Health

Regarding sources, where did NPR get their data? can you say more about that? CURRENT GRADE 7 OF 10


 * Sources are sited directly below the title of each source.**

The total health care spending included in the "Stimulus Package is $31.1 billion.
 * ~  ||~ [] This source is a radio station. It is considered reliable but could potentially be biased. SAY MORE SOMEBODY!!!!!!!! ||
 * $19 billion || $2 billion in discretionary funds and $17 billion for investments and incentives through Medicare and Medicaid to ensure widespread adoption and use of interoperable health information technology ||
 * $1 billion || Prevention and wellness programs to fight preventable diseases and conditions with evidence-based strategies ||
 * $10 billion || Biomedical research in areas such as cancer, Alzheimer's, heart disease and stem cells, and to improve NIH facilities ||
 * $1.1 billion || Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, NIH and the HHS Office of the Secretary, to evaluate the relative effectiveness of different health care services and treatment options ||

// **Economic Stimulus Package Increases Affordability, Accessibility Of Health Insurance Under COBRA** //
Source: Medical News Today (This is a credible source, because Medical News Today provides hourly health news from **well-regarded sources** such as JAMA, BMJ, Lancet, BMA, etc. [|http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/139735.php] Article Date: 20 Feb 2009 - 5:00 PST A provision in the recently enacted economic stimulus package that would provide federal subsidies to help cover the cost of health insurance premiums under COBRA will make the program mere affordable and accessible, the [|//Wall Street Journal//] reports. Under the provision, workers involuntarily terminated between Sept. 1, 2008, and Dec. 31, 2009, and whose annual incomes do not exceed $125,000 for individuals or $250,000 for families qualify for subsidies to cover 65% of the cost of health insurance premiums under COBRA for as long as nine months. According to the //Journal //, the subsidies "should make it easier for people to protect themselves not only from ruinous medical bills, but also from the inability to get new insurance due to a pre-existing medical condition." The stimulus package also includes a provision that allows recently unemployed workers who participate in COBRA to switch to less-expensive health plans, provided that their former employers offer them, before the open enrollment period begins. The provision could "help some people who chose the more-expensive health care plans offered by their employers when they had their jobs," the //Journal // reports. However, some employers raised concerns that the provisions will increase administrative and other costs. John Goodman, president of the [|"National Center for Policy Analysis] ", said, "The new law will impose very large costs on employers" and "make it more expensive for employers to provide health insurance." He added, "And for those who do, it will make it more expensive to hire new workers" (McQueen, //Wall Street Journal //, 2/19). **Stimulus Package Unlikely To Prevent State Spending Reductions **The $150 billion included in the economic stimulus package for **health care** states over the next two-and-a-half years likely will not prevent tax increases or spending reductions for health care and other programs, as states likely will continue to face large budget deficits after they use the funds, according to a report released on Thursday by the [|Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government], the [|//New York Times//]  reports. According to the //Times //, at least 46 states face budget deficits, and many "governors are being pressured to put off unpopular spending cuts or tax increases by interest groups who cite the large sums of federal aid that are on the way." In New York, for example, advocates have asked Gov. David Paterson (D) to use funds from the stimulus package to prevent proposed **spending reductions for health care programs.** However, according to the report, states "should use the breathing room provided by the stimulus package to mute and spread out spending cuts and/or tax increase they will need to make, to restructure programs and to allow for orderly decision making" (Cooper, //New York Times //<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN;">, 2/19).

// **Stimulus health-care plan causes delays, confusion** // by **Erica Werner** - Mar. 2, 2009 12:00 AM Source: [] Associated Press (This is a credible source, because the Associated Press is renowned) WASHINGTON - The Obama administration rushed to include a health care safety net for laid-off workers in the recently signed stimulus bill but has not told employers exactly how to make it work.As a result, tens of thousands of jobless people could wait months before getting help paying for health insurance that their employers previously had covered.

"There is a lot of confusion." said the National Association of Manufacturers. At issue is the program called COBRA, the acronym for the law that allows workers to keep their company's health insurance plan for 18 months after they leave their jobs if they pay the premiums. The policies are so expensive that only a minority of eligible workers sign up. Costs for a family of four can top $1,000 per month.The $25 billion provision in the stimulus bill reduces COBRA's cost by 65 percent for workers laid off as far back as Sept. 1. The bill gives eligible workers 60 days to apply to get the reduced-cost premium for nine months. But it's not going to happen right away. "I can't take advantage of it **now,** which I think is totally unfair," Kelsey said. "I don't know how I'm going to make it."The stimulus bill contains a provision that would allow workers who will not get the reduced premium immediately to be reimbursed later on.


 * Important modifications and updates to existing coverage and reimbursement systems.
 * Expanded coverage for Medicaid.
 * Increased support for COBRA benefits.
 * Establishment of substantial funding for comparative effectiveness research.
 * New limits placed on marketing financially supported by pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
 * Substantial funding for research conducted within the National Institutes of Health.
 * Focus on and funding for clinical preventive services and community-based prevention programs.
 * Retroactive delay (until October 2009) of a 50% reduction in Medicare’s capital indirect medical education adjustments that went into effect in October 2008.
 * Key provisions of the Stimulus Package relating health information technology and HIPAA:
 * Imposition of substantial new restrictions on "business associates," including application of civil and criminal penalties, and expansion of the categories of entities deemed "business associates."
 * Significantly enhanced notification requirements for "breaches" of an individual's unsecured personal health information.
 * Further restrictions on uses of personal health information for marketing and other changes to increase patient rights.
 * Updates to penalties imposed for HIPAA violations and potential for increased enforcement.
 * Increased HHS audits of HIPAA covered entities and business associates to ensure compliance.
 * Incentives and penalties for implementing electronic health records.
 * [] This is a reliable source for the above information and seems unbiase