Study of Washington State and Maryland hospitals finds that the actions of hospitals – not the kinds of patients they attract – appear to be responsible for part of the difference in admissions to ICUs, which some experts believe are overused, costly and potentially dangerous.
Next time you go to an emergency room, be prepared for this: If your problem isn’t urgent, you may have to pay upfront.
Imagine if finding out the cost of a particular treatment or procedure at a doctors’ office was as easy as locating the prices of entrees at a restaurant. The menu might read: school physicals – $40; office visit for a cold – $80; diabetes screening – $200.
The U.S. spends more than twice as much as the average developed country but ranks 27th in life expectancy, 31st in premature mortality, and 25th in the rate of cardiovascular mortality.
A majority, 52 percent, of those polled favor bigger government that provides more services for health — 37 percent favor smaller government that provides fewer health services.
Childrens’ hospitals across the country are adding towers and beds. The multibillion dollar building boom offers a case study of the expansive ambitions of hospital leaders and the faltering efforts of government to control spiraling costs.
Plan cuts $320 billion from Medicare and Medicaid, by changing how the government pays providers, slashing payments to drug companies, and changing the way it splits the Medicaid costs with the states.
So here it is, under our noses—the elusive big idea that might fix American health care—if only our society can embrace it: Less is more.
Employees will be experiencing higher co-pays and deductibles in their health insurance next year as employers continue to reduce their overall coverage to deal with rapidly rising costs.
Americans spend $477 billion a year MORE on health care than other advanced countries. So why do we pay so much compared to other wealthy nations? This infographic shows where your money goes.
Americans spend $477 billion a year MORE on health care than other advanced countries. So why do we pay so much compared to other wealthy nations? This, the second of two infographics, shows where your money goes.
FDA shouldn’t cave to pressure and allow Genentech to keep advanced metastatic breast cancer on the Avastin label, argues Merrill Goozner.
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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