Thursday, September 30, 2004
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Monday, September 27, 2004
Thursday, September 23, 2004
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
Friday, September 17, 2004
Who Makes Profit From Medical Care ?
Arkansas Medical Society: "
According to a new financial report from financial firm Weiss Ratings, HMOs nearly doubled their net profits last year, earning $10.2 billion in 2003 compared to $5.5 billion in 2002. Kaiser Permanente, accounted for one-fifth of the HMO industry�s profit increase, reporting increased earnings of $1.1 billion.
The nation�s BlueCross BlueShield plans reported that their combined profits increased 63 percent last year, to $5.4 billion in 2003 up from $3.3 billion in 2002.
�The industry�s soaring profits continue to irk both consumers and businesses who are shouldering sky-rocketing health care costs without any perceived improvement in benefits,� said Melissa Gannon, Vice President of Weiss. Of the 502 HMOs surveyed by Weiss, 24 companies were financially upgraded and 14 were downgraded.
� Modern Healthcare, August 30, 2004"
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Monday, September 13, 2004
Sunday, September 12, 2004
Friday, September 10, 2004
A Message from the President of the AMA
FROM THE PRESIDENTJohn C. Nelson, MD, MPHThe Census Bureau recently made a heartbreaking announcement: last year, 45million Americans lacked health insurance. This ever-increasing number can beattributed to a number of factors, including our nation’s medical liabilitycrisis and a reduction in employment-based health insurance coverage. In fact,according to a recent national study by the Center for Studying Health SystemChange, the percentage of Americans under the age of 65 with employer healthinsurance dropped from 67 percent to 63 percent between 2000 and 2003.Without insurance, many patients forgo seeking medical attention until theirhealth problem reaches a crisis level. At that point, many illnesses, such asheart disease and cancer, have reached the point of no return.But it doesn’t have to be this way. Covering the uninsured is one of the AMA’smajor priorities -- and we have a plan to help remedy the situation. As it stands, employers – not employees – choose health insurance, so plans arenot responsive to individual demand for access, quality and affordability. Thecornerstone of the AMA plan is to allow federal tax credits for the purchase ofindividually selected and owned health insurance and a wide range of new,affordable insurance options. The AMA also supports the crafting of appropriatemarket regulation based on the recognition that neither free-market mechanismsnor market regulations alone will fully meet the needs of those who have chronicillnesses or conditions that are expensive to treat.Not having health insurance is in and of itself a risk factor. If we have theability to map the human genome, we ought to be able to devise a rational planto ensure access to health care coverage for all Americans.Take the time to talk with your patients, friends and family about theadvantages of individually selected and owned health insurance. Visitwww.ama-assn.org/go/insurance-reform where you can learn more about our approachto expanding health insurance coverage and choice and help us to make it areality. Of course, we welcome constructive criticism.
