Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Statement on CBO Estimates of Better Care Reconciliation Act
22 million people losing health insurance is unconscionable

“The CBO estimate of 22 million people losing health insurance should be a bill stopper.  This bill was supposed to increase the number of people who have health insurance.  As it stands the legislation is unconscionable,” said Jane L. Delgado, PhD, MS, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, the nation’s leading Hispanic health advocacy group.

“It’s time for legislators to go back to the drafting table.  The American people deserve bipartisan legislation that will deliver on the promise of insurance for everybody.  Congress must (1) ensure access for people with pre-existing conditions instead of enacting barriers to access that may be a death sentence; (2) roll back Medicaid cuts and allow for rates of growth that reflect the reality of an aging population; (3) ensure an orderly transition that does not disrupt care and ensures states can respond to changes in a way that reduces cost growth without compromising quality and access; and, (4) strengthen and expand the network of community health centers that have a proven capacity to deliver quality services,” emphasized Dr. Delgado.

“The one thing that everybody agrees on is that our system is not perfect, so it is time to start working in a bipartisan fashion and serve the interests of the nation.  The American people deserve better,” concluded Dr. Delgado.

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About the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (The Alliance) 
The Alliance is the nation's foremost science-based source of information and trusted advocate for the best health outcomes for all. For more information, visit: http://www.healthyamericas.org or call the Alliance's Su Familia National Hispanic Family Health Helpline at 1-866-783-2645.

Thursday, June 22, 2017

The New No Gimmick Diet— 
The Buena Salud® Guide to Losing Weight and Keeping It Off

I am thrilled by the review and recommendation by Redbook for the latest book in the Buena Salud® Series. You can order the book from Amazon in English or Spanish or through your local bookstore. Let me know what you think. The process of writing and living the book has been quite a journey.

The other books in the Buena Salud series include:
The Buena Salud® Guide for a Healthy Heart
The Buena Salud® Guide to Diabetes and Your Life
The Buena Salud® Guide to Arthritis & Your Life
The Buena Salud® Guide to Overcoming Depression and Enjoying Life

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Considering Arthroscopic Surgery for Your Degenerative Knee Disease?

According to the most recent recommendations published in BMJ it seems that your answer should be,"No." The exceptions are young patients with sports-related injuries, patients with major trauma, and those with a true locked knee. This is a huge concern as according to the article 25% of people 50+ years old have degenerative knee disease. 

While a health care provider may be an expert on this procedure and may have been doing it for years...the time has come to rethink when to do it or have it done. The evidence is that in most cases arthroscopic surgery for degenerative knee disease does not produce the desired outcome.

There will be more research to come...in the meantime the challenge is to develop new interventions which are truly helpful. 

Friday, February 17, 2017

Back Pain

The data indicate that most people with back pain that lasts less than 12 weeks get better regardless of the treatment. Some people get better even without treatment. Taking all this into consideration as well as all the available evidence, the American College of Physicians recently published new guidelines for the treatment of back pain. This was the first revision since 2007 and what is recommended is a departure from past practice. 

There are surprises in the new guidelines, e.g., for acute back pain the recommendations include superficial heat, massage, and acupuncture. There are also very specific guidelines as to the medicines a person should take. Take a look at the recommendations and share them with a friend. 

The science behind wellness is growing. To make the best decisions for our health and the health of those we care for, we each need to know the latest science based information.