The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced December 12 plans to issue a $50 million funding opportunity announcement to help Community Health Centers establish or expand behavioral health services for people living with mental illness, […]
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Tag: health care
Will Health Care Reform Be Ready Jan.1? HHS Says Yes; GAO Skeptical
Despite growing concerns expressed by the General Accounting Office (GAO) and others about arrangements and the need for added funding to prepare for the massive conversion in the U.S. health care system slated to take effect January 1, 2014 under the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (“ACA), Obama Administration officials are continuing to claim readiness to begin enrollment of Americans In federal health care marketplace on schedule on October 1, 2013 and to meet other crucial deadlines necessary to effectively implement the next wave of ACA’s health care reforms in the Department of Health & Human Service’s rollout of new consumer health care education and decision-making tools on its newly designed healthcare.gov website.
Economic Downturn, Not Health System Reform, Responsible For Decrease In Health Care Cost Trend
Bad economic times, and not health care reform, account for the record slowdown in U.S. health care spending, according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation study, Assessing the Effects of the Economy on the Recent Slowdown in Health Spending (Study).
According to Kaiser Foundation, government statistics show that the period from 2009-2011 had the slowest growth (3.9%) in health care expenditures since the government began tracking health expenditure data in 1960.
NHI Says Coordinated Care Can Reduce Disabled’s High ER Use; System Contains Many Barriers To Providing This Care
Working-age adults with disabilities account for a disproportionately high amount of annual emergency department visitors, reports a comparison study from National Institutes of Health (NIA)researchers. As emergency department care may not be the best to […]
Look At Mental Health Care For Part Of The Solution To Prevent A Future Newtown Tragedy
As American’s struggle in the wake of the heartbreaking massacre of 20 children and 6 teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut last week to understand and find effective ways to prevent tragedies like […]
NIH “Weight of the Nation” and Other NIH Resources To Help Employees, Families Fight Obesity
Coincident with annual Hurricane Season, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is encouraging all Americans to mark National Preparedness Month during September by preparing a family emergency plan during September. While important for all Americans, this […]
NIH “Weight of the Nation” and Other NIH Resources To Help Employees, Families Fight Obesity
While tight budgets may require employers, families and communities to cut back on a broad range of expenditures, limited budge Employers, communities and families struggling to find affordable resources to promote and manage obesity and other wellness […]
Effective Wellness Programs Possible Despite Tight Budgets
While tight budgets preventing many businesses from investing in wellness consulting resources, a tight budget doesn’t mean your company, church, or other group can’t have a thriving wellness program. Wellness is a culture. While the resources and advice of consultants and bells and whistles can be helpful sometimes, the inability to afford them doesn’t mean that your organization or group can’t have a healthy and effective wellness program.
US Health Care Spending Growth Slows As Private Insurance Coverage Continues To Shrink Amid 2010’s Slow Economy
U.S. health care spending grew 3.9 percent in 2010 to $2.6 trillion or $8,402 per person according to the Annual Report of National Health Expenditures (NHE). The Report notes that since 2007, the economic recession and legislative changes led to a noticeable change in the shares of health care spending financed by businesses, households, and governments. Declining enrollment in private insurance resulted in continuing growth in government financing of this care. The federal government financed 29 percent of the nation’s health care spending in 2010, an increase of six percentage points from its share in 2007 of 23 percent, and reached $742.7 billion. Part of that increase came from enhanced Federal matching funds for State Medicaid programs under the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act which expired in 2011. Review the details of the Report here.
Transportation Barriers Challenge Health Care
Resolving transportation barriers to accessing care for patients remains challenging and not just for helicopter transport. Poor and other transportation impaired patients often can’t access or are delayed in accessing care because of diffculties in getting […]