Category: Health Care Policy (Page 8 of 22)

Overall, American’s Get The Vitamins They Need

April 2, 2012 / Staff

Americans seem to be getting an adequate amount of vitamins and nutrients in their diets.

This is not to say that there are not deficiencies, especially in certain pockets of the population which include certain racial groups, age groups and women.

Lead researcher Christine Pfeiffer said in the release: “Research shows that good nutrition can help lower people’s risk for many chronic diseases. For most nutrients, the low deficiency rates, less than 1 to 10 percent, are encouraging, but higher deficiency rates in certain age and race/ethnic groups are a concern and need additional attention.”
Pfeiffer and her colleagues found that since the fortification of cereal-grain products with folic acid began in 1998, there has been a sustained increase in folate levels.
Folate deficiency has dropped to less than 1 percent, and blood folate levels in all racial/ethnic groups have increased 50 percent

.
Read on for more information and see if you need to fortify your diet to achieve your best health potential.

Health Care Policy, Nutrition, Research, Resources

American Diet American health CDC Center for Disease Control diet diet for nutrition healthy diet Minerals nutrients vitamins

Health Care Reform Interesting Facts

March 28, 2012 / Staff

As the debate continues to address the constitutionality of national health care, 10 facts which are a part of the reform may impact your daily life.

Take a look at these 2 and read on for more.

A few little known facts about the health care reform law:

2. More breastfeeding rooms and breaks
Many working mothers now get a more appropriate place for expressing breast milk than they had before. Employers must provide “a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from co-workers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk.”
Nursing mothers also can take “reasonable” breaks during the workday to express milk, as frequently as the mother needs. The exception is companies with fewer than 50 employees, which can claim it’s an undue hardship.
Effective date: March 23, 2010.
The law requires restaurants with 20 or more locations to list calorie content information for standard menu items.
3. Caloric reality at every major chain restaurants
Under the law, you would walk into a place like McDonald’s and see calories listed under every menu item — Big Mac (540 calories), McNuggets (10 pieces- 470 calories) and medium fries (380 calories).
The law requires restaurants with 20 or more locations to list calorie content information for standard menu items on menus and drive-through menus. Other fun facts like fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, sugars, fiber and total protein would have to be made available in writing upon request.
So far, there is mixed evidence about whether calorie postings sway nutritional choices.
The rule also extends to vending machine operators who own or operate 20 or more vending machines. The FDA issued a report in April 2011, and left out movie theaters among those establishments required to post calories. So, if implemented, you can tell how many calories your sandwich has at Subway, but you won’t be able to tell how many calories your buckets of popcorn have at the movie theater.
Effective date: The FDA has not yet issued a final rule, so there is no time line on its implementation.
These are just 2 of the provisions which will be put into place

Health Care Policy, Health Insurance

facts about health care reform health care reform national health insurance Obamacare Supreme Court Ruling on Health Care

Trans Fats May Fuel Aggressive Behavior

March 27, 2012 / Staff

A recent study has found a link between consumption of trans fats and aggressive behavior.

As if the already known health risks were not bad enough this finding is just one more reason to limit trans fats in the diet.

There is already substantial data from many other studies that high trans-fat consumption leads to a variety of poorer health outcomes, including heart disease and certain cancers.

The mean age of the participants was 57 years (range, 45 – 69 years), 68% were male, and 80% were white. The mean trans-fat consumption per day was 3.49 grams (range, 1.02 – 5.96 g/day).
The researchers collected nutrient data using a food frequency questionnaire; they collected information on behavioral acts of aggression toward self, others, and objects, with a variety of validated instruments, including the following:
Overt Aggression Scale Modified – Aggression subscale (OASMa)
Life History of Aggression (LHA)
Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS)
Impatience
Irritability
They found that participants who ate more trans fats had higher scores on each of these measures.

New York City has taken the initiative to limit how much trans fat can be used by restaurants.

Health Care Policy, Nutrition, Quality Control, Research, Wellness

agressive behavior las against trans fats Trans Fats trans fats and aggression

Rebates To Millions From A Disgruntled Health Insurance Industry

March 19, 2012 / Staff

Rebates are coming to millions of Americans as the result of new requirement in the federal health care overhaul.

Although the payout will amount to only $160 per person it is a way to establish oversight within the insurance industry.

Here’s how the new system works: Starting in 2011, insurers were supposed to abide by the new rules. They require insurers in the individual and small group market to keep administrative costs to 20 percent, and to just 15 percent in the large group market. If they don’t, they’re supposed to send out a round of rebates by Aug. 1 of this year. That rebate could take the form of a check or credit card payment, or a reduction in premiums — the rebates will either be distributed to individuals or employers depending on the plan.
Some companies will inevitably comply with the rule, and in turn not be required to pay out rebates. Those that don’t are supposed to report to the federal government by June with their rebate plans.

Health Care Policy, Health Insurance, Quality Control

Federal Regulation of Insurance Companies insurance costs Insurance rebates to millions

Private Payer Insurance Is Not Cost Effective And Highly Inefficient

March 19, 2012 / Staff

A review of private payer insurance shows an inefficient system.

Compare that to the U.S., where an estimated 137,000 people died over seven years because they were uninsured. Of course, the Brits do pay for their health care in another way – with taxes. their sales tax is a whopping 20% and income taxes are as high as 50%.
All of that money feeds a health care behemoth. The NHS is Europe’s largest employer, with well over 1 million people on the payroll. So you’d think it would be inefficient.

Health Care Policy, Health Insurance, Quality Control, Research, Wellness

insurance Nationalized Health Care Obama Care single payer insurance