OrganizedWisdom Health - US Health Care Policy

Obama Health Care Plan Explained

Crdelucas — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:17:25 GMT

There are two parts of Obama's Health Care Plan. One part is for individuals who already have health care insurance and the other is for the non-insured. The comprehensive health plan is supposed to "control rising health care costs, guarantee choice of doctor, and assure high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans." President Obama is attempting to work with Congress to reconcile differences to pass the Health Care Plan prior to year's end.

Fast Facts:

If previously covered by insurance, the plan is geared to allow to keep existing coverage and doctor, prevent denial for pre-existing medical conditions, to prevent dropping coverage due to illness, eliminating yearly and lifetime coverage caps, placing caps on out-of-pocket expenses, and initiating required preventative care coverage.
If currently uninsured, the plan with offer affordable health care choices, a new insurance marketplace, new tax credits for individuals and/or small businesses, low-cost coverage, and a public health insurance option.
Approximately $2 trillion dollars of government funding is spent yearly for health care.
In the United States, approximately 46 million individuals do not have health care coverage.

Visit http://organizedwisdom.com/Obama_Health_Care_Plan_Explained

Obama Calls on Students to Rally Behind Health Care Reform

KenyottaE — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:12:32 GMT

President Barack Obama called on students to rally behind health care reform in a speech at the University of Maryland in mid-September. Obama told students that reforming health care would be a "defining struggle of this generation." Obama also urged members of Congress to rally behind health care reform, and to resist scare tactics by opponents of health care.

Fast Facts:

Obama called on Congress to pass a health care bill that would include a public insurance option.
Obama asked students to add their voice to the health care reform discussion in order to "transform the nation."
Obama spoke to a crowd of more than 12,000. A majority of the crowd consisted of college students.

Visit http://organizedwisdom.com/Obama_Calls_on_Students_to_Rally_Behind_Health_Care_Reform

Electronic Medical Records From Dell

Crdelucas — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:33:22 GMT

Dell announced on September 10, 2009, the company will be offering an electronic medical record (EMR) solution to hospitals and affiliates. The EMR is a combination of hardware, software, and support offered by Dell to replace the health record hard copies used by the health care profession with an electronic version. The recent federal stimulus package granted approximately $19 billion in incentives under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 for the integration of electronic medical records.

Fast Facts:

Dell will also offer 24/7 hardware and software support.
The New England Journal of Medicine expressed that approximately 17 percent of doctors and between eight to ten percent of hospitals in the United States currently have a basic form of EMR.
The goal under the ARRA is to make EMRs available to everyone in the United States by 2014 with an extra bonus payment to those who implement the program by 2011.

Visit http://organizedwisdom.com/Electronic_Medical_Records_From_Dell

Obama Health Care Speech

Jkg0679 — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:20:51 GMT

Obama's health care speech on September 9, 2009 proposed a government-run health insurance plan that would cover Americans not currently insured while providing more choices to those who already are covered. Reactions to the speech have been mostly favorable, though some people agree the plan leaves out crucial information. OrganizedWisdom has crafted a list of links to news articles about the Obama health care speech.

Fast Facts:

Obama stated that America is the only rich country that has millions of citizens without health coverage.
Obama's plan would provide America with universal health care.
The late Senator Ted Kennedy supported the Obama health care plan.

Visit http://organizedwisdom.com/Obama_Health_Care_Speech

Obama Health Care Speech Reaction

Jkg0679 — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:20:45 GMT

For the most part, reaction to President Obama's health care speech on September 9, 2009 has been favorable. Michigan representative Vernon Ehlers has stated that although the president gave a great speech, he also left out important information, such as setting up a government-run option. Andrew Sullivan from The Atlantic stated that he thought the speech was "a blend of governance and also campaigning. He has Clinton's mastery of policy detail with Bush's under-rated ability to give a great speech." OrganizedWisdom has crafted a list of great links of the many reactions to the Obama health care speech.

Fast Facts:

Obama stated that America is the only rich country that has millions of citizens without health coverage.
Obama's plan would provide America with universal health care.
The late Senator Ted Kennedy supported the Obama health care plan.

Visit http://organizedwisdom.com/Obama_Health_Care_Speech_Reaction

Obama Health Care Speech Text

Crdelucas — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:20:39 GMT

President Obama's health care speech is available online in text format. Obama stated there were three basic goals for his health care reform initiative. First, to "provide more security and stability to those who have health insurance." Second, to "provide insurance to those who don't." Thirdly, to "slow the growth of health care costs for our families, our businesses, and our government." Theodore Roosevelt first called for health care reform almost a hundred years ago.

Fast Facts:

The first comprehensive health reform bill was first introduced in 1943 by John Dingell Sr.
Approximately thirty million United States citizens cannot get health care coverage. Approximately 14,000 Americans lose health care coverage daily.
The health care reform plan will cost approximately $900 billion over the next ten years.
In 34 states, approximately 75 percent of the insurance market is controlled by five or less insurance companies. Alabama is controlled by just one company which monopolized 90 percent of the market.

Visit http://organizedwisdom.com/Obama_Health_Care_Speech_Text

Public Option in Health Plan May Be Dropped

Crdelucas — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:52:39 GMT

The public option is under scrutiny between the Republicans and Democrats and its importance in health care reform. President Obama states "the public option, whether we have it or we don't have it, is not the entirety of health care reform." The public option is a new government insurance program, which would operate under a national structure cooperating with state affiliates. It would be completely independent from the government except for the three to four billion dollars initially required to start the program. Currently, it is still undecided whether the public option will survive.

Fast Facts:

Supporters of the public option believe the competition created with private insurance companies will ultimately benefit the public.
Republicans are in opposition of the public option due to the possibility of affecting private insurers financially.
The public option has been an essential component in Obama's agenda for health care system overhauling.

Visit http://organizedwisdom.com/Public_Option_in_Health_Plan_May_Be_Dropped

Obama Health Care Plan and Abortion Disputes

Crdelucas — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 05:33:16 GMT

Obama's Health Care Plan is under scrutiny again with the controversial subject of abortion. Debates are in the forefront on prohibiting the use of federal funds for covering the costs of abortion. Obama's health care plan is aimed at covering approximately fifty million uninsured Americans. Although abortion is not mentioned in the major health-care bills Congress is considering, the public option must follow the same guidelines as private plans which offer coverage for abortions.

Fast Facts:

A current law called Hyde amendment applies restrictions in reference to abortion coverage for Medicaid recipients being provided by the state, not through federal funding.
The landmark case Roe v. Wade opposed the use of taxpayer funding for abortions.
Federal funds available to assist with abortion expenses are currently restricted to cases involving rape, incest, or danger to the mother's life.

Visit http://organizedwisdom.com/Obama_Health_Care_Plan_and_Abortion_Disputes

Pregnancy and STD Rates on the Rise Among Teens

SScroggins — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 05:04:25 GMT

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have released a report stating that after years of decline, the rate of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease has increased at an alarming rate. According to the most recent report, birth rates among teens have increased across the nation and appear to be occuring in younger women than before. Experts surmise that the abstinence program hailed by former President George W. Bush has been less than effective.

Fast Facts:

According to the report, Hispanic teens are much more likely to become pregnant than non-Hispanic women.
Non-Hispanic black teens have the highest rate of new HIV and AIDS diagnoses.
The latest report studied statistics from the years 2006 and 2007.

Visit http://organizedwisdom.com/Pregnancy_and_STD_Rates_on_the_Rise_Among_Teens

What is the Obama Health Care Reform

Crdelucas — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:02:38 GMT

Obama's Health Care Reform is focused on providing quality, affordable health coverage for all Americans. Lowering costs, improving quality, promoting prevention, and strengthening public health are other goals of the reform. It is estimated that more than one trillion dollars will be needed to pay for this health care reform plan to help the fifty million uninsured individuals in the United States. Currently, the government sponsors health care for individuals with low-income, disabled, and the elderly. The majority of Americans with insurance rely on private insurance received through employers.

Fast Facts:

Obama intends to lower the annual rate of pay increases for Medicare, reduce hospital subsidies for treating uninsured, and improving prices for Medicare Part D drugs to increase the funding for the reform.
In the first year, the reform is going to attempt to control the rising cost of health care, guarantee choice of doctors, and provide high-quality health care for all Americans.
Insurance premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance plans have doubled in the last nine years.

Visit http://organizedwisdom.com/What_is_the_Obama_Health_Care_Reform