Hawaii's employer mandate and its contribution to universal access

Article Abstract:

Hawaii passed the Prepaid Health Care Act (PPHCA) in 1974 and became the first and only state in the country to mandate that employers provide their employees with health care coverage. The PPHCA requires businesses to provide a standard package of medical benefits. Employers and employees share costs: the employee may pay up to 1.5% of monthly wages or up to half of the premium, and the employer pays at least 50% of the premium. Employees who work at least 20 hours per week and earn at least 86.67 times the minimum hourly wage per month are eligible for coverage under PPHCA. Employees can choose between a fee-for-service plan and a health maintenance organization plan. PPHCA does not specifically provide for cost containment, but overall health care costs are markedly lower than in the rest of the US, Canada, Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany. Furthermore, between PPHCA, Medicaid and the State Health Insurance Program, there is universal access to health care in Hawaii.

Management, Social policy, Health insurance, Hawaii

---

Diabetic ketoacidosis in prisoners without access to insulin

Article Abstract:

Prisoners in New York City with insulin-dependent diabetes may develop diabetic ketoacidosis as a result of being denied access to insulin immediately after their arrest. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a metabolic imbalance characterized by an accumulation of acidic substances in body tissues and fluids. Of 54 hospital admissions for diabetic ketoacidosis among 49 male prisoners at a New York City hospital, 70% of the hospital admissions occurred after patients were denied access to insulin immediately following their arrest. The average time without access to insulin was 2 1/2 days. All the prisoners were suffering from insulin-dependent diabetes and had been following instructions for insulin use at the time of their arrest. Prisoners are ensured access to medical care during their incarceration under federal law. Prisoners with life-threatening or chronic illnesses should be given access to any necessary medications immediately following their arrest.

Usage, Causes of, Diseases, Prisoners, Insulin, Diabetic acidosis, Diabetic ketoacidosis

---

Intensity and amount of physical activity in relation to insulin sensitivity: the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study

Article Abstract:

Physical activity can improve insulin sensitivity to glucose, which could reduce the risk of non-insulin-dependent, or type 2, diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Researchers estimated energy expenditure and gave glucose tolerance tests to 1,467 men and women, some of whom had mild NIDDM. Those who exercised five or more times a week had higher insulin sensitivity than those who did not. This was true of vigorous and non-vigorous activities. Many physicians recommend 30 minutes of activity every day of the week.

Prevention, Physiological aspects, Exercise, Exercise physiology, Insulin resistance

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Lipoprotein (a) concentrations as risk factors for atherosclerosis. Lipoprotein(a) and atherosclerosis
• Abstracts: The medicine of the lateral pass. The contribution of science to medicine. The impact of philanthropy on medicine and health
• Abstracts: The discovery of the cardiac conduction system: the testimony of the authors. part 2 An alert for authors and readers of translated books
• Abstracts: Biologic modifiers and chemoprevention of cancer of the oral cavity. part 2 The von Hippel-Lindau protein, vascular endothelial growth factor, and kidney cancer
• Abstracts: Renal-dose dopamine: fact and fiction. Familial Occurrence of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.