Health-care employers continued hiring at a brisk pace last month even as overall employment growth slowed down.
Here are some questions and answers about the Democratic and Republican approaches to moderating spending on the popular program, which covers 47 million seniors and disabled people.
In Seattle, International Community Health Services, Neighborcare Health, Sea-Mar Community Center will receive $500,000 to improve their services as will Healthpoint in Renton. Seattle – King County Public Health will receive $498,000.
Researchers from Group Health Research Institute in Seattle contributed to two new studies that identify two types of women who may benefit from regular mammograms in their 40s: those who have very dense breasts, and those who have a close relative — a mother, sister or daughter — who had breast cancer.
When a health insurer buys a business that helps hospitals win billing battles with insurers, alarm bells should sound, experts say.
High-deductible health care plans are no longer a novelty—they are becoming mainstream. How do they work? Are they a good deal? Here is a brief guide to this type of health insurance:
The biggest dollar amounts are expected to go to consumers in Alaska, where per person rebates are expected to average $305, Maryland, $294, Pennsylvania, $243 and Idaho, $241.
Physicians’ compensation ranged from an average of $156,000 for pediatricians to $315,000 for radiologists and orthopedic surgeons. 51% think they’re compensated fairly. Only about 11% of doctors consider themselves rich, mostly because of their debts and expenses. Male physicians earned about 40% more than female physicians.
Think your regular health insurance policy will cover you if you get into medical trouble overseas?
Don’t bet on it.
Once again, trustees forecast that Medicare’s hospital fund would begin to run out of money beginning in 2024, but, overall, the outlook for the social insurance program that covers nearly 50 million elderly and disabled people was only slightly worse than findings from last year.
A growing number of insurers are classifying physical therapy as specialty care, so patients generally pay a higher copayment, often the same amount as for a visit to a specialist, such as a surgeon, neurologist or cardiologist. Physical therapists say that’s unfair and are pushing legislation to limit the amount insurers can require patients to pay for physical, occupational or speech therapy.
Doctors are being urged to see patients faster, and patients don’t like it. Neither do the doctors. Using social media to prevent suicide. Paying patients to be healthy.
LocalHealthGuide is a health news and information web service for Seattle and the Puget Sound Region. We are independent and unaffiliated with any hospital, medical association or insurer. If you have questions or if your group has an upcoming event that you would like us to cover, please let us know by going to our "Contact Us" page and dropping us a note. -- Michael McCarthy, Editor
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Lost in translation: Lack of trained interpreters can lead to medical errors
Interpreter services at hospitals and other medical settings are often inadequate, forcing family members, including children, to step in, or the task falls to medical staff members who may not speak the language well.
Some insurers deny ER coverage to people who have been drinking
Laws in more than half the states permit insurers to deny payment for medical services related to alcohol or drug use. Faced with the prospect of not getting paid for care, some ER personnel sidestep the problem by simply not testing patients’ blood or urine for alcohol.
Travel insurance can protect your wallet — and your health on vacation
Think your regular health insurance policy will cover you if you get into medical trouble overseas?
Don’t bet on it.
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