12
— The
Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Thursday, January 28, 2010
nation
Higher patient cost-sharing hurting seniors
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Higher Medicare copays, sometimes just a few dollars more, led to fewer doctors visits and to more and longer hospital stays, a large new study reveals. With health care costs skyrocketing, many public and private insurers have required patients to pay more out-of-pocket when they seek care. The new study confirms what many policymakers had feared: cost-shifting moves can backfire. “Patients may defer needed care and may wind up with a serious health event that might put them in the hospital. That’s not good for the patients, not good for society, not good for anybody,” said Dr. Tim Carey, who heads the University of North Carolina’s Sheps Center for Health Services Research. Carey had no role in the research, published in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine. The study included nearly 900,000 seniors in 36 Associated Press Medicare managed-care plans from 2001 to 2006. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., speaks during a news conference unveiling the Republican’s Declaration of During that period, half of the plans raised copays Health Care Independence ahead of the State of the Union on Capitol Hill in Washington Wednesday. for visits to doctors and specialists. Researchers compared medical use patterns in those plans with use in similar Medicare managed-care plans that kept copays the same. Copays for prescription drugs remained unchanged in all plans. Among plans that increased patient cost-sharing, the average copay for a doctor visit roughly douWASHINGTON (AP) — Giving and I think he will bring everysee as too weak in restricting bled, from $7.38 to $14.38. The copay to see a speup on overhauling the nation’s body together,” said Rep. John taxpayer funding for abortion. health care system is not an Larson, D-Conn. Labor unions struck a deal with cialist jumped from $12.66 to $22.05. By contrast, the average copay for unchanged plans was $8.33 option, the top House Democrat Others were looking for a dose the White House to weaken a said Wednesday as lawmakof reality from the president. proposed tax on high-cost insur- to see a doctor and $11.38 to see a specialist. For every 100 people enrolled in plans that ers looked to President Barack “I think he has to acknowledge ance plans. raised copays, there were 20 fewer doctor visits, 2 Obama for guidance in his State that the well has been poisoned, Pelosi didn’t say whether the additional hospital admissions and 13 more days of the Union address on how to that the debate has been lost, final bill will be the sweepspent in the hospital in the year after the increase revive the stalled legislation. and tell the American people ing overhaul sought by Obama, compared to those in plans whose copays did not Asked if Congress might abanagain why this is part of the eco- or smaller-scale legislation change, researchers found. don a health care initiative beset nomic strategy moving forward,” that accomplishes only some The trend was most pronounced among blacks, with political and policy probsaid Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pa. of his goals. Democrats were people living in lower-income neighborhoods and lems, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democrats got encourageon the verge of passing farthose with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, high D-Calif., responded: “I don’t see ment Wednesday from groups as reaching legislation before the blood pressure or heart disease. that as a possibility. We will have diverse as the nation’s Catholic Massachusetts election. The results suggest that raising copays to contain something.” bishops and the head of the largcosts is counterproductive, said Dr. Amal Trivedi, est labor union federation. In a Stunned by the loss, Demoassistant professor of community health at Brown White House Communications letter to members of Congress, cratic leaders have taken health Director Dan Pfeiffer told conthe bishops urged lawmakers to care legislation off the fast track University, who led the study. Not only may it lead to higher health care spending, but patients also gressional staff that Obama will “recommit themselves to enactas they try to find a path forsuffer, he said. use Wednesday night’s address ing genuine health care reform.” ward acceptable to rank-and“Outpatient care for elderly adults, particularly to reiterate his commitment “The health care debate, with file Democrats wary of unhappy those with chronic diseases, is very valuable and to an ambitious remake of the all its political and ideological midterm election voters. may not be something you want to discourage by nation’s health care system, conflict, seems to have lost its The leading option for movsimilar to the call he issued last central moral focus and policy ing forward — having the House having a large copayment,” Trivedi said. The study was funded by grants from Pfizer Inc. September after critics seized priority, which is to ensure that pass the Senate bill along with and the federal government. the momentum during a sumaffordable, quality, life-giving a package of changes that both The findings echo previous studies on increased mer of angry town hall meetcare is available to all,” said cler- chambers would approve — will patient cost-sharing. When California’s Medicaid ings. gy from the U.S. Conference of take weeks, House Majority Although lawmakers don’t Catholic Bishops. “Now is not the Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said program introduced a $1 copay in 1972, it led to an 8 percent decline in doctor visits and a 17 percent expect to hear a specific pretime to abandon this task.” Wednesday. That’s time most increase in hospital days. scription for how to move forSimilarly, AFL-CIO president lawmakers would much rather ward, Pfeiffer said the president Richard Trumka said the Senate spend focusing on jobs and the would offer “additional details” should come up with a measure economy, the concerns they say on his health care goals. that the House can pass. “We preoccupy their constituents. The speech comes as Demofought too long and too hard Many believe health care has crats are struggling to find a for health care to quit for now,” become a political drag. way to advance health care Trumka said in an interview. In a sign of the turmoil surlegislation after the loss of a rounding the issue, some House PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon has set aside Massachusetts Senate seat last Both the Catholic Church and Democrats have begun pushing its history of shooting down tax increases on stateweek cost them the 60-vote labor unions have flexed their to revive a proposal for a governwide ballots, with voters endorsing higher taxes majority needed to deliver. political muscle in the debate. ment-run insurance plan left for “The president is a strong perThe bishops say they won’t supdead months ago after it became on businesses and the rich amid a brutal economic slump. suader, as they say, and I think it port a final bill that includes clear it could not command the Democrats in the Oregon Legislature made it makes an awful lot of difference, Senate-passed language they necessary votes in the Senate. as easy as they could for the voters to raise taxes on somebody else, and the electorate responded Tuesday by approving Measures 66 and 67. The increases approved Tuesday will hit people with taxable income upward of $125,000 — estimated at fewer than 3 percent of filers. Many businesses who had been paying an annual $10 minimum will see that rise to at least $150. With 91 percent of the vote counted, the vote was Forest City Rutherfordton 54-46 on Measure 66 and 53-47 on Measure 67. Want To Be Your Own Boss? Center Center The government has a program to help you get started. The vote affirms the two-year budget the 247-1717 – Pat 286-9979 - Ellen Project GATE (Growing American Through Entrepreneurship). Legislature controlled by Democrats adopted last year, and spares it $727 million worth of budget For More Information cutting during a four-week session that begins Now Enrolling Children 0-12 years. Cal Toll Free 1-877-962-4283, Monday.
Dems not quitting on health care
Oregon voters OK tax on wealthy, businesses
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