Environmental Expert Warns Of Health Threats In Gulf Region

By Miles Wolf Tamboli - Talk Radio News

A House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee held a field hearing Monday on the "Local Impact of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill" in Chalmette, Louisiana. During the hearing, environmental experts offered up to date information on how the spill will affect human health in the region.

The use of dispersants and the fumes created by burning oil off the surface of the water have created "crude oil aerosols," which "have resulted in health impacts including headaches, nausea, respiratory impacts, irritation to eyes, nose, throat and lungs and asthma attacks," according to Wilma Subra, a leading environmental scientist and president of the Subra Company.

"BP ... failed to provide adequate protective gear to the fishermen [and] workers exposed to the crude oil and the workers experienced health impacts," Subra said. "The workers were afraid to speak up due to the potential to lose their jobs. Those fishermen who attempted to wear respirators while working were threatened to be fired by BP."

In addition to the health effects, Subra said that attempts to mitigate the massive oil spill have also negatively impacted the local ecology.

"The actions have had detrimental impacts to the water column, sediment, biota and wetland areas by dispersing the crude oil into the water column, sediments and wetland areas," Subra explained. "The dispersing of the crude oil also has resulted in a much larger area of impact in the Gulf of Mexico than has been covered by the surface crude oil spill."

Prevention Necessary Component Of Health Care Reform, Say Top HHS Officials

By Courtney Ann Jackson-Talk Radio News Service

A focus on prevention and wellness is key to quality health care reform, according the the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and three top HHS officials participated in a webcast Friday to clarify the Obama administration's health care reform message.

“This is a public health opportunity, not just a physician opportunity. We believe prevention should occur not just between a doctor and a patient and not just at an individual level, but at the family level, the neighborhood level, the community level,” said Dr. David Blumenthal, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. “Public health and prevention is now a major theme for every person in this country and we all have an investment in it.”

Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary for Health, said what seems like simple steps, such as, immunization or counseling for an addiction, can save money in the long-term.

The officials also highlighted aspects that the administration claims are essential to comprehensive health reform including: reducing long-term growth of health care costs, a guaranteed choice of doctors and health plans, improved patient safety and quality of care, affordable quality coverage, and the ability to maintain coverage when you change or lose your job.

“We’re not just focusing on saving costs, but saving lives,” Sebelius said.

Democratic Senators Praise Progress Of Health Care Reform

By Mariko Lamb- Talk Radio News Service

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), and Barbara Mikulski (D-Md) praised the Affordable Health Choices Act that passed through the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (HELP) Wednesday.

“We’re not going to sit with the status quo. We’re moving ahead with healthcare reform,” said Senator Harkin.

“[The bill] offers to fix what is broken in our healthcare system without ruining that which works in our nation,” said Dodd. “It offers every American choice, stability, and lower costs.”

Although the bill passed through the committee with a 13-10 vote, not one Republican member voted in favor of the legislation. Regardless, Dodd praised the Republicans’ contribution to the markup of the bill, which includes 160 Republican added amendments. “I know that some of our Republican friends don’t want to admit their contribution, but they made good contributions to the bill, and we listened,” he said.

“Now is the time to rejoice on what we’ve done, but the battle must go on,” said Mikulski. HELP’s Affordable Health Choices Act is expected to be merged with a healthcare bill by the Senate Finance Committee, which is under pressure from President Obama to release its version as early as next week.

Community-Based Programs Help Prevent Chronic Disease

By Michael Combier-Talk Radio News Service

A number of community-led programs that provide healthier choices for local populations in West Michigan or upstate New York are increasing the efficiency of the chronic disease prevention, according to statements made by experts at a briefing conducted by the Trust for America’s Health.

“Collectively, these innovative programs emphasize that prevention saves lives, improves the health of the population, improves health equity, and saves money for government, business, healthcare, families and individuals,” said Frances D. Butterfoss, founding President of Coalitions Work in Virginia.

Chronic diseases have been a crucial factor in the health care of many American people. They account for seven of every ten U.S. deaths, affecting half of the country’s population, and is responsible for more than 75 percent of the $2 trillion spent annually on medical care.

“Their preventability resides in our community programs,” said Janet Collins director of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Collins said that easy access to fast-food restaurants prevent the local population in making healthy choices. Communities need “to surround the individual with healthy choices” such as local grocery stores and the possibility to buy fresh vegetables and fruits said Collins.

The funding of local programs could increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and prevent smoking use inside the community.

“Community prevention has a direct impact on health outcomes” and results can be seen “in relatively short-time frames,” said Jeff Levi executive director at the Trust for America’s Health.

His organization recently released a report concluding that an investment of $10 per person per year in community-based programs would save the country more than $16 billion annually within five years. “That is a return of $5.60 for every $1 spent,” said Levi.

The speakers at the briefing asked Congress to support $75 million in funding for Healthy Communities Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the fiscal year 2010 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill. This funding would help continue the community-based programs.

Dole: Get Health Secretary confirmed so she can get in front door and begin work

By Kayleigh Harvey - Talk Radio News Service

The nominee for Health Secretary, Governor Kathleen Sebelius (D-Kan.), was told by members of the Senate Finance Committee that the job of reforming America’s healthcare system would not be easy.

Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) told Sebelius, “The time for incremental change has passed. It is increasingly difficult to fix the system one step at a time. We cannot add 46 million uninsured to a broken system, but we also cannot bend the growth curve of health spending without covering the uninsured.”

Sebelius noted the challenges she faces if confirmed, stating, “Health care costs are crushing families, businesses, and government budgets. Since 2000, health insurance premiums have almost doubled and an additional 9 million Americans have become uninsured. Since 2004, the number of “under-insured” families - those who pay for coverage but are unprotected against high costs - rose by 60 per cent.”

In order to tackle the rising costs associated with health reform, Sebelius told the committee she will work with both sides to explore all options in an attempt to reduce costs. She said, “should I be confirmed, healthcare reform would be my mission.”

Taking on a more light hearted tone, former Senator Robert Dole (R-Kan.), asked that the committee work hard to get Sebelius confirmed quickly to get the work started. He said, “It would really help if you could get her confirmed before the recess. She can’t even get into the building and we are a little behind anyway and this is the issue of the year. So if you guys can all, you know, do something.”

Chairman Baucus laughing, at Dole’s comments, said, “You are absolutely right and that’s why we are having this hearing. So we can get her confirmed this week.”

All members of the committee commended the president’s selection of Sebelius as Health Secretary nominee and commended, also, her record on fighting health care inequality as Governor of Kansas.