Study: Use of CT rises to 330% in emergency rooms

John Egan

The use of computed tomography in U.S. emergency rooms rose by 330% from 1996 to 2007, according to a new study from the University of Michigan Health System.

Only 3% of the patients ER received computed tomography in 1996, while 14% of emergency patients treated in 2007, received the study shows. One of the authors of the study, Dr. Keith Kocher, asserts that in 2007, approximately a quarter of all CT scan performed at the United States made in ERs.

Kocher said that during the period covered by the study, ER visits increased by approximately 30%, while the use of CT rose by 330% - i.e., the rate of use of the CT has grown 11 times faster than the rate of ER visits.

The study does not identify the reasons for the increase in the use of TB in ERs.

"I think much of the increase is linked to changes in how doctors from practicing medicine and the availability of CT scanners", explains Kocher. "They provide a lot of information quickly and if the doctors and patients see CTs as a means to effectively diagnoses.". Couple that with the fact that CT scanners are commonly housed in or nearby (ER) itself and the obstacles to obtaining the factual test is lower than in the past. ?

According to the index of transparency most recent Healthcare to a non-profit group called change: health care, the average costs for the most common types of CT (abdomen and pelvis) ranges from $ 924 to $ 1,096. The group said more than 70 million of CT is performed in the United States each year.

Most insurance plans cover CT scans.

CT - also called computed tomography or CT fair - A combines a series of views of X-rays taken from different angles to produce cross-sectional images of the bone and soft tissue inside of your body, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Images that results can be compared to a loaf of sliced bread, says the Mayo Clinic. Your doctor can look at each of these slices individually or perform additional visualization to 3D images. Scan images offer much more information than regular x-rays.

Scanner is especially useful for quickly examining persons who have suffered internal injuries from car accidents or other injuries, according to the Mayo Clinic. A CT scan also visualize brain and - with the injected contrast material assistance - you deadlocks or other problems in your blood vessels.

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Beast? Dogs away more than half of drivers, says survey

Kevin Lyons

Who knew in a car with your dog can be dangerous?

More than half of the people who drive with their dogs are distracting behavior, a new survey by AAA and Kurgo, which makes products for pet travel. The behavior includes petting a dog, with a hand or arm to prevent a dog from climbing on the front seat, then the car moves, using a hand or arm to keep a dog in place while applying the brakes or even take a picture of a dog, while the car is in motion.

Pilots with many distractions at the wheel dog owners, especially if a dog is not selected.

Tending to a frantic dog often led to automobile accidents. For the road for as little that two seconds double your risk of being in a car accident, according to the foundation of the AAA for traffic and security. And the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said 20 percent of injury accidents in 2009 resulted from the distracted driving.

Despite this, only 16% of surveyed drivers use a pet restraint system.

The survey was conducted online and sampled 1,000 dog owners leading with a dog in the past 12 months. The Americans hold about 78 million dogs.

"Drivers must use a restraint system for pet your dog every time their pet is in the vehicle," Jennifer Huebner-Davidson, AAA traffic safety program manager, said in a statement.

Two of the five people who say they use a pet restraint system thought that they had to because their dogs are quiet. About 10 percent of respondents said that they did not prevent a dog while driving because they wanted to leave the stick for pets, his head through the window.

However, as noted by the AAA, a calm dog will be thrown with the same amount of force in a car accident as a not-so-calm dog.

"Deference... will not only limit distractions, but also protect you, your pet and other passengers in the event of an accident or a stop suddenly,"Huebner-Davidson says.""

Another worrying stat: sept 10 respondents who drive with a dog and children less than 13 years in the same vehicle say they drive while the pooch is unlimited.

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Debate broke out on the Federal recommendation on the free birth control

Lori Johnston

Free birth control for women could be available soon, if U.S. Department of Health and Human Services follows the recommendations of an Advisory Committee. While the women's health advocates are welcome this development, insurers and anti-abortion groups insist the free care unfairly took out insurance for everyone.

In a new report, a panel of the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine, said that there should be no franchise refundable insurance or insurance for drugs the FDA has approved contraception or sterilization procedures by most private health insurance plans. Public insurance such as Medicaid programs would be unaffected.

Currently, insured women must pick up some of the costs for drugs and procedures. Birth control pills, for example, typically cost from $ 15 to $ 50 per month, according to the non-profit Planned Parenthood Federation of America, who praised the recommendations of the group. Planned Parenthood offers women's health services, including abortion.

Birth control would be available to millions of insured - no deductible or insurance - women if U.S. Department of Health and Human Services follows the recommendations of an Advisory Committee.

Planned Parenthood: "great stride forward.

"Millions of women, especially young women are struggling every day to give the prescription birth control," Cecile Richards, President, family planning, said in a statement. "(The) recommendation brings us a step closer to ensure that all insured persons newly women under the health reform act will have access to birth control prescription free of charge." It would be a huge step forward for women's health in this country. ?

The Department of Health and Human Services should rule on the recommendations of the Commission, as soon as early as August. Any changes resulting from the recommendations would come into force in 2013.

The Institute of Medicine Panel asked to determine what services of prevention for women should be covered by the insurance health plans more private - without insurance or franchises - federal health reform act.

NARAL Pro-Choice America: major progress

Nancy Keenan, President of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said in a statement that almost one in three American women find it difficult to pay for birth control. NARAL is a non-profit group that supports abortion rights. Keenan, says that make it the most accessible family planning services will reduce the number of unwanted - pregnancy and abortions.

"As someone who has worked on women's rights, for nearly 30 years, I can say that (this) new brand one of the largest advanced for the health of women in a generation,"Keenan said recommendations of the Commission."."

The report of the Committee also recommended health services of the other women who should be provided without insurance insurance or franchises, such as:

? Screening of diabetes related to pregnancy.
? Testing for human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer.
? Annually on Counselling active sexually infections for women sexually transmitted.
? HIV each year, consultation and screening for sexually active women.
? Rental of breastfeeding.
? Violence domestic.
? Preventive care annual "good wife".

Insurance industry: fee increase

Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for America's health insurance Plans, says insurers health already focus on preventive care. Health insurance plans America is a group of trade for the health insurance industry. Preventive care guidelines are based on the recommendations of the independent organizations such as the Advisory Committee on immunization practices and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, said.

"Broaden the scope of the preventive mandate that go beyond the services or in conflict with the current directives based on evidence will increase the cost of coverage for individuals, families and employers, Zirkelbach says.

Family Research Council: abortion would be "responsible".

The recommendation to add contraceptives full range of the FDA-approved, including two drugs "emergency", drew quick opposition from groups such as the Research Council of family and the Conference of Catholic Bishops of the United States.

The Research Council of family, a Christian lobbying group, says the two emergency contraceptives-"the morning after" Plan B and an another pill called "ella" - kill human embryos. Therefore, the Council asserts that the recommendations of the group "assigning" coverage for abortion.

RU - 486, known as "the abortion pill," was not included in the recommendations of the group.

If the Department of Health and Human Services includes the suggestions of the group, "the rights of the consciousness of millions of Americans will be violated, including issuers of plans, providers who have a contract with these plans and the United States will pay the costs of these services," Jeanne Monahan, Director of the Centre of the Research Council of the family of human dignitysaid in a statement.

In a statement, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston - Houston, President of the Commission on the activities of the United States pro-life Catholic Bishops ' Conference urged the Department of Health and Human Services "focus on the need for all Americans, including immigrants and the poor, for health insurance to save the lives of base - does not mandating controversial practices as to impair the right of women and the consciences enfantsles elective and" employers, employees and health plan providers and the common good. ?

Panel member: "Underserved" women will benefit

Members of, say, the Commission federal one of their goals was to discover ways to prevent unwanted pregnancies, which represent approximately half of all U.S. pregnancies. According to the report of the expert group, women with unwanted pregnancies are more likely to receive none or delayed prenatal care, drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, suffer from depression and be victims of domestic violence.

The members of the Committee believe that free preventive care will be crucial for the minority women.

"Without doubt, underserved women and women of color tend to have a greater barriers to access to the services of particular with co-pay… these recommendations are especially important for women,", explains Dr. Paula Johnson, head of the Division of the health of women at Hospital and Brigham women in Boston.

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Discussion of debt could endanger the National flood insurance program

Jacob Dirr

The countdown to the National flood insurance program.

There are growing concerns that the debate of federal debt, which has drawn legislators in the political war on federal spending, could be bad for the flood insurance program. Program is set to expire on 30 September. Congress must periodically renew the program, which has more than 5.6 million subscribers.

The National flood insurance program provides home, tenant and insurance of flood in more than 21 000 communities nationwide.

Program "is beating as one".

With the greatest threat of the crisis of debt, the flood insurance program is getting "beaten as a can on the street," said Marguerite Tortorello, a spokesman for the Property Casualty insurers Association of America, who lobbied for the interests of insurance.

Earlier this year, the House overwhelmingly adopted a five year extension of the program of insurance against flooding, with the broad support of Republicans and Democrats.

Now, the U.S. Senate Banking Committee is finalizing its flood insurance legislation, although it has been "delayed at least a week and could be postponed to early September," according to PropertyCasualty360.com. Congress is expected to make a break 8 August to 5 September.

A staff member of the Senate Banking Committee who refused to be identified, said the Committee is working on the passage of a temporary extension (two months to one year) before the flood insurance program is set to expire on 30 September.

"Too big to fail".

Terry Tyson, President of Flood Insurance Smart, says that, after 30 years to sell a flood of insurance, he thinks that the flood insurance program has become "too big to fail". The program is important because any House mortgaged in a flood zone is required by federal law to carry flood insurance.

"Flood program is so closely linked with the world of the mortgage, I couldn't imagine what it would be if they close the program," said Tyson.

Tortorello, the spokesman of the Association of insurers casualty property, said expiration of the program would cause insurance companies to start the notice of termination of postal cover and could derail sales closures.

Without the National flood insurance program, owners can obtain flood insurance and that private companies may seek policy low risk, "the riskiest become" almost unaffordable, Tyson said.

Tyson advice for homeowners, renters and business owners have flood insurance: don't worry. "Followed as it is;" He will return to the books, "said Tyson. "Just wait it.".

An expiration of the flood insurance program is not without precedent. Last year, the program has expired for a total of 53 days. When it was finally relaunched, the coverage was applied retroactively to these 53 days.

Program of swimming in debt

The National flood insurance program was created in response to the increase in the costs of assistance to the victims of the floods; It is managed by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Through the program, private insurance companies write and manage fonts insurance flood supported by the Federal Government under their own brands. Any carrier issues flood insurance, coverage, rates and conditions are the same.

The program, funded by Federal borrowing, is almost 18 billion dollars in debt.

Flood policy average cost about $600 in 2010, but the average total paid over the past five years has been close to $34,000, according to federal data.

A house in flood insurance program can be insured up to $ 250,000 and its contents for up to $100,000, according to figures from the FEMA from 2010. Tenants can cover their property up to $100,000. Commercial property owners can provide a building for up to $500,000 and its contents up to $500,000.

FEMA officials refused to comment on the expiry in anticipation of the flood insurance program and transmitted requests for interview to the leaders of the Congress. Leaders of the Congress could also be reached for comment.

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