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Black Health News – 2/22/10

• 

  Obama to propose limits on health insurance rates

  By theGrio

  8:11 AM on 02/22/2010

  WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Obama is making a fresh attempt to rescue his health care overhaul by proposing a measure that would allow the government to deny or roll back egregious insurance premium increases...

  > READ MORE

• 

  White House: Dems near accord on health care bill

  By theGrio

  4:40 PM on 02/18/2010

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House and congressional leaders are preparing a detailed health care proposal designed to win passage without Republican support

  > READ MORE

• 

  African-Americans increasingly going under the knife in quest for perfection

  By Bonnie Davis

  8:53 AM on 02/16/2010

  Although perceptions linger that plastic surgery is something for "only rich Caucasian people," it's no longer true...

  > READ MORE

• 

  First lady launches 'Let's Move' effort against childhood obesity

  By theGrio

  9:35 AM on 02/09/2010

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Michelle Obama says she loves burgers and fries, but she wants her daughters -- and the rest of America's children -- to learn about better nutrition...

  > READ MORE

• 

  Bad malaria pills in Africa raise resistance fears

  By theGrio

  10:06 AM on 02/08/2010

  High rates of the most effective type of malaria-fighting drugs sold in three African countries are poor quality...

  > READ MORE

Medicine on Call: Depression in the Black Community

 

 Medicine on Call with Dr. Elaina George 

Dr George and Delores Jones, a correspondent for AOL speak about dealing with depression and change through inspiration and spirituality. 

Click here to listen!

The Healthcare Reform Bill: Truth and Consequences

By

Dr. Elaina George, MD

The health care reform bill (HR 3962) that just passed the House of Representatives is bad on so many levels it is difficult explain. As it stands, it will destroy both the doctor patient relationship and change the practice of medicine as we know it.

We have one of the finest health care systems in the world. It has been built on a foundation of choice. Doctors were free to choose the care that they deemed necessary to treat their patients, and patients were free to seek the medical care of their choice. Initially, the foundation was shaken by the rise of the managed care system with capitation. However, over the past 10 years, capitated plans which limit access to specialists have given way to the rise in power of insurance companies. They have used their anti-trust exemption to craft a system that has used monopoly to increase profits on the backs of both doctors and patients.

Unfortunately, the House does not address necessary changes that would lead to meaningful reform, such as breaking the monopoly strangle hold that insurance companies enjoy, reigning in the enormous profits of the pharmaceutical industry, tort reform, or crafting a healthcare system based on wellness and prevention and not the management of disease. Instead HR 3962 creates a layer of government bureaucracy that inserts itself between the doctor and the patient by creating a national health commissioner and task forces that will evaluate and decide everything from what medications a physician is allowed to prescribe to a patient, to what surgery will be approved, to what outcomes will be expected for a particular medical condition.

Taken to its logical extent, this bill will create a world where the good of the many by definition MUST outweigh the needs of the few because to spend large sums of money on a limited number of patients will increase costs without the guarantee of a good outcome. It only makes sense as long as you are not the senior citizen that needs a hip replacement, the premature infant with multiple medical problems, or the person with a chronic disease that statistics show has a limited time left on this earth. The House bill sets up a health care system with a finite number of resources (e.g., doctors, hospitals, expensive medical equipment). Because of these limitations, the system must be used to help those who the government determines to be the most productive people. A principle has been advocated by a senior White House health adviser called “the complete lives system “. This system will prioritize healthcare for those who are younger on the theory that they have not yet lived a complete life by using tools such as lottery and prognosis to determine who receives care.

This system would lead to a harsh reality; but how else can we possibly cover more people with limited resources at a lower cost without raising the deficit as this bill promises? Medicare and Social Security are two government run programs that suggest that the answer to this question is… you can’t.

Dr Elaina George is Board certified Otolaryngologist who started Peachtree ENT Center with a mission to practice state of the art medicine that is available to everyone. She graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Biology. She received her Masters degree in Medical Microbiology at Long Island University, and received her medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. Dr George completed her residency at Manhattan, Eye Ear & Throat Hospital. Her training included general surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital, pediatric ENT at The NY-Presbyterian Hospital, and head and neck oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. She has published in several scientific journals and presented her research at national meetings.  For media queries or speaking requests, please call 888-315-1591

Congress to vote soon on the Healthcare Bill: Is it a good idea?

This show is an interview between Dr. Elaina George and Dr Emelita Breyer.  Dr. Breyer is from the Breyer Foundation, an independent organization dedicated to finding solutions to health care reform that does not add to the deficit, or raise money on the backs of the people through taxation.

She has a thorough understanding of the sanctity of the doctor patient relationship. And has real solutions that will protect the things that make the US healthcare system the best in the world.

Click here to listen!

What’s in the Swine Flu Vaccine?

 

by Dr. Elaina George 

There has been a lot of confusion about what ingredients are in the H1N1 Vaccine. In order to distill the information to make it easier for you to make an informed choice, here is a brief synopsis of the information provided by the manufacturers in their package inserts.

There are 4 manufactures who have been approved to sell H1N1 vaccine in the US. They are: Novartis, CSL, Sanofi/Pasteur and MedImmune

1. Novartis makes an injectable vaccine for ages 4 and above

Ingredients: Thimerosal (Mercury) both in the single dose and the multi dose vials

Antibiotics - polymyxin and neomycin (can be neurotoxic)

Manufactured with phenol (the chemical used on skin in cosmetic face peals to remove wrinkles)

Note: They recommend that children ages 4-9 get 2 injections one month apart. This would increase the risk from a reaction to the mercury (e.g, neurological damage such as Gullain-Barre or possibly Autism)

2. CSL makes an injectable vaccine. Only the multi dose vial contains thimerosal

3. Sanofi/Pasteur - Only the multi dose vial contains thimerosal

vaccine is made with polyethelene glycol (antifreeze) and formaldehyde (a chemical used in embalming).

*These three vaccines are grown in chicken embryo cells. So if a person has severe allergies to eggs, they are at risk of having an allergic reaction and should therefore not take the vaccine.

4. MedImmune makes a live attenuated H1N1 vaccine that has an intranasal delivery.

It does not contain thimerosal, but has the food additive MSG (monosodium glutamate) which can cause reactions in some people who are sensitive, it also contains gentamycin (an antibiotic which can be neurotoxic and cause hearing loss)

As per the package inserts from all of the manufacturers:

Note: "Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility
Neither FLUVIRIN nor the Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine have been evaluated for carcinogenic or mutagenic potential, or for impairment of fertility."

*In other words, NONE of the H1NI vaccines have been evaluated for the possible potential to cause cancer, birth defects or its effect on fertility. This is according to the information from all of the manufacturers.

Dr Elaina George is Board certified Otolaryngologist who started Peachtree ENT Center with a mission to practice state of the art medicine that is available to everyone. She graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Biology. She received her Masters degree in Medical Microbiology at Long Island University, and received her medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. Dr George completed her residency at Manhattan, Eye Ear & Throat Hospital. Her training included general surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital, pediatric ENT at The NY-Presbyterian Hospital, and head and neck oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. She has published in several scientific journals and presented her research at national meetings.

For media or speaking requests, please call (901) 413-0203 or email information@yourblackpublicity.com

Why I Won’t Be Taking the Swine Flu Vaccine

by Dr. Elaina George 

I have had several patients ask me whether or not they should get the swine flu (H1N1) vaccine. My response has been the same. I will not be getting the vaccine because I don’t think it is safe.

I am an MD who was trained to practice medicine the old fashioned way. My education was based on understanding and treating disease. As a surgeon, I was taught that in some cases surgical correction is the most efficient and expedient way to fix a problem or cure a disease. In short, I have a healthy respect for the standard medical care that is practiced in this country.

However, over the past 10 years since I have been in practice, I have seen a disturbing trend that has become increasingly more common. Although we have the most advanced medical system in the world, the best trained physicians, and access to new and ever evolving medications, we as a nation and particularly the minority population are getting sicker at a younger age, and our quality of life is suffering. There are more people suffering from depression, anxiety, and learning disabilities than at any time in our history. Unfortunately, we have learned to manage diseases by taking a pill everyday instead of doing what it takes to prevent the illness in the first place. It is past time to look to good nutrition and prevention as a means of preventing and curing chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity and some cancers which have risen to epidemic levels.

When I made the personal decision to ask questions about the Swine flu vaccine, the answers that I discovered contradicted the mantra that has been championed by the media, government officials, and the vaccine manufacturers. What we are being told simply does not make any sense. The most important question that I have learned to ask (from the politics of healthcare to every other facet of our society that affects us as individuals) is - who stands to gain?

I will not be getting the swine flu vaccine because:

1. The vaccine makers have been given immunity from being sued for any bad outcome

After the deaths and injuries associated with the Swine flu vaccination campaign in 1976, the vaccine manufacturers lost billions of dollars in civil suits. That cannot happen this time around. Congress has since passed two bills that shield vaccine makers from civil suits. The first in 1986 protects vaccine makers from civil suits filed by people who have been injured by a vaccine due to ‘unavoidable side effects’. In 2006 another iteration of the shield law (The Epidemic Preparedness Act) was passed as part of the Patriot Act and extends the shield to include protection if the drug maker has ‘no willful knowledge’ that a vaccine may cause injury. In short, a maker of the Swine flu vaccine simply has to say they didn’t know the vaccine was going to cause harm then they cannot be sued. This won’t be hard to do since they have not fully tested the vaccine.

1. There are many ingredients in vaccines called adjuvants that are put in to stimulate the immune response

Vaccines work by stimulating the immune system to make cells called antibodies. Once formed antibodies will theoretically protect someone from getting the illness. In short, disease is prevented because the antibodies activate and short circuit an attack. There have been many adjuvants used. They include: spermacides, antifreeze, aluminum, mercury (thiamerosol) and Squalene. The problem with adjuvants is that they can stimulate the body’s immune system to attack itself. These sorts of diseases are classified as autoimmune diseases.

1. Studies that report that vaccines (such as the Swine flu vaccine and other Vaccines like Gardasil) are safe are largely sponsored by Big Pharma

Many studies have been performed under the auspices of pharmaceutical companies. Vioxx is one glaring examples of a pharmaceutical company rigging the scientific results to bring a product to market and keeping it there despite clinical evidence of its danger in the name of profit. The most recent examples are studies looking at the safety of Squalene (MF59) in the swine flu vaccine which have been sponsored by pharmaceutical companies like Novartis .

1. Mercury is one of the adjuvants used in the new Swine Flu vaccine.

There is a question about whether it plays a role in causing autism. One study found an increase in mercury in the urine of children with autism and none in children without autism. Although no definitive answer has yet been found to unequivocally tie mercury to autism, there is still cause for concern in giving the thiamerosol to pregnant women and to children as mercury is known to be neurotoxic. In addition, studies have found a weak link between thiamerosol and neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The FDA and CDC have recommended that thiamerosol be reduced and/or removed from childhood vaccines for enhanced safety.

1. Some of the manufactures outside the US are using Squalene which is a known neurotoxin

Squalene is a type of fat found in foods like olive oil. When it is eaten it actually has benefits as an antioxidant. However, when it enters the blood stream through an injection it can trigger an autoimmune response by inciting the immune system to attack all ‘squalene containing’ structures in the body. The highest concentration is in the nervous system because nerves are wrapped in a sheath that is made in part of squalene. When these cells are attacked, it can damage the neurological system. In fact, studies have linked the nerve damage of soldiers affected with the Gulf War Syndrome (GWS) with the squalene that was present in the Anthrax vaccine that they were given. Soldiers who developed neurological symptoms and chronic pain associated with GWS had received the vaccine, while the soldiers who did not receive the vaccine had no complaints. It technically has not been licensed in the US, but the fast tracking of the vaccine has left the question of whether squalene is present in some of the vaccines dispensed unanswered.

1. Aluminum has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease and inflammatory conditions such as heart disease

Aluminum is an adjuvant present in vaccines.

1. A live-attenuated virus is being offered that could increase the risk of Guillain-Barre as well as the spread of the virus.

The nasal form of the vaccine contains live virus that has been weakened. Why has this form of the virus been sent to the market first, when the HHS and CDC have advocated that people with chronic disease, weakened immune systems, children and pregnant woman be the first groups to receive the vaccine? Not only do these patients have the highest risk of getting the disease because of their weakened immune system, they can easily become vectors for the disease since they are capable of infecting anyone they are in contact with for up to 21 days after they receive the vaccine. This has the potential to spread the disease exponentially thereby fulfilling the prophecy of the pandemic.

There are some who should not take the vaccine (neither the injectable nor the nasal version) because the risks of side effects strongly out weigh the benefits. They include 1.) individuals who have had Gullain-Barre Syndrome in the past; 2) those with chronic inflammatory diseases; 3) those with full-blown AIDs; 4) individuals on chemotherapy with a suppressed white count; 5) children under 6 months of age; and 7) those on immunosuppressant drugs post organ transplant.

Dr Elaina George is Board certified Otolaryngologist who started Peachtree ENT Center with a mission to practice state of the art medicine that is available to everyone. She graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Biology. She received her Masters degree in Medical Microbiology at Long Island University, and received her medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. Dr George completed her residency at Manhattan, Eye Ear & Throat Hospital. Her training included general surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital, pediatric ENT at The NY-Presbyterian Hospital, and head and neck oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. She has published in several scientific journals and presented her research at national meetings.

For media or speaking requests, please call (901) 413-0203 or emailinformation@yourblackpublicity.com

Questions You Should Ask Before You Get The Swine Flu Vaccine

Dr. Elaina George, MD

With the H1N1 swine flu virus vaccine becoming available this month, there is a big push to vaccinate as many people as possible. However, whether or not you decide to take the vaccine, there are important questions you should ask your doctor or other health practitioner to make sure it is the right choice for you and your family.

1. Does the Vaccine contain additives such as mercury or squaline?

Additives called adjuvants like mercury (thiamerisol) are added to inhibit bacterial contamination. However, some studies have implicated mercury as a cause of autism and squaline as a cause of neurological damage respectively.

2. How can I avoid getting a vaccine that contains mercury?

Ask to receive your vaccine from a single dose vial. Unlike the multiple dose vials which contain thiamerisol, the single dose vials do not contain that additive.

3. Will getting the vaccine completely protect me from getting the swine flu?

The vaccine comes in two forms - a nasal form and an injectable form. The nasal form contains live virus that has been altered (attenuated) to be less infectious. The injectable form is made from a killed form of the virus. Because there is an increased risk of actual infection,

the live (attenuated) virus should not be given to individuals with compromised immune systems such as pregnant women, HIV patients, those on chemotherapy or children.

4. Is the swine flu more dangerous than the seasonal flu?

Since the outbreak of the flu this past spring, over 74 countries have documented cases of the H1N1 virus. There have been approximately 345,000 cases world wide with 4,100 deaths. Conversely, there are approximately 40,000 deaths due to the seasonal flu each year in the US. Statistics continue to

suggest that the H1N1 virus is not as deadly as has been purported. To date it has been a relatively mild and self-limited infection in both adults ans children.

5. What are the risks and benefits of taking the vaccine?

The mortality rate is largely associated with pneumonia caused by secondary bacterial infections. In fact secondary bacterial pneumonia was the main cause of death in the influenza pandemic of 1918. It is important to weigh the risks associated with the potential side effects of the vaccine vs the vaccine's inability to protect from the more deadly complication of bacterial pneumonia.

Dr Elaina George is Board certified Otolaryngologist who started Peachtree ENT Center with a mission to practice state of the art medicine that is available to everyone. She graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Biology. She received her Masters degree in Medical Microbiology at Long Island University, and received her medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. Dr George completed her residency at Manhattan, Eye Ear & Throat Hospital. Her training included general surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital, pediatric ENT at The NY-Presbyterian Hospital, and head and neck oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. She has published in several scientific journals and presented her research at national meetings.

For media or speaking requests, please call (901) 413-0203 or emailinformation@yourblackpublicity.com

5 Things You can Do to Stay Healthy

by Dr Elaina George, MD

Instead of waiting for the outcome of the healthcare debate to decide your fate, use some simple common sense strategies to take back the power to control your own health.

1. Start exercising

An increase in activity of as little as 20 minutes 3 times a week can make a difference in your risk of heart disease,

diabetes and obesity. You don’t have to get fancy with a gym membership. Try taking the stairs at work instead of the

elevator, or park further from the entrance when you go to the market or mall.

1. Eat Smaller portions

You may not want to give up your junk food or fried food, but try to limit your portions. Instead of buying a six pack

of soda, buy a two liter bottle. You can better control the portions along with your intake of calories.

3. Drink more water

The average person should be drinking 1 ounce per kilogram of his/her weight in water per day. (1 lb = 2.2kg).

Studies have shown that people eat more when they are dehydrated because the signals in the body can confuse

hunger with thirst. If you are hungry, try drinking an 8-12 oz glass of water before you decide to eat that snack.

4. Avoid salt

The average American diet consists too much salt. Salt is found in everything from canned foods to frozen foods. Not

only does salt make your body retain water, it also dulls your sense of taste when it comes to sugar. As a challenge,

decrease the amount of salt you eat for about 1 week, then drink a non-diet soft drink. Not only will you lose about 3-

5 lbs of water weight, but you will see that the soda is incredibly sweet. In addition, try to use sea salt.

5. Avoid high fructose corn syrup

Studies have shown that most products in this country are made with high fructose corn syrup that is contaminated

with mercury (a known neurotoxin). Instead try to choose foods made with cane sugar. When you drink soft drinks

that are made with sugar you will be less likely to crave salt and be able to stop with one soda because there is no

‘sugar high’ that leads to the craving that makes you want to have more.

Dr Elaina George is Board certified Otolaryngologist who started Peachtree ENT Center with a mission to practice state of the art medicine that is available to everyone. She graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Biology. She received her Masters degree in Medical Microbiology at Long Island University, and received her medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. Dr George completed her residency at Manhattan, Eye Ear & Throat Hospital. Her training included general surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital, pediatric ENT at The NY-Presbyterian Hospital, and head and neck oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. She has published in several scientific journals and presented her research at national meetings.

To contact Dr. George for speaking engagements or media appearances, please call (901) 413-0203

First Swine Flu Vaccines Set to Arrive Oct 5

U.S. health officials say the first swine flu vaccine should be in some doctors' offices as early as Oct. 5. Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday the U.S. vaccine shipments will go directly to doctors, clinics and other providers designated by each state.

States are expected to begin ordering their share of the nation's H1N1 flu vaccine on Wednesday, said Paul Jarris, executive director of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. That day, the CDC brings its secure ordering site online.

Distribution will start with 6 million to 7 million doses of the nasal spray vaccine, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Thursday. Forty million doses of injectable vaccine are due to arrive soon after, with another 10 million to 20 million doses due weekly.

 

Click to read.

Dr. Elaina George: Are we Running out of doctors?

Dr. Elaina George, Your Black World Medical Correspondent

Reports estimate that 50-60% of doctors will be sued during the course of their career. However, only 10-20% of those cases actually go to trial. Of those that go to trial, doctors are found innocent of malpractice 80% of the time. This demonstrates the fact that although the perception exists that there may be a lot of bad doctors practicing bad medicine this is actually not the case.

Unfortunately, this perception has led to an explosion in the costs of practicing medicine. Over the last 5-10 years medical malpractice premiums have gone through the roof from primary care to neurosurgery. In Florida, for example, malpractice premiums for OB-GYNs have risen to as high as 250,000 per year. This staggering statistic highlights the unintended consequence of limiting access to medical care for women who live in those states. Florida is not alone, it is happening all over the country. Physicians have either moved out of state, retired early, or they have restricted the type of medicine they practice because they cannot afford the cost of doing business.

Click to read.

The 6 Things You Need To Know Before You Take The Swine Flu Vaccine

by Dr. Elaina George, Your Black World 

Although the Swine flu virus has been identified in over 70 countries, it has not been as deadly as expected

• The world wide number of swine flu cases currently is 209,500 with 2,185 deaths

The common flu is more deadly

• In the US there have been 40,000 cases identified with 1,876 deaths. This is quite low when you compare the death rate to the typical flu virus which kills over 30,000 people per year.

Most cases of Swine flu have been mild

• Most people have had mild self-limited symptoms that resolve without any medical intervention.

Vaccines often contain additives that can be dangerous

• Vaccines contain ingredients that boost the immune response. They can be made from toxins like anti-freeze (ethylene glycol), formaldehyde, or chemicals like mercury (thimerasol) and squalene, a type of fat found in olive oil that is also present throughout the nervous system and the brain. These ingredients can be harmful to the body.

• Studies have shown that Mercury (thimerasol) may lead to autism. Specifically, a study in autistic children found elevated levels of mercury in their urine compared to children without autism.

• Soldiers who served in the gulf war were given anthrax vaccine which contained squalene. When squalene is injected it stimulates an aggressive immune response that causes an auto-immune reaction that can attack all cells that contain squalene. e.g., the nervous system. Studies found that soldiers who were diagnosed with gulf war syndrome received anthrax vaccinations that contained Squalene

There has been less time to test the H1N1 Vaccine

• Because of the fear of a pandemic, the vaccine manufacturers have fast tracked the current vaccines coming to market next month. That means very little testing has been done. This leads to huge unknowns about the side effects

The vaccine manufactures have the potential to make windfall profits with little risk

• Vaccine manufacturers stand to gain by the fear ginned up by the "pandemic". The US government has already awarded 2 billion dollars to the 5 companies that make the H1N1 vaccine.

• The Congress has passed a law that protects vaccine manufacturers from being sued. If they had 'no willful knowledge' then they cannot be sued for damages.

.

All in all people should be very cautious about taking these vaccines. It is important to discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. If the risk of getting the disease and having a severe complication is not very high, then it may not be in the interest of the individual to take the vaccine. At the very least, these vaccines should not be mandated.

Dr Elaina George is a prominent Board certified Otolaryngologist who practices in Atlanta. She started her practice Peachtree ENT Center with a mission to practice state of the art medicine that is available to everyone, and has come to be known as, the patients’ advocate. Dr. George graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Biology. She received her Masters degree in Medical Microbiology at Long Island University, and received her medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. She completed her residency at Manhattan, Eye Ear & Throat Hospital. Her training included general surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital, pediatric ENT at The NY-Presbyterian Hospital, and head and neck oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. She has published in several scientific journals and presented her research at national meetings. She has appeared as a guest on The Michael Baisden Show. You can listen to her radio show Medicine on Call, and read her blogs as a medical correspondent for Your Black World .

Medical News: Dr. Elaina George Speaks on a Couple’s Plight

from Your Black World

In response to a recent story about a couple that is divorcing so they can afford to pay their medical bills, Dr. Elaina George had this to say:

 

"Stories like this highlight the fact that the insurance companies have made money on the misery of Americans. For an insurance company to only pay 10% of the bill is outrageous. Unfortunately, this story is not unique. The insurance industry has been very successful at gaming the system. The various companies along with their subsidiaries have cornered healthcare delivery. They are involved with everything from the codes your physician uses to document your visit, to the electronic transfer of information for billing from the doctor's office to the insurance company, to what medications your doctor will be allowed to prescribe for you, to what medical care you will be allowed to receive. 

One of the most important insurance reforms that needs to take place is to remove their exemption from Anti-trust laws. That is one of the most important things that could be done to level the playing field."

Barack Obama Gets Asked Hard Questions by Michael Baisden and Dr. Elaina George

from AOL Black Voices

Although many Americans have seen and heard the insane debate over healthcare, almost no one understands what's going on. This is doubly true for the African American community, who is affected greatly by this debate and its outcomes. Most black bloggers aren't talking about it and black doctors are too busy to inform the community.
Michael Baisden got with Dr. Elaina George, a prominent black physician in the Atlanta area, to break down the public option, healthcare and all related issues in the interview below.During the interview, Dr. George and Baisden answer some important questions:

Click to read.

Medicine on Call: What’s Wrong with the System?

 

In this episode of Medicine on Call, Dr. Elaina George interviews Jason Rosenbaum from The Seminal, a healthcare publication.  What is wrong with healthcare?  What is the state of healthcare reform?  What are the goals for healthcare?

 

Click here to listen!

And the Winner Is….The Medical Insurance Industry

by Dr. Elaina George, YourBlackWorld.com

The suspense is over. For weeks we have been holding our collective breath to see if there would be real insurance reform. Now we know. President Obama’s speech this evening incorporated a lot of different ideas, but what was most striking was his statement that the public option was just one of the avenues that could be travelled to achieve an expansion of insurance coverage. Besides the demotion of the public option as an important tool to reign in the all powerful insurance companies, I noticed that there was no mention of universal health care. Wasn’t that the point of this whole exercise?

To be fair there are some good things. Under the President’s proposal there will be:

§ Coverage for pre-existing conditions

§ A cap on out-of-pocket expenses

§ People can no longer be dropped from insurance companies when they get sick

§ No further cap on what insurance companies will pay out

It is a good start, but it doesn’t go far enough. The President spoke about slowing the growth of healthcare expense, but he did not discuss a reversal of the cost of health care. With the average medical insurance premium for an individual costing over 6,000 dollars and a family almost 12,000 per year, how does this help a middle or working class family both struggling to stay in their home and feed their family? Will it really help them to have mandates to purchase insurance at this price or face a penalty?

For those who cannot afford to pay for insurance and don’t qualify for government assistance this will amount to a new “tax” that can disproportionately affect minorities who are already affected by barriers that obstruct their access to care. Currently of the 47 million people who are uninsured, 17 million of them are people who meet the financial criteria to receive Medicaid or Medicare. They are waiting to get into these programs, but because of state budget constraints or the wait associated with a shortage of physicians who actually still take these insurances, they are effectively out in the cold. I don’t see how the President’s proposal will ease this crisis.

As it stands, his proposal will ensure that insurance companies get millions more customers who have nowhere to go. Even those people who enter the ‘exchanges’ will also have to buy private insurance since the weakened version of the public-lite alternative will not come online until 4 years from now. Essentially, he is asking us to trust the insurance companies to play nice. The theory appears to be that by gaining more money in volume; perhaps they will charge people less? In a for-profit industry I am skeptical that this will work since it has not worked to this point. The insurance companies have had free reign and they have rigged the system to maximize profits on the backs of patients and physicians. Like Wall Street, they have now been rewarded for their bad behavior.

Dr. George Speaks: How Do Insurance Companies Try to Hurt You?

by Dr. Elaina George

There is a major misconception about the reasons for the rise in the cost of healthcare. Procedures and the practice of defensive medicine have been described as the main reasons for the exponential rise. However, the reality could not be farther from what is portrayed on TV series like Nip/Tuck. The medical insurance industry has fueled the campaign of misinformation to enhance their divide and conquer strategy. As long as people spend their energy on blaming doctors, they have less energy to pay attention to rising deductibles, premiums and co-insurance. In short, the insurance companies benefit by keeping doctors and patients at odds. In reality when a doctor charges for a procedure or performs a surgery what is paid is no where near the amount that was charged. In short, the increase in patient premiums, deductibles etc… have gone to pay administrative costs and CEO salaries.

These are 6 things you need to know so you can understand the barriers your doctor has to navigate to take good care of you:

1. Insurance companies change what they will pay for

Through the pre-certification process, insurance companies will change what services they will reimburse. This list can change yearly. It is driven by insurance company costs and not by medical necessity as determined by the doctor and the patient.

Click to read more.

Medicine on Call – The Latest Episode –8/30/09

 

Dr. Elaina George, America’s favorite doctor, breaks down the healthcare information you need.

Click to listen

Dr. George Discusses Chronic Pain and how to deal with it

How do you deal with chronic pain?  Let Dr. Elaina George break it down in the lastest edition of Medicine on Call.

 Click here to listen!

My Take on the Death of Michael Jackson

The following is a statement made by Dr. Elaina George, an Otolaryngologist out of Atlanta and advocate for physicians.

‘Michael Jackson did not have a chance’ was my first thought when I read the report that just came out about what caused his untimely and tragic death. I was unprepared for the absolute disregard for the first tenant of the doctors’ Hippocratic Oath – First do no harm.

There was no way that harm would not have come to Mr. Jackson. It was beyond negligent to give him a mixture of three different kinds of sedatives, a muscle relaxant, an antidepressant in addition to Propofol, a general anesthetic that is only used in an operating room setting (because it can stop someone’s breathing). Each of these drugs by themselves can be lethal, but together it is a recipe that will almost definitely kill someone. I can think of no medical scenario that would justify mixing these kinds of drugs. Hopefully, Mr. Jackson’s death will teach us that prescription drugs, though helpful are no substitute for doctors doing everything in their power to protect the health of their patients, including just saying no when it is appropriate.

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Dr. Elaina George: How to Play the Insurance Game and Win

 

Dr. Elaina George, Medical Correspondent – YourBlackWorld.com 

For Americans, receiving heath care is like going to a casino, but here the typical rules don’t apply. In the healthcare casino, the medical insurance industry, Big Pharmaceutical Companies and hospitals make the rules to insure that the house wins every time. Over the years they have increased your stakes by increasing premiums, drug costs and hospital costs, while raking in windfall profits. The medical insurance industry has grown larger and more powerful by systematically fleecing patients and doctors. To hide the fact that they are playing with people’s health; they have been masters of distraction. The ever changing rules for patients and doctors have made it impossible to learn what you need to know. Moreover, it has placed doctors, who are the face of medicine, in a position where the patient has begun to question their motives. This has eroded the doctor patient relationship and has damaged the foundation of excellent medical care.

Over the next several weeks, we will examine how the game has been rigged so that you can finally understand the rules. Each week we will expose what you need to know to take back your power and put the odds back in your favor so you can win! This week we will examine the medical insurance industry.

Basic facts about the medical insurance industry:

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Defending All Doctors: Who’s to Blame for the High Cost of Healthcare?

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

Dr. Elaina George, a prominent family practice physician in Atlanta, has a bone to pick with President Obama. During various healthcare town hall meetings and press conferences, the president has villified doctors as the cause of the high cost of healthcare. But Dr. George doesn't agree.

As one of the few black doctors in America who is taking the time to speak out in the current healthcare debate, Dr. George says that the culprits in the high cost of healthcare are The American Medical Association, hospitals, big pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies. Here is how she breaks it down.

1) Our country has gotten away from preventing illness and is instead engaged in the high cost of managing disease. Dr. George explains in the interview below that rather than actually curing illnesses or preventing them, we simply try to manage them. Her argument, as with many others in the healthcare profession, is that this attitude is driven by the fact that pharmaceutical and insurance companies only maximize profits when people stay sick. Symptoms tend to be treated instead of the underlying cause of the illness, making problems worse in the long-term.

2) According to some physicians, the public option on healthcare may not be as great as it sounds. When it comes to the public option (which is being heavily debated right now), Dr. George argues that while the option may provide health coverage for many Americans who don't have it, it may not cause insurance companies to pay their fair share of the cost of healthcare reform. "The argument that the public option will drive down costs is disingenuous," says Dr. George. "How can a program designed to cover about 10 million people (as per the Congressional Budget Office) really exert any pressure on the health insurance industry when a company like Blue Cross and Blue Shield has over 30 million members and United Healthcare is even larger?"

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