My "conversation" with Rush Limbaugh

Today while driving between nursing homes, I heard Rush Limbaugh talking about the health care reform bill’s Advance Care Planning Consultation section. He, like some other conservative talkers, was complaining that the government was mandating these consultations as a way to usher patients towards an early death in order to save money. In my previous [...]

Reimbursing doctors for discussing goals of care with their patients- finally, a good health care reform idea!

Part of the proposed health care reform bill that I like is the idea to reimburse physicians for having an “advance care planning” discussion with their patients once every 5 years. This is something I do with my patients often, and I have wished many times that Medicare would recognize the value of this skill, and the time it takes to perform it, by offering specific reimbursement for the discussion. Unfortunately, some Republicans are saying that supporting a patient-physician conversation about goals of care and end-of-life options will “start us down a treacherous path toward government-encouraged euthanasia”. I disagree.

Health benefits from Chia seeds

A caller to my Tuesday morning appearance on WMBI asked a question about chia seeds, and I had to admit that I did not know much about what they had to offer. If you’re like me, the word “chia” conjures up images of pet-shaped terra cotta pottery with green sprouts. It turns out that eating chia seeds can have some positive health benefits.

This Week’s Health Headlines

Active children go to sleep fasterCDC: All children should get the regular flu vaccine this fallUp to one in four Americans could get swine fluSix lifestyle changes that reduce men’s risk of heart failureObesity rate for preschoolers holds steady at one in seven

Does Your Doctor See Dollar Signs in Your Kid’s Throat?

If you watched President Obama’s press conference Wednesday night, you may have come away with the impression that doctors are often thinking about how much money they can earn from your illness as they make decisions about your health care. Here are his comments from the transcript at CBS News: “Right now doctors a lot [...]

Does Your Doctor See Dollar Signs in Your Kid’s Throat?

If you watched President Obama’s press conference Wednesday night, you may have come away with the impression that doctors are often thinking about how much money they can earn from your illness as they make decisions about your health care. Here are his comments from the transcript at CBS News:

More thoughts on health care reform

I am not an economist; I do not claim to understand the complexities of the health care market, nor can I accurately predict how the proposed health care legislation will impact our nation’s health care industry. However, many aspects of the proposed reforms make me uneasy. 1) Creating a centralized oversight committee in Washington puts [...]

More thoughts on health care reform

I am not an economist; I do not claim to understand the complexities of the health care market, nor can I accurately predict how the proposed health care legislation will impact our nation’s health care industry. However, many aspects of the proposed reforms make me uneasy.

This Week’s Health Headlines

CDC downplays swine flu fears DASH diet combats mental decline Bottle-feeding moms may be overfeeding their kids Boys with unusual names end up in jail more often

This Week’s Health Headlines

Study finds Omega-3 not helpful in slowing Alzheimer’s Seniors should hit the weights Key to living longer- eat less Obesity linked to same-sex parent Stress can cause weight gain Asthma drug may help restore sense of smell

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