Wellness Programs and Health Care Reform
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A growing number of companies are instituting wellness programs that reward workers who meet company-determined health standards and penalize workers who do not. In Washington, lawmakers are debating proposals that would allow companies to increase penalties on less healthy workers who participate in these types of wellness programs. We speak with Washington Post reporter David Hilzenrath.
Credit Cards
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As predicted, banks and credit card companies are changing their rules ahead of new restrictions that are supposed to take effect next year. Bank of America and Citigroup will change some cardholders an annual fee even if they pay off their balances every month. Sandra Block writes about personal finance for USA Today and joins us with some advice.
Palo Alto Teen Suicides
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Four teenagers in Palo Alto, California have committed suicide at the same railway crossing since May, and double that number have tried to kill themselves there. Lisa Krieger is covering the story for the San Jose Mercury News.
The Salem-India Story
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Salem Massachusetts is known for its Witch Trials and for putting on a great show at Halloween. But the city also produced America’s first millionaire and in 1800, it was the richest city in the U.S. Dr. Vanita Shastri writes about Salem’s maritime history and its trade in the East Indies in The Salem-India Story: Maritime Trade between Salem, Massachusetss, and India 1788-1845 published by the Meru Educational Foundation.
Berlin Wall Musical
Tourists pass a painting on a segment of East Side Gallery in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009. (AP)
The 20th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall is next month, and the students at the John F. Kennedy School in Berlin are remembering the day with a high school musical. The BBC’s Alexa Dvorson attended a recent rehearsal.
Music from the Show
- Death Cab for Cutie, “405″
- Calexico, “Whipping the Horse’s Eye”
- Four Tet, “Unspoken”
- Moby, “Inside”
- Pink Floyd, “Another Brick in the Wall, Part Two”
It is not often that I let any media report (however well intentioned) bother me.
But I must voice my opinion regarding this story.
For the record I:
1)support the need for national healthcare reform.
2)am a diabetic (Type 1 insulin dependent).
3)have expensive healthcare insurance.
I also appreciate the need to inform the many others who would support this type of program in order to keep their healthcare costs down. Unfortunately they don’t necessarily have all the correct and accurate information available as they consider the ramifications suggested by those that support these types of programs.
My problem is the way both Hilzenrath and Young seemed to over simplifiy diabetes while exploring the bigger question of “Wellness Programs” and their future role in healthcare reform.
Diabetics and the many others with chronic health issues should all be up in arms over this.
Type 1 diabtics have no control and certainly didn’t sign on for this one.
The ability to improve compliance in dealing with any disease an possibly lower health care costs may be possible. But when that individual wakes up tomorrow and has to deal with “finger sticks”, injections, meds, diet, and cost just survive is a daunting task.
Type II (non-insulin dependent) is different yet still carries many of the same issues.
Insurance companies and employers are looking to improve their performance with the real potential to harm their insured, many of whom have had no say in their current medical condition.
Think about that the next time you eat…
Need to figure out……..
Hm……..Carbs??? How many…….
Don’t know how to count carbs???????????
Too bad ………
Sounds easy…….Ouch…. next injection………
No injection…….. Oh well.
Probably not your best example/choice for this story.
Provide your people with accurate information before putting them on the “air” so the public will better understand the real-life demands of dealing with a life long, chronic diease.
Fred Thompson
Posted by Fred Thompson, on October 27th, 2009 at 2:20 pmHi Fred…
I understand your frustration (better than you think!
I’ve a loved one with diabetes, am familiar with the sticks, and more. Nothing like a late night ambulance call!)
…and I will listen back to the piece, but my intent was to mention diabetes because it is being talked about in relation to the new wellness proposals, and further, I mentioned it as an example of something that people often have no control over!
And David Hilzenrath’s response was that there would be a medical exception if someone couldn’t contol an issue, but he also had a warning that some providers might ask patients to, say, better control blood sugar levels. I don’t think he was advocating for that but rather warning about it!
I’ll listen back, but I in fact I think the spirit of the report was, well, the same spirit as your note!
Maybe diabetics SHOULD be up in arms over this.
All best,
Posted by Robin Young, on October 27th, 2009 at 2:51 pmRobin