the family level, the neighborhood level, the community level,” said Dr. David Blumenthal, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. “Public health and prevention is now a major theme for every person in this country and we all have an investment in it.”
Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary for Health, said what seems like simple steps, such as, immunization or counseling for an addiction, can save money in the long-term.
The officials also highlighted aspects that the administration claims are essential to comprehensive health reform including: reducing long-term growth of health care costs, a guaranteed choice of doctors and health plans, improved patient safety and quality of care, affordable quality coverage, and the ability to maintain coverage when you change or lose your job.
“We’re not just focusing on saving costs, but saving lives,” Sebelius said.
By Mariko Lamb- Talk Radio News Service
Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), and Barbara Mikulski (D-Md) praised the Affordable Health Choices Act that passed through the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (HELP) Wednesday.
“We’re not going to sit with the status quo. We’re moving ahead with healthcare reform,” said Senator Harkin.
“[The bill] offers to fix what is broken in our healthcare system without ruining that which works in our nation,” said Dodd. “It offers every American choice, stability, and lower costs.”
Although the bill passed through the committee with a 13-10 vote, not one Republican member voted in favor of the legislation. Regardless, Dodd praised the Republicans’ contribution to the markup of the bill, which includes 160 Republican added amendments. “I know that some of our Republican friends don’t want to admit their contribution, but they made good contributions to the bill, and we listened,” he said.
“Now is the time to rejoice on what we’ve done, but the battle must go on,” said Mikulski. HELP’s Affordable Health Choices Act is expected to be merged with a healthcare bill by the Senate Finance Committee, which is under pressure from President Obama to release its version as early as next week.
By Michael Combier-Talk Radio News Service
A number of community-led programs that provide healthier choices for local populations in West Michigan or upstate New York are increasing the efficiency of the chronic disease prevention, according to statements made by experts at a briefing conducted by the Trust for America’s Health.
“Collectively, these innovative programs emphasize that prevention saves lives, improves the health of the population, improves health equity, and saves money for government, business, healthcare, families and individuals,” said Frances D. Butterfoss, founding President of Coalitions Work in Virginia.
Chronic diseases have been a crucial factor in the health care of many American people. They account for seven of every ten U.S. deaths, affecting half of the country’s population, and is responsible for more than 75 percent of the $2 trillion spent annually on medical care.
“Their preventability resides in our community programs,” said Janet Collins director of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Collins said that easy access to fast-food restaurants prevent the local population in making healthy choices. Communities need “to surround the individual with healthy choices” such as local grocery stores and the possibility to buy fresh vegetables and fruits said Collins.
The funding of local programs could increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and prevent smoking use inside the community.
“Community prevention has a direct impact on health outcomes” and results can be seen “in relatively short-time frames,” said Jeff Levi executive director at the Trust for America’s Health.
His organization recently released a report concluding that an investment of $10 per person per year in community-based programs would save the country more than $16 billion annually within five years. “That is a return of $5.60 for every $1 spent,” said Levi.
The speakers at the briefing asked Congress to support $75 million in funding for Healthy Communities Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the fiscal year 2010 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill. This funding would help continue the community-based programs.
The World Health Organization updates the press on the status and handling of swine flu. The call was scheduled for 4 PM EDT. (39:00)
By Kayleigh Harvey – Talk Radio News Service
The nominee for Health Secretary, Governor Kathleen Sebelius (D-Kan.), was told by members of the Senate Finance Committee that the job of reforming America’s healthcare system would not be easy.
Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) told Sebelius, “The time for incremental change has passed. It is increasingly difficult to fix the system one step at a time. We cannot add 46 million uninsured to a broken system, but we also cannot bend the growth curve of health spending without covering the uninsured.”
Sebelius noted the challenges she faces if confirmed, stating, “Health care costs are crushing families, businesses, and government budgets. Since 2000, health insurance premiums have almost doubled and an additional 9 million Americans have become uninsured. Since 2004, the number of “under-insured” families – those who pay for coverage but are unprotected against high costs – rose by 60 per cent.”
In order to tackle the rising costs associated with health reform, Sebelius told the committee she will work with both sides to explore all options in an attempt to reduce costs. She said, “should I be confirmed, healthcare reform would be my mission.”
Taking on a more light hearted tone, former Senator Robert Dole (R-Kan.), asked that the committee work hard to get Sebelius confirmed quickly to get the work started. He said, “It would really help if you could get her confirmed before the recess. She can’t even get into the building and we are a little behind anyway and this is the issue of the year. So if you guys can all, you know, do something.”
Chairman Baucus laughing, at Dole’s comments, said, “You are absolutely right and that’s why we are having this hearing. So we can get her confirmed this week.”
All members of the committee commended the president’s selection of Sebelius as Health Secretary nominee and commended, also, her record on fighting health care inequality as Governor of Kansas.
By Kayleigh Harvey – Talk Radio News Service
At her nomination hearing Governor Kathleen Sebelius (D-Kan.) noted the challenges she faces if confirmed, stating, “Health care costs are crushing families, businesses, and government budgets. Since 2000, health insurance premiums have almost doubled and an additional 9 million Americans have become uninsured.”
By Kayleigh Harvey – Talk Radio News Service
At the nomination hearing for Governor Kathleen Sebelius (D-Kan.) as Health Secretary, former Senator Robert Dole (R-Kan.), told the Senate Finance Committee, “It would really help if you could get her confirmed before the recess. She can’t even get into the building and we are a little behind anyway and this is the issue of the year. So if you guys can all, you know, do something.”
Chairman Baucus laughing at Dole’s comments, said, “You are absolutely right and that’s why we are having this hearing. So we can get her confirmed this week.”
By Kayleigh Harvey – Talk Radio News Service
“We face an obesity epidemic that threatens to make our children the first generation of American children to face life expectancy shorter than our own….We now must guard against man-made as well as natural disasters, as disease has become a weapon. Perhaps most importantly, we face a health system that burdens families, businesses and government budgets with sky-rocketing costs. Action is not a choice, it is necessity,” said Governor Kathleen Sebelius at her nomination hearing for Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Senate today.
Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), was back chairing his first Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing since suffering from cancer earlier last month and looked in high spirits, smiling throughout the hearing. Kennedy said, “Over the past ten months I’ve seen our health care system up close. I’ve benefited from the best of medicine, but we have too many uninsured Americans. We have sickness care and not health care.”
In less high spirits appeared to be Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), who became frustrated and irritated with the answers provided on his questions regarding employer provided health insurance, McCain said, “these are pretty straightforward questions, Governor, I would think.”
During their exchange, Governor Sebelius told the committee in response to Senator McCain’s questions that she favored public insurance in addition to private insurance.
McCain asked whether she supported a government run health insurance plan, to which Governor Sebelius responded, “If you are talking about insuring all 15 million Americans…if the question is do I support a public option side-by-side with private insurers in a health insurance exchange, yes I do.”
Testifying in support of Governor Sebelius was Former Senator Bob Dole, who told the Committee she would work well with both parties. He said, “people understand that when the D’s and R’s work together it’s going to be successful.”
In closing, Governor Sebelius said, “we have by far the most expensive health system in the world. We spend 50 per cent more per person than the next most costly nation. Americans spend more on healthcare than housing or food. General Motors spends more on healthcare than steel.”
“We have by far the most expensive health system in the world. We spend 50 per cent more per person than the next most costly nation. Americans spend more on healthcare than housing or food. General Motors spends more on healthcare than steel,” said Governor Kathleen Sebelius at her nomination hearing for Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Senate today.
