The growth in health care jobs remained low in February 2014, with a gain of only 9,500 jobs, the third straight month of meager growth, resulting in the lowest three-month gain (17,700) on record. Hospitals, the largest health sector employer, shed 10,000 jobs over this three-month period. Meanwhile, health spending growth has been trending upward,… Keep reading →
General Health
U.S. Chamber: FL Supreme Court Medical Malpractice Ruling Will Make State’s Lawsuit Climate Even Worse
By businesswireHarold Kim, executive vice president of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) issued the following statement today on the Florida State Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Estate of Michelle Evette McCall v. United States of America concerning the constitutionality of Florida’s medical malpractice law: “Today’s decision by the Florida State Supreme… Keep reading →
Despite Recession, Children’s Health Care Spending Increased Every Year Between 2009-2012, Says New Report
By businesswireSpending on health care for children covered by employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) increased between 2009 and 2012, rising an average 5.5 percent a year, with more dollars spent on boys than girls, and higher spending on infants and toddlers (ages 0-3) than any other children’s age group, finds a new report released today by the Health… Keep reading →
North Dakota is #1 and West Virginia is #50 in Annual Gallup-Healthways State Well-Being Rankings
By businesswireFor the sixth consecutive year, global well-being improvement leader Healthways (NASDAQ: HWAY) and world-leading management consulting firm Gallup have released their analysis of the state of well-being across the United States. North Dakota and West Virginia bookended the list, with top and bottom rankings, respectively. The analysis is based on data from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being… Keep reading →
Historically Low Health Job Growth Accompanies Fifth Year of Restrained Health Spending
By businesswireHealth care lost 400 jobs in January 2014, and revised data for December 2013 showed a scant gain of 2,400 jobs. This two-month increase of 2,000 jobs is the lowest since our data series began in 1989, and the 3-month moving average gain of 10,500 jobs has not been lower in more than a decade…. Keep reading →
Former Senators Daschle, Lott, Breaux Form Bipartisan Alliance to Improve Healthcare Delivery through Connected Care
By businesswireLed by former U.S. Senate Majority Leaders Tom Daschle and Trent Lott, and former Senator John Breaux, the Alliance for Connected Care (www.connectwithcare.org) was launched today to promote policy reform around telehealth and remote patient monitoring. Long thought of as an issue affecting only rural areas, advances in technology and broadband deployment have fostered new… Keep reading →
The Association for Medical Ethics Joins the University of California, Irvine for Symposium on Transparency and Disclosure in Medicine
By businesswireIn the new era of the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, the financial ties between medicine and industry will be unveiled as the law is implemented this year and transforms the medical community and patient care. Physicians, researchers, lawyers and medical industry professionals from across the nation will gather to discuss transparency, the state of medicine… Keep reading →
Study: Consumers Active in Their Own Health Care but Face Financial Pressures and Are Unprepared for Health Care Costs in Retirement
By businesswireThe nation appears to be shifting away from the traditional model of health care, in which doctors have most of the decisionmaking authority. According to a newly released study, 9 out of 10 people want to have a say in important decisions regarding their health care. One-third would like to make a shared decision with… Keep reading →
Health care prices in October 2013 rose 0.9% above October 2012, the lowest reading in the fifty-plus years for which we have data. Prices for physician services rose by a mere 0.2% while prescription drug prices rose by 0.5%. Hospital prices rose by 1.2%, the lowest rate since November 1998, held down by very low… Keep reading →
Study: Strong Nutrition Education Can Lead to Healthier Food Choices Among Low-Income Families
By businesswireWell-designed nutrition education programs can lead to healthier food choices among low-income families who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), according to a study conducted by Altarum Institute and RTI International. The study SNAP Education and Evaluation Study (Wave II) was funded by the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of… Keep reading →