Health Politics. Politics affects health, hospital management, physicians and patients in a big way. Dr. David Samadi will explore major national and global health political issues and debates affecting the patient outcome. Learn what you need to know and get Dr. Samadi's take.
Did you know that Americans are spending more on healthcare than any other industrialized nation? While this may not be a surprise to all people, what is a surprise is that simultaneously Americans also have one of the lowest life expectancies.
Read MoreA new study suggests that when patients are hospitalized more than once in the same month. It may have more to do with their income or education levels than the quality of care they received.
According to the analysis of data from Medicare, patients 85 and older are more likely to return to the hospital within 30 days of being sent home than people a decade or two younger.
Patients also have higher odds of returning soon after discharge if they lack a high school diploma, have limited income and assets or have health benefits from Medicaid.
Republicans in Congress are again demanding the government to cut all funding for Planned Parenthood which has been around for over a 100 years, providing women's health services. This latest uproar sparked after videos of officials from Planned Parenthood went record discussing compensation for providing fetal tissue from abortions. Other challenges the group is facing is with the Affordable Care Act. Formerly uninsured women are not less reliant on Planned Parenthood for access to birth control, abortions and other reproductive healthcare.
Read MorePuerto Rico is beginning to face another budget cut to a highly-used Medicare program as well as an alarming shortage of Medicaid funds. The health care system is moving towards a crisis which could further undermine the island's gutted economy. The first sign of this crisis regarding the health care system was seriously in trouble when a large amount of doctors, a total of 3,000 in 5 years, began to leave the island for better positions, more money and less stress in the United States.
Read MoreThis morning, the Supreme Court ruled in favor, with a 6-3 decision, to uphold the Obamacare authorization of federal tax credits for eligible Americans living not only in states with their own exchanges but also in the 34 states with federal exchanges.
Read MoreObamacare has been debated since it launched. Doctors, patients and other healthcare providers are confused and its been challenged to the point where it's in the Supreme Court in its second case. What do the experts say? Read on.
Read MoreIn April 2015, the U.S. government will begin boiling down [Medicare required] patient satisfaction surveys to a five-star rating for consumers researching hospitals, doctors, surgeons. Patient surveys have long been a debated topic in the healthcare industry.
Read MoreDuring the recent health care debate, the rising costs of health care were frequently discussed. Many theories exist as to what is driving these costs upwards, with common targets of blame being tests done for defensive medicine purposes, increased use of new imaging techniques, and the rising costs of prescription medication.
Read More
