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February 13, 2012
Binyamin Rose: Back to the Bunker: How a life-risking act by a Christian family during the Holocaust saved a family and built a thriving community a world away
Menachem Wecker: Business Schools Teach Real Estate Despite Troubled Housing Market
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Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
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Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
Jan. 12, 2007
/ 22 Teves, 5767
Consumer-directed health plans taking off and get a boost from Congress HMO's are losing favor
By
Drs. Michael A. Glueck & Robert J. Cihak
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
As the New Year 2007 begins there is some good health news for consumers who
want a say and choice in their own health care. HMO's are dying a slow
painful death (their just due) while consumer-directed health plans and
health saving accounts (HAS' s) are becoming healthier and flourishing.
According to a recent Mercer survey of 3,000 U.S. employers,
consumer-directed health plans tripled in 2006. Compared with a managed-care
plan such as an HMO, they reduce the annual cost per employee by a
bout
$1,000.
While small businesses were first to take an interest, larger businesses are
beginning to take notice also. The Houston Independent School District has
offered two consumer-directed options for the past three years, with
excellent results. The annual health benefit cost per employee rose by only
$270 rather than the expected $1,500, from $5,500 to $5,770 (Brett Brune,
Houston Chronicle 12/18/06).
A provision rushed through Congress just before adjournment makes the
funding of health savings accounts much more practical. Employers will be
allowed to roll over balances from a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
and/or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) into the H S A of employees who are
switching. The allowable HSA contribution has been raised and will be
indexed to inflation. Previously, it was limited to the amount of the
deductible, but in 2007 can be up to $2,850 for singles or $5,650 for a
family. See www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/hp209.htm.
Democrats generally opposed the provision, which was pushed through by
outgoing House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA). When
economist John Goodman, founder of the National Center on Policy Analysis
began pushing for the idea of tax-favored medical savings accounts 16 years
ago, only about five Congressmen would listen to him.
Goodman thought that nothing but market forces could tame rising medical
costs.
A recent Rand Corp. study showed employers report saving 10 percent on
health benefits costs, and plan participants appeared to trim spending
between 2 percent and 15 percent. Some worry that people are skimping on
necessary as well as unnecessary care.
But Goodman says: "Someone is going to have to choose between health care
and other uses of money. If you want someone else to make those choices for
you, you can join an HMO. But if you want to make those choices for
yourself, these accounts give you the financial ability to make them"
(Christopher Lee, Washington Post 12/28/06).
While HSAs are growing, customers are bailing out of HMOs in record numbers.
Patients complain about restricted choice. And the promised cost savings
have not occurred. The average HMO premium cost per person paid out by major
companies is projected to jump to $8,151 in 2007, a 64 percent increase from
$4,979 in 2002 (Bruce Japsen, Chicago Tribune, posted by sunherald.com
11/22/06).
A previous Association of American Physicians (AAPS) News of the Day release
in March, 2006, noted there had been a seven-fold increase in individuals
covered by HSA-type insurance between November 2004 and December 2005 (Data
from the American Health Insurance Providers for a U.S. Treasury Department
fact sheet).
As these writers have often railed against managed care since the 80's we do
take some satisfaction in seeing its proper demise. As we said then, "There
is no way a healthcare corporation can provide more care, better care, at a
lower cost while the patient wants all the latest expensive technology (but
prefers not to pay for) while the corporation and stockholders want a
greater return on their investment." This was not economic rocket science
then nor is now.
HMOs and managed care were doomed to fail. When "for-profit" corporations
offer potentially unlimited services for a flat fee (plus the usual
co-pays) they reach a point where the only way they can make money is to
withhold care.
Managed care, in these writers' opinion, was and is a cruel experiment on
America's patients which provided Wall Street opportunists and
non-medically-trained corporate presidents and officers with immoral obscene
profits while the sick, elderly, disabled and mentally ill suffered.
Ironically corporate run managed care has been around just long enough for
its lethal genes to rise up and destroy itself. We should never again allow
such a deadly experiment with patients as guinea pigs.
Editor's Note: Michael Arnold Glueck III, M.D., wrote this week's
commentary
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
Michael Arnold Glueck, M.D., is a multiple award winning writer who comments
on medical-legal issues. Robert J. Cihak, M.D., is a Discovery Institute
Senior Fellow and a past president of the Association of American Physicians
and Surgeons. Both JWR contributors are Harvard trained diagnostic radiologists.
Comment by clicking here.
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