TheHealthCareCollective

The Washington Post: Most Want Health Reform But Fear Its Side Effects

thehealthcarecollective — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:25:26 +0000

The Washington Post: Most Want Health Reform But Fear Its Side Effects: According to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, most Americans see a need for the government to address rising health care costs but are concerned about what effects such action might have. Though the majority of respondents support health reform, many indicated concerns about a number of issues, including the federal deficit, quality of care, and the option of continuing with current providers.

If the federal government moves forward with health reform, what will be the long-term effects? Will the positives outweight the benefits? Who will be most affected?

Time.com: Can Health Co-Ops Do the Job of a Public Plan?

thehealthcarecollective — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:18:50 +0000

Time.com: Can Health Co-Ops Do the Job of a Public Plan? As Congress and the Obama Administration continue to seek out methods of transforming health care within the U.S., new ideas and compromises are being proposed. Senator Kent Conrad, a Democratic Finance Committee member, has proposed a plan supporting the creation of state- or regional-wide health co-ops. These co-ops would provide both insurance and care for its members, theoretically reducing costs by creating larger risk pools. Is this a more viable option than a public plan? How might it reduce costs for its members, and what benefits could the larger public see?

BBC News: Intel works with GE on healthcare

thehealthcarecollective — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 03:22:01 +0000

BBC News: Intel works with GE on healthcare

Intel and GE plan to invest $250M in healthcare technology over the next five years, advancing tele-medicine initiatives and allowing patients to upload important health data to their physicians from their homes. What effect will this have on cost efficiencies? What concerns will patients have regarding their privacy and the sharing of their data? What long term benefits do you see with these new technological advances?

New York Times Article: A Lesson on Health Care From Massachusetts

thehealthcarecollective — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 19:45:05 +0000

NYT: A Lesson on Health Care From Massachusetts

Massachusetts is one of the few states that has taken drastic action to improve their health care delivery. As Obama and his administration look for a national model, what can they learn from Massachusetts? What is working that can be emulated? What isn’t working that should be done differently? When thinking about an inclusive healthcare plan for all, where do cost and access meet? What relationship can the two have, if any?

WSJ Health Blog: Docs, Hospitals Skip Electronic Records for the Same Reason

thehealthcarecollective — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:52:44 +0000

Found this great article on the low usage of EHRs among physicians and hospitals alike. When will the benefits of an EHR outweigh the costs of implementing? How do we resolve the issues of compatibility, high up-front costs, etc.?