Category: Health Care Policy (Page 18 of 22)

The U.S Appeals Court Rules Against Obama Healthcare Law

August 13, 2011 / Staff

President Obama’s healthcare plan requiring every American to purchase healthcare insurance was ruled as unconstitutional.

It will be interesting to see how this affects the upcoming election considering that this was such a hot button topic and a cornerstone of his campaign promises.

It has been historically difficult and unpopular to promote national healthcare.

Follow the story here.

The U.S. Appeals Court for the 11th Circuit, based in Atlanta, ruled 2 to 1 that Congress exceeded its authority by requiring Americans to buy coverage, but it unanimously reversed a lower court decision that threw out the entire law.
The legality of the individual mandate, a cornerstone of the healthcare law, is widely expected to be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. Opponents have argued that without the mandate, which goes into effect in 2014, the entire law falls.

Health Care Policy

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Would Taxing Junk Food Lead to Healthier Choices?

August 5, 2011 / Staff

Eating healthy may require some help from Uncle Sam.

The United States government indirectly subsidizes junk food through national corn and soy bean subsidy programs, which help keep down the cost of highly processed food items containing corn and soy. Subsidization is clearly possible: all we have to do is switch the focus of subsidy programs to more beneficial foods, making it easier for everyone to stock up on fresh fruits and veggies.

This tactic has been bandied about regarding soft drinks and saturated fats but now, perhaps, a more unilateral approach is necessary.

Subsidizing health foods may be the incentive consumers need to make healthy lifestyle choices.

Check out the film making team of Joav and Shirah Potash.
They have produced the documentary, “Food Stamped” which highlights the stumbling blocks food stamp recipients face when planning to provide healthy meals for their families.

Health Care Policy, Nutrition, Quality Control, Wellness

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Nutritional Guidelines are Difficult for the Poorest Americans to Meet

August 4, 2011 / Staff

Eating Healthy and following the Government recommended Food Pyramid may not be possible for about 49 million Americans.

An update of what used to be known as a food pyramid in 2010 had called on Americans to eat more foods containing potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin D and calcium. But if they did that, the study authors said, they would add hundreds more dollars to their annual grocery bill.
Inexpensive ways to add these nutrients to a person’s diet include potatoes and beans for potassium and dietary fiber. But the study found introducing more potassium in a diet is likely to add $380 per year to the average consumer’s food costs, said lead researcher Pablo Monsivais, an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology and the School of Public Health at the University of Washington.
“We know more than ever about the science of nutrition, and yet we have not yet been able to move the needle on healthful eating,” he said. The government should provide help for meeting the nutritional guidelines in an affordable way.

Add eating organic and locally grown and the task becomes even more daunting.

The poorest members of our population, who depend on government funded healthcare, are the least able to practice prevention through dietary choices and are unable to meet minimum dietary and nutritional needs.

Health Care Policy, Nutrition, Wellness

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Breastfeeding is Not Encouraged in Most U.S. Hospitals

August 2, 2011 / Staff

Breastfeeding rates in the U.S. are very low compared to the rest of the world.

Even supermodels like Gisele Bundchen have been outspoken advocates for breastfeeding, risking the backlash of mothers everywhere.

The benefits to baby and mother are indisputable yet hospitals seem ill-equipped to advocate and support breastfeeding for new mothers.

U.S. hospitals are not doing enough to encourage mothers to breast-feed their newborns, raising the risk of childhood obesity, diabetes and other conditions, according to a federal study released on Tuesday.
Less than 4 percent of the country’s hospitals fully support breast-feeding, said a report issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Doctors, Health Care Policy, Hospitals, Nutrition, Quality Control, Wellness

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Insurers to Pay for Birth Control for Women

August 2, 2011 / Staff

Viagra has been covered for years now the antidote will be covered, as well!

Birth control will now be covered for women without co-pays.

The move to make contraception free to women is one of eight new measures aimed at providing “preventive health services” to women, the HHS said. They follow on recommendations from a report issued July 19 by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), which advises the federal government.

Health Care Policy, Health Insurance, Wellness

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