Abortion Procedure Ban Upheld
The U.S. Supreme Court last month narrowly upheld the controversial ban on so-called partial-birth abortions, marking the first time the court has forbidden a specific abortion procedure. The 5–4 decision said that the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act, approved by Congress in 2003, does not violate a woman's constitutional right to an abortion, even though it does not contain an exception to protect the health of the mother. “The law need not give abortion doctors unfettered choice in the course of their medical practice,” Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote for the majority. In separate statements, National Right to Life applauded the ruling, while Planned Parenthood Federation of America noted that with the decision the high court took away an important option for physicians. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists had filed an amicus brief in support of those challenging the law.
Retail Clinics Replacing PCPs
More than 1 in 10 retail medical clinic users said the clinics have mostly or completely replaced their primary care physicians for the types of treatments offered at such facilities, according to a study from Market Strategies Inc., a research firm. “Consumers are telling us in no uncertain terms that convenience is so critical to them that they will forego traditional primary care providers in exchange for access to the kind of quick and convenient basic care services offered by retail clinics,” said John Thomas, MSI vice president, in a statement. The study also indicated that consumers who have used retail clinics are open to treatment for a wider range of conditions, including migraine hypertension. Of the all the consumers polled, 30% said the clinics should compete with primary care physicians by offering a broader variety of services. The American Academy of Family Physicians said in a February policy statement that retail clinics should have a “well-defined and limited cope of clinical services,” and that they should encourage all patients to have a medical home. “The retail clinic is not a substitute for the personal medical home,” said Dr. Rick Kellerman, AAFP president, in an interview. He said although the study appears biased toward retail clinics, “there is a shift toward consumerism, and we do need to reengineer practices to make them more convenient.”
Penalized by High Deductible Plans
High-deductible health insurance plans discriminate against women by leaving them with far higher out-of-pocket health bills than men, according to a study from Harvard Medical School, Boston. The study also found that adults 45–64 years, those with any chronic condition such as asthma or high blood pressure, and children taking even one medication were likely to suffer financially in high-deductible plans. Under the plans, patients must pay at least $1,050 before their health coverage kicks in. In 2006, the median cost of care (both insurance and out-of-pocket) for women ages 18–64 was $1,844, compared with $847 for men. For middle-aged adults, the mean expenditure was $1,849 for men and $2,871 for women. High blood pressure patients had a mean annual expenditure of $3,161, while diabetics taking at least one medication had a mean expenditure of $5,774. “Even common, mild problems like arthritis and high blood pressure make you a loser in a high deductible plan,” said Dr. David Himmelstein, study coauthor.
Negotiation Could Save $30 Billion
Legislation that would allow Medicare to use its bulk purchasing power to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices under Part D could save U.S. taxpayers and seniors more than $30 billion annually, an advocacy group reported. The Institute for American Research said that about $10 billion of those savings would accrue to U.S. seniors in the form of cheaper prices, and the U.S. government could save roughly $20 billion a year by having Medicare negotiate for the same prices the Department of Veterans Affairs already gets. However, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), which represents drug makers and opposes the legislation, said pharmacy benefit managers already are negotiating with manufacturers for lower prices under Part D.
Cuts Would Harm Seniors
Three-fourths of physicians said they believe that seniors will be harmed if Congress cuts the Medicare Advantage program, and most doctors said lawmakers should cut other programs or raise taxes rather than cut Medicare Advantage, according to the industry group America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). In addition, 35% of seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage said they would skip some of the health care treatments they currently receive if the option of choosing a Medicare health plan is taken away. The findings are from two surveys released by AHIP in March.