Discusses the implications of the Medicare program's rate setting system on health care reform and considers whether such a procedure could be applied to a health insurance system that included children. Examines desirable characteristics of a provider payment system, special health needs of children, and hospital and physician payment issues.…

Examines the claimed advantages and potential disadvantages of managed care plans for children and pregnant women. Although available research does not support most claims that such plans reduce costs and improve care, managed care plans are growing and changing rapidly. Therefore, past experience with managed care may not be a good guide to…

Discusses the advantages and disadvantages of an employer-based health insurance system and the effects of such a system on children. Examines employer decisions regarding coverage, financial limitations, insurer and health plan practices that affect the availability and continuity of coverage, and several new models for providing health insurance…

Recent polling data suggest that there is a growing consensus to pay special attention to children's needs in the health care reform debate. The public generally desires children to have greater access to health care services, even if this would mean higher taxes, but is unsure that government is the best vehicle to provide such services. (MDM)

Estimated the number of Brazilian children under 14 whose mothers are HIV-positive, living with AIDS, or dead due to AIDS. Found that of the 210,150 children, 17,600 were HIV-positive Findings underscore the urgent need for new programs to increase the longevity of persons with AIDS and to decrease the likelihood of child displacement and severe…

The health of women involves their emotional, social, cultural, spiritual, and physical well-being, and is influenced by social, political, and economic factors, as well as by biology. This definition of women's health provides a framework for a relevant and effective approach to patient education, health promotion, and disease prevention.…

Wayne Myers, director of the Office of Rural Health Policy, discusses Appalachian rural health and access to health care. The health manpower shortage in Central Appalachia still exists but is less severe than 10 years ago. The needs of underserved areas could be address by training local people in the community and through telemedicine and…

Interviews with Dr. Joseph Bell, president of the American Association of Indian Physicians (AAIP), and Wabanang Kuczek, physician assistant, discuss health-care services needed by Native people, AAIP efforts to recruit Indian students into medicine, links to traditional healing, key health issues facing Indian people, and career opportunities as…

States that hearing loss that occurs in the musical environment is commonly overlooked. Examines various aspects of the risks musicians take, such as hazardous environments, ignorance, and excessive sound levels. Offers two solutions to reduce the risks: (1) ear protection; and (2) modifications to the environment. Includes references. (CMK)

This study explored help seeking among primary Spanish speaking women of Hispanic origin who had behavioral health needs. We evaluated relational and cultural aspects of care and service utilization by using qualitative and quantitative measures of perceived behavioral health needs, therapeutic relationships, ethnic identity and degree of…

This article features three housing programs designed to target the needs of youth aging out of child welfare. One program combines housing and treatment to move substance-dependent youth off the streets; one combines the resources of Urban Peak, the only licensed homeless and runaway youth shelter in Colorado, with the Denver Department of Human…

This paper tests assumptions often made by policy makers and practitioners that networks of family, friends, and neighbours are able to provide sustained care to frail elderly Canadians. Using national survey data, we examined characteristics of the care networks of 1,104 seniors living with a long-term health problem. Care networks were found to…

The authors compared parents' perceptions of their college student children's health and health risk behaviors with the college students' own reports. One hundred sixty-four parent-college student child dyads completed questionnaires regarding the students' health, illness status, and health risk behaviors. Parents tended to be overoptimistic…

Many rural Midwestern communities are experiencing rapid growth in Latino populations with low rates of health insurance coverage, limited financial resources, language and cultural differences, and special health care needs. We report on 2-day site visits conducted in 2001 and 2002 in 3 communities (Marshalltown, Iowa; Great Bend, Kansas; and…

The HIV epidemic is the most serious threat to health internationally, with developing countries accounting for over 95% of new infections. Since HIV/AIDS was first identified, 20 million people have died of AIDS (Lamptey, Wigley, Carr, & Collymore, 2002). Worldwide, there will be 45 million new HIV infections by 2010 (Goliber, 2002). Social…