The Center for Health Value Innovation last week released new data showing that accountability for health outcomes is lacking across the U.S. health care system. Levels of participation are much lower than expected. Worse, employers and employees pay significant amounts for these unused services through premiums and per-employee costs.
According to a new brief by the Commonwealth Fund, an estimated 18.7 million U.S. women ages 19 to 64 were uninsured in 2010, up from 12.8 million in 2000. An additional 16.7 million women had health insurance but had such high out-of-pocket costs relative to their income that they were effectively underinsured in 2010.
According to Intellimed, a national company that provides statistical data and support to the health care industry, the national average of primary care doctors is one family doctor for every 2,112 people and one internal medicine doctor for every 3,166 people.
And as more people gain or are forced to buy health insurance under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, this shortage will continue to increase.
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention has launched a new campaign targeting portion control.
(via likelyhealthy)
The annual Milliman Medical Index measures the total cost of health care for a typical family of four covered by a preferred provider plan, or PPO. According to new data released today, the 2012 MMI cost is $20,728, an increase of $1,335, or 6.9% over 2011. The rate of increase is not as large as previous years, but the total dollar increase was still a record. This is the first year the average cost of health care for the typical American family of four has surpassed $20,000. More here.
Yikes. A good reminder to substitute sugary drinks with water.
(via healthwellnessdisability)
Type 2 Diabetes Is Tougher to Treat in Kids and Teens -
Type 2 diabetes, the kind linked with obesity, progresses much faster and is harder to treat in children than in adults, according to the disappointing results of a new study.