If Retailer Employees Work Sick, Then We All Get Sick: The Argument For Paid Sick Leave

U.S. Employers:  Paid Sick Leave. Now by The Editorial Board.  The New York Times.  March 11, 2020.

Medical Nihilism

Is Medicine Overrated? by John Horgan.  Scientific American.  July 1, 2019. 

Opinion: The Logic Of Mutual Obligation And Essential Benefits In Obamacare: "What About Men Having To Purchase Prenatal Care?"

'What About Men Having To Purchase Prenatal Care?' Demands Republican by Jonathan Chait.  New York Magazine.  March 10, 2017. 

Family Economic Impact Of Cancer Diagnosis: Men More Effected; More Workplace Support For Cancer Victims Suggested

Crunching The Numbers On Cancer's Financial Toll:  On Average, Patients See A 20 Percent Drop In Income Within Two Years by Erin Blakemore.  The Washington Post.  October 27, 2015. 

Working While Sick: Half Of Food Workers View Is As A Necessity

Survey:  Half Of Food Workers Go To Work Sick Because They Have To by Lynne Shallcross.  NPR.  October 19, 2015. 

Pharmacy Benefit Manger CVS Concerned That New Heart Disease Guidelines Don't Provide The Clarity Need To Avert Runaway Costs

Pharmacy Benefit Manager CVS Urges Rewrite For U.S. Heart Guidelines by Deena Beasley And Ransdell Pierson.  Reuters.  August 10, 2015. 

With Gay Marriage Now Legal In Many States, Domestic Partnership Rules For Health Benefits May Change; Marriage May Be Required For Some Employers

Once, Same-Sex Couples Couldn't Wed;  Now Some Employers Say They Must by Julie Appleby.  Kaiser Health News.  January 20, 2015.

Workplace Wellness Programs: Do They Work? Why Are They Popular

Wellness At Work:  Popular But Unproven by Julie Rovner.  Kaiser Health News.  December 9, 2014.

"Gated" Benefits, Cost Shifting, "Unitized Price" are Among Trends In Health Insurance Coverage

Jumping Through Hoops For A Better Health Plan by Ann Carrns.  The New York Times.  June 20, 2014.

AJC Continues Its Coverage Of Health Care Reform: Employers

Voices On Health Care.  The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  September 25, 2013.  This article is available online as part of the AJC's subscription service and in the physical newspaper.

The ACA impact on four contrasting businesses is presented.  One is small enough to avoid the employer mandate to offer affordable insurance to employees;  Another is covered by the mandate but trying to assess costs.  The third, a tech start-up, offers insurance because of the nature of his business.  The final company profiled is Southwire which feels that, as a family-oriented company, health coverage is vital.

Georgia Employers Use A Range Of Incentives To Spur Wellness

Ignoring "Wellness" May Cost Workers by David Markiewicz.  The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  May 9, 2013.  Free limited-timepreview or subscription or news stand copy.

Read the article and test your retention with a little test.

(1)  The average cost of health insurance for active employees is now above ________?

(2)  More employers are moving from the ________ to the _______ to make workers more _________
for their health.

(3)  What are some of the possible negative reactions to this new approach?

(4)  How have two specific Georgia firms approached this new method to control health costs?

(5)  According to a 800-employer survey ____% offered health-related incentives.  ______% offered a mix of _________ and consequences.

For Paid Family Leave, U.S. Ranks with Liberia, Suriname, and Papua New Guinea

In Paid Family Leave, U.S. Trails Most Of The Globe by Tara Siegel Bernard.  The New Yrok Times. February 22, 2013.

In the article a public health expert points to lower infant mortality rates and lower illness and hospitalization due to increased breast feeding as a result of maternity leave.  It also points out that most generous American companies' leave programs compare poorly with the 31 countries that provide a year or more of paid maternity leave, typically through government-run insurance.

10 Categories Of Essential Health Benefits Outlined In New Obamacare Rule

New Healthcare Rule Expands Benefits For Substance Abuse, Mental Disorders by Ben Goad.  The Hill.  February 20, 2013.  

Final Rule Issued On Required Coverage Under Health Law by Julie Appleby.  Kaiser Health News.  February 20 2013.  

To facilitate comparison of healthcare plans on the state exchanges and provide standards for insurers the Department of Health and Human Services has produced a rule that delineates 10 "essential health benefits."  Among the most significant essential items are benefits for substance abuse and mental disorders.  These benefits are predicted to be expanded to 62 million Americans.  

The Kaiser article specifies these essential categories of care as emergency services, maternity care, hospital and doctors' services, mental health and substance abuse, and prescription drugs.  

Prevention Saves Money? Sometimes Yes; Sometimes No

Think Preventive Medicine Will Save Money?  Think Again By Sharon Begley.  Reuters.  January 29, 2013.

Among the preventative measures that do save money are childhood immunizations and counseling adults to use baby aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease.  Benefit greatly outweighs costs and therefore the measures save money.  On the other hand, the annual physical does not lower risk of serious illness or premature death according to a 2012 study.  Often the cost of prevention, say a preventative screening,  outweighs any potential benefit, for example, lives saved.   The article explores strategies to make prevention work including use of sites outside clinical settings and targeting those most likely to suffer a condition for screening.

Hospital Merger Illustrates Trends

Michigan Hospital Systems in Merger Talks by Matthew Dolan and Christina Rogers.  The Wall Street Journal.  October 31, 2012.

The planned merger of two of Michigan's largest hospital systems illustrates broad trends impacting hospital nationwide.

(1)  The shift from inpatient to outpatient care;

(2)  Deterioration of robust growth resulting from erosion of employee benefits;

(3)  Increased competitive pressure and pressure on the bottom line from unpaid bills nd charity cases

(4)  Expansion of coverage coupled with reduced reimbursements under Medicare resulting from the Affordable Care Act;

Walmart Institutes No Cost Heart and Spine Surgeries for Its Associates

Walmart Expands Health Benefits To Cover Heart and Spinal Surgeries At No Cost To Associates.  Bloomberg Businessweek.  October 11, 2012.

Six leading hospital and health systems in the U.S. will participate in the program that is called by Walmart officials the "first time a retailer has offered a comprehensive, nationwide program for heart, spine and transplant surgery.

Big Firms Revamp Health Coverage

Big Firms Overhall Health Coverage  by Anna Wilde Mathews.  The Wall Street Journal.  September 27, 2012.

Key Ideas/Summary.  In what may be a trend, two large firms are giving employees a fixed sum of money and allowing them to choose their medical coverage and insurance from an online marketplace.  The two firms, Darden Restaurants Inc. (Olive Garden, Red Lobster) and Sears Holdings Corp. aim to increase employee control of health benefits.  A concern for employees may be that the money provided may not be sufficient and adequate to keep up with premium inflation though the companies assert that the amount provided will increase with premium inflation.   The hope is that increased competition for employee dollars will lower overall health cost.  Overall , U.S. employers and workers are estimated to spend over $15,000 a year on medical insurance premiums.