President Trump set to unveil plan to help 'change the narrative' on healthcare

President Trump has promised he'll unveil a "phenomenal" healthcare plan in the coming weeks, and Rep. Chip Roy of Texas said he stands ready to be part of the conversation.

"We need to change the narrative," Roy, a freshman representative, told the Washington Examiner of the need for more Republicans to get on the same page about the party's healthcare platform. "We need to go on offense. I do think there is an interest in doing that."

As part of his commitment to this goal, Roy has introduced legislation that would expand health savings accounts, tax-free funds people can use to pay for healthcare. Under his proposal, the accounts would be renamed to "Health Freedom Accounts," with employers and charitable organizations allowed to contribute.

Like Trump, Roy believes that Republicans need to go on the offense on healthcare, rather than simply attacking Obamacare and the Medicare for All Act, the bill from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., that would roll everyone living in the United States into a government plan and do away with private insurance. Republicans have been searching a conservative foil on healthcare that would do the opposite, chipping away at government involvement.

Roy believes the arrangement he came up with will help lower medical costs by unleashing a more free-market approach, rather than the current system where people pay into a plan that decides which doctors and hospitals they cover, and which negotiate rates on behalf of patients.

He is opposed to Obamacare's approach, which extends Medicaid to low-income people. Instead, he said, states should be provided a block grant to set up their own safety nets.

GOP freshman congressman unveils plan to help 'change the narrative' on healthcare:

Zero Harm in Health Care | NEJM Catalyst

How a comprehensive systems-focused approach can help to prevent all types of harm in health care

Despite some real success in improving patient safety in recent years, achieving the goal of zero harm to patients, families, and the health care workforce is a massive undertaking that requires a comprehensive effort. A robust systems-focused approach to improving safety requires four interdependent elements: 

Effectively managing change by tending to the psychology of change; creating and sustaining a culture of safety; 
Developing and leveraging an optimal learning system,  
Engaging patients in the codesign of care and improvement.





Zero Harm in Health Care | NEJM Catalyst

ECDC: COVID-19 not containable, set to overwhelm hospitals | CIDRAP

Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Global Case Map

Doctors in Italy face grim decisions about whom to save.

Update today, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said that, in a few weeks or even days, other countries in the region may face huge surges that mirror those of China and Italy.

It advised countries to quickly shift to mitigation strategies to protect vulnerable people and prevent overwhelmed hospitals.

Reports of dire conditions in hospitals in Italy's hot spots have been circulating on social media for the past few weeks and are now appearing in a medical journal and media reports. The ECDC acknowledges that high numbers of patients needing ventilation have exceeded the intensive care unit (ICU) capacity in some healthcare facilities in northern Italy.

Life-and-death decisions in Italy's inundated hospitals

In a Lancet report today, two authors from Italy said the percentage of COVID-19 patients needing ICU treatment has ranged from 9% to 11% and that ICUs will be at maximum capacity if that trend continues for 1 more week. They predicted that Italy will need 4,000 more ICU beds over the next month, a challenge given that the country has about 5,200 ICU beds.

Countries on track for Hubei scenarios, ECDC warns

In its assessment today, the ECDC said the risk of severe disease is moderate for the general population but high for older people and those with underlying medical conditions. Increased community transmission may exceed health system capacities in the coming weeks, it said, and countries should act now to step up hospital infection control and surge capacity.

The ECDC said estimates for hospital care suggest that most European countries could reach Hubei province scenarios by the end of March, with all countries reaching that point by mid-April.

The group urged member countries to implement social distancing measures such as canceling mass gatherings and cordoning off hotspots early to slow outbreaks and give health systems more time to prepare for an influx of patients.

Italy's health ministry today reported 2,651 new cases and 189 more deaths, raising its respective totals to 15,113 cases and 1,016 deaths. Spain's total today rose to 3,126 cases, with the addition of 782 more today. France's total rising to 2,876, with the addition of 595 more. The United Kingdom reported 134 new cases, boosting its total to 590.

South Korea cases decline again

South Korea today reported 114 new cases, with 6 more deaths, raising its overall respective totals to 7,869 and 66, according to the Korea Center for Disease Control. It said 80% of cases are linked to clusters, including 99 illnesses recently linked to an insurance company call center in Seoul.

In other developments in Asia:

Japan today reported 55 more cases, 6 of them listed as asymptomatic carriers, from 11 prefectures, according to the country's health ministry. Its overall total is 602, plus 72 asymptomatic carriers.

Singapore today reported 9 more cases, 3 linked to a dinner function, 5 imported, and 1 under investigation, raising the total to 187, the health ministry said in an update. In a separate statement, the country's Islamic Religious Council announced the temporary closure of mosques after 90 citizens attended a mass event in Kuala Lumpur, where several tested positive for COVID-19.

China today reported 15 new cases, 8 from Hubei province, as well as 11 more deaths, raising its overall total to 80,793, which includes 3,169 deaths, according to the country's National Health Commission.

ECDC: COVID-19 not containable, set to overwhelm hospitals | CIDRAP:

'Don't believe the numbers you see': Johns Hopkins professor says up to 500,000 Americans have coronavirus

'Don't believe the numbers you see': Johns Hopkins professor says up to 500,000 Americans have coronavirus

According to Dr. Marty Makary, a public health professor at Johns Hopkins University, the coronavirus is something that “people need to take seriously.”


In the U.S. there are over 1,600 confirmed cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with 41 deaths. Makary said that the number of cases, though, is likely much higher. 

“Don’t believe the numbers when you see, even on our Johns Hopkins website, that 1,600 Americans have the virus,” he said. “No, that means 1,600 got the test, tested positive. There are probably 25 to 50 people who have the virus for every one person who is confirmed.” 

In the U.S. there are over 1,600 confirmed cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with 41 deaths. Makary said that the number of cases, though, is likely much higher. 

“Don’t believe the numbers when you see, even on our Johns Hopkins website, that 1,600 Americans have the virus,” he said. “No, that means 1,600 got the test, tested positive. There are probably 25 to 50 people who have the virus for every one person who is confirmed.” 

He added: “I think we have between 50,000 and half a million cases right now walking around in the United States.”

Part of the reason the number of cases might be higher without people realizing it is because of the shortage of coronavirus testing kits from the CDC. Between Jan. 18 and March 12, there were 13,624 tests for COVID-19 conducted in the U.S. Meanwhile, South Korea has conducted over 100,000 tests, and the U.K. has tested nearly 25,000 people.

He added: “I think we have between 50,000 and half a million cases right now walking around in the United States.” For those of us who may remember This may be the worst scenario since Polio in the 1950s.

Part of the reason the number of cases might be higher without people realizing it is because of the shortage of coronavirus testing kits from the CDC. Between Jan. 18 and March 12, there were 13,624 tests for COVID-19 conducted in the U.S. Meanwhile, South Korea has conducted over 100,000 tests, and the U.K. has tested nearly 25,000 people.





'Don't believe the numbers you see': Johns Hopkins professor says up to 500,000 Americans have coronavirus: 

#97 - Peter Hotez, M.D., Ph.D.: COVID-19: transmissibility, vaccines, risk reduction, and treatment - Peter Attia

#97 - Peter Hotez, M.D., Ph.D.: COVID-19: transmissibility, vaccines, risk reduction, and treatment - Peter Attia: “The next two weeks will be the critical period where we may start to see this reach a peak.”  —Peter Hotez, M.D., Ph.D.

Hospitals prepare for the worst on coronavirus, and it’s not a pretty picture

Hospitals prepare for the worst on coronavirus, and it’s not a pretty picture: Medical facilities are taking precautions to protect their staff while preparing for a spike in patients that has overwhelmed the health care systems of other countries.

Executive Order on Improving Price and Quality Transparency in American Healthcare to Put Patients First | The White House

Does your hospital post their charges and fees for patients to see ?  If not then this Presidential Executive Order should be brought to their attention. You may also report te hospital  to the White House

Executive Order on Improving Price and Quality Transparency in American Healthcare to Put Patients First | The White House

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: (brief summary)

Section 1.  Purpose.  My Administration seeks to enhance the ability of patients to choose the healthcare that is best for them.  To make fully informed decisions about their healthcare, patients must know the price and quality of a good or service in advance.  With the predominant role that third-party payers and Government programs play in the American healthcare system, however, patients often lack both access to useful price and quality information and the incentives to find low-cost, high-quality care.  Opaque pricing structures may benefit powerful special interest groups, such as large hospital systems and insurance companies, but they generally leave patients and taxpayers worse off than would a more transparent system.

Sec. 2.  Policy.  It is the policy of the Federal Government to ensure that patients are engaged with their healthcare decisions and have the information requisite for choosing the healthcare they want and need.  The Federal Government aims to eliminate unnecessary barriers to price and quality transparency; to increase the availability of meaningful price and quality information for patients; to enhance patients’ control over their own healthcare resources, including through tax-preferred medical accounts; and to protect patients from surprise medical bills.

Sec. 2.  Policy.  It is the policy of the Federal Government to ensure that patients are engaged with their healthcare decisions and have the information requisite for choosing the healthcare they want and need.  The Federal Government aims to eliminate unnecessary barriers to price and quality transparency; to increase the availability of meaningful price and quality information for patients; to enhance patients’ control over their own healthcare resources, including through tax-preferred medical accounts; and to protect patients from surprise medical bills. 

Sec. 3.  Informing Patients About Actual Prices.  (a)  Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall propose a regulation, consistent with applicable law, to require hospitals to publicly post standard charge information, including charges and information based on negotiated rates and for common or shoppable items and services, in an easy-to-understand, consumer-friendly, and machine-readable format using consensus-based data standards that will meaningfully inform patients’ decision making and allow patients to compare prices across hospitals. 

Sec. 4.  Establishing a Health Quality Roadmap.  Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Defense, and Veterans Affairs shall develop a Health Quality Roadmap (Roadmap) that aims to align and improve reporting on data and quality measures across Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, the Health Insurance Marketplace, the Military Health System, and the Veterans Affairs Health System.  

Sections 5 and 6 may read at the link below, which encompasses the entire order

Order on Improving Price and Quality Transparency in American Healthcare to Put Patients First | The White House:

Sec. 7.  Addressing Surprise Medical Billing.  Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit a report to the President on additional steps my Administration may take to implement the principles on surprise medical billing announced on May 9, 2019.