| From the National Health Council and Wyeth |   |
| Top Story |  |  |
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- Uninsured undertreated for chronic diseases due to costs
A study in Health Affairs found 46% of uninsured people with diabetes and 52% with high cholesterol were unaware of their conditions, compared with 23% and 29.9% of insured patients, respectively. The uninsured also are more likely to be undertreated for chronic diseases, in part because high co-payments and deductibles can make health care services unaffordable, the study's co-author said. The Boston Globe (free registration)
(10/20), Healthcare Finance News
(10/16)     
| Out-of-Pocket Cost Impact | | |
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- Cost of major illness can be devastating for uninsured
A study of older uninsured adults found they lost up to 50% more financial assets within two years of having a major medical problem than did their insured peers. The uninsured spent about $4,200 more on a major illness than someone who had insurance, according to the study. Reuters
(10/15)
- Employees to pay for health care cost increases
Companies should see a 6% increase in health care costs per employee next year, and employees can expect to pay for most of the additional costs, mainly through higher co-pays and deductibles, according to Hewitt Associates. The report said companies are still committed to wellness programs, but more are requiring employees to fill out health risk questionnaires as a condition to receiving benefits. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model)
(10/18)
- Do the math before choosing high-deductible health plan
More people will be offered high-deductible, consumer-directed health plans from employers this fall and some may be forced to choose that option. The plans can save companies 20% on health care costs, but workers need to study them to find out if they can reap tax advantages with health savings accounts and if coverage limits meet their medical needs. NYTimes.com
(10/16)
| Health Care Costs and Access | | |
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- Community clinics poised for major health care role
Tax-funded community clinics, which have seen unprecedented demand in the past year, are poised to take on a major role in caring for millions more patients if health care reforms are enacted. "There is going to be a wave of chronically ill people," said one clinic director. "We're well positioned to care for them." Yahoo!/The Associated Press
(10/14)
| Trends in Health Care Design | | |
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| Policy/Legislative Watch | | |
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- Senate, House leaders move toward health care public option
With signs that moderate Democrats are becoming more receptive to a government-managed health care plan, a group of senators headed by Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is working on a plan to revive the so-called public option after two versions of it were voted down by the Senate Finance Committee. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said she is close to having 218 votes lined up in support of a public-option plan linked to Medicare payment rates. A USA TODAY/Gallup Poll found that a government-run insurance plan to compete with private insurance companies has the support of about half of Americans, while 46% are against the idea. The Washington Post
(10/21), Reuters
(10/21), USA TODAY
(10/21), NYTimes.com
(10/20)
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| About Better Health Care by Design |
As the incidence of chronic diseases and their associated costs continue to rise, many patients are facing increasing out-of-pocket costs for their care. Research has demonstrated that
high out-of-pocket costs present a barrier to much-needed care for many patients with chronic diseases, leading to poorer health outcomes for patients and increased long-term costs
for patients and payers. Better Health Care by Design is an effort focused on improving health and economic outcomes for patients with chronic diseases by bringing together the
diverse range of interested stakeholders — patients, providers and payers — to collaborate on new, practical benefit design models that lead to better prevention, management and
treatment.
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| | Recent Better Health Care by Design issues:
- Wednesday, October 14, 2009
- Wednesday, October 07, 2009
- Wednesday, September 30, 2009
- Wednesday, September 23, 2009
- Wednesday, September 16, 2009
| | | Lead Editor: Kathryn Doherty
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