David B. Nash, MD, MBA

Diabetes prevention can be led by health insurance companies

Conditions

May 20, 2010

Whether I’m wearing my health policy hat or seeing patients in the office, one condition continues to surface as a source of concern and frustration.

Diabetes, one of the nation’s most serious and costly health burdens, now affects almost 25 million people in this country — a conservative estimate. Another million new cases are diagnosed each year.

Three years ago, the American Diabetes Association estimated the total diabetes cost in the U.S. …

Social networking impact on patients, doctors, and non-profits

David B. Nash, MD, MBA

Social media

May 6, 2010

In its current listing of online social networks, Wikipedia presents 156 major, active websites. A neighboring link to view “now-defunct” sites accompanies the listing — a subtle reminder of the Internet’s competitive and volatile environment where promising endeavors rise and fall overnight.

But although the popularity of a specific website may fade with time, the practice of online social networking is here to stay.

In its simplest form, online social networking is …

Medicaid physician payment rates hurts primary care doctors

David B. Nash, MD, MBA

Policy

April 23, 2010

Across the country, state Medicaid health insurance programs serving low-income children and families, people with disabilities, and older adults are struggling in an environment of chronic underfunding.

Consider that, nationwide, at least one child in four relies on Medicaid for health coverage. Medicaid funds healthcare services for two out of every five births and fills in gaps in Medicare coverage for the elderly and disabled.

But inadequate payments and outmoded methods of …