Health News
Features
-
Pop Quiz: Test your knowledge of managed-care plans
Preventing health insurance mishaps by knowing how you’re covered THERE’S NO GETTING around the fact that healthcare insurance plans can be complicated and confusing. There are many different types of plans, such as managed-care plans, and each has its own set of rules and requirements. However, having the right information — down to the smallest…
-
Health insurance update: Who falls in the coverage gap and how can they get insured?
“I think most of the providers that volunteer feel a moral and ethical obligation to help take care of those people.” — Dr. David Loewy, volunteer with We Care of Polk County LOCAL RESIDENTS who have issues getting health insurance coverage are fortunate in that there are many agencies here that offer a wide range…
-
Medicare and end-of-life care: What’s changing?
New proposed policy encourages the process of advanced-care planning END-OF-LIFE DECISIONS are complicated and fraught with emotion, but a recent announcement by Medicare will hopefully offer some clarity to those facing such tough decisions. In early July, Medicare announced plans to pay doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician’s assistants for conversations with patients concerning end-of-life care.…
Columns
-
PCMA Letter: It’s always a good time to address mental health
IN THIS EDITION (August 2015) of Central Florida Health News, medical experts weigh in on topics to help improve you or a loved one’s mental health. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a staggering one in five Americans will suffer from anxiety or depression in their lifetime.
-
Publisher’s Note: Depression cases in our local Medicare population
MENTAL ILLNESS can refer to several afflictions that affect the state of our minds, but usually the first one we think of is depression. While clinical depression can be caused by many individual factors (or a combination of several), there are some medical conditions that put a person at greater risk for the disease.
-
Family Health: Urgent vs. emergency care
WHEN A SUDDEN illness or injury strikes, it can be stressful to decide where to seek medical attention. Though your primary-care physician is the best place to start, illness and injuries don’t always occur during office hours or on schedule. It’s important to understand your options for immediate medical care before symptoms strike, as it…