Robotic Surgery Raises Issues Of Accurate Reporting

As Robot-Assisted Surgery Expands, Are Patients And Providers Getting Enough Information? by Marissa Evans.  Kaiser Health News.  November 1, 2013.

(1)  Use of surgical robots was first approved by the FDA in _____________.

(2)  The number of da Vinci systems increased _________ percent between 2007 and 2011.

(3)  A recent report in the Journal for Healthcare Quality found ___________ cases in which reporting fell short and ________ cases in which no FDA report was filed at all over a period of nearly  12 years.

(4)  What is the role of the FDA's Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience database in the agency's product approval process?

(5)  Intuitive Surgical said in a statement that they would welcome a comparison of robotic-assisted surgery and _______________ adverse surgical events.

(6)  Among the advantages of robotic surgery are ______________________________________.

(7)  According to an associate professor of surgery at Johns Hopkins robotic surgery has shown benefits in _____________________.

(8)  The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologist advises that "robotic hysterectomy is best used for _______________________________ in which improved outcomes over standard minimally invasive approaches ___________________.

(9)  True or False:  Hospital websites which describe robotic surgery almost always mention potential risks or complications.

(10)    Product liability litigation involving robotic surgery may pose questions as to whether the _______________________________________ was responsible.

Up To Seven Million People Could Qualify For Health Insurance Entirely Paid For By Subsidy Under Obamacare

Under Health Care Act, Millions Eligible For Free Policies by Reed Abelson and Katie Thomas.  The New York Times.  November 3, 2013.

(1)  Most of these plans are the ______ plans which are the least __________ and require people to pay most ___________________________.

(2)  A large number of these individuals who could qualify have incomes just above the ________________________.

(3)  The availability of zero-premium plans may make health insurance especially enticing to the ______________ needed to make the health marketplace succeed.

(4)  According to the McKinsey researchers about _____________ eligible for zero-premium plans were under _______ and _______.

Out-Of-Pocket Expenses As Side Effects: A Necessary Patient-Doctor Conversation

Doctor, First Tell Me What It Costs by Peter A. Ubel, M.D.  The New York Times.  November 3, 2013.

The author advocates treating the financial implications of treatment options in a manner similar to possible side effects.

(1)  The Center for American Progress estimates that a breast cancer patient in Massachusetts with a high deductible plan could face more than ____________ in out-of-pocket expenses.

(4)  The Affordable Care Act will have only a modest impact on _________________ because the limits it sets on out-of-pocket are ____________________.

Grady Hospital Faces Consequences Of State Funding Decisions

Grady Chief Fears Effects Of Funding Loss by Andy Miller.  Georgia Health News.  October 29, 2013.

(1)  The loss of DSH funding was intended to be compensated for by ___________________.

(2)  However with the Supreme Court decision to ___________________ and Georgia's decision not to _____________________ the planned for source of funds for Grady will not be available.

(3)  Mental health services at Grady could be cut.  Grady is the __________________ provider of mental health services in Georgia.

Housing A Key To Reducing Healthcare Costs

Want To Keep People Out Of The Hospital?  Make Sure They Have A Place To Live by Harold Pollack.  The Washington Post Wonkblog.  November 2, 2013.

Key point of this article:  A small amount spent on supportive housing can result in substantial healthcare savings.

One Major Reason For Bumpy Rollout of Insurance Exchanges

The Obamacare Sabotage Campaign by Todd S. Purdum.  Politico.  November 1, 2013.

The article documents what the multifaceted campaign by Republicans to resist Obamacare.  

Medicaid Expansion Critical, Hospitals And MDs Say

Medicaid Expansion Critical, Hospitals And MDs Say by Misty Williams.  The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  October 31, 2013.  This article is available to online subscribers and in the physical newspaper.  The link above is not to the complete article.

(1)  The Medical Association of Georgia recently voted to endorse expansion of Medicaid by using Medicaid money to buy_________________________________ similar to an approach used in Arkansas.

(2) Doctors object to traditional Medicaid because they say it ___________________.

(3)  Expansion of the program would include an estimated _____________ low-income Georgians.

(4)  Governor Deal objects to expansion because he says ______________________.