CHICAGO, June 15 (UPI) -- President Obama tackled the thorny issues of capping medical malpractice awards and public healthcare opinion Monday before the American Medical Association.
"I'm not advocating caps on malpractice awards, which I believe can be unfair to people who've been wrongfully harmed. I do think we need to explore a range of ideas about how to put patient safety first, let doctors focus on practicing medicine and encourage broader use of evidence-based guidelines," Obama told the physicians group. "I want to work with the AMA so we can scale back excessive defensive medicine reinforcing our current system of more treatment rather than better care."
Just as important as containing the costs of healthcare, "we must also ensure that every American can get coverage that they can afford," Obama said. "We are not a nation that accepts nearly 46 million uninsured men women and children."
Obama said he said healthcare reform is simple: "Fix what's broken and build on what works"
He repeated his pledge that if people like their healthcare program, they can keep it. But people who don't like their coverage or don't have insurance can participate in a program called the Health Insurance Exchange, "a one-stop shop for (selecting a) healthcare plan."
Among the choices would be "a public option that will give people a broader range of choices and inject competition into the healthcare market (that forces) waste out of the system and keeps the insurance companies honest," Obama said.
"As I stated earlier, the reforms we propose are to reward best practices, focus on patient care, not the current piece-work reimbursement," he said. "What we seek is more stability and a healthcare system on a sound financial footing."
Obama drew warm applause when he spoke of moving medical records from a paper to an electronic-based system, and prevention and wellness programs that must be included in any healthcare reform package. He also was applauded enthusiastically when he discussed re-examining the cost medical education as well as providing as much information as possible available to physicians so they can provide the best care possible for their patients.
"Replicating best practices, incentivizing excellence, closing cost disparities -- any legislation sent to my desk that does not achieve these goals does not earn the title of reform," Obama said.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
The healthcare crisis news - medical billing news!
Thirteen years ago Bill Clinton became president partly because he promised to do something about rising health care costs. Although Clinton's chances of reforming the US health care system looked quite good at first, the effort soon ran aground. Since then a combination of factors—the unwillingness of other politicians to confront the insurance and other lobbies that so successfully frustrated the Clinton effort, a temporary remission in the growth of health care spending as HMOs briefly managed to limit cost increases, and the general distraction of a nation focused first on the gloriousness of getting rich, then on terrorism—have kept health care off the top of the agenda.
But medical costs are once again rising rapidly, forcing health care back into political prominence. Indeed, the problem of medical costs is so pervasive that it underlies three quite different policy crises. First is the increasingly rapid unraveling of employer- based health insurance. Second is the plight of Medicaid, an increasingly crucial program that is under both fiscal and political attack. Third is the long-term problem of the federal government's solvency, which is, as we'll explain, largely a problem of health care costs.
But medical costs are once again rising rapidly, forcing health care back into political prominence. Indeed, the problem of medical costs is so pervasive that it underlies three quite different policy crises. First is the increasingly rapid unraveling of employer- based health insurance. Second is the plight of Medicaid, an increasingly crucial program that is under both fiscal and political attack. Third is the long-term problem of the federal government's solvency, which is, as we'll explain, largely a problem of health care costs.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Healthcare Reform - some questions. Medical Billing News!
Funding health care reform
Remaking America’s health care system and covering the uninsured will require a substantial financial investment. Any solution must not only be viable today, but sustainable for years to come. Where will we find the dollars? Can health care savings pay some of the cost? Should we continue the unlimited tax-exempt status for health insurance premiums on employer plans?
Determining our personal responsibility
In the simplest terms, health insurance works because the healthy help offset the cost of caring for the sick. How can we encourage more healthy individuals to purchase health insurance? Should every American be required to purchase coverage?
Removing barriers to coverage
Those who need it most – people with pre-existing conditions – are often unable to obtain health insurance. They’re either not eligible, or coverage is unaffordable. Should we require health insurers to accept anyone, regardless of their health? Should your health determine how much you pay for health insurance?
Deciding the role of government
Some believe government should run health insurance. Others believe a competitive, private-market system provides greater value. Some propose creating a government health plan to compete with private health insurers. Opponents see that as a step toward government-run health care.
Promoting the most effective medical treatments
Who decides which medical treatments, tests, and technologies are effective and should be covered? Should cost matter, or should we only ask how well the treatment works?
Encouraging wellness
A tide of chronic, preventable disease – representing 70 percent of health care costs – threatens to overwhelm our health care system. Smoking, lack of activity, and increased weight lead the list of controllable factors contributing to the problem. How can we help people live healthier lives?
Harnessing health information technology
Connecting the health care system with electronic medical records and other technologies could help reduce paperwork and unnecessary cost. Such connections could help prevent medical errors and bring the latest treatment information to the exam room. Technology can also be used to provide information on the prices and performance of health care providers, which could help patients make better-educated decisions.
Remaking America’s health care system and covering the uninsured will require a substantial financial investment. Any solution must not only be viable today, but sustainable for years to come. Where will we find the dollars? Can health care savings pay some of the cost? Should we continue the unlimited tax-exempt status for health insurance premiums on employer plans?
Determining our personal responsibility
In the simplest terms, health insurance works because the healthy help offset the cost of caring for the sick. How can we encourage more healthy individuals to purchase health insurance? Should every American be required to purchase coverage?
Removing barriers to coverage
Those who need it most – people with pre-existing conditions – are often unable to obtain health insurance. They’re either not eligible, or coverage is unaffordable. Should we require health insurers to accept anyone, regardless of their health? Should your health determine how much you pay for health insurance?
Deciding the role of government
Some believe government should run health insurance. Others believe a competitive, private-market system provides greater value. Some propose creating a government health plan to compete with private health insurers. Opponents see that as a step toward government-run health care.
Promoting the most effective medical treatments
Who decides which medical treatments, tests, and technologies are effective and should be covered? Should cost matter, or should we only ask how well the treatment works?
Encouraging wellness
A tide of chronic, preventable disease – representing 70 percent of health care costs – threatens to overwhelm our health care system. Smoking, lack of activity, and increased weight lead the list of controllable factors contributing to the problem. How can we help people live healthier lives?
Harnessing health information technology
Connecting the health care system with electronic medical records and other technologies could help reduce paperwork and unnecessary cost. Such connections could help prevent medical errors and bring the latest treatment information to the exam room. Technology can also be used to provide information on the prices and performance of health care providers, which could help patients make better-educated decisions.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
SICKO healthcare - OBAMA style - medical billing news!
By media & government suppressing truths and marginalizing dissent against business as usual, Medicare-for-All advocates are shut out and ridiculed for suggesting what other western nations know works best, costs less, and delivers the highest quality health care to everyone.On February 26, The New York Times headlined: "Obama Offers Broad Plan to Revamp Health Care....a (down payment $634 billion "reserve fund" for the next decade) toward his goal of covering the uninsured, and he would pay for it in part by cutting federal payments to hospitals, insurance companies and drug companies." More on that below.
Details so far are sketchy, but here's what The Times and others reported:
$634 billion as a "down payment....additional funding will be needed;"
increased prescription drug premiums for higher income Medicare recipients;
$6 billion for cancer research to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), up from last year's $5.6 billion;
faster FDA generic biotech drug approvals;
increased access to family planning services for low-income women on Medicaid;
no information on how the uninsured will be covered with details to be worked out later with Congress; one idea is make it mandatory, but tell that to people who can't afford it or enough of it;
drug makers to be required to give Medicaid at least a 22.1% discount, up from the current 15.1%;
payment cuts to insurers, hospitals, drug makers, home health agencies, and perhaps doctors;
"rebalancing the tax code so that the wealthiest pay more," but not enough;
the goal is reduce costs and achieve "universal coverage;" saying it is one thing, achieving it another;
eliminating subsidies paid to insurers selling Medicare Advantage plans and opening the process to competitive bidding; and
in introducing Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius as HHS secretary and Nancy-Ann DeParle as White House Health Reform director, Obama proposed "affordable health care for every American" while acknowledging no "silver bullet" exists to provide it, but he'll be "flexible" to achieve it, or at least say he is while intending to do nothing to offend a powerful industry.
Details so far are sketchy, but here's what The Times and others reported:
$634 billion as a "down payment....additional funding will be needed;"
increased prescription drug premiums for higher income Medicare recipients;
$6 billion for cancer research to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), up from last year's $5.6 billion;
faster FDA generic biotech drug approvals;
increased access to family planning services for low-income women on Medicaid;
no information on how the uninsured will be covered with details to be worked out later with Congress; one idea is make it mandatory, but tell that to people who can't afford it or enough of it;
drug makers to be required to give Medicaid at least a 22.1% discount, up from the current 15.1%;
payment cuts to insurers, hospitals, drug makers, home health agencies, and perhaps doctors;
"rebalancing the tax code so that the wealthiest pay more," but not enough;
the goal is reduce costs and achieve "universal coverage;" saying it is one thing, achieving it another;
eliminating subsidies paid to insurers selling Medicare Advantage plans and opening the process to competitive bidding; and
in introducing Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius as HHS secretary and Nancy-Ann DeParle as White House Health Reform director, Obama proposed "affordable health care for every American" while acknowledging no "silver bullet" exists to provide it, but he'll be "flexible" to achieve it, or at least say he is while intending to do nothing to offend a powerful industry.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
The Clinton Promise concerning health care reform - medical billing news!
Thirteen years ago Bill Clinton became president partly because he promised to do something about rising health care costs. Although Clinton's chances of reforming the US health care system looked quite good at first, the effort soon ran aground. Since then a combination of factors—the unwillingness of other politicians to confront the insurance and other lobbies that so successfully frustrated the Clinton effort, a temporary remission in the growth of health care spending as HMOs briefly managed to limit cost increases, and the general distraction of a nation focused first on the gloriousness of getting rich, then on terrorism—have kept health care off the top of the agenda.
But medical costs are once again rising rapidly, forcing health care back into political prominence. Indeed, the problem of medical costs is so pervasive that it underlies three quite different policy crises. First is the increasingly rapid unraveling of employer- based health insurance. Second is the plight of Medicaid, an increasingly crucial program that is under both fiscal and political attack. Third is the long-term problem of the federal government's solvency, which is, as we'll explain, largely a problem of health care costs.
But medical costs are once again rising rapidly, forcing health care back into political prominence. Indeed, the problem of medical costs is so pervasive that it underlies three quite different policy crises. First is the increasingly rapid unraveling of employer- based health insurance. Second is the plight of Medicaid, an increasingly crucial program that is under both fiscal and political attack. Third is the long-term problem of the federal government's solvency, which is, as we'll explain, largely a problem of health care costs.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Breakdown -- America's Health Insurance Crisis - medical billing news!
This article speaks about a Peter Jennings documentary...
Peter Jennings' last documentary, "Peter Jennings Reporting: Breakdown -- America's Health Insurance Crisis," premieres tonight on ABC. Throughout his storied career at ABC, Jennings reported over 60 documentaries on subjects ranging from the India-Pakistan conflict to the obesity epidemic -- all stories he believed were deserving of a full hour of prime-time investigation.
In this last documentary, filmed in the months before he was diagnosed with lung cancer, Peter Jennings reports on this country's broken health insurance system, which is threatening American families -- and American businesses.
Jennings reports that the growing number of uninsured affects the health care all Americans receive. He begins by reporting from emergency rooms in Houston, Texas, a city where almost one-third of the population lacks insurance. As more and more of these uninsured turn to emergency rooms for medical care, emergency care for the insured and uninsured alike suffers.
Jennings reports that one of the factors leading to the increasing number of uninsured is the difficulty involved in buying insurance. Even people who can afford the ever-increasing prices can't always get it. In most states, health insurance companies can turn down applicants who suffer from even the most common medical problems, like allergies and acne.
In the past, employer-based health insurance was a reliable place to turn for coverage, but today even that is in jeopardy. Jennings reveals how escalating health insurance costs are putting nearly all American businesses at risk. From small family-owned car repair shops to the once-mighty General Motors, the uniquely American system of employer-based health insurance is becoming unaffordable for small businesses, and unsustainable for large corporations operating in a global economy.
Peter Jennings' last documentary, "Peter Jennings Reporting: Breakdown -- America's Health Insurance Crisis," premieres tonight on ABC. Throughout his storied career at ABC, Jennings reported over 60 documentaries on subjects ranging from the India-Pakistan conflict to the obesity epidemic -- all stories he believed were deserving of a full hour of prime-time investigation.
In this last documentary, filmed in the months before he was diagnosed with lung cancer, Peter Jennings reports on this country's broken health insurance system, which is threatening American families -- and American businesses.
Jennings reports that the growing number of uninsured affects the health care all Americans receive. He begins by reporting from emergency rooms in Houston, Texas, a city where almost one-third of the population lacks insurance. As more and more of these uninsured turn to emergency rooms for medical care, emergency care for the insured and uninsured alike suffers.
Jennings reports that one of the factors leading to the increasing number of uninsured is the difficulty involved in buying insurance. Even people who can afford the ever-increasing prices can't always get it. In most states, health insurance companies can turn down applicants who suffer from even the most common medical problems, like allergies and acne.
In the past, employer-based health insurance was a reliable place to turn for coverage, but today even that is in jeopardy. Jennings reveals how escalating health insurance costs are putting nearly all American businesses at risk. From small family-owned car repair shops to the once-mighty General Motors, the uniquely American system of employer-based health insurance is becoming unaffordable for small businesses, and unsustainable for large corporations operating in a global economy.
Monday, April 20, 2009
47 Milling Citizens without healthcare - medical billing news!
Some 47 million U.S. citizens do not have health insurance, and the numbers keep growing. Because employers increasingly are moving in the direction of providing Wal-Mart-style health coverage by shifting health care costs to employees, America’s workers struggle to pay higher premiums, deductibles and co-payments—if they can afford such coverage at all.
Working families are experiencing double-digit increases in the costs of health insurance, more out-of-pocket costs for doctor visits and skyrocketing prices for prescriptions, forcing many to delay getting needed medical care or worse—to decline coverage for themselves or their families because of cost. Health care costs are rising at five times the rate of inflation. According to the Center for Studying Health System Change, health care spending rose 10 percent in 2002 and that followed a slightly more than 10 percent increase in 2001—the largest jump in more than a decade. In the first six months of 2003, health spending rose another 8.5 percent. Premiums for employer-sponsored coverage increased nearly 13 percent in 2002. As employers refuse to pay their fair share, this trend may result in millions of workers losing their employer-based coverage.
For more on this article, visit http://www.aflcio.org/issues/healthcare/whatswrong/
Working families are experiencing double-digit increases in the costs of health insurance, more out-of-pocket costs for doctor visits and skyrocketing prices for prescriptions, forcing many to delay getting needed medical care or worse—to decline coverage for themselves or their families because of cost. Health care costs are rising at five times the rate of inflation. According to the Center for Studying Health System Change, health care spending rose 10 percent in 2002 and that followed a slightly more than 10 percent increase in 2001—the largest jump in more than a decade. In the first six months of 2003, health spending rose another 8.5 percent. Premiums for employer-sponsored coverage increased nearly 13 percent in 2002. As employers refuse to pay their fair share, this trend may result in millions of workers losing their employer-based coverage.
For more on this article, visit http://www.aflcio.org/issues/healthcare/whatswrong/
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Lacking health insurance connects us all! medical billing news!
The health-care story is everyone's story; the health and financial ruin of one eventually shakes the web that connects us all. And health-care disasters are not limited to the elderly, ethnic minorities or families living in poverty. Young people can find themselves without insurance for a variety of reasons, from lifelong disease to hubris to pure bad luck. When they do, they're at the mercy of a system that all but builds walls to keep them from adequate care.
Why aren't these people revolting in the streets?
Why aren't these people revolting in the streets?
Friday, April 10, 2009
SICKO - over 48 MILLION without health insurance! - medical billing news.
There are over 48 MILLION Americans with NO health insurance.
There are approx. 32 million others who are underinsured. In the past four years the number of uninsured rose by 6 million people and more American's are forced each year to file for bankrupcy due to medical bills.
There are a handful of self-serving, powerful special interest groups who are unraveling our economy and holding us hostage. They are the American Medical Association (AMA) America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the pharmaceutical industry. These groups are the gatekeepers of our health and spend HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of dollars in advertising, lobbying and political contributions to keep their beds feathered and to keep the status quo.
Historically, the AMA has been the worst and most self-serving group who has, since 1912 opposed health care reform and national health insurance at least six times when reform has been seriously discussed in America. The AMA has opposed national health insurance even before there was a health insurance industry, scaring Americans into thinking national health insurance was communism and a big government takeover.
Almost 100 years has passed since the first discussion of national health insurance and we, as a nation, are more held hostage by the whims and desires of the health care/health insurance giants than ever before.
WHEN ARE WE GOING TO STOP PANDERING TO THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY LOBBY and make them work on our behalf, for our best interest, and make them stop holding America hostage? 18,000 people per year die because they don't have health insurance and the health industry enjoys being able to charge whatever they please and decide which services they will provide us, if, indeed, they will provide services at all.
There are approx. 32 million others who are underinsured. In the past four years the number of uninsured rose by 6 million people and more American's are forced each year to file for bankrupcy due to medical bills.
There are a handful of self-serving, powerful special interest groups who are unraveling our economy and holding us hostage. They are the American Medical Association (AMA) America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the pharmaceutical industry. These groups are the gatekeepers of our health and spend HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of dollars in advertising, lobbying and political contributions to keep their beds feathered and to keep the status quo.
Historically, the AMA has been the worst and most self-serving group who has, since 1912 opposed health care reform and national health insurance at least six times when reform has been seriously discussed in America. The AMA has opposed national health insurance even before there was a health insurance industry, scaring Americans into thinking national health insurance was communism and a big government takeover.
Almost 100 years has passed since the first discussion of national health insurance and we, as a nation, are more held hostage by the whims and desires of the health care/health insurance giants than ever before.
WHEN ARE WE GOING TO STOP PANDERING TO THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY LOBBY and make them work on our behalf, for our best interest, and make them stop holding America hostage? 18,000 people per year die because they don't have health insurance and the health industry enjoys being able to charge whatever they please and decide which services they will provide us, if, indeed, they will provide services at all.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Health Care Reform - medical billing news
On health care reform, the American people are too often offered two extremes -- government-run health care with higher taxes or letting the insurance companies operate without rules. President Obama and Vice President Biden believe both of these extremes are wrong, and that’s why they’ve proposed a plan that strengthens employer coverage, makes insurance companies accountable and ensures patient choice of doctor and care without government interference.
The Obama-Biden plan provides affordable, accessible health care for all Americans, builds on the existing health care system, and uses existing providers, doctors, and plans. Under the Obama-Biden plan, patients will be able to make health care decisions with their doctors, instead of being blocked by insurance company bureaucrats.
Under the plan, if you like your current health insurance, nothing changes, except your costs will go down by as much as $2,500 per year. If you don’t have health insurance, you will have a choice of new, affordable health insurance options.
Make Health Insurance Work for People and Businesses -- Not Just Insurance and Drug Companies.
Require insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions so all Americans regardless of their health status or history can get comprehensive benefits at fair and stable premiums.
Create a new Small Business Health Tax Credit to help small businesses provide affordable health insurance to their employees.
Lower costs for businesses by covering a portion of the catastrophic health costs they pay in return for lower premiums for employees.
Prevent insurers from overcharging doctors for their malpractice insurance and invest in proven strategies to reduce preventable medical errors.
Make employer contributions more fair by requiring large employers that do not offer coverage or make a meaningful contribution to the cost of quality health coverage for their employees to contribute a percentage of payroll toward the costs of their employees' health care.
Establish a National Health Insurance Exchange with a range of private insurance options as well as a new public plan based on benefits available to members of Congress that will allow individuals and small businesses to buy affordable health coverage.
Ensure everyone who needs it will receive a tax credit for their premiums.
Reduce Costs and Save a Typical American Family up to $2,500 as reforms phase in:
Lower drug costs by allowing the importation of safe medicines from other developed countries, increasing the use of generic drugs in public programs, and taking on drug companies that block cheaper generic medicines from the market.
Require hospitals to collect and report health care cost and quality data.
Reduce the costs of catastrophic illnesses for employers and their employees.
Reform the insurance market to increase competition by taking on anticompetitive activity that drives up prices without improving quality of care.
The Obama-Biden plan will promote public health. It will require coverage of preventive services, including cancer screenings, and increase state and local preparedness for terrorist attacks and natural disasters.
A Commitment to Fiscal Responsibility: Barack Obama will pay for his $50 - $65 billion health care reform effort by rolling back the Bush tax cuts for Americans earning more than $250,000 per year and retaining the estate tax at its 2009 level.
The Obama-Biden plan provides affordable, accessible health care for all Americans, builds on the existing health care system, and uses existing providers, doctors, and plans. Under the Obama-Biden plan, patients will be able to make health care decisions with their doctors, instead of being blocked by insurance company bureaucrats.
Under the plan, if you like your current health insurance, nothing changes, except your costs will go down by as much as $2,500 per year. If you don’t have health insurance, you will have a choice of new, affordable health insurance options.
Make Health Insurance Work for People and Businesses -- Not Just Insurance and Drug Companies.
Require insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions so all Americans regardless of their health status or history can get comprehensive benefits at fair and stable premiums.
Create a new Small Business Health Tax Credit to help small businesses provide affordable health insurance to their employees.
Lower costs for businesses by covering a portion of the catastrophic health costs they pay in return for lower premiums for employees.
Prevent insurers from overcharging doctors for their malpractice insurance and invest in proven strategies to reduce preventable medical errors.
Make employer contributions more fair by requiring large employers that do not offer coverage or make a meaningful contribution to the cost of quality health coverage for their employees to contribute a percentage of payroll toward the costs of their employees' health care.
Establish a National Health Insurance Exchange with a range of private insurance options as well as a new public plan based on benefits available to members of Congress that will allow individuals and small businesses to buy affordable health coverage.
Ensure everyone who needs it will receive a tax credit for their premiums.
Reduce Costs and Save a Typical American Family up to $2,500 as reforms phase in:
Lower drug costs by allowing the importation of safe medicines from other developed countries, increasing the use of generic drugs in public programs, and taking on drug companies that block cheaper generic medicines from the market.
Require hospitals to collect and report health care cost and quality data.
Reduce the costs of catastrophic illnesses for employers and their employees.
Reform the insurance market to increase competition by taking on anticompetitive activity that drives up prices without improving quality of care.
The Obama-Biden plan will promote public health. It will require coverage of preventive services, including cancer screenings, and increase state and local preparedness for terrorist attacks and natural disasters.
A Commitment to Fiscal Responsibility: Barack Obama will pay for his $50 - $65 billion health care reform effort by rolling back the Bush tax cuts for Americans earning more than $250,000 per year and retaining the estate tax at its 2009 level.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
SICKO BILLING - no budget??
Whenever I walk into a new client situation the first thing I look for is a business scorecard. Sometimes if I am lucky I find that the client has an accountant who has put together a Profit and Loss statement. Of course, in most small businesses P&L statements are usually done by an outside accounting firm and usually do not get to the client until a month or so after the fact. Rarely do I find that a business has put together a budget (a financial plan). To me this is incredible and a little bit insane.
It is incredible because if you go into any business without a financial plan (budget) you do not have a clue about how much it is going to cost you to operate the business. Without a budget you do not have any control over your cost and expenses which may leave you without a profit. Without a budget you do not have a standard to compare your Profit and Loss statement to see if you are on a track for success, failure, or just survival. Without a budget to compare to you do not have a clue where in your Profit and Loss statement you should be making adjustments to ensure a profit and your business future.
Operating a business without a budget is pretty much like flying in the dark. Ask yourself where would a pilot end up without a flight plan? This picture pretty much lends itself to a business owner operating a business without a budget. Pretty crazy, don't you think? Absolutely insane! Yet I see it everyday as I visit small business owners who are in trouble. And what is more incredible to me is that most accountants and CPA's who prepare these Profit and Loss statements for the business owner
It is incredible because if you go into any business without a financial plan (budget) you do not have a clue about how much it is going to cost you to operate the business. Without a budget you do not have any control over your cost and expenses which may leave you without a profit. Without a budget you do not have a standard to compare your Profit and Loss statement to see if you are on a track for success, failure, or just survival. Without a budget to compare to you do not have a clue where in your Profit and Loss statement you should be making adjustments to ensure a profit and your business future.
Operating a business without a budget is pretty much like flying in the dark. Ask yourself where would a pilot end up without a flight plan? This picture pretty much lends itself to a business owner operating a business without a budget. Pretty crazy, don't you think? Absolutely insane! Yet I see it everyday as I visit small business owners who are in trouble. And what is more incredible to me is that most accountants and CPA's who prepare these Profit and Loss statements for the business owner
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Insurance through employers - and medical billing
Most Americans have health insurance through their employers. But, employment is no longer a guarantee of health insurance coverage.
As America continues to move from a manufacturing-based economy to a service economy, and employee working patterns continue to evolve, health insurance coverage has become less stable. The service sector offers less access to health insurance than its manufacturing counterparts. Further, an increasing reliance on part-time and contract workers who are not eligible for coverage means fewer workers have access to employer-sponsored health insurance.
Due to rising health insurance premiums, many small employers cannot afford to offer health benefits. Companies that do offer health insurance, often require employees to contribute a larger share toward their coverage. As a result, an increasing number of Americans have opted not to take advantage of job-based health insurance because they cannot afford it.
Who are Who are the uninsured?
Nearly 46 million Americans, or 18 percent of the population under the age of 65, were without health insurance in 2007, the latest government data available.1
The number of uninsured rose 2.2 million between 2005 and 2006 and has increased by almost 8 million people since 2000.1
The large majority of the uninsured (80 percent) are native or naturalized citizens.2
The increase in the number of uninsured in 2006 was focused among working age adults. The percentage of working adults (18 to 64) who had no health coverage climbed from 19.7 percent in 2005 to 20.2 percent in 2006.1 Nearly 1.3 million full-time workers lost their health insurance in 2006.
Nearly 90 million people – about one-third of the population below the age of 65 spent a portion of either 2006 or 2007 without health coverage.3
Over 8 in 10 uninsured people come from working families – almost 70 percent from families with one or more full-time workers and 11 percent from families with part-time workers.2
The percentage of people (workers and dependents) with employment-based health insurance has dropped from 70 percent in 1987 to 62 percent in 2007. This is the lowest level of employment-based insurance coverage in more than a decade.4, 5
In 2005, nearly 15 percent of employees had no employer-sponsored health coverage available to them, either through their own job or through a family member.6
In 2007, 37 million workers were uninsured because not all businesses offer health benefits, not all workers qualify for coverage and many employees cannot afford their share of the health insurance premium even when coverage is at their fingertips.1
The number of uninsured children in 2007 was 8.1 million – or 10.7 percent of all children in the U.S.1
Young adults (18-to-24 years old) remained the least likely of any age group to have health insurance in 2007 – 28.1 percent of this group did not have health insurance.1
The percentage and the number of uninsured Hispanics increased to 32.1 percent and 15 million in 2007.1
Nearly 40 percent of the uninsured population reside in households that earn $50,000 or more.1 A growing number of middle-income families cannot afford health insurance payments even when coverage is offered by their employers.
As America continues to move from a manufacturing-based economy to a service economy, and employee working patterns continue to evolve, health insurance coverage has become less stable. The service sector offers less access to health insurance than its manufacturing counterparts. Further, an increasing reliance on part-time and contract workers who are not eligible for coverage means fewer workers have access to employer-sponsored health insurance.
Due to rising health insurance premiums, many small employers cannot afford to offer health benefits. Companies that do offer health insurance, often require employees to contribute a larger share toward their coverage. As a result, an increasing number of Americans have opted not to take advantage of job-based health insurance because they cannot afford it.
Who are Who are the uninsured?
Nearly 46 million Americans, or 18 percent of the population under the age of 65, were without health insurance in 2007, the latest government data available.1
The number of uninsured rose 2.2 million between 2005 and 2006 and has increased by almost 8 million people since 2000.1
The large majority of the uninsured (80 percent) are native or naturalized citizens.2
The increase in the number of uninsured in 2006 was focused among working age adults. The percentage of working adults (18 to 64) who had no health coverage climbed from 19.7 percent in 2005 to 20.2 percent in 2006.1 Nearly 1.3 million full-time workers lost their health insurance in 2006.
Nearly 90 million people – about one-third of the population below the age of 65 spent a portion of either 2006 or 2007 without health coverage.3
Over 8 in 10 uninsured people come from working families – almost 70 percent from families with one or more full-time workers and 11 percent from families with part-time workers.2
The percentage of people (workers and dependents) with employment-based health insurance has dropped from 70 percent in 1987 to 62 percent in 2007. This is the lowest level of employment-based insurance coverage in more than a decade.4, 5
In 2005, nearly 15 percent of employees had no employer-sponsored health coverage available to them, either through their own job or through a family member.6
In 2007, 37 million workers were uninsured because not all businesses offer health benefits, not all workers qualify for coverage and many employees cannot afford their share of the health insurance premium even when coverage is at their fingertips.1
The number of uninsured children in 2007 was 8.1 million – or 10.7 percent of all children in the U.S.1
Young adults (18-to-24 years old) remained the least likely of any age group to have health insurance in 2007 – 28.1 percent of this group did not have health insurance.1
The percentage and the number of uninsured Hispanics increased to 32.1 percent and 15 million in 2007.1
Nearly 40 percent of the uninsured population reside in households that earn $50,000 or more.1 A growing number of middle-income families cannot afford health insurance payments even when coverage is offered by their employers.
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