WASHINGTON, Jun 1 (Reuters) - A coalition of U.S. health industry groups on Monday outlined how they plan meet President Barack Obama's goal of cutting $2 trillion in costs industrywide over the next decade.
In a letter to Obama, the groups said some of the proposed savings can be achieved now but others depend on "good public policy" in a proposed health industry overhaul that Obama wants Congress to enact by the end of the year.
"We are committed to doing our part to make the system more affordable and effective for the nation," wrote the groups, which included representatives of doctors and private insurers as well as the pharmaceutical industry and hospitals.
The proposals included savings of as much as $700 billion from streamlining the insurance claims process and other administrative savings.
The groups said that better management of chronic illness could save between $350 billion and $850 billion. Another $150 billion to $180 billion could be saved by avoiding unnecessary treatments and duplications, they said.
The American Medical Association said billions could be saved by following evidence-based treatment guidelines. For example, they noted that a growing number of births are done by electively induced labor and that the practice is not always consistent with treatment guidelines.
The AMA noted that births by caesarean section account for 45 percent of the more than $79 billion in annual hospital charges for childbirth.
Some of the proposals are already being considered by lawmakers to help pay for Obama's goal of providing medical coverage to 46 million uninsured Americans. But at least one lawmaker questioned whether the proposed industry savings will really avoid adding to huge government budget deficits.
"I'm skeptical that these proposals will add up to anywhere near $2 trillion," said Senator Charles Grassley, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee which is helping write the overhaul.
Grassley said it remained to be seen whether the proposals would help lawmakers stay within their budget guidelines.
(Reporting by Donna Smith; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Aethlon Medical Confirms Hemopurifier(R) Is a Treatment Candidate Against Swine Flu Virus
SAN DIEGO, April 30
- Aethlon Medical, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board:
AEMD) confirmed today that the Aethlon Hemopurifier(R) is a candidate
to treat the H1N1 Swine flu virus. The Hemopurifier(R) is a
first-in-class medical technology that assists the immune response in
combating infectious disease through the selective adsorption of
circulating viruses and immunosuppressive proteins. In the case of
pandemic influenza, the Hemopurifier(R) has previously proven effective
in capturing the reconstructed Spanish flu of 1918 virus (1918rv), the
H5N1 avian influenza virus (Bird Flu), and would likely capture H1N1
swine flu as the technology selectively captures influenza viruses by
hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) glycoproteins that coat the
virus, even when influenza mutates to be resistant against drug and
vaccine therapies. As an example, H5N1 bird flu virus was documented to
be resistant against Tamiflu, the globally stockpiled antiviral
treatment for influenza.
"It is important that our shareholders understand we are fully
cognizant of the potential opportunity associated with the emerging
swine flu pandemic," stated Aethlon Chairman and CEO, Jim Joyce.
"However, until this viral threat demonstrates resistance against
Tamiflu treatment stockpiles, we shall remain focused on progressing
our clinical and commercialization efforts against well-established
infectious disease targets," concluded Joyce. Since the beginning of
2009, the Hemopurifier(R) has been demonstrated safe and effective in
reducing patient viral load in both Hepatitis-C Virus (HCV) and Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections. As a result, Aethlon believes
the Hemopurifier(R) is the first therapeutic candidate to demonstrate
viral reduction benefit against two different viral species in human
studies. Such data further reinforces the position of the
Hemopurifier(R) as a leading broad-spectrum countermeasure against drug
and vaccine resistant viruses. Should H1N1 Swine Flu evolve to be
highly virulent and resistant to treatment stockpiles, the
Hemopurifier(R) is positioned to become a first-line treatment
countermeasure to strengthen the clinical benefit of both established
and candidate drug treatments. A report that reviews the application of
the Hemopurifier(R) as a broad-spectrum countermeasure against
bioterror and pandemic threats, including influenza, is available to be
accessed online at www.aethlonmedical.com/pdfs/BroadSpectrumTreament120308.pdf
If You Haven't Yet, Plan Now for a Pandemic, CCH Advises Employers
RIVERWOODS, Ill., April 29 - The very real possibility of a swine flu pandemic should be a wake-up call to the many organizations that have not developed a plan to cope with widespread employee illness, according to CCH, part of Wolters Kluwer Law & Business. To reduce the impact on operations, employees, customers and the general public, it is important for all organizations that haven't done so to begin continuity planning for a pandemic now, CCH says. Wolters Kluwer Law & Business is a leading provider of research information and software solutions in key specialty areas for legal, business compliance and human resources professionals (http://www.hr.cch.com).
Unlike natural disasters or terrorist events, an influenza pandemic would be widespread, affecting multiple areas of the U.S. and other countries at the same time. A pandemic would also be an extended event, with multiple waves of outbreaks in the same geographic area; each outbreak could last from six to eight weeks. Waves of outbreaks might occur over a year or more.
"A pandemic could affect as many as 40 percent of the workforce during periods of peak illness. Employees could be absent because they are sick, they must care for sick family members or for children if schools or day care centers are closed, or they are afraid to come to work," said CCH Workplace Analyst Heidi Henson, JD. "Lack of continuity planning can result in a cascade of failures as employers attempt to address challenges of a pandemic with insufficient resources and employees who might not be adequately trained in the jobs they will be asked to perform."
Our best natural defense against any disease is a strong immune system. God designed our bodies to function on proper nutrition. (He even told the Israelites what to eat). It is up to us to make sure we get it. Then He will bless our efforts.
Spiritually, we have been forewarned of these occurrences. God is still in control. He has not been taken by surprise and neither should we. Our responsibility is to be ready whenever God so determines to call us home. These things must be before he returns for his people. It is time for the people of God to make their calling and election sure. We do not know what tomorrow holds, but we know who holds tomorrow and we know who holds our hands. Do not panic. Do not give up. Just pay attention, and respond to the information disseminated. The end result is ultimately up to God.
There will not be enough influenza vaccine to go around. (We have already heard that there is no vaccine this swine flu responds to)
The powers that be will decide who will and who won't get the vaccine. If someone is already compromised and has a slim chance of survival anyway, they will most likely not be among those who receive the vaccine. (The criteria has not yet been established to determine this)
The first to receive the vaccine will probably be health care providers, first responders, and those who are determined to be valuable to society (whoever that is)
Take universal precautions: wash hands thoroughly and often (as long it takes to say ABC's), cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, use hand sanitizer;
There will be no one to bring supplies if needed, so stock up. (They will be sick, too.)
The water supply may be compromised, so stock up.
Stock up on canned goods.
Medical help may not be available, even for the very sick.
You will not be able to demand medical help, no matter how sick.
A Jacksonville researcher has developed a way of sewing up patients
after hysterectomies that stands to reduce the risk of complications
and simplify the tricky procedure for less-seasoned surgeons.
Oh, and he's 14 years old.
Feel free to read that again.
Tony Hansberry II is a ninth-grader who, as it happens, will be
presenting his findings today before an auditorium filled with doctors
just like any of his board-certified - and decades older - colleagues
would. He would say he was following in the footsteps of "Doogie
Howser, M.D." - if he weren't too young to have heard of the television
show.
Instead, he says that his remarkable accomplishments are merely
steps toward his ultimate goal of becoming a University of
Florida-trained neurosurgeon.
"I just want to help people and be respected, knowing that I can
save lives," said Tony, the son of a registered nurse mom and an
African Methodist Episcopal church pastor dad.
To be sure, he had some help along the way, but, then again, most
researchers do. The seeds of his project were planted last summer
during his internship at the University of Florida's Center for
Simulation Education and Safety Research, based at Shands Jacksonville.
To understand why a teenager would be a hospital intern, it's
important to know that Tony is a student down the street from Shands at
Darnell-Cookman Middle/High School, a magnet school geared toward all
things medical. (Students, for example, master suturing by the eighth
grade.)
At the simulation center, where medical residents and nurses
practice on dummies, the normally shy student warmed up to the center's
administrative director, Bruce Nappi. In turn, Nappi, a problem-solver
with a Massachusetts Institute of Technology aeronautics degree, found
someone willing to learn.
Your are currently browsing this site with Internet Explorer 6 (IE6).
Your current web browser must be updated to version 7 of Internet Explorer (IE7) to take advantage of all of template's capabilities.
Why should I upgrade to Internet Explorer 7? Microsoft has redesigned Internet Explorer from the ground up, with better security, new capabilities, and a whole new interface. Many changes resulted from the feedback of millions of users who tested prerelease versions of the new browser.
The most compelling reason to upgrade is the improved security. The Internet of today is not the Internet of five years ago. There are dangers that simply didn't exist back in 2001, when Internet Explorer 6 was released to the world. Internet Explorer 7 makes surfing the web fundamentally safer by offering greater protection against viruses, spyware, and other online risks.
Get free downloads for Internet Explorer 7, including recommended updates as they become available. To download Internet Explorer 7 in the language of your choice, please visit the Internet Explorer 7 worldwide page.
News 
Re: Bishop Neil C. Ellis'
Posted on 6 March 2010 by jim crescent.Bahamian people are poor enough, if you want to give money give it...
Re: Michelle Bonilla's Sophomore Album To Street April 13
Posted on 5 March 2010 by DJMELLO.Michelle Love your music...Cant wait to hear the Album...Keep...
Re: Bishop Neil C. Ellis'
Posted on 5 March 2010 by Joanne Nicolls.Bishop Ellis is a man of God who lives what he preaches, and truly...
Re: Michelle Bonilla's Sophomore Album To Street April 13
Posted on 5 March 2010 by Rachel.I'm really excited about this album! Can't wait to have it! Much...
Re: Michelle Bonilla's Sophomore Album To Street April 13
Posted on 4 March 2010 by NH.His name is Lee Jerkins and YAY, CAN'T WAIT!!