Healthcare Shopper News

For the informed consumer of health care

May 2007 Monthly Archive

Will Sicko Change US Health Care?

Discribed as "exaggerated, biting, unfair", Michael Moore's new documentary "Sicko" about US health care industry, is unlikely to change US health policy. While Moore taps into widespread dissatisfaction with the current system in America, most voters have been listening to similar complaints for a long time and are still not ready to deconstruct the health care system. The film details accounts of insurance companies denying people coverage and, while this makes people angry, I doubt whether the film will have... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on May 25, 2007 1:56 PM
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Compare Hospitals

Visit the new Hospital Compare Web Site to compare hospital mortality rates for heart attack and heart failure at over 4,000 nationwide. Once closely guarded, hospital mortality rates are coming out in the open. The Hospital Compare Web Site may include information on whether your local hospital's 30-day mortality rates (heart attack and heart failure patients who died for any reason within 30 days of admission) are better or worse than 4,000 other hospitals.... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on May 25, 2007 1:32 PM
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Peanut Allergy Testing Imprecise

Thousands of parents believe their kids have peanut allergies and because the allergic reactions can be very serious, they place suffocating limitations on their kids. Some of these families are worrying unnecessarily. A study* of 84 children who tested positive for peanut allergy on the skin-prick-test showed that a substantial number were found not to be allergic to peanuts when they ate peanuts under medical supervision. The study claimed that the skin-prick-test is not precise or specific enough. Parents with... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on May 21, 2007 7:52 PM
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Voluntary HPV Vaccine Program In New Hampshire Well Received

New Hampshire has distributed 14,000 doses of Gardasil (Merck) at no charge since January. The HPV vaccination program aimed at girls 11 to 18 has proven to be 100% effective at preventing HPV which is responsible for 70% of new cervical cancer cases. (Search this blog for "HPV Vaccine" to view related articles). In 2007, New Hampshire will spend almost $5 mil (28% of it's immunization budget) on the Gardasil program. Private insurers and the federal government provide all of... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on May 18, 2007 10:27 AM
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Anemia Drugs Dangerously Overprescribed

Doctors routinely treat cancer patients for anemia with 3 FDA approved drugs - Epogen, Procrit, and Aranesp. The prarmaceutical companies market the drugs to help with fatigue and improve the cancer patients' quality of life. At a $1,000 a dose, there's potential for abuse. Indeed, aggressive marketing to doctors and TV advertising to patients has led to overuse of the drugs and may be contributing to safety problems. Recently the FDA warned that the drugs may speed the growth of... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on May 15, 2007 3:24 PM
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A Coalition of Big US Companies Endorses Schwartzenegger Style Health Care Reform

A coalition of 36 big US companies including Pacific Gas and Electric, General Mills, PepsiCo, Safeway, Bumble Bee Foods, and health industry giants Aetna, Cigna, Eli Lilly and Blue Shield of California, have joined together to lobby congress for market-based universal health care. The coalition has laid out some core principles that health care reform should follow: Health insurance will be mandatory Low income citizens are to be subsidized Health insurance will cover pre-existing medical conditions Plans will include coverage... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on May 15, 2007 2:49 PM
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Illinois Healthcare Reform Meets Stiff Resistance in the Business Community

Business owners are voicing outrage over Governor Blagojevich's universal healthcare proposal for the state of Illinois. Illinois Covered would tax Illinois businesses with annual gross receipts of more than $2 million from 0.08% to 1.95% of gross sales. "That's more than thes profit fror many of these businesses and some businesses would move out of Illinois if the tax was imposed", says the state Chamber of Commerce who is conducting a campaign in opposition to the plan.... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on May 9, 2007 1:21 PM
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New Treatment for Hot Flashes Offers Promise

Bianca Kennedy, age 41, suffered terribly from hot flashes after being treated for breast cancer. Up to 25 times a day, she turned red and sweated uncontrollably. For the last 18 months, she's been completely free of hot flashes after a series of 3 injections of local anesthetic into nerve tissue located in the neck. She calles the treatments "life changing". Stellate ganglion blocks (SGB), have been used safely for over 60 years to treat pain says board-certified anesthesiologist and... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on May 9, 2007 12:43 PM
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Public Outcry Against HPV Vaccine in Texas Delays Mandated Vaccination

Back in February 2007, I wrote that the state of Texas was mandating that all 6th grade girls be vaccinated with Gardasil, the Merck HPV vaccine, that promises to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer in Texas by 70% within a generation. I applauded Gov. Rick Perry for getting out ahead of the curve with his bold public health policy mandate. In short order, the press questioned Perry's motivation when it disclosed that Merck (who manufactures Gardasil) had donated a... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on May 2, 2007 1:19 PM
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