Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), a ranking member of the Subcommittee on the Constitution, sits down with "Viewpoint" host Eliot Spitzer to discuss the ramifications of the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act.
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Showing posts with label effects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label effects. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
10 lesser-known effects of health law
2,700-page health care reform law created a tanning booth taxFlexible spending accounts restricted to prescription drugs onlyRestaurant chains will list calorie content on menusIt renews abstinence-only education funding at $50 million yearly for five years
The law requires restaurants with 20 or more locations to list calorie content information for standard menu items.3. Caloric reality at every major chain restaurantsUnder the law, you would walk into a place like McDonald's and see calories listed under every menu item -- Big Mac (540 calories), McNuggets (10 pieces- 470 calories) and medium fries (380 calories).The law requires restaurants with 20 or more locations to list calorie content information for standard menu items on menus and drive-through menus. Other fun facts like fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, sugars, fiber and total protein would have to be made available in writing upon request.So far, there is mixed evidence about whether calorie postings sway nutritional choices.The rule also extends to vending machine operators who own or operate 20 or more vending machines. The FDA issued a report in April 2011, and left out movie theaters among those establishments required to post calories. So, if implemented, you can tell how many calories your sandwich has at Subway, but you won't be able to tell how many calories your buckets of popcorn have at the movie theater.Effective date: The FDA has not yet issued a final rule, so there is no time line on its implementation.4. Abstinence-only education The health care legislation renews $50 million per year for five years for abstinence-only education. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, "programs that receive this funding must teach that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other associated health problems." And they also have to teach that sex before marriage is "likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects." For every four federal dollars a state receives, it must match $3 (75% of the federal money, in other words).5. Flexible spending accounts stiffenFlexible spending accounts previously could be used to buy over-the-counter drugs and vitamins. As of 2011, the accounts became restricted to prescription drugs, although in some cases a doctor can "prescribe" over-the-counter medicines to make them count. Health care related purchases that still qualify include condoms, contact lens solution, home diagnostic tests and bandages.But note that in 2013, your contribution amount to these accounts will have an annual limit of $2,500; previously there was no limit.Effective date: January 1, 2011, for the medication provision; January 1, 2013, for the contribution limit.6. Tanning will cost youYou've been paying a 10% tax every time you've visited the tanning booth, thanks to health care reform.The UV-emitting tanning devices have been classified as "carcinogenic to humans" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is part of the World Health Organization. Indoor tanning has also been banned for minors in California because of the potential for skin cancer.Effective date: July 1, 2010.7. Support for wellness programs at workFace it, staying healthy in a stressful workplace with the tempting soda machine in the break room can be tough. But the health care reform law gives companies incentives to start wellness initiatives.Small business got incentives in 2011, when companies with fewer than 100 employees working at least 25 hours per week became eligible for wellness program grants. The law sets up a $200 million grant program from 2011 to 2015.As of 2014, participants in wellness programs generally can get discounts or rewards from their employers of up to 30% of the cost of their health care premiums (currently, the maximum discount is 20%). That reward can go up to 50% if the secretaries of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury deem it appropriate.Effective date: January 1, 2011, for the small business and January 1, 2014, for the potential discount raise.8. Free preventive careMammograms, physical exams, colonoscopies, vaccinations -- these are among the preventive care services that will be fully covered by insurance companies.This requirement kicked in for new health insurance plans that began on or after September 2010. Examples of preventive care include screenings for cholesterol, diabetes, HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, which are covered without a co-pay.For women, this would also cover genetic counseling for the BRCA gene for women at higher risk of breast cancer, mammograms every one or two years for women over age 40 and HPV DNA testing every three years for women. For kids, the services include autism, vision, developmental and lead screenings. The complete list is available here. Effective date: All health insurance plans must comply by 2018.9. Home visits to expecting familiesThe law also includes funding support for early childhood home visitation for people expecting children and families who have young children. Professionals come to the home to provide information and support. The aim is to reduce child abuse and neglect, promote the health of mothers and their children and prioritize high-risk populations. Research supports such positive outcomes. The health care law provides $1.5 billion for related state-based initiatives over five years.Effective date: Began in 2010 with $100 million for fiscal year.10. Health plans you can readHave you ever been confused by the language in health insurance plans?The health reform law requires health insurers and health plans to provide concise and understandable information about the plan and its benefits. According to the Health and Human Services press release, "The new rules will also make it easier for people and employers to directly compare one plan to another."Patients have a right to two key documents to understand and compare their health insurance choices: a comprehensible summary of benefits (which is standardized similar to nutrition facts on packaged foods) and a glossary of terms of health insurance coverage.Effective date: September 23, 2012.
(CNN) -- On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court takes on a political, social, economic and medical hot potato: the health care reform law that was signed into law two years ago.
For six hours during each of the next three days, attorneys will argue and justices will consider legal questions about the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate and issues surrounding federal versus state powers.Many of the law's major aspects have been the topic of much discussion. But are you aware that deep within the sweeping law's 2,700 pages are many lesser known changes that could affect your life in unexpected ways?Here are 10 examples:var currExpandable="expand16";if(typeof CNN.expandableMap==='object'){CNN.expandableMap.push(currExpandable);}var mObj={};mObj.type='video';mObj.contentId='';mObj.source='bestoftv/2012/03/16/ym-mym-zakaria-fixing-healthcare.cnn';mObj.lgImage="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/120316082052-ym-mym-zakaria-fixing-healthcare-00032425-story-body.jpg";mObj.lgImageX=300;mObj.lgImageY=169;mObj.origImageX="214";mObj.origImageY="120";mObj.contentType='video';CNN.expElements.expand16Store=mObj;var currExpandable="expand26";if(typeof CNN.expandableMap==='object'){CNN.expandableMap.push(currExpandable);}var mObj={};mObj.type='video';mObj.contentId='';mObj.source='bestoftv/2012/03/23/pkg-bolduan-health-care-scotus.cnn';mObj.lgImage="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/120323030336-supreme-court-cu-story-body.jpg";mObj.lgImageX=300;mObj.lgImageY=169;mObj.origImageX="214";mObj.origImageY="120";mObj.contentType='video';CNN.expElements.expand26Store=mObj;var currExpandable="expand36";if(typeof CNN.expandableMap==='object'){CNN.expandableMap.push(currExpandable);}var mObj={};mObj.type='video';mObj.contentId='';mObj.source='bestoftv/2012/03/19/exp-point-jeffrey-toobin.cnn';mObj.lgImage="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/120319120945-exp-point-jeffrey-toobin-00002001-story-body.jpg";mObj.lgImageX=300;mObj.lgImageY=169;mObj.origImageX="214";mObj.origImageY="120";mObj.contentType='video';CNN.expElements.expand36Store=mObj;1. How many goodies your doctors getIs your doctor prescribing you certain drugs because those are the best for your condition or because of a pharmaceutical company's influence? Here's one way you can find out.The Physician Payment Sunshine Act under health care reform requires drug, device or medical supply companies to report annually certain payments or things of value that they've given physicians and teaching hospitals. This could be speaking fees, consulting fees, meals and travel. So, you can find out which and how much companies pay doctors or health care workers. The companies are obligated to report annually about physician ownership and their financial investments.All this would be available on a public website.Effective date: Final rule is expected December 2014.2. More breastfeeding rooms and breaksMany working mothers now get a more appropriate place for expressing breast milk than they had before. Employers must provide "a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from co-workers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk."Nursing mothers also can take "reasonable" breaks during the workday to express milk, as frequently as the mother needs. The exception is companies with fewer than 50 employees, which can claim it's an undue hardship.Effective date: March 23, 2010. The law requires restaurants with 20 or more locations to list calorie content information for standard menu items.3. Caloric reality at every major chain restaurantsUnder the law, you would walk into a place like McDonald's and see calories listed under every menu item -- Big Mac (540 calories), McNuggets (10 pieces- 470 calories) and medium fries (380 calories).The law requires restaurants with 20 or more locations to list calorie content information for standard menu items on menus and drive-through menus. Other fun facts like fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, sugars, fiber and total protein would have to be made available in writing upon request.So far, there is mixed evidence about whether calorie postings sway nutritional choices.The rule also extends to vending machine operators who own or operate 20 or more vending machines. The FDA issued a report in April 2011, and left out movie theaters among those establishments required to post calories. So, if implemented, you can tell how many calories your sandwich has at Subway, but you won't be able to tell how many calories your buckets of popcorn have at the movie theater.Effective date: The FDA has not yet issued a final rule, so there is no time line on its implementation.4. Abstinence-only education The health care legislation renews $50 million per year for five years for abstinence-only education. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, "programs that receive this funding must teach that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other associated health problems." And they also have to teach that sex before marriage is "likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects." For every four federal dollars a state receives, it must match $3 (75% of the federal money, in other words).5. Flexible spending accounts stiffenFlexible spending accounts previously could be used to buy over-the-counter drugs and vitamins. As of 2011, the accounts became restricted to prescription drugs, although in some cases a doctor can "prescribe" over-the-counter medicines to make them count. Health care related purchases that still qualify include condoms, contact lens solution, home diagnostic tests and bandages.But note that in 2013, your contribution amount to these accounts will have an annual limit of $2,500; previously there was no limit.Effective date: January 1, 2011, for the medication provision; January 1, 2013, for the contribution limit.6. Tanning will cost youYou've been paying a 10% tax every time you've visited the tanning booth, thanks to health care reform.The UV-emitting tanning devices have been classified as "carcinogenic to humans" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is part of the World Health Organization. Indoor tanning has also been banned for minors in California because of the potential for skin cancer.Effective date: July 1, 2010.7. Support for wellness programs at workFace it, staying healthy in a stressful workplace with the tempting soda machine in the break room can be tough. But the health care reform law gives companies incentives to start wellness initiatives.Small business got incentives in 2011, when companies with fewer than 100 employees working at least 25 hours per week became eligible for wellness program grants. The law sets up a $200 million grant program from 2011 to 2015.As of 2014, participants in wellness programs generally can get discounts or rewards from their employers of up to 30% of the cost of their health care premiums (currently, the maximum discount is 20%). That reward can go up to 50% if the secretaries of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury deem it appropriate.Effective date: January 1, 2011, for the small business and January 1, 2014, for the potential discount raise.8. Free preventive careMammograms, physical exams, colonoscopies, vaccinations -- these are among the preventive care services that will be fully covered by insurance companies.This requirement kicked in for new health insurance plans that began on or after September 2010. Examples of preventive care include screenings for cholesterol, diabetes, HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, which are covered without a co-pay.For women, this would also cover genetic counseling for the BRCA gene for women at higher risk of breast cancer, mammograms every one or two years for women over age 40 and HPV DNA testing every three years for women. For kids, the services include autism, vision, developmental and lead screenings. The complete list is available here. Effective date: All health insurance plans must comply by 2018.9. Home visits to expecting familiesThe law also includes funding support for early childhood home visitation for people expecting children and families who have young children. Professionals come to the home to provide information and support. The aim is to reduce child abuse and neglect, promote the health of mothers and their children and prioritize high-risk populations. Research supports such positive outcomes. The health care law provides $1.5 billion for related state-based initiatives over five years.Effective date: Began in 2010 with $100 million for fiscal year.10. Health plans you can readHave you ever been confused by the language in health insurance plans?The health reform law requires health insurers and health plans to provide concise and understandable information about the plan and its benefits. According to the Health and Human Services press release, "The new rules will also make it easier for people and employers to directly compare one plan to another."Patients have a right to two key documents to understand and compare their health insurance choices: a comprehensible summary of benefits (which is standardized similar to nutrition facts on packaged foods) and a glossary of terms of health insurance coverage.Effective date: September 23, 2012.Monday, February 6, 2012
Popular Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin Supports Study that Frying Foods in Certain Oils has No Negative Health Effects
The Doctors Health Press, a publisher of various natural health newsletters books and reports, including the popular online Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin, is lending its support to a study showing that fried foods may not be bad for the heart, depending on which type of oil is used.
Boston, MA (PRWEB) February 05, 2012The Doctors Health Press, a publisher of various natural health newsletters books and reports, including the popular online Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin, is lending its support to a study showing that fried foods may not be bad for the heart, depending on which type of oil is used.
As reported in the Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin on Monday, January 30, 2012 (http://www.doctorshealthpress.com/food-and-nutrition-articles/is-there-such-a-thing-as-healthy-fried-foods), Spanish researchers have determined that cooking in olive or sunflower oil is not linked to heart disease or premature death.
Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin reports that, for their study, the researchers examined the cooking habits and health of nearly 41,000 adults, aged 29 to 69. None of the participants had heart disease at the start of the study, which lasted 11 years. The participants were divided into four groups depending on how much fried food they consumed.
The researchers found that there were 606 heart-disease-related events and 1,134 deaths during the study follow-up period, Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin. They found no association between the large amounts of fried foods eaten and the risk of heart disease or death.
According to Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin, in Spain, olive and sunflower oil are used for cooking, so the researchers’ results are based on these preferences. They caution that results taken in other countries may differ if the same types of oil are not used. Food fried in a solid oil like butter and/or re-used oils such as those commonly found in fast food restaurants have a different effect on the nutritional value of a particular food. This is because the food will absorb more oil and increase the calories of the food. It is also true that frying in saturated fat is less healthy than using monounsaturated fats like olive oil.
(SOURCE: Guallar-Castillon, P., et al., "Consumption of fried foods and risk of coronary heart disease: Spanish cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study," BMJ, Jan. 23, 2012; 344: e363.)
Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin is a daily e-letter providing natural health news with a focus on natural healing through foods, herbs and other breakthrough health alternative treatments. For more information on the Doctors Health Press, visit http://www.doctorshealthpress.com.
David Juan, MD, is the editor of The Vitamin Doctor newsletter that reveals some of the inside facts, including potential hazards, of today's popular world of vitamins and supplements. The Vitamin Doctor has released a new video revealing the foods that can have negative consequences when mixed with popular supplements. To see the video, visit http://www.doctorshealthpress.com/foods-never-to-mix.
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For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/2/prweb9167835.htm
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Negative Effects of Paleo Diet with Robb Wolf
Learn GarageBand in only 30 days! http://mhlo.co/GarageBandApp
Buy Robb's Book The Paleo Solution Here: http://bit.ly/pUez5V
Buy Robb's Book The Paleo Solution Here: http://bit.ly/pUez5V
Robb Wolf, a former research biochemist is one of the world's leading experts in Paleolithic nutrition and author of The Paleo Solution -- The Original Human Diet. A student of Prof. Loren Cordain, author of The Paleo Diet, Robb has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of people around the world via his top ranked iTunes podcast and wildly popular seminar series.
Robb has functioned as a review editor for the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, is co-founder of the nutrition and athletic training journal, The Performance Menu, co-owner of NorCal Strength & Conditioning, one of the Men's Health "top 30 gyms in America" and co-owner of Paleo Brands Inc. a paleo food company selling meals and snacks featuring grass fed meat, wild caught fish and all organic ingredients.
Robb is a former California State Powerlifting Champion (565 lb. Squat, 345 lb. Bench, 565 lb. Dead Lift) and a 6-0 amateur kickboxer. He coaches athletes at the highest levels of competition and consults with Olympians and world champions in MMA, motocross, rowing and triathlon. Wolf has provided seminars in nutrition and strength & conditioning to various military entities including the Canadian Light Infantry and the United States Marine Corps.
Robb lives in Chico, California, with his wife Nicki and their infamous cat, Keystone.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
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