July 24th, 2011
Value insurance plans encourage maintenance of medication therapies
posted by Michael Hanson
A new study from CVS Caremark has discovered that wellness insurance coverage that prioritizes value when it comes to medication costs can drastically assist patients begin, and maintain, their medication therapy.
According to a study, conducted by the pharmaceutical healthcare provider, both initiation and adherence rates for diabetes patients who had been given insulin or an oral diabetes medication had been higher for those that had insurance plans that stressed value.
Overall, those that had been enrolled in value-based insurance plan designs had a higher initiation rate than those with standard insurance plans (2.3 percent versus 1.6 percent) whilst fewer value-based customers (16 percent) ended up discontinuing care than those on normal insurance plans (24.3 percent).
“As the wellness care debate continues, 1 thing is clear: We all have to find ways to make wellness care much more affordable,” stated Dr. Troyen A. Brennan, executive vice president and chief medical officer of CVS Caremark. “Our passion and expertise is to assist our clients receive the best pharmacy care accessible, and that may be achieved by focusing on adherence to impact the wellness of our customers and assist take costs out of the wellness care system.”
The results of the research will be utilized within the development of programs to ensure that patients, no matter what their insurance plan, remain on their medications and get the proper assist they require.
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July 24th, 2011
USDA recalls 850,000 pounds of beef due to E. coli risk
posted by Michael Hanson
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced the recall of much more than 850,000 pounds of beef from a Montebello, California-based meat packing plant after it was determined the product might be contaminated with E. coli bacteria.
The USDA announced the Class I recall of 864,000 pounds of beef products from Huntington Meat Packing Inc. on Monday after Food Safety Assessment by the department’s Food Safety and Inspection Services came back with reason for further investigation due to potential E. coli contamination.
The products in question had been produced between January 5 and 15 and had been shipped to distribution centers, restaurants, and hotels within California.
Additionally the USDA also announced that follow-up tests of beef products produced between February 19 and Might 15, 2008 might have also been contaminated with E. coli bacteria.
For families who think they have ingested the potentially contaminated beef and have young or elderly members suffering from symptoms consistent with E. coli, immediate medical care might be needed to prevent kidney failure, especially if it concerns 1 with a weakened immune system.
In situations like these, having appropriate wellness insurance coverage is a must to be able to get the proper medical attention without having to spend exorbitantly high prices.
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July 24th, 2011
USDA issues recall of salmonella-tainted salami product
posted by Lawrence Shipman
More than 1.2 million pounds of prepackaged salami products have been recalled following the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service’s discovery of salmonella during an ongoing investigation.
In the midst of looking into an outbreak of salmonella serotype Montevideo illnesses across numerous states, the FSIS came across the tainted meat product during samples taken from meat processed at Daniele International Inc., which is based in Pascoag and Mapleville, Rhode Island.
Among the 18 products that might potentially contain the salmonella-infected meat are pre-packaged salami meats sold under the Daniele, Dietz & Watson, and Boar’s Head brand names.
Aside from Montevideo, salmonella ingestion can also cause salmonellosis, an intestinal illness that may cause a headache, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps for up to 72 hours. The USDA stated the illness had the potential to be fatal to those with weakened immune systems due to youth, old age, AIDS, or chemotherapy treatment.
Food poisoning due to unnoticed traces of bacteria like salmonella in processed food products is a cause of illness that may strike at any time. Consumers should make sure they are always properly covered by their wellness insurance policy to make sure any hospital visits that might be caused by something like salmonellosis is easily obtainable.
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July 24th, 2011
Unpredictable winter season creating dangerous winter conditions in areas unaccustomed to them
posted by Lawrence Shipman
Following 1 of the snowier Decembers on record in many areas across the country, some states that rarely see winter weather are learning of the difficulty – and danger – that conditions can bring.
After a snowstorm lately left roads in Atlanta, Georgia icy for the morning commute last week, drivers who had been not used to the wintery weather and how to deal with it ended up obtaining involved in a 30-car accident near the city’s Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
“I wanted to stay home today, but my boss never called me back, so I thought I should try to get in,” stated Beth Ament, 30, a resident who was near the accident fueling her car, told the Related Press.
Residents of North Texas have also had to learn to stay safe during the colder-than-usual temperatures that ranged as low as 22 degrees with a wind chill of 8. Based on the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Red Cross had opened a slew of emergency shelters to assist homeless men and women who had been ill equipped to face the cold and faced death.
Be it auto insurance to protect one’s vehicle within the event of an accident, or wellness insurance in case unexpectedly cold weather takes a toll on one’s wellness, consumers living in traditionally warm areas should adjust their coverage accordingly to make sure they are protected within the event of a cold weather blast this winter.
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July 24th, 2011
Treatment for bone marrow diseases receives FDA approval for new dosing regimen
posted by Michael Hanson
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a brand new dosing regimen for a medication designed to treat patients who suffer from a particular set of bone marrow diseases that alter the production of functional blood cells.
Dacogen, a hypomethylating agent that was designed for injection into patients suffering from myelodysplastic syndromes that was created by Eisai Inc., was approved last week by the FDA for a five-day dosing regimen. The treatment had only previously been approved for a three-day regemin.
“The approval of Dacogen offers doctors and patients the flexibility of choosing the most appropriate dosing regimen for an individual patient,” stated Steven C. Sembler, Senior Vice President of Commercial U.S. Pharmaceuticals at Eisai. “This essential milestone demonstrates our commitment to furthering Eisai’s human wellness care mission of increasing advantages for patients and their families.”
Myelodysplastic syndromes primarily affect men over the age of 60 and can result in anemia, neutropenia, and/or thrombocytopenia that may lead to fatigue, shortness of breath, infections, bruising and bleeding.
While the new dosing regimen might create a much more appropriate method of treating some MDS patients, its status as a newer treatment me preclude it from being covered by some wellness insurance plans that prefer much more established remedies. Prior to beginning any remedies, 1 should always make sure their insurance covers the costs related with it, or seek out a plan that does provide the appropriate coverage.
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July 24th, 2011
Traumatic brain injuries prove costly
Costs for medical care may be expensive for even a minor doctor’s go to. Those that have a traumatic brain injury and require much more extensive wellness care services might find themselves financially strained. Having good individual wellness insurance is essential for helping individuals keep costs at bay.
Research from the CORE Wellness Foundation discovered that the toll of TBIs adds up to $6.8 billion a year in Texas alone.
Due to the high costs related with TBI, CORE is advocating for much more research on the condition.
“Money does not cure all issues, but when money is spent with a plan and a mission, the results may be significant,” stated Coalition of Texans with Disabilities executive director Dennis Borel. “A comprehensive effort to fund future rehabilitation, research, prevention and education programs can have lasting effects for TBI patients, families, medical care providers and society.”
Even after a patient has received initial treatment for a TBI, that doesn’t mean that their care is over with. The American Speech-Language Hearing Association notes that over 80,000 individuals are left with permanent disabilities as a result of a TBI.
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July 24th, 2011
Trader Joe”s recalls granola bars over wellness concerns
posted by Lawrence Shipman
Move over Toyota, Trader Joe’s is the latest company to issue a recall regarding 1 of their products after learning it could be harmful to its customers’ wellness.
According to a recent posting on the specialty grocery store’s website, all Trader Joe’s Chocolate Chip Chewy Coated Granola Bars have been removed from store shelves and destroyed. The recall came after alerts from suppliers that boxes of the bars with expiration dates of July 16 and July 17, 2010 might contain “a severe food-borne illness.”
“If you purchased any Trader Joe’s Chocolate Chip Chewy Coated Granola Bars with the specified code dates, please do not eat them. Please return the product (full or empty) to any Trader Joe’s for a full refund or dispose of it.,” read the statement.
While Trader Joe’s did not elaborate further, a report by the Related Press stated that the products might have been contaminated with salmonella.
Salmonella ingestion can lead to salmonellosis, an abdominal illness that may cause extreme cramps, fever, and diarrhea for up to a week. It also has the potential to be fatal to those that have weakened immune systems.
When it comes to unpredictable circumstances like tainted food that may lead to severe illnesses, it is extremely essential to be covered by an adequate wellness insurance provider that may pay for any sudden medical costs.
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July 24th, 2011
Those without wellness insurance much more most likely to die from traumatic injuries
posted by Lawrence Shipman
A recent study shows that individuals without wellness insurance are almost twice as most likely to die simply because of traumatic injuries.
The study was conducted by researchers from Harvard University and showed that those without wellness insurance who had a severe injury had been 80 percent much more most likely to die simply because of their wounds when compared to individuals who have insurance.
Though the numbers showed individuals without insurance run a greater risk of dying, the exact cause is unknown, especially since emergency rooms are required to stabilize patients regardless of their insurance status. The researchers did cite numerous possibilities, including the fact the hospitals that treat individuals without insurance might be underfunded.
Furthermore, regardless of the law, individuals without insurance might get treated differently, which would include them being much more most likely to be transferred out of a hospital as soon as they are stabilized.
The study comes as members of Congress continue to debate the issue of reforming the wellness care system within the country. The Senate is within the process of looking at a bill that was lately passed by the House.
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July 23rd, 2011
Ten percent of population visited wellness insurance website in Q4 2009, says comScore
posted by Lawrence Shipman
Health insurance coverage seemed to be on the minds of many during the final months of 2009, as websites that discussed or offered wellness insurance coverage had been visited by approximately 1 out of every 10 Americans.
According to a recent study conducted by comScore, 23.8 million Americans – or 10 percent of the online population – went to at least 1 wellness insurance website during the fourth quarter of 2009.
The findings included visits to both insurer websites, and aggregator destinations.
Aetna was discovered to be the most popular website, garnering 4.8 million visitors during the quarter. Blue Cross Blue Shield followed with 4.1 million visitors during the time frame. In total, nine separate wellness insurance websites had at least two million visitors.
“Consumers are increasingly turning to the Internet as 1 of their first destinations to research wellness insurance, whether it is gathering information to evaluate options or seeking answers to questions concerning their present provider,” stated comScore director Susan Engleson. “Having a strong online presence serves as both a gateway to consumers as well as an essential branding opportunity for wellness insurance organizations.”
The data discovered from the survey had been described in further detail in an online webinar by comScore, titled The Online Wellness Insurance Landscape, which took place today.
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July 23rd, 2011
Teen pregnancy on the rise, says Guttmacher Institute
posted by Michael Hanson
A new survey has discovered that teenage pregnancy is as soon as again on the rise following much more than a decade of declines.
According to the Guttmacher Institute, 7 percent of women between the ages of 15 and 19 – or 71.5 per 1,000 women – went via pregnancies in 2006. The increase in pregnancies was a stark reversal from the trend seen via the 1990s and into the 2000s of decreased amounts of teen pregnancies.
After peaking in 1990 at 116.9 teen pregnancies per 1,000 women, the rate had plummeted by 41 percent by 2005 as only 69.5 per 1,000 teens had been pregnant.
Lawrence Finer, Guttmacher’s director of domestic research, stated it was not yet possible to tell if the 05-06 pregnancy rate was nothing much more than a fluctuation in data or a newly-established trend that would be seen for years to come, acknowledging that either option was still “of great concern.”
“Either way, it is clearly time to redouble our efforts to make sure our young individuals have the information, interpersonal skills and wellness services they have to prevent unwanted pregnancies and to turn out to be sexually healthy adults,” he added.
Because of the numerous wellness risks and medical costs related with being pregnant, particularly if it involves a teenage mother, it is essential for families to ensure that any wellness coverage taken out for their children covers the medical assistance that would be needed in such a situation.
For those that have inadequate coverage, or simply want lower premiums with comparable advantages, shopping online for wellness insurance providers might be the best method to find the best overall accessible coverage.
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July 23rd, 2011
Tax-free healthcare coverage now accessible for employee children under 27
posted by Michael Hanson
On Tuesday, the Internal Revenue Service announced that employees with children under the age of 27 will now be able receive tax-free coverage for them under their wellness insurance plans.
Changes created to the Affordable Care Act now makes this coverage for employee children tax-free. Employers with cafeteria plans are now able to allow their employees to make pre-tax contributions to be able to pay for this expanded benefit. Cafeteria plans permit workers to choose from a variety of cash or taxable advantages and tax-free benefit options.
IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman stated that “these modifications give employers a unique opportunity to offer a worthwhile benefit to their employees. We want to make it as easy as possible for employers to quickly implement this change and extend wellness coverage on a tax-favored basis to older children of their employees.”
The expanded wellness benefit is applicable to a variety of employer and retiree insurance plans, as well as for those that are self-employed and are eligible for the self-employed wellness insurance deduction for the federal income tax return.
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July 23rd, 2011
Taking care of one”s self can result in lower wellness insurance bills
People who want to hold down their medical bills, and in turn, their wellness insurance costs, can pay attention to a recent letter released by six prominent nonprofit groups calling for a greater focus on preventive medicine.
The letter came from groups including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The California Endowment and Kaiser Permanente, amongst others.
According to the organizations, community-level preventive medicine efforts have already paid off handsomely in some areas. Some examples included a walking group formed in Bakersfield, California that helped clean up a local park, and a citywide campaign in Somerville, Massachusetts that resulted in healthier food at local schools.
“It is time to scale up these efforts by including robust financial support for community prevention in any wellness systems reform,” stated the letter, which also stated that investing $10 per person on illness prevention programs could trim $16 billion in costs from the nation’s healthcare system.
Such savings would also apply to individual wellness insurance customers as well by generating them much less at risk for potentially expensive conditions like diabetes.
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