Expert: Health care landscape already changed, despite what Supreme Court decision is this week

Whether or not the federal health-care reform law is upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court tomorrow, initiatives are already in place that will change the way health care is delivered, an expert said at a Lexington conference Tuesday. Gregg Nunziata, senior director at research and consulting firm The Advisory Board in Washington, D.C., "said the burgeoning number of baby boomers entering retirement, the ever-accelerating advances in technology and the increasing public health crisis that finds more and more Americans with chronic illness such as diabetes, are fundamentally changing how health care works in America," reports Mary Meehan for the Lexington Herald-Leader. As people age, they are "demanding a different kind of care, and they will be living long into their golden years," he said. When they become seniors, who already tend to cast their vote, they will become a powerful voting bloc.

Health officials are looking at ways to cut down on costs, which is necessary because "the government is the major funding source, and the major funding source is broke," Nunziata said. To cut costs, the government and insurers are looking at new ways to pay for health care. One example is the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare scoring hospitals based on their performance and paying them accordingly. "A low score could reduce payments by only 1 percent or 2 percent," Meehan reports, but that can translate to a multi-million dollar loss. "Every hospital is being judged and Washington is keeping score," he said.
Bundling payments is another method being tried, in which one flat fee covers all of the care that is provided in a procedure. "The idea would be to force more efficient and cost-effective care by encouraging cooperation," Meehan reports. (Read more)

Whether or not the federal health-care reform law is upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court tomorrow, initiatives are already in place that will change the way health care is delivered, an expert said at a Lexington conference Tuesday. Gregg Nunziata, senior director at research and consulting firm The Advisory Board in Washington, D.C., "said the burgeoning number of baby boomers entering retirement, the ever-accelerating advances in technology and the increasing public health crisis that finds more and more Americans with chronic illness such as diabetes, are fundamentally changing how health care works in America," reports Mary Meehan for the Lexington Herald-Leader. As people age, they are "demanding a different kind of care, and they will be living long into their golden years," he said. When they become seniors, who already tend to cast their vote, they will become a powerful voting bloc.

Health officials are looking at ways to cut down on costs, which is necessary because "the government is the major funding source, and the major funding source is broke," Nunziata said. To cut costs, the government and insurers are looking at new ways to pay for health care. One example is the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare scoring hospitals based on their performance and paying them accordingly. "A low score could reduce payments by only 1 percent or 2 percent," Meehan reports, but that can translate to a multi-million dollar loss. "Every hospital is being judged and Washington is keeping score," he said.
Bundling payments is another method being tried, in which one flat fee covers all of the care that is provided in a procedure. "The idea would be to force more efficient and cost-effective care by encouraging cooperation," Meehan reports. (Read more)

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Pharmacies to offer free HIV tests as part of pilot program; no Ky. locations chosen yet

Getting tested for HIV may soon be as easy as going to the pharmacy to get a flu shot or blood pressure check. Pharmacies in 24 cities and rural communities will offer rapid HIV tests free of charge as part of a $1.2 million program. Testing is already available in Washington, D.C., Oakland, Calif., and an Indian health service clinic in Montana. The remaining 17 locations will soon be chosen by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The test involves swabbing the inside of a person's mouth and preliminary results take about 20 minutes. Makers of the test say it is accurate 99 percent of the time. "If the test is positive for the AIDS virus, pharmacy employees will refer customers to a local health department or other health care providers for a lab blood test to confirm results, counseling and treatment," The Associated Press reports. "The workers are expected to deliver the news face-to-face and give customers privacy."

According to the CDC, there are about 1.1 million Americans who are infected with HIV, but up to 20 percent of them don't know they have it. Since 2006, the CDC has recommended all Americans ages 13 to 64 get tested at least once, but fewer than half of adults under the age of 65 have done so. (Read more)

Getting tested for HIV may soon be as easy as going to the pharmacy to get a flu shot or blood pressure check. Pharmacies in 24 cities and rural communities will offer rapid HIV tests free of charge as part of a $1.2 million program. Testing is already available in Washington, D.C., Oakland, Calif., and an Indian health service clinic in Montana. The remaining 17 locations will soon be chosen by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The test involves swabbing the inside of a person's mouth and preliminary results take about 20 minutes. Makers of the test say it is accurate 99 percent of the time. "If the test is positive for the AIDS virus, pharmacy employees will refer customers to a local health department or other health care providers for a lab blood test to confirm results, counseling and treatment," The Associated Press reports. "The workers are expected to deliver the news face-to-face and give customers privacy."

According to the CDC, there are about 1.1 million Americans who are infected with HIV, but up to 20 percent of them don't know they have it. Since 2006, the CDC has recommended all Americans ages 13 to 64 get tested at least once, but fewer than half of adults under the age of 65 have done so. (Read more)

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50,000 students to get more fruit, vegetables during the school day

More than 50,000 students in 125 Kentucky elementary schools will be able to eat fresh fruit and vegetables in the coming school year. The nutritious snacks will be provided as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.

To see which schools were selected, click here.

The goal of the program is to create healthier school environments, introduce children to fresh fruit and vegetables and expand their consumption.

Schools chosen have at least 50 percent of their students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Priority was given to the schools with the highest percentages. Kentucky received $2.7 million for the upcoming school year from the program, which translates to about $53 per student. (Read more)

More than 50,000 students in 125 Kentucky elementary schools will be able to eat fresh fruit and vegetables in the coming school year. The nutritious snacks will be provided as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.

To see which schools were selected, click here.

The goal of the program is to create healthier school environments, introduce children to fresh fruit and vegetables and expand their consumption.

Schools chosen have at least 50 percent of their students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Priority was given to the schools with the highest percentages. Kentucky received $2.7 million for the upcoming school year from the program, which translates to about $53 per student. (Read more)

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UK hospital chosen to national program to improve breastfeeding rates

Photo courtesy of University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital

University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital has been chosen to participate in Best Fed Beginnings, a national effort to improve breast feeding rates.

Improvement is badly needed, with half of babies born in the United States given formula the first week of their lives. By nine months, just 31 percent of babies are breastfeeding at all, reports Allison Perry for UKNOW.

The program will involve the hospital implementing then steps to successful breastfeeding, which are endorsed by the American Academy of Pedicatrics. Some of those steps include informing all pregnant women about the benefits of breastfeeding; helping mothers breastfeed within one hour of birth; showing mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation; allowing mothers and infants to stay together 24 hours a day; and giving no pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants.

UK is one of 90 hospitals nationwide selected to participate in the program. Earlier this year, UK became the first hospital in Lexington to participate in "Kangaroo Care," a training program that promotes skin-to-skin contact between mothers and infants to help with breastfeeding and bonding.

Kentucky's breast-feeding rates are among the lowest in the country, with about 59 percent of new mothers breast feeding. The national rate is 75 percent. (Read more)

Photo courtesy of University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital

University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital has been chosen to participate in Best Fed Beginnings, a national effort to improve breast feeding rates.

Improvement is badly needed, with half of babies born in the United States given formula the first week of their lives. By nine months, just 31 percent of babies are breastfeeding at all, reports Allison Perry for UKNOW.

The program will involve the hospital implementing then steps to successful breastfeeding, which are endorsed by the American Academy of Pedicatrics. Some of those steps include informing all pregnant women about the benefits of breastfeeding; helping mothers breastfeed within one hour of birth; showing mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation; allowing mothers and infants to stay together 24 hours a day; and giving no pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants.

UK is one of 90 hospitals nationwide selected to participate in the program. Earlier this year, UK became the first hospital in Lexington to participate in "Kangaroo Care," a training program that promotes skin-to-skin contact between mothers and infants to help with breastfeeding and bonding.

Kentucky's breast-feeding rates are among the lowest in the country, with about 59 percent of new mothers breast feeding. The national rate is 75 percent. (Read more)

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Schools have big role to play in battling childhood obesity

Schools can make a powerful impact on battling the childhood obesity epidemic, but only when health and nutrition are seen as a way to improve student learning rather than take away from it.

But there can be push-back in making this transition, said John Skretta, a health advocate and superintendent of Norris School District in Firth, Ky. At the Coordinated School Health Symposium in Lexington Monday, he talked about his efforts to introduce tuna salad in the school lunch menu, with food service directors saying students wouldn't eat it. Finally, the district's head of nutrition made some herself using low-fat mayonnaise and pickles and it was a hit with kids.

To get kids more physically active, Skretta said kids in his elementary schools now take two 10-minute walks a day, which have improved test scores and gets children closer to the goal of making long-lasting choices about their health.

To help with the process, school staff are encouraged to model healthy behavior and avoid eating or drinking items that have low nutritional standards in front of students.

"If schools don't take the lead on this, who will?" Skretta asked. (Read more)

Schools can make a powerful impact on battling the childhood obesity epidemic, but only when health and nutrition are seen as a way to improve student learning rather than take away from it.

But there can be push-back in making this transition, said John Skretta, a health advocate and superintendent of Norris School District in Firth, Ky. At the Coordinated School Health Symposium in Lexington Monday, he talked about his efforts to introduce tuna salad in the school lunch menu, with food service directors saying students wouldn't eat it. Finally, the district's head of nutrition made some herself using low-fat mayonnaise and pickles and it was a hit with kids.

To get kids more physically active, Skretta said kids in his elementary schools now take two 10-minute walks a day, which have improved test scores and gets children closer to the goal of making long-lasting choices about their health.

To help with the process, school staff are encouraged to model healthy behavior and avoid eating or drinking items that have low nutritional standards in front of students.

"If schools don't take the lead on this, who will?" Skretta asked. (Read more)

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Heart disease in Siberian cats

Progress report, Winn grant MT08-001
SNP analysis in Siberian cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Investigator: Robert A. Grahn, University of California-Davis
 
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common inherited cardiac disorder of domestic cats. The disease has been identified in many breeds, such as the Maine Coon, Ragdoll, American Shorthair, Devon Rex, Sphynx, Bengal, and Siberian. Mutations in the gene MYBPC3 have been found in Ragdolls and Maine Coons with HCM, but this mutation is not known to be responsible for HCM in other breeds to date. Feline HCM closely resembles human HCM which results from mutations in any of 7 candidate genes. Over 100 samples from Siberian cats have been submitted to the investigator’s lab for HCM testing. So far, a number of candidate genes have been eliminated as the cause of HCM in this breed. One chromosomal region has been identified that has likelihood of linkage to the disease. In humans, this genomic region is associated with cardiovascular disease, so it appears to be a likely candidate for HCM in the Siberian cat and research is ongoing. [MK]

See also: Meurs KM, Norgard MM, Kuan M, et al. Analysis of 8 sarcomeric candidate genes for feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy mutations in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. J Vet Intern Med 2009;23:840-843.

More on cat health:
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Progress report, Winn grant MT08-001
SNP analysis in Siberian cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Investigator: Robert A. Grahn, University of California-Davis
 
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common inherited cardiac disorder of domestic cats. The disease has been identified in many breeds, such as the Maine Coon, Ragdoll, American Shorthair, Devon Rex, Sphynx, Bengal, and Siberian. Mutations in the gene MYBPC3 have been found in Ragdolls and Maine Coons with HCM, but this mutation is not known to be responsible for HCM in other breeds to date. Feline HCM closely resembles human HCM which results from mutations in any of 7 candidate genes. Over 100 samples from Siberian cats have been submitted to the investigator’s lab for HCM testing. So far, a number of candidate genes have been eliminated as the cause of HCM in this breed. One chromosomal region has been identified that has likelihood of linkage to the disease. In humans, this genomic region is associated with cardiovascular disease, so it appears to be a likely candidate for HCM in the Siberian cat and research is ongoing. [MK]

See also: Meurs KM, Norgard MM, Kuan M, et al. Analysis of 8 sarcomeric candidate genes for feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy mutations in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. J Vet Intern Med 2009;23:840-843.

More on cat health:
Winn Feline Foundation Library
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Read the Cat Health News Weekly
Join us on Google+

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Health care law ruling expected Thursday by Supreme Court

Associated Press photo by Alex Brandon

The U.S. Supreme Court will issue its ruling on the constitutionality of the federal health-care reform law Thursday. 

As for the outcomes, Politico's Jennifer Haberkorn sees four possible scenarios: 

• Strike down the individual mandate as well as insurance reforms

• Strike down the mandate but keep insurance reforms intact

• Strike down the majority of the law

• Let the law stand in its entirety

At the heart of the debate is whether the government can force people to buy health insurance, which is often referred to as the individual mandate. If the mandate is axed but insurance reforms stay intact, insurance companies "could start a mini revolt over having to cover expensive patients without the mandate," Haberkorn writes.

The Supreme Court did issue two key rulings today, "throwing out much of Arizona's new immigration law and deciding that juveniles to life in prison without possibility of parole qualified as a 'cruel and unusual' punishment," The Associated Press reports. (Read more)

Associated Press photo by Alex Brandon

The U.S. Supreme Court will issue its ruling on the constitutionality of the federal health-care reform law Thursday. 

As for the outcomes, Politico's Jennifer Haberkorn sees four possible scenarios: 

• Strike down the individual mandate as well as insurance reforms

• Strike down the mandate but keep insurance reforms intact

• Strike down the majority of the law

• Let the law stand in its entirety

At the heart of the debate is whether the government can force people to buy health insurance, which is often referred to as the individual mandate. If the mandate is axed but insurance reforms stay intact, insurance companies "could start a mini revolt over having to cover expensive patients without the mandate," Haberkorn writes.

The Supreme Court did issue two key rulings today, "throwing out much of Arizona's new immigration law and deciding that juveniles to life in prison without possibility of parole qualified as a 'cruel and unusual' punishment," The Associated Press reports. (Read more)

Read More