Premium tax would hike health-insurance costs

By: Health Insurance

Why? Because Congress wants to levy a $6.7 billion premium tax on all private health plans each year for the next decade to pay for reform.

That's a $67 billion tax.

Health plans will have no choice but to pass these costs on to the consumer. This tax will make it tougher for families to afford coverage, increase the difficulty for small-business owners trying hard to insure workers, and stifle job creation.

In Florida, small businesses are the bedrock of our economy. This tax will hit our economy especially hard. It's just not what families and small businesses need as they dig their way out of a severe recession.

The Congressional Budget Office evaluated this tax and found it will lead to "higher premiums for private coverage." The nonpartisan CBO estimated that premiums for individual coverage could rise by as much as 13 percent.

This tax also might be disruptive to policyholders, because it could damage the ability of health plans to deliver all the benefits that members expect.

That's because Congress is ready to impose this health-insurance tax in 2010. That's after families have already signed up for coverage for next year, and after small businesses have already negotiated coverage contracts.

The result? Health plans may not receive enough premium to cover the costs of the massive tax, and benefits might suffer.

Unfortunately, health plans have been demonized in the pursuit of reform. But in reality, it's not true to claim that health plans make a lot of money; their profit margins are actually pretty small.

In 2008, private health plans made $8.61 billion in total profits nationally, according to Forbes magazine. The industry's profit margin was just 2.2 percent, ranking health plans 35th out of 53 industries in terms of profitability.

As the president and CEO of SantaFe HealthCare — the parent company of AvMed Health Plans — I am truly concerned by this proposed tax. As one of Florida's oldest and largest nonprofit health plans, AvMed reinvests its earnings each year to continually improve on the benefits and services it offers to members in Orlando and elsewhere.

Obviously, a health-insurance tax that wipes out most of our annual earnings is counterproductive to our mission. Surely, congressional leaders must grasp that this tax doesn't make sense.

There are better ways to pay for the systemic health-care reform that AvMed and other health plans support.

Instead of taxing health insurance, Congress should focus on the underlying costs of medical care. We can achieve huge cost savings by ending unnecessary treatments and services, rooting out rampant fraud and ending frivolous medical lawsuits filed by trial lawyers.

Health reform shouldn't hurt Florida's families and small businesses. It shouldn't hamper the ability of health plans to provide benefits.

Time's running out.

Please contact your congressional representative and Florida's two senators today. Ask them to vote against this harmful health-insurance tax. We can achieve true, lasting reform in better ways.

About the Author

Quoting & Saving just got easier...Easy To Insure ME Health Insurance Quotes... Quote all carriers in seconds

Florida Health Insurance
Georgia Health Insurance

(ArticlesBase SC #1609218)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Premium tax would hike health-insurance costs

Premium tax would hike health-insurance costs

By: Health Insurance

Why? Because Congress wants to levy a $6.7 billion premium tax on all private health plans each year for the next decade to pay for reform.

That's a $67 billion tax.

Health plans will have no choice but to pass these costs on to the consumer. This tax will make it tougher for families to afford coverage, increase the difficulty for small-business owners trying hard to insure workers, and stifle job creation.

In Florida, small businesses are the bedrock of our economy. This tax will hit our economy especially hard. It's just not what families and small businesses need as they dig their way out of a severe recession.

The Congressional Budget Office evaluated this tax and found it will lead to "higher premiums for private coverage." The nonpartisan CBO estimated that premiums for individual coverage could rise by as much as 13 percent.

This tax also might be disruptive to policyholders, because it could damage the ability of health plans to deliver all the benefits that members expect.

That's because Congress is ready to impose this health-insurance tax in 2010. That's after families have already signed up for coverage for next year, and after small businesses have already negotiated coverage contracts.

The result? Health plans may not receive enough premium to cover the costs of the massive tax, and benefits might suffer.

Unfortunately, health plans have been demonized in the pursuit of reform. But in reality, it's not true to claim that health plans make a lot of money; their profit margins are actually pretty small.

In 2008, private health plans made $8.61 billion in total profits nationally, according to Forbes magazine. The industry's profit margin was just 2.2 percent, ranking health plans 35th out of 53 industries in terms of profitability.

As the president and CEO of SantaFe HealthCare — the parent company of AvMed Health Plans — I am truly concerned by this proposed tax. As one of Florida's oldest and largest nonprofit health plans, AvMed reinvests its earnings each year to continually improve on the benefits and services it offers to members in Orlando and elsewhere.

Obviously, a health-insurance tax that wipes out most of our annual earnings is counterproductive to our mission. Surely, congressional leaders must grasp that this tax doesn't make sense.

There are better ways to pay for the systemic health-care reform that AvMed and other health plans support.

Instead of taxing health insurance, Congress should focus on the underlying costs of medical care. We can achieve huge cost savings by ending unnecessary treatments and services, rooting out rampant fraud and ending frivolous medical lawsuits filed by trial lawyers.

Health reform shouldn't hurt Florida's families and small businesses. It shouldn't hamper the ability of health plans to provide benefits.

Time's running out.

Please contact your congressional representative and Florida's two senators today. Ask them to vote against this harmful health-insurance tax. We can achieve true, lasting reform in better ways.

About the Author

Quoting & Saving just got easier...Easy To Insure ME Health Insurance Quotes... Quote all carriers in seconds

Florida Health Insurance
Georgia Health Insurance

(ArticlesBase SC #1609218)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Premium tax would hike health-insurance costs

Role of Nurse Needs Met In Security and Safety

Role of nurses in the fulfillment of security needs can contribute directly or indirectly. Direct care nurses can do in nursing to clients who experience problems associated with unmet security needs. The nurse's role in fulfilling the security requirements are as follows :

1. Direct care givers (care giver); nurses providing direct assistance to clients and families experiencing problems related to security needs.


2. Educators, nurses should provide health education to clients and families to the client and the family doing the family's health care program related to security needs independently, and are responsible for family security issues.


3. Health inspector, a nurse must do a "home visit" or a regular home visits to identify or perform assessment of the security needs of clients and families.


4. Consultants, nurses as a resource for families in dealing with family safety issues. In order for families to ask for advice to the nurse the nurse-family relationship must be nurtured well, nurses must be open and trustworthy.


5. Collaboration, nurses also must cooperate with various programs as well as cross-sectoral in fulfilling the security needs of families to achieve health and optimum family security.


6. Facilitator, the nurse should be able to bridge both the compliance with the security needs of clients and families that are not risk factors in the security needs can be addressed.


7. Inventor cases / problems, nurses identify safety problems early, so that does not happen injuri or risk falling to the clients who are unable to meet its security needs.


8. Modification of the environment, nurses must be able to modify both the environment and the home environment in order to create a community environment healthy environment to support the fulfillment of security needs.

Role of Nurse Needs Met In Security and Safety

Role of nurses in the fulfillment of security needs can contribute directly or indirectly. Direct care nurses can do in nursing to clients who experience problems associated with unmet security needs. The nurse's role in fulfilling the security requirements are as follows :

1. Direct care givers (care giver); nurses providing direct assistance to clients and families experiencing problems related to security needs.


2. Educators, nurses should provide health education to clients and families to the client and the family doing the family's health care program related to security needs independently, and are responsible for family security issues.


3. Health inspector, a nurse must do a "home visit" or a regular home visits to identify or perform assessment of the security needs of clients and families.


4. Consultants, nurses as a resource for families in dealing with family safety issues. In order for families to ask for advice to the nurse the nurse-family relationship must be nurtured well, nurses must be open and trustworthy.


5. Collaboration, nurses also must cooperate with various programs as well as cross-sectoral in fulfilling the security needs of families to achieve health and optimum family security.


6. Facilitator, the nurse should be able to bridge both the compliance with the security needs of clients and families that are not risk factors in the security needs can be addressed.


7. Inventor cases / problems, nurses identify safety problems early, so that does not happen injuri or risk falling to the clients who are unable to meet its security needs.


8. Modification of the environment, nurses must be able to modify both the environment and the home environment in order to create a community environment healthy environment to support the fulfillment of security needs.

Identifying And Leveraging A Nursing Recruitment Agency

Whether you’re new to the nursing job market or you’re a seasoned nurse that’s looking for a better job opportunity, a nursing recruitment agency might be a wise choice. Not only is this a company that has your best interests in mind, but they can also steer you in the path of financial security. By taking the time to learn what this kind of company offers, you can begin to get on your personal path to nursing success.

What is a Nursing Recruitment Agency?

Needless to say, this arrangement offers a lot of benefits for the nurse. Not only will the nurse for hire have more access to more jobs, but they can also stay at their current job without any interference of the job hunting process. In fact, this is usually the reason why so many nurses stay in jobs they don’t like – they just don’t have the time to spend on looking for something new. With a recruiter, they will handle the legwork and the paperwork needed in order to get a job hunt started and a new job found.

In addition to this, a nursing recruitment agency also helps match up the right nurse to the right job. By looking at the skills and the experience of the applicant, the agency can determine whether or not they are over or under-qualified for a position. This helps the employer out too as they will be receiving applicants that are right for the job.

Leveraging Your Skills with an Agency

What you will want to do is make sure you are representing yourself honestly with a nursing recruitment agency in order to match up with the best job for you. By listing the experience you have as well as the training, you will show a recruiter what you are best suited for. But in addition to that, you will also want to make sure the recruiter is aware of your personality and what pace you enjoy in nursing. Slow and steady workers will be better suited for places like private practice or home health care, while fast paced workers may be better for a hospital type arrangement.

The truth is that a nursing agency allows you to be in the control seat of your employment. Instead of having to look for jobs that suit you, the recruiter will do this work for you and then you can decide what the best fit is. Instead of being in a job that you don’t enjoy, you do have choices.

Nursing is one of the fastest growing professions and it’s only going to be more popular as the years pass on and older nurses retire. This job market is working in your favor – why not simply see what a recruiter can do for you?

By: Grant Eckert

http://www.articledashboard.com

Identifying And Leveraging A Nursing Recruitment Agency

Whether you’re new to the nursing job market or you’re a seasoned nurse that’s looking for a better job opportunity, a nursing recruitment agency might be a wise choice. Not only is this a company that has your best interests in mind, but they can also steer you in the path of financial security. By taking the time to learn what this kind of company offers, you can begin to get on your personal path to nursing success.

What is a Nursing Recruitment Agency?

Needless to say, this arrangement offers a lot of benefits for the nurse. Not only will the nurse for hire have more access to more jobs, but they can also stay at their current job without any interference of the job hunting process. In fact, this is usually the reason why so many nurses stay in jobs they don’t like – they just don’t have the time to spend on looking for something new. With a recruiter, they will handle the legwork and the paperwork needed in order to get a job hunt started and a new job found.

In addition to this, a nursing recruitment agency also helps match up the right nurse to the right job. By looking at the skills and the experience of the applicant, the agency can determine whether or not they are over or under-qualified for a position. This helps the employer out too as they will be receiving applicants that are right for the job.

Leveraging Your Skills with an Agency

What you will want to do is make sure you are representing yourself honestly with a nursing recruitment agency in order to match up with the best job for you. By listing the experience you have as well as the training, you will show a recruiter what you are best suited for. But in addition to that, you will also want to make sure the recruiter is aware of your personality and what pace you enjoy in nursing. Slow and steady workers will be better suited for places like private practice or home health care, while fast paced workers may be better for a hospital type arrangement.

The truth is that a nursing agency allows you to be in the control seat of your employment. Instead of having to look for jobs that suit you, the recruiter will do this work for you and then you can decide what the best fit is. Instead of being in a job that you don’t enjoy, you do have choices.

Nursing is one of the fastest growing professions and it’s only going to be more popular as the years pass on and older nurses retire. This job market is working in your favor – why not simply see what a recruiter can do for you?

By: Grant Eckert

http://www.articledashboard.com

Betty Neuman

Born 1924 near Lowell, Ohio.
In 1947 she received RN Diploma from Peoples Hospital School of Nursing, Akron, Ohio. She then moved to California and gained experience as a hospital, staff, and head nurse; school nurse and industrial nurse; and as a clinical instructor in medical-surgical, critical care and communicable disease nursing. In 1957 Dr. Neuman attended the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) with double major in psychology and public health. She received BS in nursing from UCLA. In 1966 she received Masters degree in Mental Health, Public Health Consultation fom UCLA.
Dr. Neuman is recognized as pioneer in the field of nursing involvement in community mental health. She began developing her model while lecturing in community mental health at UCLA. In 1972 her model was first published as a 'Model for teaching total person approach to patient problems' in Nursing Research. In 1985 she received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Pacific Western University. In 1998 she received a second honorary doctorate, this one from Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan.

The Neuman Systems Model was originally developed in 1970 at the University of California, Los Angeles, by Betty Neuman, Ph.D., RN. The model was developed by Dr. Neuman as a way to teach an introductory nursing course to nursing students. The goal of the model was to provide a wholistic overview of the physiological, psychological, sociocultural, and developmental aspects of human beings. After a two-year evaluation of the model, it was published in Nursing Research (Neuman & Young, 1972).

http://nursing-all.blogspot.com
www.nurses.info

Betty Neuman

Born 1924 near Lowell, Ohio.
In 1947 she received RN Diploma from Peoples Hospital School of Nursing, Akron, Ohio. She then moved to California and gained experience as a hospital, staff, and head nurse; school nurse and industrial nurse; and as a clinical instructor in medical-surgical, critical care and communicable disease nursing. In 1957 Dr. Neuman attended the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) with double major in psychology and public health. She received BS in nursing from UCLA. In 1966 she received Masters degree in Mental Health, Public Health Consultation fom UCLA.
Dr. Neuman is recognized as pioneer in the field of nursing involvement in community mental health. She began developing her model while lecturing in community mental health at UCLA. In 1972 her model was first published as a 'Model for teaching total person approach to patient problems' in Nursing Research. In 1985 she received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Pacific Western University. In 1998 she received a second honorary doctorate, this one from Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan.

The Neuman Systems Model was originally developed in 1970 at the University of California, Los Angeles, by Betty Neuman, Ph.D., RN. The model was developed by Dr. Neuman as a way to teach an introductory nursing course to nursing students. The goal of the model was to provide a wholistic overview of the physiological, psychological, sociocultural, and developmental aspects of human beings. After a two-year evaluation of the model, it was published in Nursing Research (Neuman & Young, 1972).

http://nursing-all.blogspot.com
www.nurses.info

Sr. Callista Roy

Sr. Callista Roy is a highly respected nurse theorist, writer, lecturer, researcher and teacher who currently holds the position of Professor and Nurse Theorist at the Boston College School of Nursing in Chestnut Hill, MA. She teaches courses on epistemology of nursing and strategies for creating knowledge at the master's and doctoral levels, as well as directing doctoral dissertation research. Her current scholarly interests include research involving families in the cognitive recovery of patients with mild head injury and nurse coaching as an intervention for patients after ambulatory surgery. In addition, she is also interested in conceptualizing and measuring coping, developing the philosophical basis of adaptation nursing including the distinction between veritivity and relativity, and in group projects on emerging nursing knowledge and practice outcomes.

It has been said that Dr. Roy's name is one of the most recognized worldwide in nursing today, and that she is one of our greatest living thinkers. However, Dr. Roy maintains that her best work "is yet to come" and likely will be accomplished by one of her students. As a theorist, she often emphasizes her primary commitment to define and develop nursing knowledge and regards her work with the Roy Adaptation Model as a rich source of knowledge for clinical nursing. First conceptualized in the 1960s when she was a master's student, Dr. Roy's work on the Roy Adaptation Model for Nursing Practice is ongoing. With the beginning of the 21st Century, Dr. Roy has provided an expanded, values-based concept of adaptation, founded on insights related to the place of the person in the universe. She hopes her redefinition of adaptation, with its cosmic philosophical and scientific assumptions, will become the basis for developing knowledge that will make nursing a major social force in this new century.

Dr. Roy credits her major influences in her personal and professional growth to her family, her religious commitment, and her teachers and mentors. Born at Los Angeles Country General Hospital on October 14, 1939 as the second child and first daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fabien Roy, she received the middle name Callista, after Saint Callistus, Pope and martyr, from the Roman Catholic Calendar of the day on which she was born. A deep spirit of faith, hope, love and commitment to God and service to others was central in this family of seven boys and seven girls. Her mother was a licensed vocational nurse and instilled the values of always seeking to know more about people and their care and of selfless giving as a nurse. Dr. Roy notes that she also had excellent teachers in parochial schools, high school, and college. At age 14 she began working at a large general hospital, first as a pantry girl, then as a maid, and finally as a nurse's aid. After a soul-searching process of discernment, she decided to enter the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet, of which she has been a member for more than 40 years. Her college education began in a liberal arts program, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts with a major in nursing at Mount St. Mary's College, in Los Angeles.

Source : http://www2.bc.edu/~royca/htm/biography.htm

Sr. Callista Roy

Sr. Callista Roy is a highly respected nurse theorist, writer, lecturer, researcher and teacher who currently holds the position of Professor and Nurse Theorist at the Boston College School of Nursing in Chestnut Hill, MA. She teaches courses on epistemology of nursing and strategies for creating knowledge at the master's and doctoral levels, as well as directing doctoral dissertation research. Her current scholarly interests include research involving families in the cognitive recovery of patients with mild head injury and nurse coaching as an intervention for patients after ambulatory surgery. In addition, she is also interested in conceptualizing and measuring coping, developing the philosophical basis of adaptation nursing including the distinction between veritivity and relativity, and in group projects on emerging nursing knowledge and practice outcomes.

It has been said that Dr. Roy's name is one of the most recognized worldwide in nursing today, and that she is one of our greatest living thinkers. However, Dr. Roy maintains that her best work "is yet to come" and likely will be accomplished by one of her students. As a theorist, she often emphasizes her primary commitment to define and develop nursing knowledge and regards her work with the Roy Adaptation Model as a rich source of knowledge for clinical nursing. First conceptualized in the 1960s when she was a master's student, Dr. Roy's work on the Roy Adaptation Model for Nursing Practice is ongoing. With the beginning of the 21st Century, Dr. Roy has provided an expanded, values-based concept of adaptation, founded on insights related to the place of the person in the universe. She hopes her redefinition of adaptation, with its cosmic philosophical and scientific assumptions, will become the basis for developing knowledge that will make nursing a major social force in this new century.

Dr. Roy credits her major influences in her personal and professional growth to her family, her religious commitment, and her teachers and mentors. Born at Los Angeles Country General Hospital on October 14, 1939 as the second child and first daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fabien Roy, she received the middle name Callista, after Saint Callistus, Pope and martyr, from the Roman Catholic Calendar of the day on which she was born. A deep spirit of faith, hope, love and commitment to God and service to others was central in this family of seven boys and seven girls. Her mother was a licensed vocational nurse and instilled the values of always seeking to know more about people and their care and of selfless giving as a nurse. Dr. Roy notes that she also had excellent teachers in parochial schools, high school, and college. At age 14 she began working at a large general hospital, first as a pantry girl, then as a maid, and finally as a nurse's aid. After a soul-searching process of discernment, she decided to enter the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet, of which she has been a member for more than 40 years. Her college education began in a liberal arts program, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts with a major in nursing at Mount St. Mary's College, in Los Angeles.

Source : http://www2.bc.edu/~royca/htm/biography.htm

Virginia Henderson

1897-1996
Army School of Nursing,
Washington, D.C., 1921

• First full-time nursing instructor in Virginia
• Recipient of the Virginia Historical Nurse Leader Award
• Member of the American Nurses Association Hall of Fame
• Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing
• Authored one of the most widely used definitions of nursing
• Proposed plan to create districts within the Graduate Nurses Association of Virginia (now Virginia Nurses Association)

Virginia Avenel Henderson's national and international achievements made her the quintessential nurse of the twentieth century. Her professional career was launched in Virginia where she served as the first full-time nursing instructor at Norfolk Protestant School of Nursing and took an active role in the state nurses association. A pioneer nurse educator, Henderson was instrumental in pushing for the inclusion of psychiatric nursing in educational programs in Virginia.

"Henderson through her efforts as an author, researcher, scholar, consultant, and beloved teacher has touched the minds and hearts of thousands of nurses. In reading her writings, in listening to her speak, one is impressed with the clarity of her vision, prose, and insight into the nature of nursing's relations to patients."

Source : http://www.library.vcu.edu/

Virginia Henderson

1897-1996
Army School of Nursing,
Washington, D.C., 1921

• First full-time nursing instructor in Virginia
• Recipient of the Virginia Historical Nurse Leader Award
• Member of the American Nurses Association Hall of Fame
• Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing
• Authored one of the most widely used definitions of nursing
• Proposed plan to create districts within the Graduate Nurses Association of Virginia (now Virginia Nurses Association)

Virginia Avenel Henderson's national and international achievements made her the quintessential nurse of the twentieth century. Her professional career was launched in Virginia where she served as the first full-time nursing instructor at Norfolk Protestant School of Nursing and took an active role in the state nurses association. A pioneer nurse educator, Henderson was instrumental in pushing for the inclusion of psychiatric nursing in educational programs in Virginia.

"Henderson through her efforts as an author, researcher, scholar, consultant, and beloved teacher has touched the minds and hearts of thousands of nurses. In reading her writings, in listening to her speak, one is impressed with the clarity of her vision, prose, and insight into the nature of nursing's relations to patients."

Source : http://www.library.vcu.edu/