Paying for health care coverage is becoming more and more difficult. Health care costs have been rising two, three or four times faster than inflation in Massachusetts for more than a decade. Next year, however, Massachusetts becomes the first state to try to keep health care in line with the rest of the state's economy. WBUR's Martha Bebinger spoke with Sharon Brody on Tuesday's Morning Edition about what many people say is the next big experiment in health care reform.
Has it ever occurred to the gladiators that improving the quality of health care can also save money? If Medicare spends less on a patient because the hospital does a good job the first time, that's what we call a win-win situation. The patient gets better care. The taxpayers get billed only once. Many ObamaCare critics simply can't say yes to the good news that the Affordable Care Act will actually reduce deficits—despite positive projections by the Congressional Budget Office. They won't concede that in a tremendously wasteful health care system such as ours, cuts in spending can be made without inconveniencing patients in the slightest.
A bipartisan cancer research bill—aimed at tackling the disease's most dangerous forms—has finally passed Congress after nearly six years of work. The Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act passed both chambers last week as part of the conference report on defense authorization bill. The bill will create scientific frameworks for addressing the most dangerous cancers.
Gov. Pat Quinn is welcoming the news that a nonprofit organization plans to offer health insurance in the state starting in 2014. The new nonprofit—called Land of Lincoln Health—announced last week it is applying for a state license and has received a $160 million federal loan to begin operations.
In an effort to save taxpayer money, mayors and council members across central Florida are asking to start their own health care clinics. CareHere is a company that's helped local cities, counties and school districts open their own health care centers for employees, retirees and their families. "The average cost for a regular visit—the difference is about 50 percent less to have it done at our health center here," said Joe Carnichella of CareHere in Ocoee.
A new website launched by Georgia health leaders aims to make it easier for consumers to compare thousands of hospitals, nursing homes and other medical facilities to find what best fits their needs. It allows users to search for nearby medical facilities using an address, city name, ZIP code and other options. Consumers can also find out how large a facility is, an address, phone number, photos of the building exterior and even inspection reports that show whether it has recent violations. The state Department of Community Health launched the site in early November.