medicare wellness not exam, more strokes, horns win

MEDICARE WELLNESS NOT EXAM
as part of the healthcare protection act medicare now covers
an annual wellness not exam which includes

an update of the medical history
an update of the patients providers
preventative questions about screening as recommended
by the us preventative task force
screening for  depression
and a required screening for cognitive decline-may be an important
part of the visit as it is a required component

these are all important components but it
sounds like an almost annual physical battery of questions
but not as complete
therefore this medicare well not exam is a good thing but the

problem is
1 the wellness not exam was announced to be started january 2011
however it will not be implemented until april 2011
sounds like double talk
ie you can have it done jan feb 2011 but we wont pay for it until april 2011
maybe

2 they just need to pay for a physical and be done with it
the medical doctors payment will be about the same
and a better evaluation will be done
the appropriate tests based on this physical history and exam
and based on the recommended accepted guidelines for screening
for diseases can be then be ordered

it should be that simple

as a physician you can order a $3000 mri without problems but
can not do a $150 physical

that aint right

MORE STROKES
well its finally starting to hit the next generation
the prediction is that this next generation-your kids and grandkids-
will  not live as long as my/our generation does
probably all related to diet, obesity and lack of exercise

the american stroke association just announced that the incidence
of strokes in men 15-34 years old rose 51% since 1995 and
17% in women of that age while the incidence dropped in adult
males over 65 by 25% and women over 65 by 28%
the incidence of stroke increased by 47% in males 35-44 years old
 and by 36% in females 35-44 years old

this increase is probably been caused by obesity and the lack of
exercise and poor diet

lets see diet and exercise can be used to treat or prevent
depression, anxiety, diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis,
cancer, stroke, heart attacks, mild cognitive decline, and maybe
alzheimers

the cost to do these treatments is zero
sounds like a cost effective treatment to me

HORNS WIN
horns basketball continues to roll
they beat oklahoma there easily
could they go unbeaten in conference
they probably need to loose at least one game
in conference play or the big 12 conference
to help them get ready for the big dance in march

togd