The True Price of Health Care Spending

March 15, 2010

Natural News

By David Gutierrez

The U.S. healthcare system loses between $505 and $850 billion a year to mistakes, inefficiency and fraud, according to a report by Thomson Reuters. This amounts to one-third of all national healthcare spending.

“America’s healthcare system is indeed hemorrhaging billions of dollars,” the report says.

According to the report, unnecessary medical procedures and treatments — including antibiotic overuse and superfluous tests — account for 37 percent of all wasted spending, $200 to $300 billion per year. Fraud — including false Medicare claims and kickbacks for referrals or prescriptions — accounts for another 22 percent, as much as $200 billion a year. Medical errors are responsible for 11 percent of excess spending, or $50 to $100 billion yearly. Preventable health problems, such as diabetes, cost the healthcare system $30 to $50 billion per year.

One of the easiest areas to repair might be administrative inefficiency, which accounts for a full 18 percent of medical overspending.

“The average U.S. hospital spends one-quarter of its budget on billing and administration, nearly twice the average in Canada,” the report says. “American physicians spend nearly eight hours per week on paperwork and employ 1.66 clerical workers per doctor, far more than in Canada.”

Administrative inefficiency can also lead to other wasteful practices.

“It is waste when caregivers duplicate tests because results recorded in a patient’s record with one provider are not available to another or when medical staff provides inappropriate treatment because relevant history of previous treatment cannot be accessed,” the report says.

Although the United States has the highest per capita healthcare spending and spends a higher proportion of its GDP on healthcare than any other nation in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (a group of predominantly high income Western democracies), it has the highest rates of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and neonatal death in the developed world, as well as the unhealthiest population.

Click here for the full report

Canadian Dollar Likely to Trump US

March 11, 2010

Yahoo News

The Canadian dollar, or loonie as it is affectionately called here, is likely to soar above parity with the US greenback this year, experts at a Canadian bank said Wednesday.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Canada (CIBC) chief economist Avery Shenfeld said the Canadian dollar had already gained several cents in recent weeks as the market firms up expectations of an interest rate hike in July.

If as expected, the central bank “is out in front of the US Federal Reserve by a couple of quarters” in raising interest rates, the Canadian dollar could reach 1.02 dollars versus the US dollar by September, before dipping back to 0.97 dollars by year end,” Shenfeld said.

The Bank of Canada has maintained its key lending rate at a historic low of 0.25 percent since April 2009 to help bolster a fragile economic recovery, but is widely expected to review its position mid-year.

CIBC said other factors were also aligning to push up the value of Canada’s currency such as increased demand for oil, minerals and fertilizers; resurgent capital markets; and global debt fears.

“If the capital markets finally get an appetite for M&A (mergers and acquisitions) then Canada could be one of the first places to see the benefit of foreign inflows,” said CIBC analyst Zafar Bhatti.

Or “if the investing world starts looking for a place to park capital in the wake of deteriorating sovereign credits then Canada would look very attractive,” Bhatti said in a report.

Since the beginning of the year, the Canadian dollar has appreciated 2.5 percent against the US dollar and more than seven percent against the euro.

The loonie last achieved parity with the US greenback in 2008, and previously hit a record 1.10 dollars in 2007.

Click here for the full report

U.S. To Determine Who Can Board Flights To Canada

March 4, 2010

Montreal Gazette

By Kevin Dougherty

Starting in December, some passengers on Canadian airlines flying to, from or even over the United States without ever landing there, will only be allowed to board the aircraft once the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has determined they are not terrorists.

Secure Flight, the newest weapon in the U.S. war on terrorism, gives the United States unprecedented power over who can board planes that fly over U.S. airspace.

Secure Flight applies to flights to, from or over the United States, from Canada to another country. Flights between two Canadian cities, that travel over U.S. airspace, are excluded, but about 80 per cent of Canadian flights to the Caribbean and other southern points and to Europe fly over the U.S.

The program, which is set to take effect globally in December 2010, was created as part of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, adopted by U.S. Congress in 2004.

Parliament never adopted or even discussed the Secure Flight program — even though Secure Flight transfers the authority of screening passengers, and their personal information, from domestic airlines to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

When asked about the program, Transport Canada, the federal department in charge of Canadian airlines, deferred to Public Safety Canada.

After refusing to comment on Secure Flight or the federal government’s position on the U.S. program, David Charbonneau, a Public Safety Canada spokesman, said “Canada works in partnership with the United States, as well as with other allies on aviation safety and security.

“Canada’s approach will continue to balance the privacy rights of travelers with the need to keep the public safe from terrorist and other threats to the air transportation system.”

Dimitri Soudas, a spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, referred all questions on the Secure Flight program back to the office of Transport Minister John Baird, who oversees Transport Canada.

The European Parliament, on the other hand, has consistently voiced objections to the Secure Flight plan.

Canadian airlines already check their flight manifests against the U.S. no-fly list, which is compiled by the FBI and distributed to airlines around the world. It contains the names of about 16,000 people the U.S. government says are suspected of terrorism. The names and why they are on the list are not disclosed for reasons of “national security.”

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration says Secure Flight will reduce the number of false positives — people with the same name as someone on the no-fly list — who now are stopped at airports.

Under Secure Flight, the TSA, a branch of Homeland Security, will have access to all U.S. government databases.

As part of Secure Flight, Canadian airlines will transfer personal information of travellers to Homeland Security, preferably 72 hours before takeoff. Then, the TSA will use Infoglide, a package of 50 “identity resolution” algorithms and such complex mathematical formulas as search engines to extract and aggregate information from several sources, to check passenger identities.

“If necessary, the TSA analyst will check other classified and unclassified governmental terrorist, law enforcement, and intelligence databases — including databases maintained by the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defence, National Counter Terrorism Centre, and Federal Bureau of Investigation,” notes Secure Flight Final Rule, the U.S. government document that defines the program.

The General Accounting Office, an U.S. institution similar to Canada’s auditor general, is concerned this sweeping check could cause new problems.

“More individuals could be misidentified, law enforcement would be put in the position of detaining more individuals until their identities could be resolved, and administrative costs could increase, without knowing what measurable increase in security is achieved,” the GAO said in a January presentation to the U.S. House of Representatives committee on Homeland Security.

Click here for the full report

Future Disasters Include Solar Storms

March 1, 2010

NPR

By Jon Hamilton

A massive solar storm could leave millions of people around the world without electricity, running water, or phone service, government officials say.

That was their conclusion after participating in a tabletop exercise that looked at what might happen today if the Earth were struck by a solar storm as intense as the huge storms that occurred in 1921 and 1859.

Solar storms happen when an eruption or explosion on the surface of the sun sends radiation or electrically charged particles toward Earth. Minor storms are common and can light up the Earth’s Northern skies and interfere with radio signals.

Every few decades, though, the sun experiences a particularly large storm. These can release as much energy as 1 billion hydrogen bombs.

How Well Can We Weather The Solar Storm?

The exercise, held in Boulder, Colorado, was intended to investigate “what we think could be close to a worst-case scenario,” says Tom Bogdan, who directs the Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder. The Center is a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“It’s important to understand that, along with other types of natural hazards, (solar) storms can cause impacts,” says Craig Fugate, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), who also took part in the tabletop exercise.

Bogdan and Fugate say that eventually there will be another storm as big as the ones in 1921 and 1859 — a sort of solar Katrina.

But the impact is likely to be far worse than in previous solar storms because of our growing dependence on satellites and other electronic devices that are vulnerable to electromagnetic radiation.

In the tabletop exercise, the first sign of trouble came when radiation began disrupting radio signals and GPS devices, Bogdan says.

Ten or 20 minutes later electrically charged particles “basically took out” most of the commercial satellites that transmit telephone conversations, TV shows and huge amounts of data we depend on in our daily lives, Bogdan says.

“When you go into a gas station and put your credit card in and get some gas,” he says, “that’s a satellite transaction.”

Disabled Satellites Are Just The Beginning

The worst damage came nearly a day later, when the solar storm began to induce electrical currents in high voltage power lines. The currents were strong enough to destroy transformers around the globe,” Bogdan says, leaving millions of people in northern latitudes without power.

Without electricity, many people also lost running water, heat, air conditioning and phone service. And places like hospitals had to rely on emergency generators with fuel for only two or three days, Bogdan says.

In many ways, the impact of a major solar storm resembles that of a hurricane or an earthquake, says Fugate.

But a solar Katrina would cause damage in a much larger area than any natural disaster, Fugate says. For example, power could be knocked out almost simultaneously in countries from Sweden to Canada and the U.S., he says. So a lot more people in a lot more places would need help.

Individuals don’t need to make any special preparation for a solar storm, Fugate says. The standard emergency kit of water and food and first aid supplies will work just fine.

“If you’ve got your family disaster plan together, you’ve taken the steps, whether it be a space storm, whether it be a system failure, whether it be another natural hazard that knocks the power out,” Fugate says.

Click here for the full report

Judge won’t give infomercial pitchman approval to visit Canada while appealing 30-day sentence

February 25, 2010

Canadian Business

By Mike Robinson

A federal judge refused Wednesday to give infomercial pitchman and author Kevin Trudeau permission to visit Canada next month while appeals his 30-day criminal contempt sentence in Chicago.

U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman said Trudeau’s $50,000 bond, which also requires him to surrender his passport, was set by a federal appeals court. The judge said he has no authority to interfere with the higher court’s order by giving him permission to go to Canada.

While the bond set by the appeals court does require the passport be surrendered, Gettleman noted he saw nothing in it that would specifically bar a visit to Canada. But he said he was not certain of just what it allows.

“I’d be careful if I were you,” he told Trudeau.

Trudeau — who sells books advocating “natural cures” for a variety of ailments — has been fighting a court battle since 2003 with the Federal Trade Commission over alleged misleading advertising for a diet book.

Gettleman last week found Trudeau in criminal contempt, sentencing him to 30 days and fining him $50,000 — later reduced to $5,000 — for urging his supporters to flood the judge’s computer with messages praising his remedies.

The hundreds of messages that followed crashed Gettleman’s computer and inundated the judge’s BlackBerry while he was teaching a course at Northwestern University law school.

Trudeau left court Wednesday with attorney Thomas Kirsch II, who said they were still deciding whether to take their travel request to the appeals court.

Trudeau said he wants to visit Toronto and Vancouver for unspecified business reasons. The appeals court has yet to decide if it will hold a hearing on the appeal of Gettleman’s sentence.

Click here for the full report

Infomercial pitchman denied OK to leave country

February 24, 2010

WBBM

By Associated Press

A federal judge has refused to give infomercial pitchman and author Kevin Trudeau permission to visit Canada next month while he is appealing his 30-day contempt sentence in Chicago.

Judge Robert Gettleman said Wednesday an appeals court has set Trudeau’s bond – which requires that he surrender his passport – and he can’t interfere with the higher court’s order.

Trudeau sells books advocating “natural cures” for a variety of ailments. He is fighting the government over alleged misleading advertising.

Gettleman last week sentenced Trudeau to 30 days for getting his supporters to flood the judge’s computer with messages, locking up his e-mail.

Click here for the full report

Judge won’t give pitchman OK to leave US

February 25, 2010

ABC News

By Associated Press

A federal judge refused Wednesday to give infomercial pitchman and author Kevin Trudeau permission to visit Canada next month while appeals his 30-day criminal contempt sentence in Chicago.

U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman said Trudeau’s $50,000 bond, which also requires him to surrender his passport, was set by a federal appeals court. The judge said he has no authority to interfere with the higher court’s order by giving him permission to go to Canada.

While the bond set by the appeals court does require the passport be surrendered, Gettleman noted he saw nothing in it that would specifically bar a visit to Canada. But he said he was not certain of just what it allows.

“I’d be careful if I were you,” he told Trudeau.

Trudeau — who sells books advocating “natural cures” for a variety of ailments — has been fighting a court battle since 2003 with the Federal Trade Commission over alleged misleading advertising for a diet book.

Gettleman last week found Trudeau in criminal contempt, sentencing him to 30 days and fining him $50,000 — later reduced to $5,000 — for urging his supporters to flood the judge’s computer with messages praising his remedies.

The hundreds of messages that followed crashed Gettleman’s computer and inundated the judge’s BlackBerry while he was teaching a course at Northwestern University law school.

Trudeau left court Wednesday with attorney Thomas Kirsch II, who said they were still deciding whether to take their travel request to the appeals court.

Trudeau said he wants to visit Toronto and Vancouver for unspecified business reasons. The appeals court has yet to decide if it will hold a hearing on the appeal of Gettleman’s sentence.

Click here for the full report

Judge says infomercial pitchman can’t visit Canada while appealing contempt sentence

February 24, 2010

WREX

By The Associated Press

A federal judge in Chicago refused today to give infomercial pitchman and author Kevin Trudeau permission to visit Canada next month while Trudeau appeals his 30-day criminal contempt sentence.

U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman says Trudeau’s $50,000 bond, which also requires him to surrender his passport, was set by a federal appeals court, and he has no authority to interfere with the higher court’s order.

Trudeau sells books advocating what he calls “natural cures” for a variety of ailments. He has been fighting a court battle since 2003 with the Federal Trade Commission over alleged misleading advertising for a diet book.

Gettleman last week found Trudeau in criminal contempt for urging his supporters to flood Gettleman’s judge’s computer with messages praising Trudeau and his remedies.

Click here for the full report

Infomercial pitchman denied OK to leave country

February 24, 2010

WREX

By Associated Press

A federal judge has refused to give infomercial pitchman and author Kevin Trudeau permission to visit Canada next month while he is appealing his 30-day contempt sentence in Chicago.

Judge Robert Gettleman said Wednesday an appeals court has set Trudeau’s bond – which requires that he surrender his passport – and he can’t interfere with the higher court’s order.

Trudeau sells books advocating “natural cures” for a variety of ailments. He is fighting the government over alleged misleading advertising.

Gettleman last week sentenced Trudeau to 30 days for getting his supporters to flood the judge’s computer with messages, locking up his e-mail.

Click here for the full report

Judge denies Trudeau request to travel to Canada

February 24, 2010

Chicago Sun-Times

By Natasha Korecki

It’ll be “No, Canada” for Kevin Trudeau — at least for now.

A federal judge this afternoon wouldn’t grant the infomercial king, controversial author and radio host’s request to travel to Canada and other parts of the country for “business engagements.”

U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman said he thought the matter was out of his hands now that Trudeau, found in criminal contempt of court earlier this month and sentenced to 30 days in prison, has filed an appeal.

The U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals put a temporary halt to the prison sentence, pending arguments before a three-judge panel there.

Gettleman penalized Trudeau after he urged his followers to deluge the judge’s email box regarding his ongoing civil case. Gettleman said Trudeau was trying to improperly influence the bench. Trudeau has said he believed he was exercising his First Amendment right.

Since his contempt finding, Trudeau, who continues to keep up a healthy tan, has been bound by a court order that doesn’t let him leave the Northern District of Illinois. Trudeau, who has a residence in Hinsdale, was ordered to give up his passport.

Trudeau sought to travel to Vancouver and Toronto as well as other parts of the country for “medical appointments and numerous business engagements,” according to a federal court filing.

Trudeau’s criminal lawyer, Thomas L. Kirsch, said he is still weighing whether to ask the appeals court if his client can travel.

Click here for the full report

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