Health Care Reform Update

On Wednesday night, President Barack Obama hit the airwaves to discuss the idea of massive and sweeping health care reform. An unusual arrangement with ABC News allowed the president to hold a town-hall style interview, where he addressed questions directly, and drummed up support for the health care reform that is drawing much attention in the news.

There are roughly 50 million Americans without health insurance. According to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in a meeting with House Energy and Commerce Committee, lowering health care costs and providing insurance for those without insurance is “our most important domestic priority."

There have been various proposals as to how to achieve these goals, the most controversial of which is the idea of a “public option”, which goes beyond the parameters of Medicare and Medicaid. This would essentially be government provided health insurance, which would compete with the private insurance companies already in existence. President Obama is in support of this idea, as he emphasizes that this public option would keep the private insurance companies in check, and help to lower overall health care costs.

Skeptics of a public option, including current health insurance providers, claim that the public option would drive business away from private health insurance companies, and into the arms of the government. The rhetoric “socialized medicine” has been thrown around, particularly from the political right wing.

The price tag on universal coverage is estimated between $1 trillion and $1.6 trillion, and could climb as high as $2 trillion. Savings have been offered to the tune of roughly $622 billion, which leaves a remainder of at least $300 billion to come up with.

Options for obtaining that kind of money include taxing employer-sponsored health care benefits, an idea that for a long time has had many up in arms.

This proposal has gained some recent support, however, from Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., and Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., the top two Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee. This announcement came Wednesday, with the notion that perhaps only additional benefits beyond a certain price level would be taxed.

Health care reform seems imminent, but it may take a while for the legislation to actually go through. Many special interest groups have been contacting senators and representatives this week, with each area of the health care industry wanting their voice heard.

There are loud voices on both sides of the argument of the public option, but a recent poll from CBS/New York Times shows some interesting figures. Seventy-two percent of Americans asked supported coverage for people similar to the coverage received by those qualifying for Medicaid. In the same poll, 57 percent reported that they would be willing to pay higher taxes to support the cost of that insurance.

A poll conducted by ABC/The Washington Post this month, however, found that 58 percent of Americans were “very” concerned that the quality of health care that they are currently receiving would be reduced, and another 23 percent reported that they were “somewhat” concerned about the same issue.

The video of the televised special can be seen at the ABC news website.

Central Florida Foot & Ankle Center, LLC
101 6th Street N.W.
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Phone: 863-299-4551
http://www.FLFootandAnkle.com

What is Compartment Syndrome?

Although it is not a very common condition, compartment syndrome can be a very serious complication due to a pressure build up in the muscle compartments of the body. Areas that can be affected include the muscle groups of the legs, arms, hands, and feet. Most commonly, it is the muscle compartments of the legs that are indicated in compartment syndrome. Compartment syndrome is further divided into acute compartment syndrome and chronic compartment syndrome.

Acute compartment syndrome, which is generally caused by some kind of traumatic injury, is a medical emergency, and needs to be handled promptly. The most common causes of acute compartment syndrome includes fractures to the long bones of the legs, deep bruising of the muscles, complications following surgery to the area, or a blockage of circulation to the area. The increased pressure associated with acute compartment syndrome leads to a lack of oxygen to the affected muscles. This lack of oxygen, if prolonged, can lead to nerve or muscle damage, or even paralysis of the muscles. Thus, acute compartment syndrome must be handled as an emergent situation.

Chronic compartment syndrome, while not a medical emergency, can be equally as serious. It develops over a long period of time, typically from exercise, and is associated with pain that is brought on with exercise.

Symptoms of both acute and chronic compartment syndrome are similar. Both involve pain that is localized to a particular muscle compartment. This is most commonly the anterior muscle compartment of the leg, but other muscle groups may be affected as well. Physical evidence of increased pressure is usually visible, such as swelling of the area and a hardening of the muscles when touched. Additionally there will be evidence of decreased circulation to the area (pain is recreated when the muscles are stretched) as well as evidence of nerve compression (a tingling, or a “pins and needles” sensation).

Compartment syndrome is diagnosed by a medical professional first by ruling out other possible causes. These include stress fractures of the tibia and tendonitis. If compartment syndrome is suspected, the intramuscular pressure may be evaluated at rest, one minute following exercise, and five minutes following exercise. If the muscle pressure does not decrease following exercise, compartment syndrome is suspected.

If you are concerned that you may be developing chronic compartment syndrome, see your doctor right away. This situation is much easier to deal with sooner than later.

Treatment for chronic compartment syndrome includes rest, especially from the activity that aggravates the muscle compartment. Chronic compartment syndrome is most commonly seen in runners and cyclists. Ice and anti-inflammatory medications will help to relieve some of the pressure and swelling. Elevation will also help with the swelling. Compression is not recommended, as this will increase pressure, making the problem worse.

For acute compartment syndrome, or for more serious cases of chronic compartment syndrome, surgical intervention may be recommended by your doctor. This procedure typically involves cutting some of the fascia, or the stiff connective tissue that separates muscle groups in your body. Cutting the fascia will help to relieve the pressure on the muscles.

Central Florida Foot & Ankle Center, LLC
101 6th Street N.W.
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Phone: 863-299-4551
http://www.FLFootandAnkle.com