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April 2007 Monthly Archive

Doctors Compliant with Drug Company Marketing Practices

Drug companies maintain large sales forces that call on doctors and hospitals to promote the companies’ pharmaceutical products. The New England Journal of Medicine published a survey recently measuring the extent of the physicians complicity. Of the physicians surveyed, 80% accept free drug samples or free food from their drug reps. Nearly 30% accept payments for services like promotional speeches and consulting. One of the more remarkable activities of the pharmaceutical sales representatives is the promotion of "off label" uses... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on April 29, 2007 8:30 PM
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Wal-Mart Commits to In-Store Health Clinics

Wal-Mart Stores has announced that they will open retail health clinics in up to 2,000 stores over the next five years or so. Wal-Mart already has walk-in medical clinics in 75 stores across 12 states. Retail health clinics provide unmatched convenience. Wal-Mart's clinics offers walk-in appointments seven days a week. Nurse practitioners deliver preventive and routine care for $45 to $65 per visit. I'm sure this is a good business opportunity for Wal-Mart, but there's no denying they are providing... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on April 27, 2007 2:38 PM
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Big Employees Cost More - Really Big Employees Cost A Lot More

Workers' compensation insurance claims are more frequent and more expensive for employees who are obese according to a recent Duke University study*. Nearly twice as many claims were filed by the heaviest workers. Most of the claims are for falls, slips, and injuries to the joints. Compared to the cost of the medical claims for those workers with normal BMI, the severely obese cost almost 7 times more, and the moderately obese over 3 times more. The number of work... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on April 25, 2007 2:57 PM
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Moms Like Retail Medical Clinics for their Kids

More parents are taking their children to walk-in retail medical clinics. For one reason the clinics are more plentiful - over 300 now with an additional 2,000 by the end of 2008. You can find them in Walgreens Drug Stores, and at some WalMart and Target stores. Parents who use them say it's more convenient than going to a doctor's office for minor stuff like routine tests and innoculations. Indeed, over 70 percent of parents wfo used the retain walk-in... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on April 24, 2007 3:19 PM
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American Workers Like Their health Insurance More Than Ever

American workers value their health insurance benefits more than ever before. Perhaps realizing that their employers are paying 200% to 300% more that a few years ago, most U.S. workers employed at large businesses consider health coverage to be the most important part of their benefits packages including retirement benefits. In February 2007, the National Business Group on Health surveyed 1,619 employees at mid-sized companies (2,500 employees or more). The majority of those queried said that would sooner take a... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on April 19, 2007 2:58 PM
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Small Business Need Not Fear Mandatory Health Insurance

Among the states considering universal health insurance - Massachusetts, Vermont, California, Pennsylvania and Illinois - the impact of mandatory health insurance on small businesses is a big concern. All of these proposals require employers to provide health insurance or to contribute state pools. Opponents of change, say that the proposed plans will hurt small businesses. But when you look closer at these proposals, you see that they can actually help small business by providing an option, the state pool, to... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on April 17, 2007 3:22 PM
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Maine's Pioneering Health Plan to Become Mandatory

Who cares what's going on with health care in Maine? After all, it's a sparsely populated and relatively poor state surrounded by Canada. But in the world of Universal Health Care, Maine is a leader - the first state to pass universal health care into law. Maine Gov. John Baldacci pushed universal health insurance through the legislature over two years ago. Maine's, DirigoChoice, the state's subsidized insurance program, is open to all residents regardless of pre-existing health conditions. The premiums... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on April 17, 2007 2:32 PM
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We're Not Ready for Mental Health Parity Mandates

Politicians are once again beating the drum for "mental health parity". Basically they want insurance companies to be required to provide similar health insurance benefits for mental health care as they provide for physical health care. For example, insurance should cover a psychotherapy office visit with a nominal copayment. It's the kind of feel-good issue that politicians love because it enjoys widespread support and after all, who's going to speak against it? ....I will. Too much of what passes for... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on April 17, 2007 1:05 PM
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Herbal Extract Can Reduce 90% 0f Bladder Infections

Bladder infections infect women 400% more often than men. E. coli bacteria causes virtually all urinary tract infections in the bladder. It's a pesky infection to get rid of. More often than not, the infection returns after antibiotic treatment. Repeated antibiotic use is expensive, can cause liver and kidney damage, and could lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, so a successful treatment would be welcomed. Researchers* at Duke University found that some bacteria hide in tiny niches in the baldder lining, where... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on April 12, 2007 3:10 PM
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Some Docs Don't Like UnitedHealthcare Telling them Where to Refer Patients for Lab Tests

Some doctors are complaining about a recent UnitedHealthcare letter that says that they may fine providers $50, reduce their fees, or kick them out of the UnitedHealthcare network if they regularly refer patients to out-of-network labs. UnitedHealthcare says they will use the penalty only for the worst offenders after first speaking with the physicians. UnitedHealthcare wants doctors to use LabCorp, its national in-network laboratory. Some physicians prefer Quest Diagnostics - previously contracted with UnitedHealthcare nationally. UHC says they want to... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on April 12, 2007 2:23 PM
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