Young adults a key to health care reform (click title to entry - thank you)
Many are uninsured, with mixed opinions on need for change
By Childs Walker, Stephanie Desmon and Paul West Baltimore Sun reporters
September 11, 2009
...In the debate over health care reform, Stokes and his peers are known as "invincibles," strong and healthy young adults who have no experience with wallet-crippling illness and feel they have no need for coverage....
Yet, young males are at risk for serious diseases such as Testicular Cancer. Young women have incidence of Breast Cancer. We aren't speaking to our young people the way they need us to speak to them.
Testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer among males age 15 to 44 (click here). After motor vehicle accidents and suicide, cancer is the leading cause of death in this age group, followed by homicide, heart disease, and HIV. Testicular cancer is known as the young man's cancer.
This table is on Page 46 of article (click here). It was the only 'study' on the internet that was handy. Unfortunately, it only addresses White Males, but, I think the 'idea' of misinformed youth is validated.
TABLE 1. Age-specific and age-adjusted incidence rates of testicuiar cancer (per 100,000) for US White males from 1973 to 1995: Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program
In 1995 - ages 15 thru 19 there were 3.9 cases per 100,000 Caucasian men.
In 1995 - ages 20 to 24 there were 7.9 cases per 100,000 Caucasian men.
In 1995 - ages 25 to 29 there were 15.9 cases per 100,000 Caucasian men.
To return to the legislation, Page 559, lines 11 through 17:
‘‘(8) SPECIAL FOCUS FACILITY PROGRAM.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct a special focus facility program for enforcement of requirements for skilled nursing facilities that the Secretary has identified as having substantially failed to meet applicable requirement of this Act.
This entire provision sets up Consumer Education and Advocacy as well as sets expectations for SNFs. The title of this initiative is "Special Focus Facility Program." It's a good title. Leaves open the inclusion of 'miscellaneous' facilities including Rehab facilities like the one that welcomes and specializes in returning, disabled veterans.
Proper staffing will ultimately be an initiative with this Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Page 560, lines 20 through 25 and Page 561, lines 1 through 6.
‘‘(i) Staffing data for each facility (including resident census data and data on the hours of care provided per resident per day) based on data submitted under subsection (b)(8)(C)(ii), including information on staffing turnover and tenure, in a format that is clearly understandable to con2
sumers of long-term care services and allows such consumers to compare differences in staffing between facilities and State and national averages for the facilities. Such format shall include—
Properly staffed and well run SNFs looks to be a priority of the Secretary.
Page 566, lines 7 though 10:
‘‘(B) PERIODIC SURVEYS.—Under such program the Secretary shall conduct surveys of each facility in the program not less often than once every 6 months.’’.
The provision provides for transparency in that the reports and surveys will be available at the website to the public and professionals. The States are going to have a role in quality assurance as well.
Page 568, lines 7 through 18:
(1) GUIDANCE.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this subtitle referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall provide guidance to States on how States can establish electronic links to Form 2567 State inspection reports (or a successor form), complaint investigation reports, and a facility’s plan of correction or other response to such Form 2567 State inspection reports (or a successor form) on the Internet website of the State that provides information on skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities and the Secretary shall, if possible, include such information on Nursing Home Compare.
And I have to apologize here. I usually cover at least 50 pages per day, but, I have some personal business that is pressing and I won't be able to complete this review until Monday afternoon or evening.
In hoping everyone is well...
...until then...
