Spine-Pain

Sick Around the World Documentary

A Frontline documentary compares America’s health care system to others around the world.

T.R. Reid is a veteran foreign correspondent for The Washington Post, a commentator for National Public Radio and the author of nine books, including three in Japanese. He is currently working on his 10th book, titled We’re Number 37!, in which he compares America’s health care system to others around the world. It is scheduled to be published by Penguin Press in early 2009.

How did you choose the five countries featured in this report?

Two of our choices, Britain and Japan, were pretty obvious. I had lived in both countries, I had doctors there and knew the systems. I could speak the language, sort of, in both places.

Beyond that, we were looking for examples of each of the established models of health care systems. The U.K. uses the Beveridge model; Taiwan has chosen the Canadian-style National Health Insurance [NHI] model; Germany, Japan and Switzerland use the Bismarck model. We went to three Bismarck countries on the theory that these private-sector systems are more relevant to America than a British-style National Health Service.

I got interested in Taiwan because Taiwan’s Health Ministry did what our film does; it traveled the world studying health care systems. In the end, Taiwan chose the Canadian model. We went to Switzerland because it is a ferociously free-market economy with politically powerful insurance and drug companies. But still, the Swiss managed to revamp their system, making it cheaper and fairer. We thought that might inspire Americans to believe that change is possible here, too.

The following is a link to view the online Sick Around the World Documentary video

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundtheworld/

view/main.html

The video runs approximately an hour.

I found this documentary well done informative and insightful.

I feel the video is well worth watching.

Bursitis causes pain and tenderness around the affected bone or tendon. The bursae sacs may swell, often making movement difficult.

Buttocks

Ischiogluteal bursitis causes inflammation of the ischial bursa, which lies between the bottom of the pelvic bone and the overlying gluteus maximus muscle (one side of the buttocks). Inflammation can come from sitting for a long time on a hard surface or from bicycling.

Hip

The iliopsoas bursa is the largest in the body and lies in front of, and deep to, the hip joint. Bursitis here is usually associated with hip problems such as arthritis or injury (especially from running).

Knee

Anserine bursitis: The anserine bursa is fan shaped and lies among 3 of the major tendons at the knee. The name anserine (gooselike) comes from the shape of the swollen bursa. When restrained by the 3 tendons, the bursa looks like a goose’s foot.
This type of bursitis is most often seen in people with arthritis, especially overweight middle-aged women with osteoarthritis

Thigh

The trochanteric bursa, part of the thigh, can be associated trochanteric bursitis, which occurs most frequently in overweight, middle-aged women.

It causes deep, aching hip pain along the side of the hip that may extend into the buttocks or to the side of the knee.

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/bursitis/page3_em.htm

What process must individuals follow to elect COBRA continuation coverage?

Employers must notify plan administrators of a qualifying event within 30 days after an employee’s death, termination, reduced hours of employment or entitlement to Medicare.

A qualified beneficiary must notify the plan administrator of a qualifying event within 60 days after divorce or legal separation or a child’s ceasing to be covered as a dependent under plan rules.

Plan participants and beneficiaries generally must be sent an election notice not later than 14 days after the plan administrator receives notice that a qualifying event has occurred.  The individual then has 60 days to decide whether to elect COBRA continuation coverage.  The person has 45 days after electing coverage to pay the initial premium.

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_cobra.html

Injured Worker Forum

An area where injured workers can post their general questions and provide assistance. Professionals, don’t be shy, we can use your feedback here as well!

Employers and Professionals Forum

Business and compliance questions, procedural problems - this is your place…

http://www.workerscompensationinfo.com/forums/general/

The health insurance code numbers.

724.4 -  LUMBOSACRAL NEURITIS NOS

724.4 - THORACIC OR LUMBOSACRAL RADICULITIS

724.02 - SPINAL STENOSIS-LUMBAR

http://www.ripa.org/patterns/patterns.pl?a=ML

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724 Other and unspecified disorders or back

http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/icd/710-739.htm