The Center For Health Care Services

The Oregon Health Services Commission addressed budget cuts in 1990 by proposing services for Medicaid services in order of priority based on a cost-effectiveness analysis. Access to particular services became limited, but coverage was increased from 67% to 100% of the poverty line1. Much protest broke out in regards to how the treatments were prioritized on the list. Some of the notable results of the draft were prioritization of minor over serious services and the death of 7-year old Coby Howard following funding cuts for organ transplant . Coby was suffering from a form of leukemia and unable to procure enough money for a bone marrow transplant, formerly covered by Medicaid until the changes took affect1. His death became the face of

Ensuring the members of the board of directors are indigenes of the county and patients of the community health center.1

The National Coalition on Health Care also known NCHC is an organization that helps healthcare system to achieve their goals and to improve health care in United States. They are the nonprofit company that represents more than 80 participating organizations like, medical societies, business, union healthcare providers, funds, insurer, etc. Besides, some of their current missions to improve the health care system are to increase resources for developing the culturally competent health and social services. Also, to change public and private sector policies to solve any issue, build and spread knowledge about health status and other health related information. In addition, they working on eliminating health disparities that occur based on

This is a report of an Interview with Karen Gordon-Sosby, associate director at Texas State Student Health Center. Karen is a highly motivated professional, an experienced healthcare administrator and appears to possess inherent management and leadership skills that are quite significant and noteworthy. Her expertise in performing the indispensable task in managing and analyzing financial records, brings a unique blend of health administration and public health prowess to the healthcare industry.

The entities Comprising the Public Health Infrastructure include: County and city health departments and local boards of health - State, territorial, and island nation health departments - Various U.S. Public Health Service agencies in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - Tribal health agencies coordinated at HHS by the Indian Health Service - Public and private laboratories - Hospitals and other private-sector healthcare providers - Volunteer organizations, such as the American Red Cross, American Diabetes Association, American Cancer Society.

May 4, 1980 the doors of The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) were open. After the passing of the Department of Education Organization Act of 1979 that cause for the removal of the education components from the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW). When the doors of HHS were open, the department was led by Patricia Roberts Harris. Ms. Harris was once the secretary of HEW but that all changed. The department started its first year off with 140,000 employees and a budget of $226 billion. HHS started off with the same structure of HEW, the only differences were the Education Division and the vocational rehabilitation program was removed.

One in five American adults have experienced a mental health issue, and one in twenty-five Americans have lived with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also states studies show that individuals with mental health problems get better and may even recover completely, where they can continue living life healthily, with the help of treatments, services, and community systems. I, myself am one of the twenty-five.

Some people say America has the best health care system in the nation, is this

Although the number of illegal immigrants is substantially growing on a daily basis, the national health care policies seem to fail in addressing their medical needs. This, however, is becoming a growing challenge because of the conflicts between medical ethics and immigration laws. Despite the alluded hope for this patients group within the immigration reform, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) fails to alleviate the burden of their unmet health care needs. Advocates of their rights for health coverage argue that medical ethics and the United States moral obligations necessitate expanding coverage to all population residing within the borders of the country. Conversely, opponents deny their health coverage because their illegal status disqualify them from all public benefits. This paper goes beyond these opposing assumptions and instead, proposes a strategic plan to raise and combine resources necessary to establish a health care center for the uninsured, underinsured, and illegal immigrants in Northern California. The paper covers the establishment of this center with special focus on strategic funding, funding constraints, related state and national regulations, health policy, resources allocation, and managerial and leadership.

Texans are being short changed by the proposed Medicaid cuts. Legislature has told the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) that they must cut $350 million from the Medicaid funding over the next two years. In order to abide by the legislature’s demands, the HHSC has proposed cutting the reimbursement rates for pediatric physical and occupational therapists on average by 10 to 25 percent. And pediatric speech therapists would face cuts of 16 to 27 percent. Many feel that these cuts to the therapy payments have little to no effect on the services that children with disabilities receive. These individuals say that following the orders will assist in reducing the therapy rates and will reduce the practice of excess therapy. On the opposing side, it has been expressed that cutting therapy funds that the State of Texas provides has the potential to cause individuals within the pediatric population to lose crucial therapy services. The planned cuts have the risk to jeopardize the potential of our nation’s young. The cuts also make many agency’s that currently provide occupational, physical and speech therapy vulnerable to closures and lay-offs.

The United States Department of Health and Human Services has a pattern blood donation policies that is important to consider when evaluating their current policies. In the 1980s there was a lifetime ban on Haitians donating blood. There are notable parallels between the current MSM policy and the Haitian policy of the 80s. First, the high risk grouping was based on identity rather than behaviors. The policies were both based on assumption of high risk and stereotyping based on sexuality or race. Another shortcoming of the CDC has been the lack of representation of individuals who will be impacted by the policies. In both cases, Haitians and MSM have not been included in governing bodies that make these decisions. Finally, both policies

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) defines medically underserved area as ranking low on a scale that involves physicians per 1000 people, infant mortality rate, percentage below poverty level, and population >65 years old. 9 The HHS defines medically underserved population as that which includes “economic barriers (low income or Medicaid-eligible populations or cultural/linguistic access barriers to primary medical care services.” 9 According to the American Pharmacist Association, approximately 85% of US states have 61-100% of counties with medically underserved areas. 11 “28% of poor, 23% of near poor…[lack] health insurance coverage,” which is much higher than the national percentage of 13%.6 When reviewing the risk factors for vaginitis such as lack of health insurance, tobacco use, lack of bachelors degree, Hispanic origin, etc., many of the women suffering from the condition fall under the category of the underserved population as defined above. This means that clinics with the purpose of treating underserved areas and populations must have a heightened awareness of the prevalence and significance of vaginitis and must be interested in staying up to date on the most efficient medical practice strategies given the patient population.

1. What are the basic characteristics that differentiate the U.S. health care delivery system from that of other countries?

As healthcare costs continue to increase steadily, there has been great focus on methods to reduce charges that contribute to the price of care. Narrowing down to emergency medical services and hospital admissions, many parties have been scrutinizing and crunching numbers, looking for any way to lessen the high expenses. When the realization that the highest healthcare costs occur from an incredibly small number of people (referred to as “super-utilizers” or “super users”) became apparent, the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers when into action. The Coalition launched an idea to reform healthcare at the level of initial quality of care given and accessibility of care needed. In turn, the overall cost of healthcare for these patients decreased substantially.

In 2009, The Recovery Act was passed by congress and signed into law by President Obama. This act was designed to jump start the economy and to create and save jobs. Its long term investment goals included computerization of medical records to reduce errors and health care costs. Under the direction of the US Department of Health and Human Services, health care providers had access to $27 billion dollars in economic stimulus money by utilizing Electronic Medical Records (EMR’s) and meaningful use. (Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2014) “Meaningful use” as defined by HealthIT.gov consists of using digital health records to improve quality, safety, efficiency, and reduce health disparities. Its purpose is to