Antibiotic prescribing and use
The Institute of Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have identified antibiotic resistance as a major public health problem in our country. One of the biggest contributors to antibiotic resistance is the inappropriate prescribing and use of antibiotics. Of particular concern is the prescribing of antibiotics for infections that are usually viral in nature—colds, sore throats, …
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Impact of health reform on coverage in Michigan
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) will affect the picture of coverage in Michigan in many different ways. While it is relatively easy to project the impact of some ACA components, such as the number of individuals who will be eligible for Medicaid after 2014, it is more difficult to project many other elements, such as how many …
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The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act at the state and local level
While health care reform has its foundation and framework at the federal level, many key elements will be carried out at the state and local level. Considerable attention has been focused on insurance reforms that will substantially alter the picture of coverage in the country, but the Affordable Care Act also includes other provisions that will affect the way care …
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Health care spending by country, state, and payer
Experts on all sides of the health reform debate agree that the current rate of growth in health care spending is unsustainable and ultimately damaging to the country’s economy and health system alike. Patients experience this stress in a more personal way, through rising out-of-pocket costs or by struggling to get the care they need. Most agree that measures to …
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