Monthly Archive for March, 2009

A proposal from insurers to put an end to charging sick people more

Published on March 30, 2009 in Health Insurance. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

For the first time ever, there was an offer on March 24 from the health insurance industry to suppress its disputed procedure of charging higher premiums to people with medical problems.

This offer came from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and America’s Health Insurance Plans and was contained in a letter to key senators. This may mean an important change in the debate over reconstructing America’s health care system to restrict costs and cover approximately 48 million uninsured people.

The letter indicated that the two insurance industry group’s members are agreeing to “phase out the practice of varying premiums based on health status in the individual market” if everyone in the nation is required to get coverage. This said, the letter also indicated that they would still charge different premiums depending on factors such as age, place of residence, family size and benefits package. Important to mention is the fact that the companies did not agree to cease charging the sick higher premiums when it comes to small businesses. Small business employers who offer coverage to their employees may see their premiums increase each year, even if there is only one worker or family member that gets severely ill. However, Karen Ignagni, president of America’s Health Plans, said that the industry is currently working on different proposals for this problem by talking to small business people around the nation and offering different strategies for them to use.

Karen Ignagni said that when everyone is in the system, financial assistance  can be given to working families, which can be a move away from the health status rating.

Health economist Len Nichols, of the New America Foundation public policy center, says that “the offer here is to transition away from risk rating, which is one of the things that makes life hell for real people.” “They have never in their history offered to give up risk rating.”

Insurers are making an attempt to redirect the process of a government insurance proposal that would compete with them, a change that Democrats and liberals are fighting for. The insurance industry has already yielded to a number of demands to try to achieve political support. Just last year, they offered to stop denying sick people coverage. They also agreed to encourage a national goal of preventing rising costs.

Currently, insurance companies are charging escalated premiums to people who try to buy coverage as individuals with a record of medical problems such as heart disease or cancer. When the person is allowed coverage, they are frequently incapable to afford such high premiums. Around 7 percent of Americans purchase their coverage as individuals, while there are 60 percent who get their insurance through their job.

On the Net:

  • Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association: http://www.bcbs.com/
  • America’s Health Insurance Plans: http://www.ahip.org

Chest pains may indicate a blood clot

Published on March 30, 2009 in Health and Wellness. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

If your chest feels tight, your breathing is shallow or you have cold chills, you may have a blood clot, and getting to a doctor quickly could save your life. If your doctor ignores your concerns, seek help somewhere else and then get a new primary care physician.

Some of the risk factors for getting a blood clot are frequent, long-distance flying, certain kinds of prescription medicine, sitting for long periods, deep sea diving and a recent foot injury. It is estimated that pulmonary blood clots kill 1 out of 10 people during the first hour of their symptoms and another 26 percent shortly after that.

If you have any of these symptoms, it might be a good idea to get tested for the presence of the Factor V Leiden gene. If this is positive, it indicates that you are 8 times more likely to develop a blood clot than someone without the mutation. Genetic testing has been criticized in the past because of its expense and the fact that the presence of the abnormal genes doesn’t always result in illness. Genetic testing kits are available to those who are interested. For more on the pros and cons: www.genome.gov/19516567.

If genetic abnormalities are found, doctors can work with you to on a lifestyle that will prevent a dangerous situation. Each year, about 2 million Americans suffer from deep vein thrombosis. There are about 300,000 deaths from pulmonary blood clots each year. If the Factor V Leiden gene is found, there are precautions that can be taken, such as taking blood thinners like Lovenox before flying or with a foot injury and not taking medicines that can cause clotting.

Blood clots caused by deep vein thrombosis cause more people to die than breast cancer and AIDS combined. It is the most common cause of preventable hospital death. The acting Surgeon General, Steven Galson, has recently issued a call to action to reduce DVT blood clots and their complications, because DVT and blood clots are so common.

Triathlons found to have twice the risk for sudden death as marathons

Published on March 30, 2009 in Health and Wellness. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

In the first study of its kind, swim-bike-run triathlons have been found to cause a little more than twice the risk for sudden death than marathons. This was recently discovered in the first study done on these type of competitions.

It was found that the risk comes mainly from heart problems that arise during the swimming part. Even though the risk is very low – 15 out of 1 million – it is still substantial, according to the study’s author.

Triathlons are becoming extremely popular, particularly as fundraisers and charities. Many people, who are not used to such challenging exercise, are attracted to these types of competitions. Approximately 1000 of these sports events are conducted every year and thousands of Americans participate in them, often without a medical checkup to make sure there are no existing heart problems.

A cardiologist from the Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbot Northwestern Hospital, Dr. Kevin Harris, piloted the study and disclosed the results at an American College of Cardiology conference in Florida on March 28. The study was sponsored  by the Minneapolis institute’s foundation, which records athletic-related sudden deaths in a national registry.

In November of 2007, marathon-related deaths were brought into the spotlight when a 28-year-old man named Ryan Shay died while competing in the men’s marathon Olympic trials in New York. According to statistics, four to eight deaths will occur out of every million participants in these 26.2 mile running races. The new study found that for triathlons, the rate is alarmingly higher – 15 out of every million. The swim portion, usually the first event, was found to be the most dangerous, because almost all the deaths happened during this part of the competition.

So what makes the swimming part so dangerous? Well, first of all, cold water constricts blood vessels, which causes the heart to work harder and irritates any pre-existing conditions. It can also bring about an irregular heartbeat. Then add the stress of the competition and you’ve got trouble.

Unlike bikers and runners, swimmers can’t as easily motion for help. Observers seem to have more trouble noticing someone in jeopardy from a large group of swimmers in a lake, river or ocean, where these events are usually held.

Researchers used records on 922,810 triathletes for the study. They competed in 2,846 USA Triathlon-sanctioned events that took place between January 2006 and September 2008.

There were 13 deaths that happened during swimming, out of the 14 total deaths. The other death was the result of a bike crash. Six of the autopsies revealed underlying heart conditions. Two others had hearts that appeared normal, but they might have suffered from a fatal heart rhythm problem.

Before participating in a marathon or triathlon, there are some precautions one should take. Probably the most important thing to do is to get a checkup to see if there are any heart problems. Training should begin long before the event and should definitely include open-water swims, especially if the training is for a triathlon. It is also important to get used to the water temperatures before the race, and wear a wetsuit if it is just too cold. Do not participate in a race unless there is a medical staff and defibrillators.

BCBSNC increases the use of electronic prescribing by more than 50 percent

Published on March 26, 2009 in BCBSNC. 1 Comment Tags: , , .

The use of ePrescribe, a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina statewide electronic prescribing strategy, is becoming more prevalent with physicians and pharmacies. So what does this mean for more North Carolinians? They will have the advantage of heightened prescription precision and safety.

The number of doctors that used electronic prescriptions in the last quarter has doubled to more than 2000, according to the most recent ePrescribe findings. Also, more than 87 percent of N.C. pharmacies have adopted the electronic prescribing in order to better suit their customer’s prescription needs.

Dr. Ron Smith, BCBSNC vice president of Employer Health and Corporate Pharmacy, says that there is an expanding use of electronic prescribing for both N.C. physicians and pharmacies. This allows physicians instant access to a patient’s medical and drug history so they can avoid any possible drug interactions. They can also view the patient’s health plan with the ePrescribe system so they can discuss the different costs of drug choices, as well as the consideration of generic drugs before a prescription is written, which can save the patient $30 or more per prescription.

BCBSNC was the earliest insurer in North Carolina to diligently endorse the use of electronic prescribing. There have been more than 7.8 million electronic prescriptions issued, since BCBSNC began the ePrescribe program in 2006.

The ePrescribe program was started by BCBSNC with a partnership with Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC) and North Carolina Medicaid to boost prescription accuracy and increase patient safety. BCBSNC continues to encourage electronic prescribing for all N.C. providers and to work with CCNC to help support the program.

An electronic prescribing solution is being made available by BCBSNC on their web site to assist every licensed provider in its network to begin electronic prescribing. There is no downloading and new hardware requirement on the web site. The BCBSNC web portal is safe and can be accessed easily by most computers, handheld devices or cell phones.

Is it O.K. to run if your nose is running?

Published on March 24, 2009 in Health and Wellness. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Shazia Khan, an assistant professor at Loyola University Health System, says yes, you can work out moderately as long as you do not have a fever and all your symptoms are above your neck, such as a sore throat or sinus infection. She says “It’s important to stick to your regular exercise routine if you’re feeling energetic enough.” This said, you shouldn’t push yourself too much and make sure you get plenty of fluids.

Common sense should tell you that it is not a good idea to go exercising if you are achy, have diarrhea or are vomiting. If you are bent on going to the gym with a cold, please clean the equipment that you use and stay out of the pool. Dr. Harley Rotbart, the author of Germ Proof Your Kids” (ASM Press, $29.95) says that if your mucus comes into contact with other swimmers, it could give them a cold as well. A sneeze can cause droplets to travel up to 3 feet. On the brighter side, Dr. Rotbart says that although hands are the main offender when it comes to spreading the cold virus, it is unlikely that they will have enough virus on them to inoculate into the nose or mouth when they are underwater.

Don’t forget that over-training can cause one to feel run down and have cold-like symptoms. If you usually love working out and you suddenly don’t want to go to the gym, you are probably over-trained. Just take a day off and you’ll be ready to hit the gym again soon.

When it comes to teaching kids about healthy eating, practice what you preach

Published on March 24, 2009 in Health and Wellness. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

If you eat right, your kids will most likely do the same. According to nutritionists, parents greatly influence their children’s eating habits and feelings about food. Unfortunately, many parents are saying one thing and doing another, like the mom who says that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and then she goes and skips breakfast. Then there are the parents who ban certain foods altogether, which tends to make them even more tempting. Some parents even use food to reward and punish.

Food experts say that what parents say and do is just as important as the food that they serve. Robin Miller, a nutritionist on the Food Network show, says that helping kids to have a healthy outlook about food will most likely lead them to eating healthy as an adult.

Ivonne Hamilton, a registered dietician who works at The Counseling Group in Miami, says not to go to extremes when teaching children healthy eating habits. She recommends an 80-20 relationship with food. In other words, if you eat healthy about 80 percent of the time, it’s O.K. to splurge on something like dessert 20 percent of the time. The reality is that kids will come into contact with treats at parties and school. Allow them to try these, but make sure they know the foods that their body needs to stay healthy. Forcing kids to clean their plates or taking a plate away from a child that seems to be overeating does not let kids discover their limits, says Hamilton. She tells children that a gentle hugging feeling means they should be satisfied, a feeling of two fingers pressing hard on the belly means they have eaten too much, and binge eating feels like a punch in the stomach.

Nutritionists say it is a good idea to involve your kids as you prepare food in the kitchen. Letting them crack eggs and stir things helps them to feel like they are a part of the preparation, which can make them want to sample the end result. They also recommend that you expand your child’s palate by introducing a new food with an old favorite, such as a new dip with their sliced apples. But the most important thing you can do to influence your child’s eating habits is to eat the way you want your child to eat. You can do this by choosing a wide assortment of healthy foods from all the food groups, eat in moderation and of course, exercise regularly.

Study reveals kidney donors live will with one

Published on March 16, 2009 in Health and Wellness. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

A new study found that donating a kidney doesn’t affect long-term health for the donor.

It was discovered by researchers at the University of Minnesota that people who donated a kidney were able to live as long as a normal person, and they  matched the population in general for being healthy.

In general, kidney donation has been believed to be safe, however there are always risks with any surgery. This new research, involving almost 3,700 donors and spanning more than 40 years, is the longest and largest study to observe long-term results. Their findings were reported in the January 29, 2009 issue of New England Journal of Medicine.

As more people are willing to donate and newer and better surgery techniques have reduced recovery time, living donation is on the increase. More than a third of the 16,629 transplanted kidneys in the U.S. came from living donors in 2007, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing.

The leader of the study, Dr. Hassan Ibrahim, as well as his colleagues, were eager to find out what happened to the 3,698 people who donated a kidney at the university since 1963. They tried to track down everyone and looked at government records to see who were deceased. A random selection of 255 donors were used to have tests done on them. Their health results were compared with outcomes from the healthy general population.

In all,268 of the donors had died, but this was comparable to the survival of the general population. Only eleven donors experienced kidney failure many years later and they needed a transplant or dialysis. The rate of kidney failure in the donors was actually lower than what was reported from the general population, according to the researchers.

Excess fluid and waste are filtered by kidneys. The options are dialysis or a transplant if your kidneys fail. There are more than 78,000 people on the national waiting list to receive a kidney from a deceased donor. With the increase in obesity and diabetes, the need for kidneys has increased dramatically and the wait can occur for many years.

Dependent coverage changed to age 26 by BCBCNC

Published on March 16, 2009 in Health Insurance. 0 Comments Tags: , .

In September of 2008, BCBSNC changed the dependent coverage age to 26, no matter what a student’s status is, for an insured group business.

The standard option for ASO groups to choose is also offered. 

The student status verification and annual re-certification for all insured group segments upon the group’s renewal has been discontinued.

April 1, 2009 will mark the end to some BCBSNC discount programs

Published on March 16, 2009 in Health and Wellness. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

On April 1, 2009 these discounts will end for all group (ASO and fully-insured) members. 

  • Cosmetic Dentistry
  • Cosmetic Surgery
  • Alternative Medicine Services, including:
    • Acupuncture
    • Fitness Centers and Athletic Clubs
    • Massage Therapy
    • Nutrition
    • Personal Trainer
    • Tai Chi
    • Yoga

The following discounts will still be available:

  • Blue 365 discounts
  • Chiropractic discounts
  • Hearing aids
  • Vitamins and supplements
  • Vision and LASIK discounts

MedAdvantage members will still receive the discounts for the 2009 plan year.

Having diarrhea for more than 24 hours could mean food poisoning

Published on March 10, 2009 in Health and Wellness. 3 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

If you are unfortunate enough to get diarrhea that lasts more than a day, you might want to consider that it might be food poisoning.

Each year, almost one-fourth of Americans deal with a food-borne illness. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, a very small number of cases are attributed to well-known outbreaks such as the recent salmonella-peanut scare.

More than 250 food-related types of illnesses, including viruses, bacteria and parasites, have been counted by scientists. Norwalk-like viruses, known for making cruise-ship passengers sick, are the most common. According to the CDC, almost two-thirds of know food poisoning can be blamed on them.

The next most common are two types of bacteria, campylobacter and salmonella. About 14 percent of food poisonings occur from campylobacter bacteria and around 10 percent point toward salmonella.

A decade ago, a group of CDC scientists came up with the best estimate of how many Americans come down with food poisoning each year: 76 million cases that ended in 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths.

There are no recent numbers available, but the numbers are projected to be close to 87 million cases, 371,000 hospitalizations and 5,700 deaths. These figures are from the Associated Press calculation which used the CDC formula and current population estimates.

More than 640 illnesses in 44 states and nine deaths have been caused by the recent peanut-related salmonella outbreak. The source of the outbreak was found at a Virginia-based company that makes minor -label peanut butter, peanut paste and other products.

These numbers are no where near the actual amount of cases. A confirmation on a case occurs only after a lab test is sent to the CDC. So many people just suffer through it without even going to a doctor.

Health officials believe that for every salmonella case, there are about 36 unreported cases.

Some symptoms of food poisoning are extreme diarrhea that lasts a day or more, possible nausea, vomiting or stomach cramps. If you get these symptoms, do not get dehydrated. Drinks such as CeraLyte, Pedialyte or Oralyte may help. Sports drinks like Gatorade are not enough to help. Diarrhea medicine such as Pepto-Bismol can also help.

See a doctor if you experience any of these symptoms: temperature of 101.5 degrees or higher, blood in your stool, continuous vomiting, dizziness, decreased urination or other dehydration signs, or diarrhea that lasts for more than three days.