changes in healthcare

The Cost of Living with Chronic Illness

Sep 26, 2019

The advances of medical science have been nothing short of remarkable over the last few decades. Illnesses such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes have become chronic illnesses. Proper ongoing medication and regular physician interaction have resulted in longer and healthier lives. Yet, the emotional and psychological costs of living with these disease states are just beginning to be understood in healthcare. As the grandfather of two type-I diabetics, I have watched first-hand how the disease is an ever present factor in their lives - 7/24/365. There is no escaping the constant reminder that their lives differ from that of...

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Filed Under: cancer drugs cost, changes in healthcare, high-cost drugs, Insider, medical access

Mental Health Disease – the Silent Illness

Aug 28, 2019

My first contact with a tangible mental illness and its implications occurred as a young lawyer trying a murder case in which my client, assigned to me by the court, was accused of murdering his wife. In the normal course, I sought a mental health evaluation of my client. I called one of the most prominent forensic psychiatrists in Detroit and asked him if he would evaluate this individual to determine if he could stand trial or if there was a mental health defense to his criminal actions. The psychiatrist visited the individual at the county jail and conducted an...

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Filed Under: changes in healthcare, Health Management, healthcare quality, Mental Health, mental status affects health

The High Cost of Hemophilia – Part 2

Aug 1, 2019

Hemophilia is a rare blood clotting disorder that affects approximately 20,000 people in the United States and an estimated total of 400,000 people worldwide.  The symptoms can range from mild to severe; but keeping it under control often dictates a need for prophylactic or preventative treatment to ensure that bleeding does not become an issue. Bleeding issues often lead to additional medical care, including hospital stays, which means additional costs for employers and the insured. Due to its rarity, the treatments are often extremely expensive. Hemophilia not only an impact upon a person's quality of life, but can be quite the financial...

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Filed Under: changes in healthcare, Corporate Benefits, hemophilia, high-cost drugs, medications, negotiate medical bills, Specialty Drugs

Shopping for Art – Healthcare

Jul 30, 2019

Have you ever thought about the fact that when you walk into an art gallery you are drawn to certain artists and the works they have created? This idea that in art one size does not fit all also applies to healthcare. We see numerous articles about how we as Americans comparison shop for our cars, dishwasher and almost anything else you can find on Amazon or other websites. In her article for Real Clear Health on the future of healthcare, Seema Verma states, "Our demand for a value is the engine that drives competition which, in turn, lowers prices and inspires...

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Filed Under: changes in healthcare, Health Management, healthcare quality, Insider, medical access

The High Cost of Hemophilia – Part 1

Jul 25, 2019

Hemophilia is a rare clotting disorder that causes blood to not clot properly. It causes more than normal bleeding when someone is injured and can be life threatening. This very rare and usually inherited disorder affects approximately 20,000 people in the United States. The  severity of the disease can vary dramatically between affected individuals and the severity, from mild to severe would dictate the level of medical care one needs. It can not only be financially costly, something we will discuss in part 2, but also physically costly; which is what is discussed in part one of this article series. The basics...

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Filed Under: changes in healthcare, Corporate Benefits, high-cost drugs, medications, negotiate medical bills, Specialty Drugs