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“Maybe The Real Problem With The Economy Is That It Doesn't Need You Anymore – Opinion”

9/26/2009 08:09:00 PM  , ,  

This is a real thought provoking article and offers some very scary ideas, but some thoughts are things we are already seeing today.  I have embedded the entire article below to read.  I read it through and read it again.  Are we slowing eroding here to have all the work and jobs move offshore, a lot already has moved from the US and you would have to be living under a rock or never read the news to be aware of that factor.image

Now how does healthcare fit in here, very carefully, if you will.  In doing this blog I research and investigate a lot of new medical technology and I don’t always necessarily agree with implementation and use, but publish such as an awareness as I want everyone to be aware and educated, so this is my little world of contribution if you will, and one of the biggest issues I find is getting people to read.  Nobody wants to read and give up a few minutes of entertainment every day. We are on a roller coaster with technology and if you don’t keep it, it will pass you by.  This is exactly why I repeatedly use the word “algorithms” as the formulas are what is controlling all the decision making processes today, understand that fact if you get nothing else from this blog.  

When you look at this first paragraph below, there is a smaller number of people needed in many areas, due to technology doing a lot of what we used to do by hand, and again if you have not seen this, take a look around, it’s there.  The technology swing in healthcare is just getting started, we will be using more devices and have more information before we get to see our doctors in the future, it is what it is, and some of it is about as intrusive, disruptive  and impersonal as it can get, but I don’t think there’s any stopping progress here, so we need to adapt somehow and keep a healthy level of a state of mental well being.  That challenge is huge, everywhere.

Again, I am not saying right or wrong here, but just give this some thought and how some of this is throwing healthcare some real left curves today and how we all need to contribute to get through all of this and get a foundation and plan that will work for all.  BD 

Roughly speaking the world's economy has always worked as a giant pass-along-game between the planet’s citizens. Person A needed stuff from person B and person B needed stuff from person C and person C needed stuff from person A. So everyone needed everybody. It has been a kind of giant circle of needs.
But as a smaller and smaller number of people are needed to make the basic things that people need for survival, from food to energy, imageto clothing and housing, the less likely it is that some people will be needed at all.

In the long term, technology is almost certainly the solution to the problem. When we create devices that individuals will be able to own that will be able to produce everything that we need, the solution will be at hand. This is *not* science fiction. We are starting to see that happen with energy with things like rooftop solar panels and less expensive wind turbines. We are nowhere near where we need to be, but it is obvious that eventually everyone will be able to produce his or her own energy. 
The same will be true for clothing, where personal devices will be able to make our clothing in our homes on demand. Food will be commoditized in a similar way, making it possible to have the basic necessities of life with a few low cost source materials

Clearly, more and more jobs will move from more developed nations to countries like China, and it is difficult to see how, as this process continues, the United States retains its leadership position. In fact, it seems entirely possible that the U.S. will exchange places with less well-developed nations. Yes, there will certainly be fabulously wealthy people in the US, because many US companies will own these highly productive businesses. Unfortunately, that wealth will be held by a very small number of people. And their operations will need to employ very few people.

GDP will increase as demand for labor **decreases**! How is that for the ultimate economist's oxymoron?

The Real Problem With The Economy Is That It Doesn't Need You Anymore

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United HealthCare Purchase of HealthNet in the Northeast Did Not Include Transfer of Employees

9/26/2009 06:41:00 PM  ,  

This is an exact part of healthcare reform that is posing questions, are there enough competitors in health insurance without some having an monopoly of sorts in certain areas.  Where do individuals go?  Also with this acquisition of HealthNet in the northeast, what will happen down the imageroad with the 1000 employees.  We all somewhat know the answer if you read about mergers and acquisitions today, so it might be just a matter of time until some may be able to relocate, and technology and just general combining of business technologies may eliminate other jobs as well.  We watched this occurrence in California a few years ago when PacifiCare was purchased by United.  

From a prior post:

UnitedHealthCare Buys a Portion of Health Net in the Northeast

“UnitedHealthCare is making more money from their technology these days than they are with selling premiums and then again they mine those exact policies for risk management which ends up in either denying claims in some instances or someone perhaps not qualifying, etc.  Of all the health insurance companies, they seem to be the only one blowing off the doors with profits, something to think about, and again, it’s all in the algorithms they run, business intelligence provided by their subsidiary Ingenix.  Wendell Potter gets it.”

The sale to United was announced a few days after HeatlhNet lost the Tri-Care contract in that area to Aetna with United gaining the Tri-Care agreement in the southeast.  Complaints of unfairness have been filed on the award of the Tri-Care business as well.  Profits last year for United were over 3 billion. 

UnitedHealth Receives $21.8B military health care contract With DOD Tri-Care – Aetna Gains Northern Region

In a business journal it is reported that United is going to add on to their headquarters in Minnetonka and in 2008 they completed a 10-story, 350,000-square-foot office building.  The next building is supposed to be phase 2 of what was projected a few years ago, but the city needs to upgrade a city interchange before that takes place, so maybe there’s relocation options for the employees down the road?  BDimage

United Healthcare's pending acquisition of the licenses of Shelton-based HealthNet of the Northeast has created some uncertainty about the future of approximately 1,000 jobs in the state and caught the attention of Connecticut's attorney general.

"We're going to be looking into whether and how United Health is dealing with, retaining or discharging, employees of Health Net," Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said Wednesday. Blumenthal said he could not comment on the matter further.

United Healthcare announced in July plans to buy Health Net of the Northeast's licenses and the option of renewing enrollments in a deal valued at more than $500 million.

For employees: The sale to UnitedHealthcare did not include a transfer of employees. However, since the transition from HealthNet plans will take time, employees are safe for now.

Uncertain future hangs over 1,000 jobs in Shelton - The Connecticut Post Online

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Sleep Labs – Will Tele-Sleep Monitoring Phase Some Out Now that CPT Codes And Insurance Coverage is Expanding for Home Units

9/26/2009 05:27:00 PM  , , ,  

The WatchPAT already has approval from CMS and now has a CPT Code to bill.  Blue Cross has also stated coverage would be provided for the sleep imageanalysis device.  Let me see, how many ways can one analyze their sleep, many according to the data report created.  A good night’s sleep is something on everyone’s mind it seems today with current economic conditions.

Now, sleep with this devices and a data report will analyze your snoring habits, how you sleep, which side, how much oxygen you are getting and so on.  It does seem less expensive than maintaining a sleep lab though.

Most do not really think about their sleeping habits unless they are going without, or have a partner who hears them snore all night.  This looks like a new device to connect to a PHR too, like HealthVault eventually so all your sleeping scores are maintained in one place. 

image

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If you have sleep apnea, well there’s an implant for that too, from a prior post. 

Implant to Treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea – Inspire Medical Systems

UnitedHealthcare is a unit of UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH). It is one of the five largest US medical insurers, covering 70 million people. Itamar said that the coverage follows granting of a code for the WatchPAT by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in March. However, a price has still not been set by CMS, so the WatchPAT's profitability cannot yet be calculated.

US insurer United Healthcare to cover Itamar Medical product

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Men’s Underwear Algorithmic Sales Reports as an Economic Indicator?

9/26/2009 04:04:00 PM  , ,  

This article from the New York Times discusses what is being used indicators, and reflects back on the 70s, but the underwear part is probably very true, just look at healthcare if you want an indicator that’s glaring you in the face, makes underwear seem very unimportant by comparison.  At anyimage rate the numbers on underwear are projected to decline this year too, so again, what does that say for healthcare too?  Doctors in the examining room will have the bird’s eye view on the underwear polls for sure. 

The Federal Reserve – What’s the Answer – Roll Back Regulation and Start Running Those Algorithms?

The point is at least people are looking and seeing what is happening, no matter what the Feds try to tell us, we are not missing the big white elephant in the living room, nor the clean up that goes along with having it there.  Colbert does a pretty good job nailing it was well.  BD 

Colbert Interviews Michael Moore - Talks About Bundling aka Those Algorithms To Create Markets

You can seek your answers from Wall Street, government statistics or the latest predictions from hoary old economists. But why not examine your underwear, stand in line at the movies, or peer into your neighbor’s vegetable garden?

You can see unmowed lawns as signposts of foreclosure. You can look at how beer sales are doing (not too well — the latest numbers show beer and liquor store sales are down 2.5 percent from last year). Children’s clothes, pawn shops and hamburgers can all become ways of trying to parse the economy.

Have you bought new underwear lately?

In the 1970s, when Alan Greenspan, the former chairman of the Federal Reserve was still running his own economic consulting firm, he said that he looked at sales of men’s underwear as an economic indicator. Sales rose steadily in normal times, the theory went, but tended to dip when men had less money, or were trying to cut back on their spending.

The research firm Mintel projects that men’s underwear sales will fall 2.3 percent this year as men stretch out the lifespan of their boxers or briefs.

Still, many economists warn that it’s difficult to extrapolate from these blades of grass. After all, if you look hard enough for economic trends, you can find them anywhere. Which could be an economic signal in itself.

“The fact that people are paying attention to the economy and looking at indicators — this wouldn’t have been done in the ’30s,” said Daniel S. Hamermesh, a professor of economics at the University of Texas. “In a sense, this is a sign of a very aware populace.”

Men’s Underwear as an Economic Indicator - NYTimes.com

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'The Dr. Oz Show' and the National Association of Free Clinics Host One Day of Free Public HealthCare

9/26/2009 12:31:00 PM  , ,  

This is happening in Houston today, to help those who do not have insurance and will be televised on the Dr. Oz Show in October.  I am guessing part of the reason that Texas was chosen is due to the fact that they have more uninsured than in any other state.  Hats off and nice work for Dr. Oz and the National Association of Free Clinics.  I looked at the website and you can find listing in each state, well worth taking a look if you need help.  Interesting though how the County of Orange in California is missing.  There is one dental office in Orange county on their own that offers free dental care and one office with free medical care for those unemployed and services are open on Saturdays. 

We just witnessed a similar effort here in Los Angeles with Remote Area Medical.  You can also listen to Larry King interview Stan Brock about how the effort all came about and the services they provided.  I covered pretty much the day to day activity while they were here in Los Angeles and made up a widget so those interested at the time could easily tune in. 

Dr. Oz and the Free Clinics Group has over 700 volunteers to help make today a success and has a mini lab, mini ER rooms, etc. set up and ready to go.  In contrast, announced today, Aetna Healthcare pays out a dividend to their shareholders.  What’s wrong with this picture?  BD


Press Release:

Clinic to Be Staffed By 500 Volunteers Including 160 Doctors and 200 Nurses, 120 Mobile Exam Rooms in a 168,000 sq ft Space
Special Episode to Air in October

image 

NEW YORK, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- "The Dr. Oz Show," the new daily syndicated show hosted by cardiac surgeon and health expert Dr. Mehmet Oz, and the National Association of Free Clinics (NAFC), will hold an enormous free clinic at the Reliant Convention Center in Houston, Texas on Saturday September 26, 2009 to provide medical care to hundreds of people who have no form of basic health insurance. Dr. Oz will participate in the event and will devote an entire show to the plight of families living without basic health insurance and the heroic work of the medical volunteers who help them. The episode is scheduled to air in early October.

(Logo:http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080424/LATH509LOGO)

"As we are all committed to improving the health and wellness of America, we are answering the call of our collective conscience to hold this clinic," said Dr. Oz. "We will also use this event as a teaching opportunity to tell the stories of the needs and struggles families face when they lack basic health care."

The September 26 free clinic will be staffed by close to 500 volunteers, including 160 doctors, 200 nurses, and other health workers from the surrounding area and across the nation. "The Dr. Oz Show" and the NAFC are also reaching out to the medical community in Houston for specialists to participate, including obstetrician/gynecologists, pediatricians, reconstructive plastic surgeons, oncologists, endocrinologists, cardiologists, emergency room doctors and otolaryngologists. The 168,000 square foot convention center floor will have more than 120 exam partition rooms and be set up to accommodate more than 1,600 people in one day.

This event will be massive in scope, taking place in Texas, the state which US Census data reveals has the highest percentage of uninsured people in the country with 25.2 percent. In Harris County, where the city of Houston is located, there are 1.3 Million people without health insurance. An estimated 47 million Americans are without some form of health insurance. Free clinics historically have provided care to those who lack insurance, but there has an increase in the volume of patients at free clinics in recent months. Recently the largest free clinic on record was held in Los Angeles at the Staples Center with 1,500 patients served, making national headline news and bringing the problem into public consciousness.

Important:

  • Doors open at 6:30 AM for on-site registration
  • People who are UNINSURED between the ages of 6 and 65 are eligible for services
  • People looking to receive services should Pre-Register by calling 211 for an appointment
  • Those interested in volunteering may signup online at www.regonline.com/tcare.

About "The Dr. Oz Show"

The Dr. Oz Show" is an entertaining, high octane, multi-topic hour that is equal parts life saving information combined with an "embarrassment-free zone" sensibility where nothing is off limits or out of bounds. It's all about YOU - the viewer - and what matters to you, your family, your health and your well-being. "The Dr. Oz Show" is co-produced by ZoCo Productions, LLC and Sony Pictures Television. "The Dr. Oz Show" is executive produced by Mindy Borman; Amy Chiaro is co-executive producer. The show is filmed in front of a studio audience in Studio 6A in New York's legendary Rockefeller Center.

ABOUT NAFC:

The National Association of Free Clinics (NAFC) is the only nonprofit 501c(3) organization whose mission is solely focused on the issues and needs of the more than 1,200 free clinics and the people they serve in the United States.

Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the NAFC is an effective advocate for the issues and concerns of free clinics, their volunteer workforce of doctors, dentists, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, technicians and other health care professionals, and the patients served by free clinics in communities throughout the nation.

ABOUT HARPO

Harpo Productions, Inc. produces the number-one-rated, award-winning, The Oprah Winfrey Show, creates and develops original TV programming for primetime, syndication and cable television and operates Oprah.com (www.oprah.com), a premier lifestyle website. Harpo Print, LLC and Hearst Magazines publish the monthly O, The Oprah Magazine publication. Harpo Films produces feature films and, through an exclusive deal with HBO, scripted television programming. Harpo Radio, Inc. produces Oprah Radio (XM channel 156, Sirius channel 195 as part of its "Best of XM" package) on Sirius XM Radio. A joint venture between Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, a multiplatform company, will debut in 2010 in more than 70 million homes on what is currently the Discovery Health Channel.

ABOUT SONY PICTURES TELEVISION

Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry's leading content providers. It produces and distributes programming in every genre, including series, telefilms, theatrical releases and family entertainment around the world and for every platform: broadcast and cable television, first-run and off-network syndication and digital distribution. In addition to one of the industry's largest libraries of feature films and television shows, SPT boasts a current program slate that includes the top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. Internationally, SPT is a leading producer of local language scripted and non-scripted programming. SPT also sells SPE-owned formats in approximately 70 countries. To better serve its clients and partners worldwide, SPT maintains offices throughout the world, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, the People's Republic of China, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Venezuela and the United Kingdom. SPT's worldwide television networks portfolio, which includes branded networks AXN, Sony Entertainment Television, and Animax, is a key strategy in SPE's long-range commitment to the global marketplace, with 119 channel feeds available in more than 130 countries, reaching almost 400 million households worldwide. SPT also creates original content for and manages SPE's premium video website, Crackle. Additionally, SPT is a part owner of cable channel GSN, FEARnet, the premier horror/thriller website and VOD service, and national media sales company ITN Networks, Inc. SPT advertiser sales is one of the premiere national advertising sales companies, handling the commercial inventory in SPT's syndicated series as well as in all of SPE's digital businesses in the United States, and for Sony Music Entertainment. SPT (sonypicturestelevision.com) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.

'The Dr. Oz Show' and the National Association of Free Clinics Host One Day Free Public Health Clinic at Houston's Reliant Convention Center on September 26

Related Reading:

The Dr. Oz Show Is Finally Here – Website Contains Show Highlights and Other Resources

Dr. Mehmet Oz – Does Not Care Which Plan We Pick – Says They all Won’t Work and the True Answer is Lifestyle
The Oprah Show – Dr. Oz Explores and Explains Regenerative Medicine
Dr. Oz (as seen on Oprah) Discusses How Electronic Medical Records Improve Care – New York Presbyterian moves forward from pilot program
Swine Flu: Dr. Oz Speaks Out and Gives Some Advice and Information
Michael J. Fox on Parkinson’s Disease and Stem Cells – Oprah and the Daily Show

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Look Into Your Eyes – How Sick are You, Do the Eyes Have It? 1.3M Pixels Portable Digital USB Iriscope

9/26/2009 11:44:00 AM  , ,  

Iridology is a holistic approach in some circles and you can read more here at the International Society.   I mention this as it is not an FDA approved imageprocess, but they are conducting studies, so again, just supplying information here. 

Now, this device is around $120.00 and connects to a usb port on your computer, and the belief is by studying the eyes, a lot of information about your well being can be determined.  I wouldn’t perhaps say go out and get one and bring all the software results to your doctor as of yet either, but you could possibly find out information about yourself that could hold some interest.  Also I wouldn’t suggest putting all your friends and neighbors though the analysis unless they are curious and again, keep the information in the proper context here.  Again, the International Society of iridology can give you some direction as there is MD involvement in studies and information at different levels.  Anyone with any additional information on this science and who had additional information, please feel free to comment. 

As the one article mentions from Engadget, you could screen all your blind dates here (grin).  BD 

Iriscope System Functions:

  1. Adjust brightness through either software or switch on handle line, delete the photos, and adjust the focus, quick fixed photos with white balance and high stability of colors. Connects directly with computer without outside power and easy to operate.
  2. The software can save the client information and irises also the details of products that you recommend them. After taken the photos, you can analysis the irises and later compare the irises pictures when your client comes back to see their progress. Can print an analysis report. Save the photos according to the date & time you take the photos. 
  3. This machine will help the client know his health condition, including the problem which you have had in the past. The Iridology will be your health counselor, tell you how to keep away from the illness.

Specification:

image

  • Main body: Commutator with on/off switch.
  • Handle. Switch for left & right eye light
  • Iris lens 30X
  • Size: 22.5cm*20cm *12cm
  • Weight: 0.5 KG

Uxsight: 1.3M Pixels Portable Digital USB Iriscope for PC & Iridology Camera : Webcams

Hat Tip:  Engadget and Cool Gadgets

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Gym Weights Cut From Man's Genitals – This Part of the Body Was Not Designed to Lift Weights

9/26/2009 10:15:00 AM  ,  

Only in the OC….this is a very unusual story and embarrassing to say the least.  Did he somehow read something that was misleading here on how toimage increase his size?  This is one for the dumb and dumber files literally with dumbbells!  The article said he waited 3 days before getting help.  The procedure to remove the weight took 2 hours and the hospital kept the patient under psychiatric hold after the patient muttered “this will make me the chief of my tribe”.  I guess we now have tribes in the OC too.  The fire fighters had to dress in full surgical garments when removing the weight. 

The news video is pretty interesting at the source too, one woman stated “do not put your wiener in a dumbbell”  The fire department was called to the ER room to saw off the dumbbell.  This man will be remembered for sure at Hoag and the fire department for quite a while.  BD 

Firefighters had to be called to an emergency room in Newport Beach  to help save a man's penis when it got stuck in the hole of a steel dumbbell, Costa Mesa newspaper The Daily Pilot reported.

Costa Mesa police said the man was attempting to enlarge the size of his penis. Authorities said the man's organ had swollen to five times its normal size.

Gym Weights Cut From Man's Genitals - Health News Story - WCVB Boston

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ER Room at Los Angeles Hospital Shuts Down – Shortage of Nurses Sick with the Flu

9/26/2009 09:46:00 AM    

State Health inspectors at work in Los Angeles county, not enough help in the ER, one nurse couldn’t do it all as the other two were out ill.   Nursing shortage is starting to show in the emergency rooms.  BD

A Los Angeles hospital was forced to close its emergency room earlier this month because of understaffing after several nurses became sick with the flu, authorities said.
Los Angeles Metropolitan Medical Center, at 2231 S. Western Ave., just south of the Santa Monica Freeway, voluntarily closed its four-bed emergency room Sept. 18 after a surprise visit by state health inspectors, who found that two of three emergency room nurses were out sick, according to hospital CEO John Fenton.

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The 213-bed hospital has a staff of 700, but has few nurses trained to work in the emergency room, which was added two years ago, Fenton said. The hospital is owned by Tustin-based Pacific Health Corp.

Flu absences prompted Los Angeles hospital to close emergency room | L.A. NOW | Los Angeles Times

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Colbert Interviews Michael Moore - Talks About Bundling aka Those Algorithms To Create Markets

9/26/2009 09:01:00 AM  , ,  

14,000 people every day lose their health insurance and medical bills are causing individuals to lose their homes, bankruptcy and defaulting loans.  If we want to fix the economy, then we need to fix healthcare it sounds like to me.

The Federal Reserve – What’s the Answer – Roll Back Regulation and Start Running Those Algorithms?

What is also interesting is that Mr. Colbert also references an item I posted not too long ago about insurance, and in case you missed it, read up here.   Here’s a small portion of the post below that explains what the algorithms would do and how investors could lose money if you live too long when using an algorithm to place you into a “disease group” so bets can be made on how long they anticipate your survival, scary stuff but this is the new set of “ALGOS” on Wall Street, the Human Hedge Funds.  Colbert gets it here in the video too.

“The solution? A bond made up of life settlements would ideally have policies from people with a range of diseases — leukemia, lung cancer, heart disease, breast cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s. That is because if too many people with leukemia are in the securitization portfolio, and a cure is developed, the value of the bond would plummet.”

This is a huge eye opener and an abuse of “financial algorithms”, that interact and affect “healthcare algorithms”.  The 2 work together, so if you have never been a fan of “high frequency” terminology or just technology in general, now’s a good time to read up and get acquainted with how all of this is running the country, those with the biggest, fattest, and most powerful written algorithms, are in the driver’s seat.  We need to see and audit those algorithms, as the only way to make progress is to see how all of this is being calculated and perhaps get a Congress that can create some fair and sensible algorithmic centric laws, and hey along the way they might use them to find out where the money is too, business intelligence software and algorithms can do that, look what they have done for Goldman Sachs and United HealthCare if you need a couple examples, its has made them rich.  BD 

The Colbert Report Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Capitalism's Enemy - Michael Moore
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Protests

“Department of Algorithms – Do We Need One of Those?

Michael Moore's supporters will tell you that he's a gifted filmmaker who makes strong points using compelling, if controversial, methods. On the other hand, his detractors will tell you that he's a fat fatty who fats fat fats using fat, if fat, fats. Clearly a spirited and thoughtful debate. Perhaps Moore's appearance on The Colbert Report last night will settle it once and for all.

Colbert Interviews Michael Moore | Indecision Forever | Comedy Central

Related Reading:

Would Someone Explain Data Aggregation and algorithms to Congress

Are We Ever Going to Get Some Algorithm Centric Laws Passed for Healthcare!

Goldman Stolen Code – Has Algorithmic Fraud Become A Business Model in HealthCare Too?

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Why the Dow is Hitting 10,000 Even When Consumers Can't Buy and Afford Healthcare

9/25/2009 12:05:00 PM  , ,  

This is a good question and I’ll offer a link as an example here:

http://www.massdevice.com/news/hedge-fund-continues-profit-nxstage-dealing

Maybe it lies in the Hedge funds?  We can’t afford healthcare either come to think of it. 

And on the other hand, we are now considering a tax to pay for healthcare?   I don’t see anything improving quickly at all until we address this:

The Federal Reserve – What’s the Answer – Roll Back Regulation and Start Running Those Algorithms?

“The Federal Reserve is not a government agency, and I thought that was worth mentioning as many may not be aware of this.  The board is filled with Wall Street Bank Executives, that answer to the Treasury Department basically with no rules and regulations.  We have an SEC that is pretty much helpless when it comes to the ability to run data audit trails to verify and find where the money is going.  What is also interesting is the lawsuit filed by Bloomberg News mentioned, which would force the Federal Reserve to disclose details of the bail out, so far no action, but there are bills to audit the Federal Reserve for the first time, and how would this be done….algorithms.  It’s the only way it can be done.”

Until we get a handle on what’s going on with the algorithms that run everything, we can talk all we want and nobody will find a cure for healthcare and the economy.  To summarize all of this and why people are so mean today, watch this video as David Lazarus sums it up real good.  They can’t and won’t deal with technology so they bite off everyone else’s head in the process.  I recently talked to a COO who couldn’t copy and paste.  Go figure. 

Some of those with the latest and greatest algorithms are taking money from those who do not even have a clue as to what they are, but we certainly know who has them and uses them for profit.  Again, the key is education and that spark of curiosity to be tapped, as without it, we stay dumb as a whole and everyone suffers. 

“It won’t kill you to be nice to someone”.    BD

So how can the Dow Jones Industrial Average be flirting with 10,000 when consumers, who make up 70 percent of the economy, have had to cut way back on buying because they have no money? Jobs continue to disappear. One out of six Americans is either unemployed or underemployed. Homes can no longer function as piggy banks because they’re worth almost a third less than they were two years ago. And for the first time in more than a decade, Americans are now having to pay down their debts and start to save.

Why the Dow is Hitting 10,000 Even When Consumers Can't Buy And Business Cries "Socialism" | Corporate Accountability and WorkPlace | AlterNet

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Knee Implant Topic of Discussion at the FDA – Fast Track Approval Processes

9/25/2009 11:31:00 AM  , ,  

I’m sure this won’t be the last device process that is questioned, but the good news today is technology with devices, as now you will begin seeing more implanted devices reporting data, how it’s working, problem areas, etc.  This may be in the area more so of clinical trials, but who knows how imagefar it will extend.  For goodness sales, Goodyear has been putting chips in tires for years now to tell their tale, was the tire over inflated during use, underinflated, etc.  Granted with human implants we are talking an entire different and much more complex system than just a tire by all means as a device is not a visitor as is a drug, it comes to live with you.

Back when this device was approved, such systems were not available yet for data reporting.   In this instance we have a battle between scientists wanting more information and trials and a former FDA director that wanted it approved.  Not being there of course, I would suspect what we are looking at is the old style Washington type of politics to see if any of that lead to the rapid approval here versus the recommendation of the science group.    Back a couple years ago everyone at the FDA didn’t have a computer either.  Now they are looking at involvement in these very areas, maybe cell phones too as they collect data?  Simple example below: 

FDA approves HealthPal – Bluetooth Device that Collects from Other ...

Anyway, for devices in the future, you can expect them to have the potential of reporting data, and as a patient, this could be good as you could get a failing device replaced much sooner, or have the confidence that your device is working well on the other side.  As transparency continues to evolve here, all the old style political junk will continue to emerge and be investigated too. This announcement comes on the heals of former FDA Commish just landing a job at at “think tank” with Newt Gingrich.  BD 

Von Eschenbach Joins Newt Gingrich's Think Tank ...

FDA staff scientists rejected ReGen's application for approval for Menaflex three times, citing concerns that patients might suffer adverse impacts or that the product would do little to help them heal from a torn meniscus. The company sought a fast-track approval that is given to products which are substantially similar to other products already on the market. But several FDA reviewers believed it was, in fact, a new product, which would have required extensive clinical trials proving safety and efficacy. 

In late 2008, ReGen appealed to then-FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach. He ordered an expedited review by a panel of independent advisers and allowed ReGen input about the composition of the panel. The internal probe found that ReGen executives had unusual access to von Eschenbach and approval came after von Eschenbach met several times with members of the New Jersey congressional delegation. In December, von Eschenbach approved the company's application without any explanation for overruling the judgment of his staff.

FDA Look Again at Knee Implant After Reports of Pressure - washingtonpost.com

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Sequencing Wars in San Diego - Life Tech and Illumina Battle over Intellectual Property

9/25/2009 10:28:00 AM  ,  

The battle for intellectual property is building up with the companies in the sequencing business.  A few months ago Illumina filed a legal suit.  How imagethis will all work out will be interesting to see.  I just posted today about another newcomer that intends to drive pricing even down lower, an interesting foreground by all means.  BD 

Gene Sequencing Companies in Court -Illumina Files Patent Infringement Suit Against Affymetrix

In what is shaping up as the battle of San Diego’s biotechnology tools titans, Life Technologies (NASDAQ: LIFE) has filed a patent-infringement suit against rival Illumina, claiming that some of Illumina’s best-selling genetic-sequencing products violate Life Tech’s intellectual property.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Delaware, claims that certain Illumina products, including the Genome Analyzer and the second-generation Genome Analyzer II, infringe upon three Life Tech patents. The suit seeks an unspecified amount in damages, and a permanent injunction restraining Illumina (NASDAQ: ILMN) from further infringement. If granted, the injunction would prevent Illumina from selling its equipment.

Life Tech and Illumina, Two San Diego Biotech Giants, in Patent Dispute | Xconomy

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Congressman Culberson Posts Copy of Healthcare Bill on Internet – Using Web 2.0 Technology

9/25/2009 08:46:00 AM  , ,  

I may not always agree with his platform and thoughts on everything, for one I am in California and his district is in Texas, but one thing for sure is that I do agree with the progressive moves using technology Mr. Culberson is using.  I have a few posts from the past here on the Congressman and imagefor sure you have to applaud his efforts in communicating for sure.  There’s absolutely no comparison with his modern techniques compared to the “dud” Town Hall we had here in the OC and our representative could stand to take some lessons from Mr. Culberson by all means.  

I have been following him on Twitter since he started and attended one of his Town Hall meetings as a wringer here in California as I was curious to see how it would take place, remember tweaking the curiosity “gene” leads to intelligence, study recently conducted, so get curious by all means.

Mr. Culberson also earned a cameo appearance on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart when they covered the use of Twitter.

The Daily Show – Jon Stewart Talking about Twitter – Hilarious

 image

This is a step in the right direction for sure, a non partisan move where everyone can benefit to view the bill and comment.  My thoughts here again though are moving up to the next level, as when you stop and think about it, that’s a lot of reading for anyone, a member of Congress or a constituent.  I still believe we need algorithmic centric bills.  We need to see the formulas and algorithms used so this all makes more sense, as with just verbiage, it’s leaves a ton of room for attorneys to make a lot of money, money better spent on actual healthcare in my opinion.

Would Someone Explain Data Aggregation and algorithms to Congress

And furthermore, do we need a Department of Algorithms, me thinks yes as all business models used everywhere else in the world today uses them, so why not at the top level?  I think it’s about time for some “digital laws and bills” in Washington.  This is exactly what we are trying to to with medical records going digital when you think about it, so why not at the top level of government too. 

“Department of Algorithms – Do We Need One of Those?

This is a great start, but if we do not begin to have data audit trails somewhere along the line in areas of government, we are fighting a losing battle all the way.  Our government was built on checks and balances and right now we have checks, but no balances of any means, just a lot of fighting and arguing, and it’s the algorithms that run 24/7 and do the real work or dirty work in some cases.  Hats off to Representative Culberson for making some big strides here by all means, it’s more than I have seen anywhere else in Congress and others could certainly pay attention here and perhaps learn from their peers, that’s how it all happens today.  BD 

John Culberson, a Texas Republican Congressman, says if people actually knew what was in the healthcare bill, they'd oppose it. So he posted the entire text of the bill to the Internet, using a Web 2.0 tool that allows people to annotate the document and comment on it.

"It's incumbent on me as a representative to make the process the most transparent and open to the public, so people can actually see what Pelosi and Obama are prepared to do with their healthcare, and their relationship to their doctor," Culberson said in a phone interview with InformationWeek Thursday, hours after the document went live.

SharedBook, the platform Culberson is using to host the healthcare bill, is the product of a six-year-old company of the same name, used for personalizing and customizing documents and books.

"The SharedBook software allows my constituents to log on and analyze the healthcare bill word-by-word, sentence-by-sentence, and have a realtime debate about what the healthcare bill means," Culberson said. "I'm crowdsourcing the healthcare bill in order to make it as transparent as possible to make it easy to see what Obama and Pelosi are proposing."

The bill (H. R. 3200) is also available on the Congressional Thomas Web site, but can't be annotated there.

Congressman 'Crowdsources' Healthcare Bill -- Healthcare Reform – InformationWeek

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Sequencing for Less Than $100.00 and In Less Than 10 Minutes – PayPal Co Founder Joins Halcyon Molecular

9/25/2009 12:30:00 AM  , ,  

They are not in operation yet, but wow has this promise of cheap sequencing gone down in price once more, and of course when they are open for business I would assume you could use your PayPal Account to pay.   image George Church has to be turning an open ear to this one for sure.

Last week 14 more individuals were sequenced with their records to be made public by Complete Genomics.

Complete Genomics Sequences 14 Complete and Accurate Human Genomes

Complete Genomics was talking around $5000.00 last I read, so this is a huge price drop and again no word on a target date as to availability.  I think at this price even Francis Collins at the NIH would have an open ear too and want to know more at this price as it really becomes affordable. 

Francis Collins named Director - “Cracking the Code” at the NIH

This is amazing when you stop and think back to where the cost was at the very beginning stages, as it was not too long ago that a full sequencing was around 350,000. 

I wonder if the  Polonator has been retired yet, which was the the first sequencing machine created at Harvard by George Church not too long ago and at this point it’s almost ready for the museum of genealogy, even though it is only a few years old!  BD

image

PayPal co-founder and Founders Fund Managing Partner Luke Nosek is tackling a new field: DNA sequencing. Nosek sent out an email (which we’ve pasted below) saying that he has joined Halcyon Molecular, a human genome sequencing firm, as founding president.

According to the email, Halcyon will sequence complete human genomes in less than ten minutes and for less than $100. This is significant drop in price and time from existing genome sequencing labs that take weeks and thousands of dollars to process DNA. Nosek writes that he will continue to lead The Founders Fund’s genomics investing, but his primary role will be leading and advising Halcyon as the company progresses and readies for launch. Nosek adds that Peter Thiel, fellow co-founder of PayPal and Managing Partner at Founders Fund will be joining Halcyon’s board.

PayPal Co-Founder And Founders Fund Partner Joins DNA Sequencing Firm Halcyon Molecular

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Medical Records Missing After Doctor’s Murder in Las Vegas – Sad Situation but a PHR Could Have Helped the Patients

9/25/2009 12:15:00 AM  ,  

This is indeed a sad situation and I posted about the murder here on the blog, but now here we are a few months after the fact and patients have imagelost their records.  In April of this year, her husband paid a charity to shred her records, so after April it appears patients are out of luck if they were looking for their files. 

80 Year Old Patient shoots and kills his doctor – Las Vegas

The one patient profiled here was a cancer survivor who needed a referral and gave up on his attempts to get his records as he could not get through and no information to provide a new doctor, and he feared he was having a return of cancer.  Again, this is a sad scenario, but we are all human too and bad things happen, so a reason to think about getting your own PHR, personal health record started, especially if records are currently on paper and may not exist anywhere else as in this situation.  BD

When Doctor Edna Makabenta's patients recovered from the shock of her murder, many, like Dennis Mangus, began the process of choosing a new doctor. The first step for Mangus was to retrieve his medical records.

But after months of trying, Mangus decided he'd better skip ahead or risk getting nowhere. The 66-year-old cancer survivor fears a fourth diagnosis. "I was sure I had cancer again and I wanted to get in to see her to get a referral to go to the doctor," he said.

The appointed date would never come. In January a suicidal gunman and fellow patient killed Makabentas and then himself in her doctor's office. Mangus watched the aftermath on TV. Out of respect, he waited a few weeks to call the office. But with his health deteriorating he needed his records and a referral. He got neither.

I-Team: Records Missing after Doctor's Murder - Las Vegas Now

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Mike Arrington from Tech Crunch Interviews Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer

9/25/2009 12:13:00 AM  ,  

This is a good interview with Mike Arrington, VC and Founder of Tech Crunch.  Guess what, he talks about the importance of the “algorithms” in the evolution of the search engine.  He said they can be up front and play with business models, and integrate with Linux, cover a lot of ground.  Funny Mike happens to ask if he has his Zune handy and he did not, well you can’t expect every CEO to come fully equipped at the drop of a hat.

One item he speaks about are devices that represent over 300 million in sales, needing more than one manufacturer and we are starting to approach this with medical devices that report data as we are seeing more, especially with blue tooth and they all are talking to cell phones.   He discusses their efforts to get heavier into the high performance computing, servers, software, etc. something they want to focus on.  Mr. Ballmer also expects Microsoft to be purchasing additional companies next year too. 

He said they are not talking about buying Twitter, but sees it as an asset.  Good interview from Mike Arrington.  You can read the full transcript at the post link below.  BD 

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer visited Silicon Valley on Thursday for his annual meeting with top venture capitalists to talk about Microsoft product strategy. This was his first visit to Silicon Valley since announcing the search partnership with Yahoo in July.

I had a chance to sit down with him just after that event for a hour-long one-one-one interview. In the first 10+ minutes of the interview Ballmer gives his high level thoughts on major Microsoft products and strategies (including Windows, Windows Mobile, Internet Explorer, Bing, Azure, Mesh, Natal and others), competition, the future of search and search marketing, Microsoft’s “three screens and the cloud” strategy, the recent acquisition of Interactive Supercomputing and, yes, even his thoughts on Twitter.

Exclusive Interview With Steve Ballmer: Products, Competition, The Road Ahead

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Health Care Reform Special Report – PBS Video – High Frequency Healthcare Reform

9/24/2009 10:55:00 PM  ,  

This is a good comprehensive report, including comments from members of Congress, both sides.  The comments are interesting when talking about health insurance, where most are happy with their policy.  Watch the video when you have some time to spend.  Also worth watching the the documentary “Money Driven Medicine” below. 

Money Driven Medicine – Taking Back Healthcare ...

One of the big questions that comes around to answer “is this real healthcare reform and not just words”…that’s a good question for sure and in my opinion, and yes I have said this before but it is time for digital algorithmic centric laws, to spell it all out, words and reams of paper don’t create reasonable and meaningful use bills or laws to cover “high frequency healthcare”. 

Would Someone Explain Data Aggregation and “High Frequency ...

  image

Questions are then asked:

Does your health insurance have a cap?  I don’t know

Does it cover having an organ transplant?  I don’t know

Does it cover any pre-existing conditions?  I don’t know

There are more questions but these are the common responses when consumers are asked about their health insurance. 

Interesting one comment made on diabetes, Medicare will pay to amputate your foot, but they won’t pay for pre-diabetes care, education, eating, etc.  Shown in the video is Downey Community Hospital that just filed bankruptcy. 

 image

Interesting too how one Democrat, Tom Hartman from Iowa, talks about adopting 161 amendments of the Republicans and not get a single vote for the bill. 

http://video.pbs.org/video/1249006923/subject/957383245

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The Debate and Problems with Medicare Part D Continues…

9/24/2009 09:39:00 PM  , ,  

Now the debate is whether the letters sent out by Humana were accurate.  Will Part D supplemental ever work?  Again, this makes for profits for the insurance companies to administer.  As best as I can figure, this was a good option at the time it was initiated as Medicare may not have had the data facilities and where abouts to handle this, and the insurers, who have all the latest and greatest data capabilities did, so merging part D into the imagealready structured business model allowed this to happen.

Here we are years down the road and Medicare is updating their capabilities and having a much stronger say than they did let’s say 7-8 years ago and are in a better position than they were then, so perhaps a Medicare business model that could ultimately do the same, except Medicare could handle and negotiate drug prices, maybe?  It seems to make sense to take some of the middle people out of the picture to keep costs down.  We pay for the middle people (their services and algorithms).  BD  

AARP has already had their hands slapped last year when it came to insurance policies.  More can be read at the link below and actually there was a Senate investigation conducted too.  No wonder AARP is quiet this time.  AARP is also facing competition from another senior organization and the potential loss of clients as they offer Aetna over there. 

Algorithms, Formulas and Investigations leads to AARP suspending policies offered

On a personal note, my 85 year old mother has grown tired of reading AARP and finds very little valuable information there relative to insurance information, but does look at some of the other offerings they have for seniors and information provided, she just gave up on the insurance information and found it as useless as most of the other information on the web and too confusing, but I help her out.  BD 

Maybe Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus should put a gag order on Douglas Elmendorf too. On Tuesday, the Congressional Budget Office director told Mr. Baucus's committee that its plan to cut $123 billion from Medicare Advantage—the program that gives almost one-fourth of seniors private health-insurance options—will result in lower benefits and some 2.7 million people losing this coverage.

Imagine that. Last week Mr. Baucus ordered Medicare regulators to investigate and likely punish Humana Inc. for trying to educate enrollees in its Advantage plans about precisely this fact. Jonathan Blum, acting director of a regulatory office in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), said that a mailer Humana sent its customers was "misleading and confusing to beneficiaries, who may believe that it represents official communication about the Medicare Advantage program."

Baucus Cuts will Hurt Medicare - WSJ.com

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