I missed a big article in today's Hartford Courant. It reports that Anthem BCBS of Connecticut is offering its members a rebate if they go to lower cost doctors. Anthem affiliates in other states are experimenting with this, too (so why is this not even hinted at in national press today?). Shop around for lower cost MRIs, colonoscopies and you get payback from Anthem.
Let me tell you a little story. My Crohn's expert is in Manhattan. A colonoscopy and upper endoscopy costs about $5000. Anthem thinks it should cost about $1500. I can't really afford to pay the difference over and over again, so for my last scopes, I tried another doctor in Connecticut. I thought if I went to someone at Yale, they ought to be good enough, right? Well, instead of twilight anesthesia which leaves you somewhat awake (for me, wide awake), they used propofol, which knocks you completely out. I had my scopes, went home, thinking the whole thing had been relatively uneventful. Until the next morning when I woke up with fingerprint bruises all over my neck. Come to find out that I stopped breathing during my scopes so they had to manipulate my airway -- and nobody was planning to tell me about this.
I was (and am) outraged. And this is what happened when I went to a doctor that Anthem wanted me to go to. So here's my response to Anthem: Screw you! My health matters more than you getting to save a little money. But the upshot? I haven't had scopes in over 2 years at least in part because I can't afford to have them done in New York and I'm afraid to try anybody in Connecticut ever again. So in the end, Anthem wins -- and I risk colon cancer because I am not being screened. Is this really what Anthem wants?
I've gotten to know a few high-ranking insurance company executives -- although not at Anthem. But they are decent people. They would want me to get screened. But would they pay for it? Probably not any more than Anthem would. Jennifer
Friday, October 7, 2011
Finally Friday -- And Monday's Columbus Day!
Advocacy for Patients is closed on all postal holidays. So the question is: will Jennifer take the day off and rest like she should? If you see a blog post on Monday, you have my permission to yell at me.
And now, the news.
Today's big story: the Institute of Medicine came out with its recommendations for the essential benefits package. You may recall that, under health reform, the Secretary of Health and Human Services has to come up with an essential benefits package -- the floor that all insurance will have to offer to be offered on an exchange and to be considered the minimum coverage you can have to avoid a penalty for violating the individual mandate. The Institute of Medicine was supposed to come up with a first shot at this. What they wrote (in 340 pages) is that cost must be taken into account, and the Secretary should come up with an essential benefits package that would guarantee that insurance premiums would not exceed a benchmark set by the Secretary. The scope of these plans would be tied to small employer plans, which some consider to be a bit stark. Coverage will include the usual areas -- hospital, doctors, labs, diagnostics, prescription drugs, maternity care -- the big areas. But the details are still fuzzy and according to the IOM, should depend largely on cost. I have read the summary but not all 340 pages yet, so I'm trying not to panic here, but this is huge. And the insurance industry likes it, making me even more nervous. But the idea is to maximize coverage by keeping it affordable, focusing on high value treatments that are proven to work. I'm all for that -- but what about the person with the rare disease for which there are no proven treatments? It's people around the edges who suffer when we talk about controlling costs. Is it fair, right, acceptable to abandon them? We will see the HHS rules some time in 2012.
Innovation is the key, as providers find new ways to deliver health care that are less costly, more efficient.
Here's an interesting take on the individual mandate and why it's really not so different from other parts of the tax code.
And what are we going to do about disparities in health care based on race? We have to confront this issue head-on, but nobody seems to know how. Trauma care is harder to access for African-Americans and those in rural areas. Illegal immigrants have nowhere to go but emergency rooms, where we all pay the bill. And most of all, poverty has a bigger effect on health care than race or ethnicity or geography, although each of those plays a role, too. Minority and low income folks are less likely to have a regular health care provider than others, so no continuity of care, no care coordination -- the most inefficient way to deliver care.
President Obama is trying to get an extension of federal unemployment benefits -- and there are people who are unemployed who oppose that. I'm so confused.
The US Preventive Services Task Force says no more routine prostate cancer screenings -- they don't save lives and often lead to treatment that causes pain, impotence and incontinence. That doesn't mean you can't have the test done; it just means it's not among the free preventive services that are offered.
And that's today's news. Have a great day. Jennifer
And now, the news.
Today's big story: the Institute of Medicine came out with its recommendations for the essential benefits package. You may recall that, under health reform, the Secretary of Health and Human Services has to come up with an essential benefits package -- the floor that all insurance will have to offer to be offered on an exchange and to be considered the minimum coverage you can have to avoid a penalty for violating the individual mandate. The Institute of Medicine was supposed to come up with a first shot at this. What they wrote (in 340 pages) is that cost must be taken into account, and the Secretary should come up with an essential benefits package that would guarantee that insurance premiums would not exceed a benchmark set by the Secretary. The scope of these plans would be tied to small employer plans, which some consider to be a bit stark. Coverage will include the usual areas -- hospital, doctors, labs, diagnostics, prescription drugs, maternity care -- the big areas. But the details are still fuzzy and according to the IOM, should depend largely on cost. I have read the summary but not all 340 pages yet, so I'm trying not to panic here, but this is huge. And the insurance industry likes it, making me even more nervous. But the idea is to maximize coverage by keeping it affordable, focusing on high value treatments that are proven to work. I'm all for that -- but what about the person with the rare disease for which there are no proven treatments? It's people around the edges who suffer when we talk about controlling costs. Is it fair, right, acceptable to abandon them? We will see the HHS rules some time in 2012.
Innovation is the key, as providers find new ways to deliver health care that are less costly, more efficient.
Here's an interesting take on the individual mandate and why it's really not so different from other parts of the tax code.
And what are we going to do about disparities in health care based on race? We have to confront this issue head-on, but nobody seems to know how. Trauma care is harder to access for African-Americans and those in rural areas. Illegal immigrants have nowhere to go but emergency rooms, where we all pay the bill. And most of all, poverty has a bigger effect on health care than race or ethnicity or geography, although each of those plays a role, too. Minority and low income folks are less likely to have a regular health care provider than others, so no continuity of care, no care coordination -- the most inefficient way to deliver care.
President Obama is trying to get an extension of federal unemployment benefits -- and there are people who are unemployed who oppose that. I'm so confused.
The US Preventive Services Task Force says no more routine prostate cancer screenings -- they don't save lives and often lead to treatment that causes pain, impotence and incontinence. That doesn't mean you can't have the test done; it just means it's not among the free preventive services that are offered.
And that's today's news. Have a great day. Jennifer
Thursday, October 6, 2011
HealthyCT -- A New Choice for Connecticut Consumers
The Connecticut State Medical Society and their Independent Practice are developing a co-op -- a nonprofit insurance plan for people in Connecticut. All of the details are still being worked out, but the more options for consumers, the better -- and nonprofit sounds good to me. Here's their statement:
The Connecticut State Medical Society and the Connecticut State Medical Society-IPA have filed a letter of intent with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services seeking selection of HealthyCT to become a Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This non-profit entity launched by CSMS and the CSMS-IPA would offer consumers and employers primarily in the individual and small-business market another choice of health insurance through the state’s newly created health insurance exchange.
The CO-OP’s board would be comprised of physicians and consumers. The physician network would be provided by the CSMS-IPA, an independent practice association dedicated to preserving and supporting independent physician practices in the state of Connecticut. It is the largest and only statewide IPA. Together, CSMS and the CSMS-IPA have been meeting with federal and state agencies to discuss necessary steps to file the CO-OP application and launch the CO-OP consistent with state and federal requirements.
“As physicians -- and as employers and consumers ourselves -- we know that it’s time Connecticut had more options in the health insurance marketplace from an insurer that puts patients before profits,” said David S. Katz, MD, CSMS immediate past president. “We at CSMS know from our own involvement fighting rate hikes on behalf of our patients that they don’t have access to insurance options that focus on quality of medical care and emphasize the patient-physician relationship.”
“The participating providers of the CSMS-IPA are excited to help sponsor an initiative to develop a Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) that will change how health care is purchased and delivered in Connecticut,” said David Thompson, MD, CSMS-IPA president. “The payment models and legacy systems used by existing health plan payors have proven to be major impediments to the fundamental changes that are required to make health insurance more affordable to consumers and employers. As small business owners, physicians are well aware of the financial burden health care benefits impose on employers.”
HealthyCT must file a full application with DHHS by October 17 to receive full consideration for CO-OP status and notification of approval on or around January 12, 2012. The CO-OP will be working to become fully operational on the state health insurance exchange in 2014.
Advocacy for Patients has submitted a letter of support that will go to HHS with the application. I'm excited to see how this will play out. Jennifer
CSMS and CSMS-IPA file intent to form non-profit health CO-OP
Individuals, small businesses may have alternative choice of health plans
Individuals, small businesses may have alternative choice of health plans
The Connecticut State Medical Society and the Connecticut State Medical Society-IPA have filed a letter of intent with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services seeking selection of HealthyCT to become a Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This non-profit entity launched by CSMS and the CSMS-IPA would offer consumers and employers primarily in the individual and small-business market another choice of health insurance through the state’s newly created health insurance exchange.
The CO-OP’s board would be comprised of physicians and consumers. The physician network would be provided by the CSMS-IPA, an independent practice association dedicated to preserving and supporting independent physician practices in the state of Connecticut. It is the largest and only statewide IPA. Together, CSMS and the CSMS-IPA have been meeting with federal and state agencies to discuss necessary steps to file the CO-OP application and launch the CO-OP consistent with state and federal requirements.
“As physicians -- and as employers and consumers ourselves -- we know that it’s time Connecticut had more options in the health insurance marketplace from an insurer that puts patients before profits,” said David S. Katz, MD, CSMS immediate past president. “We at CSMS know from our own involvement fighting rate hikes on behalf of our patients that they don’t have access to insurance options that focus on quality of medical care and emphasize the patient-physician relationship.”
“The participating providers of the CSMS-IPA are excited to help sponsor an initiative to develop a Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) that will change how health care is purchased and delivered in Connecticut,” said David Thompson, MD, CSMS-IPA president. “The payment models and legacy systems used by existing health plan payors have proven to be major impediments to the fundamental changes that are required to make health insurance more affordable to consumers and employers. As small business owners, physicians are well aware of the financial burden health care benefits impose on employers.”
HealthyCT must file a full application with DHHS by October 17 to receive full consideration for CO-OP status and notification of approval on or around January 12, 2012. The CO-OP will be working to become fully operational on the state health insurance exchange in 2014.
Advocacy for Patients has submitted a letter of support that will go to HHS with the application. I'm excited to see how this will play out. Jennifer
Thursday Themes -- Sad and Mad Version
Steve Jobs was 56 years old. That's 2 years older than I am. He accomplished more in his short life than any 10 of us put together. He did it with passion and joy. We should all be so lucky as to find the work, family and friends that give us such a strong love for life.
Derrick Bell passed yesterday, too. You probably don't know about him, but you should. A lifetime ago, I heard him give a speech in which he said all white people are racist. I was determined to prove him wrong, so I wrote him. He wrote me back, and there started a brief but intensely meaningful correspondence. He taught me my own heart. The fear I felt when a group of African-American men approached me on a dark street. The assumptions we make about people. He challenged me to confront my silent bias and work it through. I am a far better person for having known him. I am so incredibly sad about his passing.
Once I stopped crying over Derrick's death, I started reading the news and got increasingly angry. I'm not in the mood to play nice today, so here's what I really think:
Senate Dems have proposed a 5% surtax on the super-wealthy. That would pay for President Obama's jobs bill. A lovely GOPer named Denny Rehberg says we should cut two provisions of health reform instead -- subsidies that will allow people to afford insurance, and the planned expansion of Medicaid. Sure -- take away anything that will help poor people get health care. And then blame the Dems for class warfare? Are you nuts?
Indeed, the Administration has scaled back funding for Community Health Center expansions -- another strike for the lower and middle class forced by arbitrary budget cutting.
If the individual mandate is scrapped by the Supreme Court, will we still have health reform? If you have a pre-existing condition, you better hope so, because if health reform goes down, so does coverage for pre-existing conditions that will begin in 2014. And that will kill us. Literally.
Meanwhile, anti-reform Congressmen brought a petition with 1.6 million signatures supporting health reform repeal to the President yesterday, accusing him of lying about the fact that health reform will save jobs. If you look a the jobs numbers, you'll see that one of the only sectors where jobs have steadily grown is health care. But why bother with those pesky details when your goal is to find excuses to call the President of the United States a liar?
And 78 Dem members of Congress have asked the supercommittee to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices. About time. But since part of the GOP's job is to protect Pharma, there's probably little chance of success here.
The President has embraced the offensive "Obamacare" label saying it's correct, Obama Cares. I'm not as magnanimous as he is. I still think it's a horrible offense.
One of the largest hospitals in California is teaming up with hundreds of doctors to create a healthcare delivery system aimed at eliminating inefficiencies. Only through these types of innovations will we figure out how to solve the mess we're in.
Should a candidate's weight be part of the discussion? Those of us who struggle with obesity know that people assume we are lazy, disorganized. People make judgments about us all the time. It's going to come up if someone who is overweight runs for President. It should stop. Now.
Public health department budgets are being slashed, crippling them in their efforts to keep us safe and healthy.
A body suit may enable the paralyzed to walk. Wouldn't that be something?
Millions of people have to travel long distances to get to a trauma center, when any delay can make the difference between life and death.
Scientists have found a new, better way to harvest stem cells. It involves cloning.
Another hospital -- this time Stanford -- has had a security breach, posting private information about patients. If we're going to go to electronic medical records, providers have to get better at protecting it.
It surprised researchers to find that surgery is common in the last year, month, even week of life. People with a love for life cling to it while others are ready to let go. No surprise to me.
Sloan-Kettering wants to set up another location in Westchester, NY, but local hospitals object.
Derrick Bell was right. White people tacitly accept the privileges of being white all day every day without ever thinking of how their life would be different if they didn't have those privileges. Think about that. Reflect. Be honest with yourself.
And then tell me -- do you think people would EVER talk about the President of the United States the way they talk about President Obama if he were white? Really? Do you remember the Senate Minority Leader ever announcing after an election that his number one priority was to make sure the President only had one term? Has Congress ever before opposed increasing the debt limit? And then there are the birthers -- could that happen to a white President? Don't answer me; reflect on what's in your heart and learn to live with it. Jennifer
Derrick Bell passed yesterday, too. You probably don't know about him, but you should. A lifetime ago, I heard him give a speech in which he said all white people are racist. I was determined to prove him wrong, so I wrote him. He wrote me back, and there started a brief but intensely meaningful correspondence. He taught me my own heart. The fear I felt when a group of African-American men approached me on a dark street. The assumptions we make about people. He challenged me to confront my silent bias and work it through. I am a far better person for having known him. I am so incredibly sad about his passing.
Once I stopped crying over Derrick's death, I started reading the news and got increasingly angry. I'm not in the mood to play nice today, so here's what I really think:
Senate Dems have proposed a 5% surtax on the super-wealthy. That would pay for President Obama's jobs bill. A lovely GOPer named Denny Rehberg says we should cut two provisions of health reform instead -- subsidies that will allow people to afford insurance, and the planned expansion of Medicaid. Sure -- take away anything that will help poor people get health care. And then blame the Dems for class warfare? Are you nuts?
Indeed, the Administration has scaled back funding for Community Health Center expansions -- another strike for the lower and middle class forced by arbitrary budget cutting.
If the individual mandate is scrapped by the Supreme Court, will we still have health reform? If you have a pre-existing condition, you better hope so, because if health reform goes down, so does coverage for pre-existing conditions that will begin in 2014. And that will kill us. Literally.
Meanwhile, anti-reform Congressmen brought a petition with 1.6 million signatures supporting health reform repeal to the President yesterday, accusing him of lying about the fact that health reform will save jobs. If you look a the jobs numbers, you'll see that one of the only sectors where jobs have steadily grown is health care. But why bother with those pesky details when your goal is to find excuses to call the President of the United States a liar?
And 78 Dem members of Congress have asked the supercommittee to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices. About time. But since part of the GOP's job is to protect Pharma, there's probably little chance of success here.
The President has embraced the offensive "Obamacare" label saying it's correct, Obama Cares. I'm not as magnanimous as he is. I still think it's a horrible offense.
One of the largest hospitals in California is teaming up with hundreds of doctors to create a healthcare delivery system aimed at eliminating inefficiencies. Only through these types of innovations will we figure out how to solve the mess we're in.
Should a candidate's weight be part of the discussion? Those of us who struggle with obesity know that people assume we are lazy, disorganized. People make judgments about us all the time. It's going to come up if someone who is overweight runs for President. It should stop. Now.
Public health department budgets are being slashed, crippling them in their efforts to keep us safe and healthy.
A body suit may enable the paralyzed to walk. Wouldn't that be something?
Millions of people have to travel long distances to get to a trauma center, when any delay can make the difference between life and death.
Scientists have found a new, better way to harvest stem cells. It involves cloning.
Another hospital -- this time Stanford -- has had a security breach, posting private information about patients. If we're going to go to electronic medical records, providers have to get better at protecting it.
It surprised researchers to find that surgery is common in the last year, month, even week of life. People with a love for life cling to it while others are ready to let go. No surprise to me.
Sloan-Kettering wants to set up another location in Westchester, NY, but local hospitals object.
Derrick Bell was right. White people tacitly accept the privileges of being white all day every day without ever thinking of how their life would be different if they didn't have those privileges. Think about that. Reflect. Be honest with yourself.
And then tell me -- do you think people would EVER talk about the President of the United States the way they talk about President Obama if he were white? Really? Do you remember the Senate Minority Leader ever announcing after an election that his number one priority was to make sure the President only had one term? Has Congress ever before opposed increasing the debt limit? And then there are the birthers -- could that happen to a white President? Don't answer me; reflect on what's in your heart and learn to live with it. Jennifer
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Hump Day Headlines
The House passed the Senate's continuing resolution to fund the government through November 18 -- almost the same time as we'll be seeing the super-committee's proposals (if they can agree on anything). It's going to be an interesting Fall. The House GOP don't want an omnibus spending bill, but it looks like that's where the 2012 budget is headed. Leaders say they are making progress. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke tells Congress to stop the partisan fighting and get down to business on the deficit. But there are some in Congress who don't mind if government falls apart -- they vote no on every funding bill, no matter what. It's a bipartisan group, voting no for different reasons, but willing to let the bottom fall out to show what's wrong with the status quo. Part of me says this is irresponsible; part of me says it's brave. The supercommittee's options are less than inviting. Sen. Reid is considering a surtax on millionaires to fund the President's jobs program. And actually, people earning over $100,000 per year are in favor of raising taxes on the rich. Do members of Congress read the same newspapers I do? And here's a good one - the AMA wants the supercommittee to limit medical malpractice suits. As if that will really fix the deficit. Then there are the groups that want the supercommittee to scrap the Medicare Independent Payment Advisory Council, which is supposed to help cut Medicare costs.
One of the most important pieces of health reform will be establishing the essential benefits package -- the benefits insurance has to cover as a floor, as basic coverage. The Institute of Medicine is taking a first crack at this -- and here's a forecast of where some experts think this is going.
Don Berwick, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is a brilliant innovator, stewarding many pilot programs that are helping to reduce medical errors and that we hope will help control cost. But Republicans refuse to confirm his nomination. He's currently serving under a recess appointment, but will have to leave at the end of the year. And there is nobody in the United States better suited to this challenge. Another example of politics run amok.
Will the Supreme Court consider the effect of its ruling on health reform on the reputation of the Court? Usually, they don't seem to care much -- there was Bush v. Gore, which stole the election from Al Gore; there was Citizen's United, which allowed corporations to make unlimited political donations. I think this is just conjecture. The Court is going to take the case.
Is the CLASS Act -- subsidized long-term care insurance -- dead? Too soon to tell.
Chris Christie is not running for President -- but he's disturbed by the pundits who questioned whether his weight is a sign of lack of discipline, and claims they are biased. I could have told you people would say things like that about his weight -- people have been saying those things about me my whole life. Is it fair?
Even the mildest stroke can cause disabilities.
Palliative care -- care to treat pain when the patient is terminal -- is growing, slowly.
And that's what I have for you this morning. Have a great day. Jennifer
One of the most important pieces of health reform will be establishing the essential benefits package -- the benefits insurance has to cover as a floor, as basic coverage. The Institute of Medicine is taking a first crack at this -- and here's a forecast of where some experts think this is going.
Don Berwick, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is a brilliant innovator, stewarding many pilot programs that are helping to reduce medical errors and that we hope will help control cost. But Republicans refuse to confirm his nomination. He's currently serving under a recess appointment, but will have to leave at the end of the year. And there is nobody in the United States better suited to this challenge. Another example of politics run amok.
Will the Supreme Court consider the effect of its ruling on health reform on the reputation of the Court? Usually, they don't seem to care much -- there was Bush v. Gore, which stole the election from Al Gore; there was Citizen's United, which allowed corporations to make unlimited political donations. I think this is just conjecture. The Court is going to take the case.
Is the CLASS Act -- subsidized long-term care insurance -- dead? Too soon to tell.
Chris Christie is not running for President -- but he's disturbed by the pundits who questioned whether his weight is a sign of lack of discipline, and claims they are biased. I could have told you people would say things like that about his weight -- people have been saying those things about me my whole life. Is it fair?
Even the mildest stroke can cause disabilities.
Palliative care -- care to treat pain when the patient is terminal -- is growing, slowly.
And that's what I have for you this morning. Have a great day. Jennifer
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Tuesday Tidbits
The House GOP keep at it, passing bills to defund health reform, Planned Parenthood -- political posturing in anticipation of a show-down with the Senate. Meanwhile, Congress is looking at ways to improve the budget process. I know. How about they stop passing bills they know can't be passed by the other house of Congress, or signed by the President? How about they stop imposing extreme political views on people who disagree with them? Let me see. How about they stop the political posturing and get government to work.
Teaching patients to ask more questions of their doctors -- and teaching doctors to help -- a new initiative of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Love this.
A new report documents prescription drug abuse under Medicare -- people filling way more prescriptions for narcotics than they possibly can use. Who's minding the store? Similarly, three home health agencies are charged with gaming the Medicare system.
Can Medicaid recipients sue over cuts in reimbursement rates for providers? The Supreme Court heard argument yesterday as it began its new term.
Drug shortages are becoming a serious problem, leading doctors to ration care. These aren't just cancer drugs (although that would be bad enough). It's antibiotics, electrolytes -- things that are very commonly used. What's going on here? Are the pharmaceutical companies just trying to drive up costs?
A group of doctors and hospitals have written to the Supercommittee and asked that they not cut funds for training of doctors. In the face of an anticipated shortage, especially in primary care physicians, this makes good sense.
Is American medicine too aggressive? Is it healthy to go with less treatment? I love that idea. Unfortunately, on the rare occasion when I forget to take my meds, I pay dearly for it.
An interesting piece by our friend Arielle Levin Becker, who says that caregivers aren't given the instructions they need to ensure proper care for patients.
Churches partner with a hospital to ensure transitions, support. An example of the private sector filling a gap.
The doctor who led the team that tried to link chronic fatigue syndrome to a retro-virus has been fired from her job.
A contraceptive used on Africa may double the risk of AIDS. This has to stop.
And there's today's news. Have a great day! Jennifer
Teaching patients to ask more questions of their doctors -- and teaching doctors to help -- a new initiative of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Love this.
A new report documents prescription drug abuse under Medicare -- people filling way more prescriptions for narcotics than they possibly can use. Who's minding the store? Similarly, three home health agencies are charged with gaming the Medicare system.
Can Medicaid recipients sue over cuts in reimbursement rates for providers? The Supreme Court heard argument yesterday as it began its new term.
Drug shortages are becoming a serious problem, leading doctors to ration care. These aren't just cancer drugs (although that would be bad enough). It's antibiotics, electrolytes -- things that are very commonly used. What's going on here? Are the pharmaceutical companies just trying to drive up costs?
A group of doctors and hospitals have written to the Supercommittee and asked that they not cut funds for training of doctors. In the face of an anticipated shortage, especially in primary care physicians, this makes good sense.
Is American medicine too aggressive? Is it healthy to go with less treatment? I love that idea. Unfortunately, on the rare occasion when I forget to take my meds, I pay dearly for it.
An interesting piece by our friend Arielle Levin Becker, who says that caregivers aren't given the instructions they need to ensure proper care for patients.
Churches partner with a hospital to ensure transitions, support. An example of the private sector filling a gap.
The doctor who led the team that tried to link chronic fatigue syndrome to a retro-virus has been fired from her job.
A contraceptive used on Africa may double the risk of AIDS. This has to stop.
And there's today's news. Have a great day! Jennifer
Monday, October 3, 2011
From the White House National Disability Employment Awareness Month
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release October 3, 2011
NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH, 2011
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
Utilizing the talents of all Americans is essential for our Nation to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world. During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we recognize the skills that people with disabilities bring to our workforce, and we rededicate ourselves to improving employment opportunities in both the public and private sectors for those living with disabilities.
More than 20 years after the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals with disabilities, including injured veterans, are making immeasurable contributions to workplaces across our country. Unfortunately, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities remains too high -- nearly double the rate of people without disabilities -- and reversing this trend is crucial.
In both the public and private sectors, we can increase employment opportunities for Americans with disabilities. My Administration is promoting competitive, integrated employment for persons with disabilities and the elderly through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Last year, we also recommitted to making the Federal Government a model employer for people living with disabilities. Agencies are working harder than ever to promote equal hiring practices and increase retention, while also expanding internships, fellowships, and training opportunities.
We know education is the foundation on which all children can build bright and successful futures, and no child should be limited in his or her desire to learn. In September, we announced the final regulations under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part C, to improve services and outcomes for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families during the critical years before kindergarten. The educational environments we are creating for children with disabilities will ensure they are better prepared to succeed in the classroom and later in the workplace, helping position our Nation to lead in the 21st century.
Work accessibility is just as vital to success as ensuring educational and hiring opportunities. Public transportation is a service that should be available to all Americans, and rules instated this year by the Department of Transportation require new rail construction or renovations to ensure accessibility to persons with disabilities. We are also improving our compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act to make Federal agencies' electronic and information technology more accessible to individuals with disabilities. This will ensure all applicants have equal opportunity to apply for jobs, and it will allow Federal employees to better use technology at work.
To win the future, we must harness the power of our Nation's richest resource -- our people. Americans with disabilities, like all Americans, are entitled to not only full participation in our society, but also full opportunity in our society. Their talents and contributions are vital to the strength of our Nation's workforce and our future prosperity. Together, we can ensure persons living with disabilities have equal access to employment, and to inclusive, supportive workplaces.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2011 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month. I urge all Americans to embrace the talents and skills that individuals with disabilities bring to our workplaces and communities and to promote the right to equal employment opportunity for all people.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
# # #
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/10/03/presidential-proclamation-national-disability-employment-awareness-month
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