Let's end the nonprofit charade
Article Abstract:
Nonprofit health care organizations are no longer viable in the US, and the health care system would be much improved if they were done away with. Investor-owned, for profit health facilities have taken much abuse in the press, but the only thing that distinguishes them from non-profit HMOs is their tax status. The tax-exempt status of non-profits costs the taxpayers and the economy as a whole, while preventing the healthcare industry to progress at the rate it could under a free market system. The free market would guarantee quality care at competitive prices, a result of competition for the health dollar. Market forces would ensure that for-profit facilities would be responsive to the needs of both patients and employees. The belief that non-profits can offer more competent care because they do not face market pressure is a myth- non-profits fight for customers just like for-profits, they just get more tax breaks and are less responsive to the country's needs.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1996
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Screening for lipid disorders under health system reform
Article Abstract:
Screening for lipid disorders may be a benefit provided under certain packages for health system reform. Routine screening tests should be provided for important clinical problems. These tests should also be accurate, and early diagnosis should improve prognosis of the disease. Many lipid disorders are precursors of coronary heart disease. Blood levels of cholesterol can be accurately measured. Treatment of high cholesterol levels often reduces the risk of coronary heart disease. A research study examined treatment of hypercholesterolemia, or increased blood levels of cholesterol, with a low-fat diet and lovastatin. The low-fat diet and lovastatin had an additive effect in lowering blood levels of cholesterol. The low-fat diet reduced blood levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in addition to blood levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. This may counteract the effectiveness of dietary therapy in the prevention of coronary heart disease.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1993
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History of visible rectal bleeding in a primary care population: initial assessment and 10-year follow-up
Article Abstract:
Physicians should ask all patients whether they have ever noticed blood on their toilet paper and should aggressively follow up any patients who do notice this sign of rectal bleeding. Researchers performed a double-contrast barium enema and a colonoscopy on 201 people with visible rectal bleeding. About one-fourth were found to have some serious gastrointestinal disease, including polyps, inflammatory bowel disease or colorectal cancer. Barium enema and colonoscopy were most effective in diagnosing these conditions when used together.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1997
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