Discover the Science of Health
The white lab coat that patients are accustomed to seeing doctors wear may soon be a thing of the past. Guidance issued this month on what healthcare workers wear outside of the operating room suggests that attire choices should attempt to balance professional appearance, comfort and practicality with the potential role of clothing in the cross-transmission of pathogens.
CVS announced today that it will stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products, stating that it is inconsistent with the company’s purpose of supporting health.
On the eve of Obamacare’s debut, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today praised the moment as a “new day in healthcare.”
Open enrollment in the new Health Insurance Marketplace — a part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) — began today, allowing individuals and families to purchase private insurance for coverage beginning January 1, 2014. A new Kaiser Family Foundation study provides an early look at insurance premiums in 2014 [1]. The report finds that U.S. consumers generally will see lower health insurance premiums through the marketplace.
A recent survey by CVS Caremark found that 78% of consumers who qualify for healthcare reform subsidies have never heard of state-based healthcare insurance exchanges where they will have to shop for coverage next year [1]. Although the exchanges are being promoted as transparent and user friendly, 60% of respondents said they believe they will need help to understand health insurance terms and navigate the system.
