I stumbled across this video clip on Modern Fabulosity, a blog I enjoy reading, which generally focuses on pop culture.
The clip explains the positive impact a public option would have on the healthcare system. I think anyone who reads this blog (especially lately) would recognize how much I am in favor of improving the current system so keep in mind my personal bias. If this clip helps you understand the benefits of a public option, please feel free to steal, swipe, or share with others.
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Health, Politics
Representative Barney Frank a Democrat from MA has long been reviled by many conservatives. Like most members of Congress, Frank can be quite pompous and downright arrogant. However, unlike most members of Congress, Frank also has brass balls, is not afraid to speak his mind and is exceptionally intelligent. His left leaning bias aside, the so called “Blue Dog” Democrats and other moderates would do well to take notes on how Rep. Frank handled himself at a recent town hall.
Near the end of the Town Hall a woman stepped to the podium and asked, “Why do you continue to support a Nazi policy?” Frank handled this exchange in much the same way many of those who are disrupting other town halls should – directly and by calling them out for what they are – hateful rhetoric not based in truth, fact or reality.
A lot of news has been made of late about angry mobs shouting over each other at “town hall” style meetings between Senators and their constituents. Although I can understand someone’s distrust of government and be wary of entitlement programs, I don’t particularly understand the logic of what is being said. Concerns I hear repeatedly run something like this.
1) I don’t want my health insurance to change.
2) A national insurance plan by the gov’t. will kill private insurance
3) I don’t want the government in the healthcare business
Let’s talk about each of these concerns individually.
1) For people who are happy with their health insurance through their employer, they need not worry. An estimated 160million people receive medical coverage this way. This is commonly referred to as dual-payer system; meaning an employer and an employee jointly contribute to the medical benefits. An example of a single-payer system is what exists in Canada or the U.K. Nobody in the Obama administration has proposed a single payer system. Ironically, candidate John McCain espoused a single-payer model based on tax cuts for businesses. He felt that if businesses no longer had to provide medical benefits it would make them more competitive and this responsibility should fall on the shoulders of the individual / family.
2) There is a concern that if the federal government offers a public insurance plan that private insurers will go away. However, this fear is untrue. The State of MA has created something called “The Connector” which allows people who do not qualify for or receive insurance from their employer to select insurance plans that are government regulated. Private insurers plus government plans are included and since MA passed universal coverage in 2006 – the private insurers in the state have benefitted significantly. With near universal coverage they’ve seen their enrollment numbers rise – something I believe that is unique and not been seen in 49 other states where each year more people lose coverage or drop it because it is no longer affordable.
3) Government is already in the healthcare business and if one is to believe polling done by the elderly – they are very positive about their coverage and choice in the Federal Medicare program. This does not mean there is not waste in this program or that it is perfect, but if you know someone over the age of 65 who is no longer working – they receive Medicare. Ask them if Medicare should go away or if they are unhappy with their coverage.
Last year, not long after I joined my firm, we published a report that claimed more than $1.2 trillion of the $2.2 trillion the US spends on healthcare each year is wasteful. For sure much can be done in the area of payment reform and streamlining procedures. This is in part what the Obama administration is trying to accomplish by reforming the system. However, the bulk of that waste is directly attibuted back to the consumer. Meaning that you and I are the biggest reason healthcare costs continue to spiral. Attributing poor decisions about our health and our slow nature to respond to health concerns as the biggest driver of cost.
There is plenty to be mad about with regards to health reform and everyone has the right to be heard. But there is a big difference between shouting nonesense and having an honest gripe. If people don’t want reform – that is a valid perspective, but keep in mind that healthcare costs in 2010 are estimated to rise by more than 9% – nearly 3 times the rate of inflation. Also keep in mind that by nearly every measure in quality and cost the US comes in either last or near the bottom as compared to every other industrial nation. To do nothing is to be satisfied with failure in my opinion.
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Health
Massachusetts is again leading the nation in healthcare reform. This time the state is considering an overhaul of the way payments are made to hospitals and doctors. Last week a state commission voted unanimously to scrap the current system “fee-for-service”, in which insurers typically pay doctors and hospitals a negotiated fee for each individual procedure or visit.
The commission recommends that the state make the shift within five years. This would make Massachusetts the first state to end fee-for-service, and instead pay providers a yearly fee for each patient, thus eliminating financial incentives to overtreat. Could more states follow? There are plenty of critics of ending fee-for-service, but if you are going to reform healthcare you need to follow the money. Over time I would hope that pay-for-performance would also be introduced to encourage best-practices and to financially discourage inefficiencies (but that is a subject for another entry).
I’m not certain when the state legislature will vote on this recommendation, but I do believe that Gov. Patrick supports the commissions recommendations. It is likely that this too could serve as a model for President Obama and the U.S. Congress as they address the issue of healthcare reform. No doubt states like California which are nearly bankrupt in part due to sky-rocketing healthcare costs will also be watching closely to see what sort of impact this has on access to service and over all cost.
For more information here are some additional articles:
BusinessWeek – A MA model to fix health care
Breaking News 24/7 – MA considers move from fee-for-service
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Health, Politics
Recently I wrote about how busy work has been and while it looks as if it will be a very busy summer, sometimes the work I do can be very gratifying. A good example of that is this morning’s release of my firm’s annual report. This usually gets quite a bit of attention, but the timing of this report really could not have been better planned considering all the attention on this subject in Washington, D.C. Last week saw Senator Kennedy’s “Affordable Health Choices Act”, issued to members of Congress and this week President Obama indicated that it was precisely because of increasing costs that meaningful reform must happen now.
All day long one of the top news story on MSNBC has been our report. For a marketing guy like myself, this is pretty cool to see. I know…I’m a markting-nerd; refrain from commenting.
I’ve been away from my blog for a little more than a week, because over the Memorial Day Weekend I was diagnosed with viral meningitis.
I was fortunate to be able to recognize my symptoms and get to the hospital fairly quickly, because approximately nine years ago I contracted viral meningitis and at the time, I just assumed that I had a migraine. I’m one of the lucky few who do not get headaches so I had no ability to differentiate between a migraine and meningitis. Because it took me a few days before seeking medical attention, my body was significantly weaker and my recovery was far slower.
What is Meningitis?
Meningitis is a relatively rare infection that affects the delicate membranes called meninges (men-in’-jeez). These membranes cover the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis used to occur most commonly in infants, but because a vaccine is now given to infants, this infection now occurs mainly in adults. Many forms of meningitis can be contagious among people in close contact.
Viral meningitis is more common than the bacterial form and generally but not always less serious. It can be triggered by a number of viruses, including several that can cause diarrhea. However, people with viral meningitis are much less likely to have permanent brain damage after the infection resolves.
Outbreaks of meningitis, particularly the bacterial form, are rare in the U.S. However, since the early 1990s outbreaks have been increasing for reasons not yet understood. Viral meningitis tends to be less severe, and most people recover completely. Fungal meningitis is the most rare form and generally occurs only in people with weak immune systems, such as people with AIDS.
Fortunately, I am finally on the mend – although I still tire very quickly and need to remain quiet. Today’s blog entry was sort of a test to see if looking at a computer monitor and ‘exercising’ my brain by engaging in writing would lead to a headache or nausea. I’m glad to write that I still feel good (perhaps that is due to the Percoset, but I’d like to think this proves I’m definitely on the mend).
Acknowledgements:
Much of the above information (and medical image) was found on Health Plan of NY. Thanks also to Seres Vivos website for the dog photo.
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Health
It has been nearly a month since my last ‘work out’ entry. At that point, I had just completed my initial trial pack, and I re-signed for another 10 sessions with my trainer, Stu. I mentioned that my clothes were starting to fit me better, and I noticed subtle changes in my physique. Since then, I have remained fairly faithful working out regularly. 
Today Stu focussed on working out my legs and now that I’ve been out of the gym for several hours I can feel the fatigue. Stu had me run through a series of circuits for 90 minutes that included weights, plyometrics, crunches, suicides and several other exercises that kept me gasping to catch my breathe. I’ve noticed that as I’ve gained strength, Stu has increased the intensity of our work outs. I suppose I should look at this as getting more value for my money – after all the workouts now make my introductory sessions seem pretty pathetic. When I think back to some of my earlier entries like “My Aching Muscles”, I’m almost embarrassed by how out of shape I had allowed myself to get. To the casual observer I don’t think people realized how weak I was both with regards to muscle tone as well as cardio. Fortunately the regular visits to the gym, which started mid-February, have really made a difference.
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Fitness, Health
The Taste of the South End
Last month I wrote about the AIDS Action Committee fundraiser, Taste of the South End. This is one of my favorite fundraisers, and I try to attend it every year.
I was surprised when a friend sent me this video from YouTube. At the end your’s truly makes an appearance. True to form, I’m shoving food down my throat. However the memories of the shrimp ceviche tacos from 28 degrees are happy ones so I don’t mind.
The Men’s Event
This Saturday, I will be joined by friends and nearly 1,500 Gay men as we all descend upon the Marriott Copley to attend the Fenway Health Center’s annual black-tie extravaganza, otherwise known as The Men’s Event.
If you don’t have plans as yet – it is a great time and money goes to a very worthwhile organization. You can link to the Fenway homepage and still buy tickets if you like.
About The AIDS Action Committee of MA
Founded in 1983, AIDS Action Committee of MA is a community-based health organization whose mission is to stop the HIV/AIDS epidemic by preventing new infections and optimizing the health of those already infected. AAC provides free, confidential services to 2,500 men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS. If you like, you can make a donation to the AAC here.
About The Fenway
The Fenway Institute operates the nation’s first community-based HIV research program, which has been conducting long-term epidemiological research since 1985. Fenway Health is affiliated with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. If you like, you can make a donation to the Fenway here.
Senators Ted Kennedy (MA) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX) have jointly penned an op-ed piece that is in today’s Boston Globe, entitled, Renewing the War on Cancer. In the op-ed they point out that this horrible disease does not “discriminate between men and women, wealthy or poor, the elderly or young.” Moreover although they point out that more than 1.4 million Americans were diagnosed last year with a form of cancer -the numbers are even more staggering if you think about this globally.
I was so moved by the editorial, I copied the entire letter. This is running in newspapers and blogs around the country today, and I would urge you to read it and contact your representatives in Washington D.C. to let them know you too would like to see the United States renew the war on cancer. We absolutely must identify better treatments and to fund for more and better clinical research, screening and education.
This is everyone’s war, because the odds are that if you do not contract cancer someone you love will and the work we do today can lay a foundation that can lead to better survival rates for all of us tomorrow.
Renewing the War on Cancer
By Edward M. Kennedy and Kay Bailey Hutchison
Cancer is a relentless disease. It doesn’t discriminate between men and women, wealthy or poor, the elderly or the young. In 2008, over 1.4 million Americans were diagnosed with some form of the disease. If it wasn’t you, it may have been a spouse or sibling, a parent or a child, a friend or a coworker. We, too, have known the challenges of cancer diagnoses for ourselves or our family members or friends. And while there are many stories of survival, this disease still takes far too many lives. More than half a million Americans lost their battle with cancer last year.
Since the War on Cancer was declared in 1971, we have amassed a wealth of knowledge about the disease. Advances in basic and clinical research have improved treatments significantly. Some of the most important progress has been made in prevention and early detection, particularly screening, including mammography and colonoscopy. Behavior modifications, such as smoking cessation, better eating habits, regular exercise, and sunscreen have been found to prevent many cancers. Continued focus must be placed on prevention, which will always be the best cure.
Though heightened awareness and prevention should be emphasized, alone they don’t translate into adequate progress for those with cancer. Since 1971, the cancer mortality rate has decreased by only 6 percent. In the same period, by contrast, mortality rates have dramatically declined for heart disease (by 56 percent) and stroke (by 66 percent). Today, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, exceeded only by heart disease. If the current trend continues, the National Cancer Institute predicts that one in every two men and one in every three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes, and that cancer will become the leading killer of Americans.
The solution isn’t easy, but there are steps we should take now if we hope to see the diagnosis rate decline substantially and the survival rate increase. To do so, we must identify and remove the numerous barriers that obstruct our progress in cancer research and treatment.
First, it is essential that cancer be diagnosed at an initial, curable stage. One of the most promising breakthroughs is the monitoring of biomarkers, which leave evidence within the body that alerts clinicians to hidden activity indicating that cancer may be developing. Identification of such biomarkers can lead to the earliest possible detection of cancer in patients.
Second, even if we significantly improve early detection, lack of health insurance and other impediments to care will preclude many Americans from undergoing routine screening. With early screening, the disease may be detected at a treatable stage and dramatically increase the rate of survival. Greater outreach is clearly needed to make screening more available to all, and especially to underserved populations.
Third, we must adopt a more coordinated approach to cancer research. Establishing an interconnected network of biorepositories with broadly accessible sources of tissue collection and storage will enable investigators to share information and samples much more effectively. Integrated research will help accelerate the progress of lifesaving research. The search for cures should also be a cooperative goal. The current culture of isolated career research must yield to more cooperative arrangements to expedite breakthroughs. Our national policy should encourage all stakeholders in the War on Cancer to become allies and work in concert toward cures.
Fourth, as our nation’s best and brightest researchers seek new ways to eradicate cancer, we must improve treatment for those who have it today. Raising awareness of clinical trials would result in more patients and their doctors knowing what promising trials are available. Doing so will expand treatment options for patients, and enable researchers to develop better methods for prevention, diagnosis, and therapy. Today, less than five percent of the 10 million adults with cancer in the United States participate in clinical trials. Disincentives by the health insurance market, preventing patients from enrolling in clinical trials, must be eliminated.
Finally, as our knowledge of cancer advances and patients live longer, we need a process that will improve patient survivorship through comprehensive care planning services. There is great value in equipping patients with a treatment plan and summary of their care when they first enter remission, in order to achieve continuity of therapy and preventing costly, duplicative, or unnecessary services.
We have introduced bipartisan legislation to bring about these necessary changes, and we hope to see the bill enacted in the coming weeks and months. These policy initiatives cannot be fully implemented without broad support and sufficient resources, and we are committed to leading this effort to completion.
It’s time to reinvigorate the War on Cancer, and more effective coordination of policy and science is indispensable for rapid progress.
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Health, The Boston Globe
Last week I completed the final personal trainer session that Sergio gave me as a gift. The six sessions with Stu have really paid dividends, but not without having some seriously aching muscles in the process.
Although I’ve never been a gym rat, through out my 20s and 30s I made an effort to go to the gym to run or to try the occasional abs class. However, I was never that disciplined and after a couple of weeks of faithfully going, visits would inevitably drop off. Additionally, my work outs were rarely as intense as the sessions with my personal trainer. So when I finished my final session on Monday, I did not even think twice about signing up for a 10-pack.
My goal is to get 2 workouts with Stu and to get myself to the gym for 2 cardio work outs each week (we’ll see). I’ve only been working out with Stu since mid-February, but I’ve noticed a change for the better and I’ll continue to use that as my primary source of motivation. To the casual observer, nothing is apparent but my clothes certainly fit better and with Stu’s help I’ve become stronger. The weights are getting heavier and the reps are getting more intense. After a typical work out I’m completely exhausted and sure to be quite achey for the next couple of days, but I feel like I’ve spent my time wisely.
Using a trainer at the BSC is not cheap… which is a shame because the cost is certainly a barrier for many people but for me it is worth the sacrifice. I’m going to use half of my tax return to pay for these next 10 sessions which should take me through the next 1-2 months. I’ll evaluate where I am at that point, but I doubt I’ll suddenly have the discipline to go to the gym on my own so I may be into this for the duration. We will see.
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Fitness, Health
About two weeks ago I first wrote about the fact that I had started working with a personal trainer to help me build strength and trim some excess fat in my entry Hitting the gym.
Since then, I’ve had four more sessions and we’ve worked nearly every major muscle in my body. I have to admit that I feel sore for a few days after each session and there have been a few nights where I have woken in my sleep because the effort of rolling over has proven too much for my tired (pathetic) muscles.
I don’t believe there has been any weight loss, but even in just the handful of sessions we’ve had, I can feel my body tightening. I don’t think there are visible signs others would be able to notice (even if I weren’t bundled like an eskimo), but I certainly can feel changes. Additionally, lifting with Stu is more of a cardio workout than I had anticipated and on the days that I run, I’ve noticed that I’m not nearly as winded and hardly struggle so I’m probably going to be able to get back into the pool sooner than I expected to move my cardio work outs from the treadmill to the water.
As you can probably tell, I’m really pleased with the progress to date. Working out with a trainer makes the time I’m at the gym pass more quickly, there is no doubt that I benefit from his help (he pushes me harder than I would and he corrects my form when I tire or lose concentration), and most importantly, by having someone waiting for me – it is harder to skip out on going to the gym.
I realize it has only been a couple of weeks and much of this is still new, but I do feel more confident in my ability to meet some personal fitness goals, and I know that having Stu there to push me is a big reason why I have that sense of confidence.
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Fitness, Health
In January 2009, I completed a 4mos medical research project, which I wrote a bit about on my blog. The study at MassGeneral Hospital is ongoing and examines the effects testosterone has on bone density. While I found participating in the study fascinating one of the results was I put on an extra 5-10 unwanted pounds.
I’ve never been one to stress about my weight – mostly because I’ve never had to. However, I’ve never really had a great body either and over the years I have became more conscious of my soft midsection and lack of muscle tone. My partner had noticed the change in my body and my frustration with the weight gain and for Christmas surprised me with a few sessions with a trainer at my gym. Yesterday, I had my first session with my trainer, Stu, who appears to be both friendly and sweet. His warm smile, can-do attitude and chiseled body is almost more than I can stand. The first work out passed quickly, was definitely a learning experience and more fun than I expected. I do hope that I can build a relationship with Stu and he can push me so I can drop the weight I’ve gained and possibly help me get into better shape. I have no goal weight – rather I would like to get back to fitting comfortably into my clothes.
I’ll try to write more about my work out routine and do my best not to obsess over Stu who has pecs and biceps the size of Nick Auger (the model in the photo). Aside from being healthier, it would be great to feel better about how I look.
There has been so much bad news of late, I wanted to share a story currently on Boston.com and The Boston Globe which is reporting that the founder and owner of Cambridge-based, Intersystems, has made a $100M donation to find a cure for AIDS.
The grant will be paid out over the next 10 years in $10M increments and will be shared with other research facilities, including Harvard and M.I.T., but the majority of the donation will be given to Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). To read the full story online link here.
Posted in Philanthropy
Tagged AIDS Action Committee, BosGuy, Boston Guy, Gay, Health, The Boston Globe
U.S. statistics now show more than 34% of U.S. adults were obese in 2005-2006, compared with 32.7% who were overweight. The National Center for Health Statistics study, based on a survey of 4,356 adults, said the prevalence of obesity has more than doubled since 1980 while the prevalence of overweight has remained stable.
What is it going to take to reverse this trend in the United States? This is terribly depressing. Obesity affects the quality of life for millions of Americans and their families and leads to illnesses and shortened life spans. Imagine what healthcare costs would look like if this trend was reversed? Sorry for the social commentary, but I am passionate about healthcare and I wish more people were too.
I spent approximately 4 hours today at Mass General Hospital for my final medical visit for the medical research study program I started back in September. In about a month’s time I will receive a full medical report that will describe in detail all the tests that were done and how my body reacted. I look forward to receiving it although I’m unsure how much I will actually understand. I plan on giving it to my doctor to add to my file. Hopefully he’ll understand more of what it says.
I was oddly relieved to learn that I was not part of the control group receiving a placebo. I would have really been frustrated with myself if my side affects had all been manifestations of an overactive imagination and self-induced. As it turns out, my testosterone levels had dropped during the study.
The doctor did explain that the Zolladex pellet last injected into my stomach on Christmas Eve day will continue to suppress my body’s production of testosterone for 3-4 more weeks and without applying testosterone through the Androgel that had been provided for the study, levels will continue to drop.
I have to admit I have no reservations about having participated in the study and really found the entire process very fascinating, but I am equally relieved to be done and look forward to returning to normal. I had no idea how much the loss of testosterone in my body would affect my metabolism, energy level, sex drive, etc…
BosGuy 