As health-care costs spiral ever upward, hospitals race to build free-standing emergency rooms and expand existing ERs. Hospitals say it makes business sense, but critics say the hospital arms race is too costly for businesses, government and families.
Medicaid officials in Washington state are so concerned by hospitals’ ER marketing that they have issued rules making it harder for hospitals to qualify for Medicaid bonus payments if they promote their ER for primary care.
It used to work like this: Doctors decided what to prescribe. Drug companies…tried to influence doctors. Patients did what they were told.
As part of a continuing series of “Ad Audits” Kaiser Health News reporter Jordan Rau dissects TV ads targeting health reform. In today’s audit, Rau looks at ads being run by Families USA and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Ad Audit: Health Reform Testimonials By Jordan Rau – Kaiser Health News July 10, [...]
An Ad Audit: “What if?” “Ad Audit” is KHN’s new feature examining advertising campaigns designed to influence the health reform debate. In this campaign, called “What If?”, Health Care for America Now, an advocacy group funded by unions and other organizations favoring major health care changes, pushes one of the most contentious elements of the [...]
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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