Hits & Misses – 2009/4/21
Thousands of veterans put at risk by contaminated colonoscopy equipment (one has HIV; seven have Hepatitis C) at Miami VA hospital. System held as a model for the country by Paul Krugman and others.
Blue Cross study: People who choose high deductible plans are more savvy about controlling costs. They choose generics over brand name drugs and take better care of their health.
Poor and elderly Minnesotans on government health plans get worse care than those with private coverage. Even when treated at the same clinics by the same doctors.
Safeway employees with unhealthy behaviors pay 51% more for their health insurance. Employees must submit to an annual cheek swab to prove they are not smoking, have their cholesterol and blood pressure measured and be weighed yearly.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-idDbIfGvw
“As time goes by so slowly”
There are some very good items here. I count three of the five as “misses.” And all of the misses have to do with government not delivering.
The most interesting thing about the Canadian emergency room description is that this is precisely what the single payer folks think we are going to avoid if we copy the Canadian or British system.
In fact, single payer produces awful emergency room waits in both countries.
hepatitis can be prevented by avoiding sharing of needles and proper sterilization of cutting tools~`*