Doctor David Fisher

Health Headlines- week of March 7th

davidfisher — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:12:33 +0000

Lawsuit claims that fish oil supplements contain toxins

Sugary drinks could lead to an early grave

American Cancer Society releases new prostate cancer screening guidelines

Having a sense of purpose could prevent Alzheimer’s disease

Is too much small talk making you unhappy?

Day 6 of 206- reading the Senate Health Care Bill

davidfisher — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 04:25:34 +0000

Pressing on…

Today’s health care “summit” did not seem to alter the course of things, and it looks like Congress is going to push this bill through, so I am motivated to continue reading since this may indeed become a reality.

Pages 77-88

Continues to outline how the government will collect fees and penalties from insurance plans that are not compliant with federal rules

Subtitle C Part 1

“Health Insurace Market Reforms”

Prohibits insurance plans from denying people based on a pre-existing condition
Sets rules for insurance plans regarding the increase of premiums
- Can only increase based on:
  - Individual vs. Family
  - “Rating area” (geography within a state)
  - Age
    - No one can be charged more that 3 times the lowest rate offered by that plan
    - Government will establish “age bands” by which insurance plans will rate people
  - Tobacco use (can only raise premiums 50% for this)
Requires insurance plans to accept every employer and individual who applies for coverage
Requires plans to renew coverage no matter what
Prohibits plans from setting up rules of eligibility based on health status or

This all sounds great. I just wonder how health insurance plans are going to abide by these rules. On the one hand, they are required to never turn anyone away or drop coverage based on health status, no matter how ill the patient. This sounds like a reasonable requirement. However, they also are forbidden from raising premiums on these patients whose health care will be very expensive. So, where will the money come from? Caring for people with chronic illness does cost money. I’m not suggesting that people with serious illness should be dropped or denied coverage. And, in today’s system it seems impossible for anyone with serious illness to be able to afford their own health care out of pocket, so who will pay? If the insurance plans cannot raise premiums, but are required to accept and care for sicker patients, where will the money come from? So far this bill does not offer a solution. Insurance plans will be forced to find ways to raise premiums and fees in other ways. Health care companies will spend much effort and time figuring out how to survive under this system, rather than figuring out how to better care for patients.

Health Headlines- week of Feb 22nd

davidfisher — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 04:08:45 +0000

Cholesterol drugs’ heart benefits outweigh diabetes risk

New blood test may revolutionize cancer care

Researchers say placebos could be used to treat some illnesses

“Flat-headed” babies may have cognitive delays

Daily aspirin reduces risk of death after breast cancer

Like cigarettes, pipes and cigars hurt lungs

Radio House Calls Podcast – February 14, 2010

davidfisher — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:14:28 +0000

Click to listen to the February 14, 2010 episode of Radio House Calls, hosted by Doctor David Fisher. David can be heard live every Sunday evening on AM560 from 10-11pm CST.

Radio House Calls Podcast – February 7, 2010

admin — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:12:41 +0000

Click to listen to the February 7, 2010 episode of Radio House Calls, hosted by Doctor David Fisher. David can be heard live every Sunday evening on AM560 from 10-11pm CST.

Radio House Calls Podcast – January 31, 2010

admin — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:09:41 +0000

Click to listen to the January 31, 2010 episode of Radio House Calls, hosted by Doctor David Fisher. David can be heard live every Sunday evening on AM560 from 10-11pm CST.

Health Headlines- week of Feb 15th

davidfisher — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 04:37:10 +0000

Ending statin drugs may not end muscle pains

Oxytocin spray shows promise in autism

Breast MRI no better than traditional surveillance

Female plasma may be better for transfusions

Many frozen embryos go unused when couples choose IVF

Day 5 of 206- reading the Senate Health Care Bill

davidfisher — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:34:18 +0000

Ok, I am back on the saddle. I’d explain why I couldn’t get to this for a week but it would be too boring.

Pages 65-76

Begins to outline the rules for implementing the plan.

The part I find funny… “The Secretary shall adopt operating rules under this subsection… having ensured consultation with providers.” Does this mean that the government is supposed to consult with us health care ‘providers’ before implementing the bill? I don’t recall getting a survey in the mail. Maybe that’s not what this phrase means.

(By the way, don’t call me a ‘provider’. I am a clinician, as are my physician, nurse practitioner, and physician assistant colleagues. We do more than ‘provide’ health care. We bring our skills and experience to your unique person and evaluate complex information to make the best clinical decisions. We are clinicians.)

Section B says that participating plans can require the use of a “machine readable identification card.” Also allows for automatic debit to pay premiums.

Gives deadlines for health plans to provide documentation that they are compliant with the rules established by the Secretary and the chosen non-profit rule-making organization. It is not clear in what form the health plan will have to provide this documentation.

Also gives the Secretary the power to contract with outside entities to ensure that these insurance companies comply and provide adequate documentation, and sets up a plan for auditing the companies as well.

Here the government is given the power to demand documentation from health plans, and could also create or contract with another bureaucracy to ensure compliance. A bureaucracy to monitor the bureaucracy!

Establishes a fee for noncompliant health plans. Any plan not in compliance will be fined $1 per “covered life” per day until they become compliant.

The fee increases each year in correspondence to the increase of the total national health expeditures. The maximum fee is $20 per person/per day.

So far this bill continues to follow the theme of expansion of bureaucracy and increased government control.

Today’s bone: left temporal

Health Headlines- Week of Feb 8th

davidfisher — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 02:45:41 +0000

Diabetics and Their Doctors Not Concerned About the Same Thing

Parents Often Make Errors in Dosing Their Kids

Many Adults Not Getting Recommended Vaccinations

Shingles-Associated Pain Relieved with Botox

New Scan May Allow Communication with Patients in “Vegetative” State

Radio House Calls Podcast – January 24, 2010

davidfisher — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:13:19 +0000

Click to listen to the January 24, 2010 episode of Radio House Calls, hosted by Doctor David Fisher. David can be heard live every Sunday evening on AM560 from 10-11pm CST.