David Anderson is the manager of strategic communications for Altarum Institute’s Health C
moreAfter a decade of conflict in Iraq, our troops have come home, producing the largest increase in the number of American veterans since the 1970s.
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The Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals and nutrition education for low-income, pre
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During a career that has spanned three decades, Cathy Call has been instrumental in the developm
moreAccording to the Institute of Medicine’s Preventing Medication Errors report, the average hospitalized patient encounters at least one medication error per day.
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Due to the rapid increase in prescription drug abuse, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared prescription drug abuse an epidemic. The latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicates that over 70 percent of people who abused prescription pain medications obtained them from friends or relatives, while approximately 5 percent got them from a drug dealer or over the Internet. more
When I began working in the field of social work 25 years ago, a huge distinction existed between working with individuals who suffered from mental health issues or physical ailments and those who
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In your community, do block groups, farmer’s markets, city planners, community clinics, emergency services, and departments of health work elbow-to-elbow, or do they act in organizational silos? Improving population health was an important aspect of the Affordable Care Act, which led to the emergence of new community-based strategies that were launched in part from the public health campaign. more
Antigone Dempsey has more than 19 years of experience in HIV/AIDS program management, organizati
moreThe alarm is sounding. Today, more Americans are dying from viral hepatitis than HIV/AIDS!
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Dr.
moreThe promise of public health surveillance based on near real-time health data is based on the notion that there will be uniform participation among providers, the systems will be easy to utilize,
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Let’s not capitalize on or mourn the loss of CLASS for too long. We have work to do – and we do not have the luxury of time before forging ahead. more
The Obama Administration abandoned the Community Living Services and Supports (CLASS) Act last month. This public long-term care insurance program was slated to be the country’s first attempt at dealing with an aging Boomer population that is in denial about what it costs to grow old in America. more
Addressing three dilemmas: Who defines value and how? How can value be measured? Can a value-based system also respect choice? more
As Director of KAI Medical Affairs, Ms.
moreMini-Sentinel is the Food & Drug Administration’s new tool to assist in monitoring the safety of drugs and medical products after FDA approval.
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The Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals and nutrition education for low-income, pre
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Erica Griffin is a Senior Policy Analyst with Altarum Institute and works in the Altarum’s
moreThe promise of public health surveillance based on near real-time health data is based on the notion that there will be uniform participation among providers, the systems will be easy to utilize,
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Health care should be consumer driven for reasons of both efficiency and ethics. When in possession of adequate information and faced with appropriate incentives, consumers make better choices for their own health than does any third party, regardless of whether that third party is motivated by the most worthy of intentions. more
With all of the discussions of rising health care costs, technology is often cited as being a major potential factor for reversing this crippling trend.
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What do we know about the levels of population health and the state of medical care and the many other determinants of health across the United States? Despite years of data collection, it has been difficult to gain a comprehensive view of population health. more
Innovation in health care products, services, delivery models and processes has emerged as a popular solution to spiraling U.S.
moreAddressing three dilemmas: Who defines value and how? How can value be measured? Can a value-based system also respect choice? more
Bundling provides incentives for providers to differentiate product and price and enables purchasers and payers to compare and contrast offerings. more
With the passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, the United States Department of Agriculture will be revising the nutrition guidelines for the Child and Adult Care Food Program for the first
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As we begin again to consider health care reform in this nation, the issue of childhood obesity should not be ignored. more
“I’m thinking of getting a full-body CT scan,” Jane said.
moreHealth Savings Accounts are growing up. No longer an oddity, millions of families have accounts funded by tens of thousands of employers (1).
moreThere is a massive untapped resource in health care: consumers.
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According to the Institute of Medicine’s Preventing Medication Errors report, the average hospitalized patient encounters at least one medication error per day.
more“Care transitions” is the new buzzword in efforts to improve health, improve care and reduce costs.
moreOur health care system ably treats sudden threats to life, prevents many illnesses and cures much of what ails us.
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With the passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, the United States Department of Agriculture will be revising the nutrition guidelines for the Child and Adult Care Food Program for the first
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Jessica McDuff, MA, is a senior Associate at Altarum Institute specializing in behavioral health
moreIt’s been in the news and at the forefront of public health policy debates—childhood obesity has tripled in the past 30 years and now represents one of the leading public health threat
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The International AIDS Conference is coming to the United States this July 22-27 for the first time in over 20 years.
moreThirty years ago this month, the CDC released a report documenting the first cases of what we now know as the acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS. Unfortunately, the news was not heard or understood by the millions AIDS would touch. In this the 30th year of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, much has changed. more
Because “prevention accounts for only two to three percent of health care expenditures,” we could achieve significant savings in future health care costs by devoting more money to preventive measures. Unfortunately, this argument is flawed. more
Although there is considerable attention paid to addressing cost growth and investing in public health and prevention, the most noteworthy aspect of Presidential candidate Barack Obama’s health care plan is its focus on attempting to make insurance affordable for all Americans more
When administration officials tout the cost savings potential of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in a lead New England Journal of Medicine article (NEJM.org Aug. 12, 2010), one has to wonder if the statute adequately addresses the core drivers of poor health and excessive health care costs in a way which is understandable and actionable by patients and their doctors. more
In our current economic climate, community health centers continue to absorb rising numbers of uninsured patients, providing high-quality and affordable care while generating billions in savings to the health care system. more
Center for Sustainable Health Spending colleagues George Miller, Ph.D. and Paul Hughes-Cromwick have the following thoughts.
moreAs we embark upon a presidential campaign season, we can anticipate many lively debates on the topics of taxation and spending in this nation.
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A few days into my 68-year old father’s hospitalization for sepsis, his doctors determined the strain of bacteria that plagued him: streptococcus.
more“Care transitions” is the new buzzword in efforts to improve health, improve care and reduce costs.
moreGlen Campbell’s decision to put a face on Alzheimer's by continuing to tour is a mark of real courage and heart. Not many celebrities let us come so close. more
While there is debate about the precise rate of prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in the population of service members returning from deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan, few would disagree that the sheer number of first and repeat deployments has placed a high demand on the Department of Veteran Affairs and military mental health treatment systems. Compounding the challenge is the key role played by reservists and National Guardsmen in these wars. more
With the Mission Projects Initiative, we are attempting to solve pressing health issues facing our nation, problems that now affect the quality of life of millions of Americans. more
Do you love casinos? How about bingo? Do you bet on the NCAA tournament championship? Do you gamble on the Internet?
moreWhen I began working in the field of social work 25 years ago, a huge distinction existed between working with individuals who suffered from mental health issues or physical ailments and those who
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The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America, of which I have served as staff director, recently released its report with 10 recommendations that we believe will allow Americans – particularly those who face the greatest barriers to good health – to lead healthy lives. more
Heath Care Poll
Resource Spotlight
Handbook for Mortals
This new edition of the handbook, first published in 1999, provides practical, straight-forward advice for those dealing with serious illness.