Although Americans see Medicare as a key part of the country’s social contract and want to preserve it in some recognizable form, they are willing to consider significant changes in the program to hold down its costs as the U.S. population ages.

In day-long “Choice-Dialogues” in which Americans from all walks of life considered the pros and cons of a range of choices for reforming Medicare, common ground was found in several key areas:

  • Allow Medicare to negotiate prices for prescription drugs (94 percent support).
  • Encourage hospice care instead of heroic end-of-life measures (85 percent support).
  • Only cover treatments that are scientifically proven to be effective (68 percent support).
  • Emphasize preventive care and personal responsibility (89 percent consider preventive care very important or essential).
  • Gradually increase the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67 (68 percent support).

If additional money is needed to maintain Medicare in a way that is familiar in the future, Americans would rather see the government raise taxes than increase the federal debt.

These are among the central findings in a report released today by The Concord Coalition and Viewpoint Learning, Inc. The report is entitled “Medicare: It’s Not Just Another Program.”

The report, which was written by Viewpoint Learning, also underscores public dismay at the health care system in general. It comes as Congress and the Obama administration are working on massive changes in the entire system.

“Participants repeatedly expressed concerns over what they saw as a Byzantine and unaccountable health care system,” the Medicare report says. “Most felt that the medical industry (especially the pharmaceutical companies) puts profits before people.”

Robert L. Bixby, executive director of The Concord Coalition, says the report shows that Americans are prepared to accept significant changes in the program that plays a central role in the federal government’s long-term fiscal problems.

“Medicare is on an unsustainable path and must be reformed,” Bixby said. “According to conventional wisdom, however, the public is not ready to accept any change in the status quo. The good news from these Choice-Dialogues is that the conventional wisdom is wrong; the public is ready and willing to consider some very fundamental Medicare reforms so long as the program is preserved as a vital part of the social contract.”

“Politicians who are truly interested in saving Medicare should stop the scare tactics and start engaging the public in a dialogue on the real trade-offs that must be confronted,” Bixby added. “Changes will still be difficult, but the results will be more acceptable.”

Viewpoint Learning conducted the dialogues with randomly selected representative samples of 35-40 citizens in Oak Brook, Illinois; Columbia Maryland; Phoenix and Houston. This project builds on the findings of a broader two-year project, “The America We Want,” that examined public opinion on a broader range of federal programs and budget issues.

The new report found that many Americans lacked a strong understanding of the Medicare program, how it is funded, and the severity of the fiscal challenges facing the United States in the years ahead.

Yet most participants in the dialogues, after studying these issues in depth and spending much of a day discussing the problems and possible solutions with others, were able to agree on a set of Medicare changes.

But to win public support, the report cautions, “proposals for major reform to Medicare need to recognize the extent to which Americans see Medicare as an essential part of the social contract and not just as another government program.”

Steven Rosell, president of Viewpoint Learning, said “The findings from these daylong dialogues with Americans from very different backgrounds and perspectives reveal deep disconnects between how Washington talks about Medicare and health care reform and how the public talks about them. In case after case, the report shows how leaders and the public are talking past each other, and how this deep disconnect and misunderstanding lead to the heat and the rancor that have made advancing real reform so difficult.”

When most people talk about the “cost of health care,” for example, they are focused on what they pay in premiums, co-pays and drug expenses. When health care experts talk about costs, however, they usually focus on the costs to businesses, government and other institutions.

Rosell also noted that many Americans do not realize that they are essentially paying for the cost of care for the uninsured already.

The new report, he said, provides insight for leaders about how best to bridge such disconnects and begin to create a learning curve that could lead to public support for significant Medicare reform.

The full report, entitled “Medicare: It’s Not Just Another Program,” is available here

Source: The Concord Coalition


Increased health risks and financial concerns burden seniors with highest medication use – One in four seniors take between 10 and 19 pills a day

America’s seniors are being overwhelmed by the number of prescription drugs they take on a daily basis. According to a new national survey of more than 1,000 people ages 65 and older who use medications, more than half (51 percent) take at least five different prescription drugs regularly and one in four take between 10 and 19 pills each day.

The challenge of managing multiple medications is clear – nearly three in five (57 percent) of those polled admit that they forget to take their medications. Furthermore, the more drugs they use, the more likely they are not to remember to take them. Among those using five or more medications, 63 percent say they forget doses; a higher rate as compared to 51 percent among people who take fewer medicines.

“It’s usually the patients who are in worse health who are taking large numbers of prescription drugs. For these people, especially, taking their medications properly and regularly is critical,” said Dr. Woody Eisenberg, vice president and chief medical officer of Medco Retiree Solutions. “The problem is that the more medications prescribed, the harder it is for older people to manage them well and know essential information that can help prevent medication-related harm.”

The survey, conducted by Kelton Research on behalf of Medco Health Solutions, Inc. also reveals what seniors don’t know about their medications could potentially harm them, and the more medications they take, the less they seem to know. More than one third (34 percent) of seniors using five or more prescription drugs do not feel knowledgeable enough about the drugs they’re prescribed or their potential side effects, and 35 percent are not sure they can name all the medications they use.

“Being well-informed about medications is crucial for patient safety,” said Dr. Eisenberg. “To reduce drug risks, patients should always know the names of the drugs they take, why they take them, and any drugs they should avoid to prevent potential side effects.”

Costly Concerns

Multiple medication use is also taking its toll on the financial health of America’s seniors. The ability to afford their drugs is the top concern among 40 percent of seniors taking five or more prescription medications daily, followed by their worry over drug side effects (23 percent) and interactions (17 percent). Among those enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan, 37 percent are most concerned about not being able to afford their medications, and almost half (49 percent) want to know how to delay or avoid falling into the donut hole or coverage gap – the phase in which the beneficiary is responsible for the full cost of their drugs.

The survey found 60 percent of Medicare beneficiaries have taken some steps to delay reaching the donut hole, such as using generic medications (76 percent) and asking for free samples from their doctors (39 percent). But just 27 percent use mail order to avoid the donut hole, despite the fact that on average, seniors surveyed estimated that using mail order saved them about $540 a year and 19 percent estimated they saved at least $1,000 annually.

“The Medicare prescription drug program has made a huge difference in making prescription drugs more affordable for seniors; but for those taking multiple medications, the costs can still be a major burden – especially if you end up in the donut hole,” said Dr. Eisenberg. “It’s essential that enrollees take advantage of cost-savings opportunities so they can afford the drugs they need to maintain their health.”

Medco is launching an initiative to assist seniors and Medicare beneficiaries in better managing their medications and getting the most out of their Medicare plan. As part of the initiative, Medco has developed a free consumer booklet called “The Smart Guide to Managing Medications.” It provides tips to help seniors better manage their medications and their costs, and includes information to discuss with their physicians and pharmacists about the drugs they’re prescribed. The guide also offers ways to manage medication costs within the Medicare Part D benefit. “The Smart Guide to Managing Medications” is available free in a downloadable version at www.medcomedicare.com. Seniors can also request a copy through the mail by sending a postcard requesting “The Smart Guide to Managing Medications” to: “The Smart Guide to Managing Medications”; PO Box 8007; Parsippany, NJ 07054-8007.

Source: Medco Health Solutions, Inc.


Heart-healthy ABC’s for 2010

Family physician and cholesterol expert Michael Cobble, M.D., has some simple resolutions and fun advice for staying heart healthy in the new year. Cobble is a board-certified clinical lipidologist (NLA), certified hypertension specialist (ASH), medical director of the private practice Canyons Medical Center in Sandy, Utah, and Chief Medical Officer at Atherotech, Inc., developer of the VAP Cholesterol Test.

Here are Dr. Cobble’s heart-healthy ABC’s for 2010:

A. Active: Be active every day — take the stairs, park further away, buy a push lawn mower. Find ways to move your muscles, clap your hands, move your feet.
B. Breakfast daily: Start each day with a good breakfast, including dairy, fiber and fruit. Select items such as whole grain toast, low or fat-free milk, bananas, pears and high-fiber oatmeal with nuts and berries.
C. Cholesterol management: Get an advanced test that tells you and your doctor about the dangerous cholesterol — directly measured LDL,
non-HDL, apoB and subparticles — that can hurt your arteries. The Vertical Auto Profile (VAP) lipid test from Atherotech is one such test.
D. Diet: Think moderation, balance and “heart healthy” throughout the day. Eat fruits, veggies, fiber, complex carbs, proteins and healthy fats. Experience European dining with each meal.
E. Exercise: Exercise daily — walk at lunch with coworkers, before or after work with your pets, join in team sports or find an outlet that gets your heart pumping for at least 30 minutes a day.
F. Fiber is your friend: Read the nutrition label on foods so you know what you’re eating and to better manage your cholesterol, fiber and other nutrients.
G. Glucose in moderation: Too much sugar and starch contribute to diabetes. Get tested for diabetes with a blood glucose test, and cut back on pasta, potatoes, sodas, ice cream and fast food.
H. Healthy lifestyle: Lead a healthy lifestyle, which means no smoking, seeing your clinician every year for a physical, and laughing often. Spend time with friends, kids and grandkids.
I. Imagine: Use your imagination to enjoy life and get the most out of each and every day. Have fun, do what you love and what makes you happy.

Source: Atherotech Inc.


How to be a healthier you in 2010

Top 10 Great Reasons to ‘Go Green’ in the New Year

We all make resolutions for the New Year, but most of us (92 percent according to a survey conducted by Stephen Shapiro, author of “Goal-Free Living,”) do not end up keeping our resolutions.

Fortunately, some good advice from the experts will help us stay on track. Nationally acclaimed healthy lifestyles chef Kathleen Daelemans and registered dietitians Keri Glassman and Alyse Levine – all experts featured on TheGreenNut.org – created this “Top 10″ list of ways to achieve better health in 2010:

1. Don’t skip meals: It slows your metabolism. Think of your body as a fire that needs fuel to keep burning. Eat small meals with some protein, healthy fats or fiber every three to four hours.
2. Don’t keep what you know you shouldn’t eat: If you can manage to restrain yourself from buying junk food while you’re in the grocery store, that’s half the battle. But if you fail at the store, don’t keep foods around the house that tempt you.
3. Keep a food journal: If you write down everything you eat, you’ll feel more accountable for what you put in your mouth, and you will be less likely to grab that handful of candy or salty chips every afternoon.
4. Trick yourself: Sneak nutrient-rich foods into your day. It’s easier than you think. Top your morning oatmeal with pistachios – The Green Nut. That’s right, you’ll be easily adding up to 20 percent of your Daily Value of B6 and extra crunch!
5. Play once a day: When bundling up your kids to play outside, bundle up yourself and get outdoors! Instead of watching from the window, play with your kids and burn calories while building memories.
6. Choose a daily nutrition goal: Add lemon slices to your water for increased antioxidants, kick that sugary soda habit, shoot to add a fresh vegetable to every meal, etc. Master one goal, and then move on to the next one.
7. Pack power into your diet with antioxidants: Include nutrient-rich foods in your diet to help pump up your immune system and keep energy levels high. For some great options, think “green”: include pistachios, the only green nut, green vegetables and green tea.
8. Use the plate rule at all your meals: 1/4 of your plate should be lean protein, including lean cuts of meat, nuts like pistachios and beans, 1/4 starch and 1/2 vegetables.
9. Don’t eat off of your kid’s plate: All those little bites really add up and can have a big impact on your weight.
10. Spice it up: Be creative and experiment with different seasonings. Herbs and spices – such as basil, oregano, garlic and Dijon mustard – not only add tremendous flavor, but they also have many health benefits.

The Latest Research Findings

According to the American Association for Cancer Research, a diet that incorporates a daily dose of pistachios may help reduce the risk of lung cancer and other cancers – due to the levels of Vitamin E in The Green Nut.

To learn more about this exciting new study, visit: http://www.thegreennut.org/health/research/2009-12-09-lung-cancer.html


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