A new report from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that more Americans are living in poverty and more lack health insurance.

The report, called "Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2009," found the median household income was $49,777, about the same as 2008.

But it found that 43.6 million people were living in poverty, up from 13.2 million the year before, and the official poverty rate grew to 14.3 percent, up from 13.2 percent the year before. It was the third annual increase in a row.

The number of people without health insurance is also on the rise. It was 50.7 million last year and 46.3 million the year before -- or 16.7 percent versus 15.4 percent.

A sign of the times?  

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 3:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Health care reform
        

Those who are basically in shape but just can’t seem to lose that love handle or saddle bag may be interested in a new treatment recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

It’s called CoolSculpting by its maker Zeltiq, a medical device company, and it doesn’t require the needles, anesthesia or downtime that liposuction may necessitate. Other countries in Europe and Canada have already approved the procedure.

The company says it can eliminate an average of 20 percent of the fat in a treated area. The technology was developed at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Craig A. Vander Kolk, a cosmetic surgeon at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, has seen a demonstration and believes it will be a good tool for doctors and their patients. He consults for Faces Med Spa in Timonium, which will offer the procedure, and he may buy an $80,000 machine to use at Mercy, too.

He said that it works by painlessly cooling underlying fat over an hour-long session in a process called Cryolipolysis. The process does not harm skin tissue because the fat cells are more sensitive to the cold.  Several sessions may be necessary for the desired effects.

The cooled fat cells begin to die several weeks after a treatment. They shrink and disappear.
Vander Kolk says it’s not for everyone, especially obese people.

“The key with all of this body shaping, contouring and fat treatments is getting the right patient with the right procedure done by the right person,” he said. “You’ll get the best result.”

He said a person who can pinch an inch and a half of fat could see a quarter of it melted away over the sessions – enough to drop a pant size, but not a large amount. Liposuction, by comparison, can take off three quarters of the fat in one sitting.

The four to six treatments are likely to cost $500-$700 for an area. Liposuction is more like $1,000-$1,500.

Whatever the treatment, he said, "the goal is a happy patient."

Photo courtesy of Zeltiq 

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

Cooler temperatures are coming, but your skin can still be damaged by the sun.

The Skin Cancer Foundation is reminding everyone to continue using protection from cancer-causing ultraviolet radiation.

“It’s not just the sunburns that usually occur during the summer or on vacation that are associated with skin cancer,” said Dr. Perry Robins, president of the foundation, in a statement. “All of your lifetime sun exposure adds to your risk of skin cancer.”

There are different types of skin cancer, caused by different kinds of exposure:
Intense, intermittent sun exposure is the kind you get from laying out on the beach and getting burned, or even raking leaves in October.

The damage can lead to melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, the foundation says. Almost 69,000 melanomas are diagnosed a year, and about 8,650 people die. It can also lead to basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancers with more than 2 million Americans affected a year.

The incidental sun exposure that accumulates over time while you’re out walking the dog or to your car can lead to squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common type of skin cancer. There are an estimated 700,000 cases annually in the United States, leading to some 2,500 deaths. You can also get basal cell carcinomas this way.

The foundation wants everyone to have a year-round sun protection regimen. The group recommends: wearing densely woven and bright- or dark- colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible, wearing broad-brimmed hats and sunglasses that block ultraviolet radiation, seeking shade outside and wearing sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more.

Doing a self exam every month and getting a dermatologist to do an annual exam is also recommended because most skin cancers are curable when caught early.

AFP/Getty photo

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Cancer
        

States can benefit economically if their residents quit smoking, according to a new study by Penn State University researchers and released today by the American Lung Association.

That much may be obvious – fewer people smoke, fewer people get sick, seek treatment, miss work and die. But this study took a closer look at the cost and benefits of smoking cessation programs for states, which are implementing the programs as part of health care reform.

The American Lung Association says tobacco use kills 393,000 Americans every year, and the study will be used as another tool in the group’s efforts to sell cessation programs as not only a health benefit but a financial one.

The economic costs to the country from smoking are more than $301 billion, including $67.5 billion in lost productivity and $117 billion in premature death costs. Direct medical expenditures cost $116 billion.

The study found that per a $5.51 pack of cigarettes, the costs and work productivity losses average $18.05. But for every dollar states invested in comprehensive smoking cessation programs, they would receive an average of $1.26 return on investment (In Maryland, the study finds that figure would be $1.34). And since the highest rates of smoking are found among people with Medicaid benefits, the state and federal government could save more.

The Lung Association is encouraging the government and private insurers to add programs. Maryland is one of seven states that require private plans to cover treatment.

Maryland and its consumers’ direct costs now from smoking are an estimated $2.2 billion annually, with work productivity losses at $1.3 billion. Premature death adds $2 billion for a total cost to the economy of $5.5 billion. More study information can be found here.

Associated Press photo

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 3:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Business of health
        

Join us at noon for a chat with Dr. Kate Puttgen, a pediatric dermatologist at Johns Hopkins Children's Center. She'll answer questions about all things skin: itchy eczema, acne, moles and more. Puttgen was featured in the Sun Magazine's Generation Rx feature, about top doctors under age 40. Can't make it then? Ask questions now, either via the Cover It Live widget below or by leaving a comment. You can also ask questions via Twitter by using the hashtag #sunmag.

Posted by Carla Correa at 9:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Health care professionals
        

The buzz phrase in the health industry lately is preventive care.

Visit your primary physician often so he or she can detect health problems early.

The earlier you're treated the less likely you'll have expensive complications later. But at least one new survey is disputing this belief.

Dartmouth Atlas Project found that improving access to primary care alone doesn't necessarily keep people with chronic conditions out of the hospital or improve health outcomes.

The researchers found that the quality of care is more important. They also found that primary care physicians need to coordinate with a patient's specialists, nurses and hospital.

The study looked at the fee-for-service Medicare population from 2003 to 2007.

Among the findings:

1. There was no correlation between rates of breast cancer screening and the amount of primary care delivered.

2. There was no correlation between the rate of leg amputation, a complication of diabetes and other diseases, and a patient having at least one annual visit with a primary care physician.

3. Having an annual primary care visit did not keep patients out of the hospital for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions such as diabetes and congestive heart failure.

The researchers said that the patients who really need primary care may not be receiving it - or not receiving it frequently enough.

They also said primary care is most effective when it’s part of a coordinated effort between specialists and hospitals. That kind of coordination isn't easy to achieve in many areas of the country.

Quality also varies by doctor. Visiting a primary-care doc who’s not giving good care won't improve a person's health, according to the researchers.

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Categories: Medical studies
        

Join us at noon for a chat with Dr. Frank Dawson, a pediatric sports medicine specialist at Franklin Square Hospital Center (also a team physician for Morgan State and part of the team of physicians that treats the Ravens). He'll answer questions about sports medicine, injuries, exercise and more. Dawson was featured in the Sun Magazine's Generation Rx feature, about top doctors under age 40. Can't make it then? Ask questions now, either via the Cover It Live widget below or by leaving a comment. You can also ask questions via Twitter by using the hashtag #sunmag.

Tuesday at noon: Dr. Kate Puttgen, pediatric dermatologist at Johns Hopkins Children's Center, will discuss all things skin: itchy eczema, acne, moles and more.

Posted by Carla Correa at 9:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Health care professionals
        

Breast cancer awareness month isn't until October, but we're always interested in stories about personal health journeys. We have a gallery in which breast cancer survivors can upload a photo of themselves and share a little about their experience. Click here to participate. And find current breast cancer news coverage, here and calendar of local events here.

Baltimore Sun file photo of last year's Komen Race for the Cure.

Posted by Kim Walker at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cancer
        

This weekend Baltimore's St. Agnes Hospital is celebrating the launch of its smarthealth program. The program offers a medically-supervised and personalized approach to diet, exercise, lifestyle and mindset in one place. It includes a full biometric screenings, classes and an interactive website.

On Saturday, "Biggest Loser" Season 7 winner Helen Phillips will help kick off the program, developed by Saint Agnes' bariatric expert Dr. Kuldeep Singh and local wellness company WellAdvantage. (The event is not open to the public, however.)

For more info about smarthealth, email smarthealth@stagnes.org.

Posted by Kim Walker at 6:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

The first edition of the re-launched Sun Magazine takes a look at 10 local physicians and surgeons who are up-and-coming stars in their fields. You'll get a chance to chat with two of them Monday and Tuesday on this blog.

Monday at noon: Dr. Frank Dawson, pediatric sports medicine specialist at Franklin Square Hospital Center (also a team physician for Morgan State and part of the team of physicians that treats the Ravens) will discuss sports injuries.

Tuesday at noon: Dr. Kate Puttgen, pediatric dermatologist at Johns Hopkins Children's Center, will discuss all things skin: itchy eczema, acne, moles and more.

So come back to Picture of Health on Monday and Tuesday and you'll be able to submit your questions. 

Posted by Kim Walker at 2:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Health care professionals
        

The largest health workers union said today it is endorsting Governor Martin O'Malley in the upcoming election.

The group, 1199 SEIU, made the announcement at the Eubie Blake Jazz Center in Baltimore.

In endorsing O'Malley, union representatives cited his commitment to creating middle class jobs, advocating for free and fair union elections and ensuring affordable, quality healthcare care for Maryland.

The union said its members will hit the streets to canvas neighborhoods as well as organize a direct mail and paid media campaign. The group will focus on key races in Prince George’s County, including county executive, and several Maryland State Senate seats.

Issues of importance for health care workers include the union’s “Heart of Baltimore” campaign, an effort to improve jobs and care through ensuring free and fair union elections in the city’s health care institutions; access to quality, affordable health care; expanding coverage for uninsured Marylanders; increasing Medicaid reimbursements to the state’s nursing homes and hospitals; remediating Medicaid fraud; and keeping the Prince George’s hospitals open and expanding.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

The National Institutes of Health has awarded a University of Maryland scientist an $11.4 million, five-year grant to study whether anti-platelet drugs that prevent blood clots based on a patient's genetic makeup can be used to treat cardiac arrest.

The grant was given to Alan R. Shuldiner, a professor of medicine and director of the Program in Genetics and Genome Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

The study of the 2,400 cardiac patients at 5 sites will build on previous research by Shuldiner. The research found that the anti-platelet drug Plavix is not effective for people who have a certain variant of gene. The variant appears to affect a person's ability to activate the drug.

Plavix prevents platelets from clumping together and causing blood clots that can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

People with the gene variant who take Plavix after angioplasty or having a stent implanted have more than twice the risk of dying or having cardiac problems from a blocked artery, Shuldiner said.

The Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to physicians and patients in March about the reduced effectiveness of the drug in patients with the gene variant.

Shuldiner will use the grant money to look at whether treatments geared to a patient's genetic makeup are more effective in treating cardiac ailments.

The grant is funded by the National Institute of Health National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The agency is is expanding its focus on understanding how a person's genes respond to certain medicines.

Shuldiner will work with other institutions including Johns Hopkins University and Sinai Hospital in Baltimore.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 12:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Are you one of those parents who caves when your kids beg for the Oreo cookies or sugary fruit snacks shaped like Dora the Explorer?

You're not alone.

New research shows many parents let their desire to buy healthy foods fall to the wayside when they grocery shop for the kids.

Their preference to buy healthy foods is about 50 percent less when they're buying for the kids as opposed to for themselves, according to the study by the University of Iowa.

Study author Irwin Levin said parents are likely giving in to their kids demands at the grocery store.

The study was published in the September issue of the Journal of Consumer Behavoir. 

It looked at 43 7-year-old children and at least one parent, usually the mother. The research was funded by the National Science Foundation.

So next time, you're in the grocery store resist your kids' demands. Or leave them at home.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

The Kennedy Krieger Institute has been awarded $8.5 million to study Alzheimer's disease in people with down syndrome.

The medical institution said that Alzheimer's is hard to detect in any patient, but even more difficult in people with down syndrome. It is important to detect the disease early so treatment can be started immediately, scientists have found.

The grant was awarded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. It will allow Kennedy Krieger to continue a program it began in 1987 looking at aging and dementia in adults with down syndrome. The program will now last through May 31, 2015.

The new study will include research on whether risk for Alzhiemer's in the down syndrome population is associated with insulin resistance.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: geriatrics
        

Johns Hopkins scientists have found two genes whose mutations appear to be linked to one of the deadliest forms of ovarian cancer.

The research was published online in the Sept. 8, issue of Science Express.

The researchers, from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, found an average of 20 mutated genes in each ovarian clear cell cancer studied. Clear cell cancer is generally resistant to standard therapy.

Two of the genes were more commonly mutated. ARID1A is a gene that suppresses tumors and was found in 57 percent of the tumors studied. PPP2R1A helps turn normal cells into tumor cells and was found in 7.1 percent of the tumors studied.

The scientists looked at 18,000 genes for the study in ovarian clear cell tumors from eight patients. The patients came from Johns Hopkins and institutions in Taiwan and Japan.  Researchers found 268 mutations in 253 genes from the eight tumors. There were an average of 20 mutations per tumor.

Ovarian clear cell cancer accounts for about 10 percent of cancers that start in the cells on the surface of the ovaries. It mainly affects women ages 40 to 80 and is resistant to chemotherapy.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 5:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Women's health
        

If your morning ritual includes packing the kids in the car and driving them to school, you might want to consider changing up the routine.

Consider walking them instead. A short morning walk to school could reduce kid stress levels during the school day, according to a study by the University of Buffalo.

The researchers, led by James Roemmich, had some 10 to 14-year-old school children walk on a treadmill while watching a video of what they might see on the way to school. Others did not walk, but watched the same video.

They then were given an exam that would typically raise stress levels. The walkers showed less stress than those who didn't walk.

It is unclear how long the affects of the walk on stress last - a couple of hours or all day. So the researchers said kids should get bits of physical activity througout the day, such as during recess.

The study found that the walk curbs increases in heart rate, blood pressure and other factors that could lead to cardiovascular disease later in life.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Pediatrics
        

Kids who take antiretroviral therapy drugs to combat HIV infection may need to be revaccinated against other preventable diseases, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The researchers looked at 38 published studies to see the immune responses to vaccines. Most on the antiretrovirals remained susceptible to the diseases, but responded well to revaccination.

They published their finding in the latest issue of the Lancet Infectious Diseases.

“Because of the progressive effects of HIV infection on the ability of the immune system to mount an effective response, many infected children have poorer responses to vaccines than do uninfected children,” Dr. William Moss, senior author of the review and an associate professor with the Bloomberg School's Department of Epidemiology said in a statement.

“In addition, fewer children infected with HIV achieve protective immunity, and those who do might experience greater and more rapid waning of immunity. These results suggest that children on [antiretrovirals] would benefit from revaccination, but levels of protective immunity might need to be monitored and some children may need additional vaccine doses to maintain protective immunity.”

The studies looked at the kids’ short-term immune response (less than 3 months) and long-term response (greater than 3 months) and found that those on antiretrovirals since infancy – before routine childhood vaccines – might have long lasting immunity to those diseases.

The information from this research may help develop polices and strategies for kids with HIV. The researchers note that more such kids are living into adolescence and adulthood and steps need to be taken to keep them from developing other preventable diseases.

Associated Press photo

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: HIV/AIDS
        

Johns Hopkins researchers have uncovered what they think contributes to a high risk of infertility in obese women.

The researchers found that the pituitary gland actively responds to chronically high insulin levels, triggering hormonal changes that disrupt ovarian function and hurt fertility.

The research was conducted on mice and published online in the journal Cell Metabolism.

The findings challenge the widely held belief that infertility is a result of insulin resistance, or a body's insensitivity to very high insulin levels. Instead, the Hopkins researchers said the problem is heightened sensitivity to insulin's effects on the pituitary gland.

Scientists have traditionally focused on treating infertility by lowering insulin levels. The new models provide evidence that the better treatment is decreasing the pituitary's sensitivity to insulin.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Women's health
        

About 85 percent of workers rate workplace safety first among labor standards they care about, above maternity leave, overtime pay and paid sick days, according to a study by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.

The study aimed to see what workers think about workplace safety issues. It looked at dozens of other studies from 2001 to 2010 done by the center and was conducted for the Public Welfare Foundation, which has a workers’ rights program.

The study found that workers’ concern about safety was, not surprisingly, heightened after an accident such as the BP oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. Yet, the interest also often quickly waned among workers and the media.

But given the level of concern about safety in general, officials at the foundation said that it should be a higher priority for government and employers.

The U.S. Department of Labor reported last month that the number of workers who died on the job last year fell 17 percent from 2008 but workers also put in fewer hours during the recession. And workplace injuries are still high. Another study for the foundation found about 12 percent of workers reported an injury while on the job in the past year and 37 percent said they have needed medical care at while working.

And while the new study found most workers say they are satisfied with safety conditions at work, they report a lot of stress, which could contribute to injury. A separate 2006 study for the foundation showed 13 percent of workers find their jobs always stressful, and 21 percent find it often stressful.

So, is your work more dangerous than it should be? Have you been hurt? You think safety is the highest concern?

Associated Press photo of Deepwater Horizon oil rig burning

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

A father and son team are spending the next 14 days hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro in Arusha, Tanzania to raise money for juvenile diabetes.

Matthew R. Weir, director of the division of nephrology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and his son, M. Ryan Weir, a business banking officer for M&T Bank in Towson, began their journey Thursday and plan to finish on Sept. 16.

The pair became interested in diabetes research after a close family friend was diagnosed with Type 1 of the disease and almost went into a coma.

"It was an eye-opening experience," M. Ryan Weir said. The Weirs hope to raise a dollar for every foot of the 19,341-foot ascent they climb. The money will go towards research for the Maryland chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Kilimanjaro is the tallest peak in Africa and is challenging because of varying weather conditions.

Dad, 57, claims his son coerced him into taking on the adventure.

"Either it's a midlife crisis or stupidity, but I allowed him to convince me to do it," said Matthew Weir.

The Weirs are both athletic and used activities such as running and skiing to train for the climb.

"There is certainly some nervousness," said M. Ryan Weir, 25. "As much as you train and run it is as much about how your metabolism handles the altitude."

When asked if he thought this would be harder than a marathon, dad Matthew said, "If I'm alive when we get back, ask me the question."

The Weirs plan to give updates about their climb at http://twitter.com/cureatopkili. To donate visit http://jdrfevents.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.eventDetails&eventID=569

Posted by Andrea Walker at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Women who are stressed have more pronounced PMS symptoms, according to NIH research.

Women who felt stressed two weeks before the beginning of menstruation were two to four times more likely to report moderate to severe PMS symptoms than women who did not feel stressed, according to the study by NIH's Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Researchers from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and the State University of New York Buffalo also participated in the study, which was published online in the Journal of Women's Health.

PMS is a group of physical and psychological symptoms that occur around the time of ovulation. They include anger, anxiety, mood swings, depression, fatigue, decreased concentration, breast swelling and tenderness, general aches and abdominal bloating.

The researchers issued questionaires to 259 women ages 18 to 44. The women didn't have any long-term health conditions and were not using birth control pills or taking other hormones.

Each women was provided with an at-home fertility monitor to follow different phases of their menstrual cycle. They were then asked questions about their stress levels during their four-week cycle.

Women whose responses indicated they were stressed were more likely to report more severe levels of psychological symptoms, such as depression, anxiety or crying spells. Physical symptoms such as body aches, abdominal bloating, lower back pain and cravings for salty or sweets foods were also greater.

Women reporting high stress levels were two to four times more likely to have moderate or severe PMS symptoms, the study found.

The study followed women over several menstrual cycles and found PMS was worse during those cycles when they were stressed.

There are medications that can be used to treat PMS, but the researchers said further studies should look at how stress reduction techniques might help PMS.

So try some yoga or meditation next time you're feeling stressed before your cycle.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Women's health
        

The state of Maryland will get $152,547 for its Medicaid program under a settlement with the maker of Botox for marketing the drug for unapproved uses, the attorney general's office announced today.

Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler said the state joined the federal government and other states in reaching an agreement in principle with pharmaceutical manufacturer, Allergan, Inc., and Allergan USA, Inc. to settle allegations of "off-label marketing" of the drug Botox.

Maryland received a portion of the $225 million settlement, of which $33 million will be distributed to Medicaid programs nationwide.

The Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia also filed a complaint in the United States District Court alleging Allergen violated the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

Allergan entered a plea agreement in that case, pleading guilty and agreeing to pay an additional $375 million in criminal fines and other fees.

Botox was initially approved to treat crossed eyes, uncontrollable eye blinking, abnormal head and neck posture with involuntary contractions and underarm sweating.

The investigation revealed that Allergan engaged in a nationwide off-label marketing campaign of Botox targeting patients suffering from headache, pain, overactive bladder and spasticity. The marketing plan included providing physicians “free” reimbursement services and support.

Allergan also funded continuing medical education programs, honoraria, and grants to health care professionals to promote off-label uses for Botox.

The settlement reimburses the federal government and participating states for excessive amounts paid by the Medicaid program as a result of Allergan’s improper marketing campaign.

Allergan will also have its future marketing practices monitored by federal officials.

A team from the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units participated in the investigation and represented the interests of the states during negotiations with Allergan.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 4:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Anyone who lives in Baltimore knows this is a city of jaywalkers.

It's a violation committed by people of all races, ethnicities and classes in all parts of the city.

But if you happen to get hit by a car why you're jaywalking, new research by Johns Hopkins suggests your risk of death is significantly higher if you are a minority and don't have insurance.

This is true even if the injuries sustained are similar to a white pedestrian who is hit.

The study, to be published in the August issue of the journal Surgery, also found that minority pedestrians are far more likely than white pedestrians to be struck by motor vehicles, making the issue even more troubling.

"It's a double whammy," Adil H. Haider, an assistant professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the study's senior author, said in a statement. "Minorities are much more likely to get injured by this mechanism and much more likely to die by this mechanism."

Haider and colleague Rubie Sue Maybury reviewed National Trauma Data Bank information on 26,404 patients hit by vehicles between 2002 and 2006.

African-American patients had a 22 percent greater risk of death and Hispanic patients a 33 percent greater risk of death than white patients involved in similar crashes. Uninsured patients had a 77 percent greater risk of death than those who were insured.

The researchers aren't sure what is leading to the disparities. Previous studies have shown that insurance status and race may increase mortality risk because of treatment delay or differences in services provided.

Minorities also have higher rates of diseases such as obesity, diabetes or hypertension, which could raise their risk of death if involved in a crash.

Since the underlying causes of the disparities can't be easily answered, Haider believes policy makers need to focus in the short term on better pedestrian injury-prevention programs.

This is particularly important in the inner city, where many of these deadly crashes occur, he said. He points to successes in getting people to use seat belts and in getting parents to put their children in safety seats - two innovations that have saved many lives.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

A new study shows small businesses that employ 16.6 million people could be eligible for tax credits afforded in the national health care reform law.

The credits are supposed to offset health insurance premium costs and help the businesses get and keep health insurance, according to the study by the Commonwealth Fund, an independent health policy research foundation.

And the credits are available this tax year, the first of the direct subsidies included in the law. Some 3.4 million workers are estimated to take advantage of the credit by 2013. The credits increase in value the next  year, up from 35 percent of the employer’s premium contribution to up to 50 percent.

The relief is needed at these small businesses, according to the report, called Realizing the Potential of Health Reform: Small Businesses and the Affordable Care Act of 2010. Coverage provided from such firms has eroded over the last decade. While 98 percent of companies with 200 or more employees offer health insurance, only 46 percent of companies with fewer than 10 employees do.

Just over have of those who work for companies with fewer than 50 employees are uninsured or underinsured.

The report notes that the Congressional Budget Office estimates that small businesses could get $40 billion in credits in the next decade and reduce the premiums they pay 8 to 11 percent by 2016. Other provisions in the law will help reduce administrative spending and increase competition among insurers in the insurance exchanges that will be created, the report says.

“The Affordable Care Act is a big step forward for small businesses and their employees,” said Commonwealth Fund President Karen Davis in a statement. “Not only will business owners see immediate benefits from the tax credits, but owners and employees alike will be protected from steep premium increases and high out-of-pocket costs, ensuring they will have access to the stable, secure health insurance they deserve.”

The tax credits are determined by the businesses’ size and average wage. Employers must pay at least 50 percent of their employees’ premiums. The report says, for example, a firm with 10 or fewer workers with an average wage of $25,000 or less would qualify for the maximum 35 percent credit. Rules for applying for the credit are at www.irs.gov.

Will your business or employer apply?

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Health care reform
        

It's time to clean out your medicine cabinet.

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration is holding a drug take-back day Sept. 25.

The agency says that old medicines that languish in cabinets often end up abused or misued even if the owner of the drugs isn't aware of it.

The rate of prescription drug abuse is growing by the day and the DEA says that most abused drugs are taken from family or friends - including from someone's home medicine cabinet.

The drive will also give people a safe way to get rid of old drugs. Many people throw them away or flush them down the toilet, which can be a hazard to the environment.

This is the first-ever drug take-back day hosted by the federal government. It runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is free and anonymous. Click here to find a collection site near you. It will be updated regularly.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Returning to work after having a baby can be a challenge in general, but what about breastfeeding?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for at least a year. And the state says a few area hospitals are making it easier for new moms to stay on schedule.

The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is honoring Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Anne Arundel Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Hospital for programs and policies that support the practice after the moms return to work.

Their “Breastfeeding-Friendly Workplace” provides short breaks and a private space for the mothers to pump and store breast milk among other programs. (Those two provisions are now required by the new health care reform law, though employers don’t have to pay for the time and small companies are exempt if it would cause an undue hardship.)

Health and Mental Hygiene Secretary John M. Colmers said there are benefits to companies to aid new moms: Parental absenteeism is lower and so are healthcare costs because breastfed infants are sick less often. He said studies estimate a $400 savings on health care in baby’s first year. It’s not bad for morale and productivity, too, he said.

Colmers points to a U.S. Department of Labor stat: nearly three-quarters of all mothers are in the work force, including 60 percent of mothers of very young children.

The state health department can offer guidance. Find more information on setting up support programs at work or an application for the workplace award at www.marylandbreastfeeding.org.

So, what's the situation in your office?

Baltimore Sun file photo/Chiaki Kawajiri

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Business of health, General Health, Health care reform