Alpha-gal syndrome: Meat allergy linked to tick bites rising, CDC says
Up to 450,000 Americans may have a syndrome that can cause dangerous reactions to several types of meat.
www.bbc.com
New healthcare thread...
- Thread starter NationalTitles18
- Start date
www.bbc.com
A challenge for antiabortion states: Doctors reluctant to work there
In a few years, Olgert Bardhi's skills will be in high demand. A first-year resident in internal medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, he'll be a full-fledged physician by 2025 in a nation facing a shortage of primary care doctors. The trouble for Texas...www.yahoo.com
Agreed. The Law Of Unintended Consequences.
Here in IA, they keep trying to pass a fetal heartbeat bill, making abortion against the law after 6 weeks.
Not by coincidence, OB-GYN doctors are now fleeing the state(according to a news report, we have a shortage).
I guess they will just import a basket-full of doctors from foreign countries, each with questionable credentials.
Last edited:
when a typo isn't a typo
There's no longer a prohibition against that word. I agree that their premise is assinine. The clumps of cells start to pulse rhythmically long before a heart organ can be isolated. It's not a "heartbeat." It's a total misunderstanding of the maturation process. I guess "common sense" wins out again over expert knowledge....And my fat finger got past the board censors.
It is out of control. Our right-wing Gov. called a special session to pass this bill (fetal heartbeat), despite the courts striking the last one down this past year. They (Iowa GOP) are dead-set upon enforcing their warped and draconian laws upon the citizenry. It is the end result of the GOP's coddling of crazy people with Bibles in their hands.
Opinion | How Do We Fix the Scandal That Is American Health Care?
We can start by expanding access to care, but we also need to look beyond medicine and address harmful behaviors and poverty.
Gift Link Above
How Do We Fix the Scandal That Is American Health Care?
Americans are among the least healthy people in the rich world, and among the most likely to die early.
America’s dismal health care outcomes are a disgrace. They shame us. Partly because of diabetes and other preventable conditions, Americans suffer unnecessarily and often die young. It is unconscionable that newborns in India, Rwanda and Venezuela have a longer life expectancy than Native American newborns (65) in the United States. And Native American males have a life expectancy of just 61.5 years  shorter than the overall life expectancy in Haiti.
health outcomes in many parts of georgia, especially rural ones, are atrociousOpinion | How Do We Fix the Scandal That Is American Health Care?
We can start by expanding access to care, but we also need to look beyond medicine and address harmful behaviors and poverty.www.nytimes.com
Gift Link Above
How Do We Fix the Scandal That Is American Health Care?
Americans are among the least healthy people in the rich world, and among the most likely to die early.
America’s dismal health care outcomes are a disgrace. They shame us. Partly because of diabetes and other preventable conditions, Americans suffer unnecessarily and often die young. It is unconscionable that newborns in India, Rwanda and Venezuela have a longer life expectancy than Native American newborns (65) in the United States. And Native American males have a life expectancy of just 61.5 years  shorter than the overall life expectancy in Haiti.
Opinion | How Do We Fix the Scandal That Is American Health Care?
We can start by expanding access to care, but we also need to look beyond medicine and address harmful behaviors and poverty.
Gift Link Above
How Do We Fix the Scandal That Is American Health Care?
Americans are among the least healthy people in the rich world, and among the most likely to die early.
America’s dismal health care outcomes are a disgrace. They shame us. Partly because of diabetes and other preventable conditions, Americans suffer unnecessarily and often die young. It is unconscionable that newborns in India, Rwanda and Venezuela have a longer life expectancy than Native American newborns (65) in the United States. And Native American males have a life expectancy of just 61.5 years  shorter than the overall life expectancy in Haiti.
175 years later and we are still dealing with similar issues.
It is the final section of the Report which is of most interest to contemporary readers, but before we present Virchow's concluding analysis in toto, it will be helpful if we summarise the earlier sections. The Report begins with a geographical, anthropological and social account of Upper Silesia; the latter containing a good sociological analysis of the role of the Catholic church and of the coincidence of nationality with occupation to produce a caste-like system of stratification (pp. 152-3).*2 Virchow goes on to describe housing conditions and the education, diet, drinking pattems and popular medical beliefs and practices of the population (pp. 153-67). Only at this stage of the Report does he begin to discuss typhoid, and then only in relation to other endemic diseases  dysentery, measles, pulmonary tuberculosis, etc. He refers to them collectively as 'crowd' or 'artificial' diseases to emphasise the fact that while they have their origin in bacteria, their geographical spread and individual susceptibility to them is determined by social factors such as housing, working conditions, diet and sanitation. Virchow recognised the value of bacteriological research but he could never accept a simple causal relationship between bacterium and disease.*^
... For the short-term Virchow proposes a joint planning committee consisting of professionals and laity; an inter-agency council consisting of doctors, voluntary workers and local and central government officials; a notification system for new cases and a reorganised food supply. But it is in the final section on long-term planning (pp. 302-22) that Virchow displays his prophetic genius. Among the reforms called for are: unlimited democracy, devolution of decision-making, universal education, disestablishment of the church, taxation reform, agricultural improvement and industrial development. Such a far-reaching programme deserves more than a simple listing of individual reforms. Accordingly, we offer the following translation of the final pages of Virchow's remarkable Report. As far as we are aware, this is the first English translation:
The Biden administration unveiled Tuesday the names of the first 10 drugs subject to price negotiations in Medicare, including blood thinners and diabetes medications.
They are: Eliquis, Jardiance, Xarelto, Januvia, Farxiga, Entresto, Enbrel, Imbruvica, Stelara, and Fiasp and certain other insulins made by Novo Nordisk, including NovoLog.
The medications treat heart disease, certain cancers, diabetes and autoimmune diseases. Some 9 million Medicare enrollees took the medications on the list and paid a total of $3.4 billion in out-of-pocket costs last year, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Those who didn’t receive additional financial assistance shelled out as much as $6,500 on average.
Once set, the negotiated prices take effect in 2026 – though the drug industry has filed multiple lawsuits seeking to derail the effort.
These drugs accounted for $50.5 billion, or about 20%, in total Part D gross covered prescription drug costs, between June 1, 2022, and May 31, 2023, which is the period used to determine which drugs were eligible for negotiation, according to HHS.
______
It's a start.
I'm not sure socialized medicine is THE answer here, but I AM certain the government should be able to strong-arm these massively wealthy pharmaceutical companies no differently than Walmart does when they decide to carry a product.
WalMart: "We'll pay you $x per unit"
Widget maker: "But it costs us $x+7%..."
WalMart: "We don't care - either hit the price or we'll go to your competitor"
Widget maker: *has to figure it out because if WalMart goes to their largest competitor it could put the widget maker out of business*
I'm all for companies profiting, but when you're profits are from the health of another - to the extent that you're willing to let people die (or even remain unwell) because they cannot afford the drugs you manufacture - I lose all care about the well-being of your company.
WalMart: "We'll pay you $x per unit"
Widget maker: "But it costs us $x+7%..."
WalMart: "We don't care - either hit the price or we'll go to your competitor"
Widget maker: *has to figure it out because if WalMart goes to their largest competitor it could put the widget maker out of business*
I'm all for companies profiting, but when you're profits are from the health of another - to the extent that you're willing to let people die (or even remain unwell) because they cannot afford the drugs you manufacture - I lose all care about the well-being of your company.
Yeah, one thing I've noticed since moving to GA is that the general level of healthcare is noticeably less than Alabama. For instance--in AL, most urgent care facilities and GP offices can do basic bloodwork--which I really appreciated given my tendency for sinus infections to develop into pneumonia or walking pneumonia. In Warner Robins, only the hospital can do basic bloodwork. Not even the two urgent care facilities run by the hospital can do bloodwork.
Perhaps not coincidentally, Georgia ranks dead last in healthcare in the US. [Pun most assuredly intended.]
I was listening to GPR several weeks ago, and they were talking about how new healthcare facilities have to file a "Certificate of Need" demonstrating that they are not duplicating existing services--which effectively prevents competition. CoNs were established back in the late 1970s--supossedly to assess heathcare access in rural areas. There has been a massive push to repeal the law in GA; the senate approved a measure while the house has been sitting on a similar one.
And don't even get me started on health insurance--though there I will freely admit that I was spoiled rotten by being on PEEHIP for most of my life.
But hey, we're gonna have CopLand!
Older Americans say they feel trapped in Medicare Advantage plans
That made my blood run cold. We have friends who have fallen into that trap. I had to educate my ENT about this this AM. I finished up by saying that, when you needed them, some insurance manager decided whether or not you needed it. He just said "You can say that again"...
I started Medicare last year and it was pretty clear pretty quick that I would go the PartA/PartB/PartD route. The free gym membership was certainly a tell.
Guess I’m lucky - so far. With the issues I’ve had (and have) my MA plan has been outstanding. So far.
Wife is eligible in a few months, and she’ll likely ride with the same MA I have. Her insurance through her employer (BC/BS) costs her twice as much in monthly premiums, all copays and deductibles are higher..
I’ve noticed insurers leaving the state, and that makes me nervous. Once we get our travelin’ shoes in hopefully less than a couple of years, we’ll have to investigate other MA’s to see if we can find one that offers coverage outside the state (maybe even country).
But what I have now is light years better than any insurance I ever had, pre-or post-Obamacare.
Wife is eligible in a few months, and she’ll likely ride with the same MA I have. Her insurance through her employer (BC/BS) costs her twice as much in monthly premiums, all copays and deductibles are higher..
I’ve noticed insurers leaving the state, and that makes me nervous. Once we get our travelin’ shoes in hopefully less than a couple of years, we’ll have to investigate other MA’s to see if we can find one that offers coverage outside the state (maybe even country).
But what I have now is light years better than any insurance I ever had, pre-or post-Obamacare.
We've always had A,B,C+, and D. This year, we switched to F, which BCBS AL/TN considers to be part of C+. It covers more. For example, this AM, it covered my Part B deductible. Also, it covers any excess which the doc is allowed to charge but which is more than Medicare covers. And, finally, because of our ages, it was attractive that F covers one more year off LTC, should that become necessary, so it's sort of a partial LTC insurance. I wouldn't suggest it to anyone in their 60s, but in the 80s, it starts to become attractive, though it's more expensive. We ran into that with my BIL. 100 days sounds like a lot, but, as his problems multiplied, we found ourselves up against the 100 limit rapidly. The problem solved itself, as he passed before we had to confront that problem...
To be precise, when you refer to "C", that's Medicare Advantage. I assume you're referring to a LTC supplement?.
Trending content
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Thread 'Why has Bama been terrible on both sides of the line for 4 or 5 years?'- SMOKIESBAMAFAN
Replies: 47 -
Latest threads
-
-
-
BREAKING Director Rob Reiner and his wife murdered in their home, 12-16-25- Started by Bazza
- Replies: 7
-
ESPN: Pavia sorry for 'disrespectful' Heisman reaction- Started by TideFans Reporter
- Replies: 0
-
La. high school state championship lost partially due to late flag
- Started by Marg
- Replies: 5
-
ESPN: Wiggin, coach who lost on 'The Play,' dies at 91
- Started by TideFans Reporter
- Replies: 0