March 2009

Doctors And Government Health Insurance

by Louise March 31, 2009

[...] Our health care system is built around patients and doctors. Whatever health insurance reforms we consider – here in Colorado, and on a federal level – we need to make sure that we don’t create a system that is so distasteful to providers that they decide they’d rather spend their time doing something else instead of medicine.

Read the rest →

Only Two Health Insurance Options For Metro State Students

by Jay March 27, 2009

[...] But some students have done their own research and found an individual health insurance policy that better fits their needs and/or budget, and they would prefer to be given the option of keeping that policy. For those students, we feel that colleges should reconsider their waiver requirements and treat their students as adults who are capable of making their own decisions.

Read the rest →

What Patients Need

by Louise March 26, 2009

[...] the big disease advocacy groups that are focused on finding cures do provide an important service. But Duncan’s article serves as a reminder that just donating money to a disease advocacy organization isn’t all that is needed. And there are plenty of smaller, lesser-known organizations that are working to address other, more tangible needs that sick people face. [...]

Read the rest →

Colorado HB 1224 Passes Senate

by Louise March 24, 2009

[...] I would like to see lower utilization of health care across the board. Overall, I think that the focus needs to be on reducing health care costs (which requires addressing all aspects of the health care system, from patients and doctors, to pharmaceutical companies and health insurance carriers) rather than redistributing the costs among men and women.

Read the rest →

Colorado Is Not An Island

by Louise March 19, 2009

[...] Imagine a scenario where the rest of the country still has private health insurance combined with public programs like Medicare and Medicaid, but Colorado has universal health care. What would prevent an influx of sick people from moving to Colorado? [...]

Read the rest →

Paying For An Office Visit

by Louise March 18, 2009

[...] Some people don’t have a car or health insurance, especially in our current economy. Programs like Medicaid and Colorado’s Child Health Plan Plus are very necessary, and I support efforts to expand those programs to more low-income families. But there are people willing to pay more than $150/month for a car, but hate the idea of paying $150 to see a doctor. [...]

Read the rest →

Colorado HB 1273 And Single Payer Health Insurance

by Louise March 16, 2009

[...] House bills 1273 and 1293 both generate discussion about what we can do to provide health insurance to the 800,000 people in Colorado who are without health insurance. I’m doubtful that HB 1273 will get much traction in its current form, but perhaps it will add to the dialog that is going on at the capital, and generate ideas that will lead to solutions for Colorado.

Read the rest →

The Conscience Clause And Access To Healthcare

by Louise March 13, 2009

[...] Instead of requiring doctors to provide services that go against their moral beliefs, why not work to make sure that every community has providers who will perform a wide range of reproductive services? If clinics like Planned Parenthood get adequate funding, doctors practicing nearby could invoke the conscience clause without depriving the community of medical services.

Read the rest →

Doctors and Patients and Healthcare Reform

by Louise March 11, 2009

[...] Our system doesn’t reward doctors who spend time with their patients. Instead it rewards doctors who see the most patients in the least amount of time (writing a prescription for an antibiotic is a good way to move patients along). Expecting change to come from patients isn’t fair. But it’s also not fair to expect change to come from the medical profession as a whole until we make some changes to how doctors are reimbursed for the services they provide.

Read the rest →

← Previous Entries