"Why Not the Best" The 2008 National Scorecard on Healthcare

Report put out by The Commonwealth Fund, a foremost leader in healthcare research related to working toward a higher performance health care system, especially related to vunerable populations. The report used 37 indicators, including Quality of Care, Outcomes, Access & Availability. SOme of the findings: The USA spends more per person for healthcare, yet trails behind 18 other industrialized nations for preventable rates. Over 70 million people, approx 42% of the country are either uninsured or underinsured-a 60% spike since 2003

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Healthcarere
• USA
• Healthcare
• Disparities
• Reform

[ICharmaine]

@ICharmaine Plus, I am sure there is now an updated one

[ICharmaine]

@SpiritKeeper Reference for this study: Huynh, P. T., Schoen, C., Osborn, R., & Holmgren, A. L. (2006, April). The U.S. health care divide: Disparities in primary care experiences by income. Retrieved April 7, 2006 Sorry but the comment section won't let me post the link, but I can send it to you if you want it.

[ICharmaine]

@thereprieve reference for IOM:

The Institute of Medicine (2004, Updated January 13). Fact sheet 5. Uninsurance facts and figures. Sorry but the comment section won't let me post the link. I'll send it to you if you want it.

[thereprieve]

@ICharmaine - Every medical study has a bias to some degree. The best way to understand is to ALWAYS follow the money. See who invested in this research. Learn that person or groups agenda, and you will learn a lot about the outcome.

I will read whatever information you want to send to me. Keep in mind that my opinion, like yours, will be biased as I read it. But I promise to be as open minded as I know how to be when I do formulate a response.

[thereprieve]

@ICharmaine - My wife has vowed, as many midwives do, to not turn away women seeking her care. As a Doula, she has yet to decline a client on the basis of her ability to pay. In fact, it bacome a tax write-off for a doctor or a midwife to work like this, it then becomes charity. I will ask my MIL what her policy is and get back to you.

[ICharmaine]

@SpiritKeeper Yes, many argue that the brunt of the uninsured here in the USA are poor and should take personal responsibility, as well as it will be like giving them a handout. However this isn't the case. In fact, many of the uninsured are blue-collar workers. And that is a good point you make rearding infants born with illnesses

[ICharmaine]

Oftentimes uninsured aren't provided with needed prescriptions

[ICharmaine]

@thereprieve You have to understand what is being graded with regard to this. Sometimes people DO NEED medicine. There are studies that link reoccurance of illness as being related to lack of proper treatment, as well as education on the medicines.

[ICharmaine]

@thereprieve Do you have a problem with The Institue of Medicine Research?

"uninsured adults have a 25% greater mortality risk than adults with coverage, and it is estimated that approximately 18, 0000 excess deaths among people younger than age 65 are attributed to lack of coverage every year. They are more likely to receive too little care, too late; therefore they present as sicker and die sooner (IOM, 2004, p. 1).

[ICharmaine]

@SpiritKeeper A Report put out by The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured in 2003 documented that 35% of the uninsured experienced needing care, but did not get it; and 37% did not fill a prescription because of cost (The Kaiser Family Foundation, 2003).