“Health care reform debate creates overhang - New Haven Register” plus 4 more

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• Health care reform debate creates overhang - New Haven Register
• Warning of fourfold rise in dementia - Sydney Morning Herald
• Uganda: Pregnant Women Require Quality Care - AllAfrica.com
• When Baby Proofing Your Home, Stress Proof It Too, Says Chicago ... - PR.com
• Breast Milk vs. Formula: Which Is Healthier for Your Baby? - The Daily Green

Health care reform debate creates overhang - New Haven Register Posted: 31 Aug 2009 03:44 AM PDT By Mark Jewell, AP Personal Finance Writer BOSTON — Mutual fund investors: Don't hold your breath if you're hoping the health care debate will come to a speedy resolution, and the path to an investment strategy will become clear. If you do, you might end up in intensive care — along with President Obama's hopes for a government-run insurance option. Many citizens and members of Congress are growing skeptical that widely expanding health care coverage is affordable or even desirable, and Obama has been dialing down expectations. Congress and the president are taking vacation breaks, with no substantive action expected for at least several more weeks. The apparent demise of Obama's push for a public option has eased some of the weight that had been holding back many health care stocks. Those stocks proved to be strong defensive bets early in this recession, but haven't done much this year despite a market rally that kicked in a couple months after Obama took office. Health care stocks are up 11 percent so far this year, trailing a nearly 16 percent climb for the Standard & Poor's 500. But over the last three months, they're about even, with health care and the broad market index both up nearly 14 percent. Fund managers who specialize in the sector have been left to cut through the clouds the health care debate has created. They're searching for an investment strategy to play off whatever changes eventually emerge from Washington, which appears to be taking its time in search of consensus. "They're all on vacation now, so there is kind of an information vacuum, which investors never like," said David Farhadi, co-manager of the Alger Health Sciences Fund (AHSAX). Even with the uncertainty, fund managers see some clear opportunities that don't necessarily hinge on the health care outcome. Here are a few themes from recent interviews with managers of three funds that either specialize in health care or hold a hefty weighting in the sector: ‰Still Finding Bargains: Rose Ott, Farhadi's co-manager at Alger Health Sciences, says there are plenty of good deals in stocks of companies like Life Technologies Corp. that make laboratory and diagnostic tools for biotech and other life sciences firms. Those stocks are benefiting from increased research funding that's part of the federal economic stimulus package. Despite the recent market rally, Ott said there are plenty of bargains across the health care sector. "I still think health care, generally speaking, is inexpensive and it is under-owned by a majority of Wall Street," she said. ‰Managed care scare: Sam Isaly, manager of the Eaton Vance Worldwide Health Sciences Fund (ETHSX), has focused on health care investing since 1968, so you'd think he'd have a pretty strong stomach by now. Isaly favors biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device stocks, but he's usually not afraid to venture into health insurers. But now, his fund isn't holding any managed-care stocks because of the health care debate. He still sees a risk that a public-option plan will emerge, putting the government in competition with private insurers. "Whether or not there will be a public option in my opinion is a coin flip," he said. "When it gets down to the investment implications of that, the managed-care guys are the end of the whip that cracks. "We would consider buying managed-care stocks, but we don't know which way this is going to fall." ‰Pharma play: Big pharmaceutical companies are likely to see pressure on drug pricing and their bottom lines from the cost controls in any health care package that becomes law. But many fund managers still like big pharma. They figure any reform program will bring new customers into the health care system and expand the pharma market opportunity. And pharma companies with extensive overseas sales will be insulated from drug pricing pressures at home. That's one reason why the two biggest stock holdings at the Appleseed Fund (APPLX) are Pfizer Inc. and Johnson & Johnson. And companies like J&J have plenty of products in consumer goods, such as Band-Aids and baby shampoo that "are completely unaffected by health care reform," said Adam Strauss, a portfolio manager at Appleseed, a midcap value fund holding nearly one-third of its stock portfolio in health care. Isaly's fund, meanwhile, has a hefty 30 percent weighting in overseas stocks — in part to limit domestic exposure from the possible hit some U.S. health care companies might take from reforms. "We are not rushing out of America right now, but we do have major holdings in Switzerland and Germany, and a little bit in the UK," he said. ‰Diversify, diversify. Alger Health Sciences has invested recently in companies like Medicis Pharmaceuticals Corp. that are in cosmetic dermatology — an area where elective procedures are mostly paid out-of-pocket, with little or no impact from any changes to health care reimbursement. "Some of these pharma companies are branching out into consumer health, and animal health, or other areas, and we're kind of doing the same with our portfolio," Farhadi said. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Warning of fourfold rise in dementia - Sydney Morning Herald Posted: 31 Aug 2009 07:19 AM PDT THE number of Australians with dementia will quadruple by 2050, rising from 245,000 today to 1.1 million, with dire consequences for the health and aged-care systems, a report says. More than 75,000 baby boomers, the first of whom turn 65 next year, will have dementia by 2020 unless there are significant medical breakthroughs. The report, by Access Economics, was commissioned by Alzheimer's Australia, and uses new census data and other evidence to revise up by 55 per cent dementia projections made four years ago. It points to huge shortages of people in coming decades - in families and the workforce - able to care for the predicted numbers of people with dementia. ''This report makes clear that the dementia epidemic is dramatically worse than we thought. It's a devastating wake-up call to everyone involved in health-care planning,'' the chief executive of Alzheimer's Australia NSW, John Watkins, said. Every week more than 1300 cases were diagnosed, the report said. By 2030 this was predicted to rise to 3600, and by 2050 about 7400 new cases a week were expected. Many more people were likely to have some form of cognitive impairment that did not reach the dementia threshold. Dementia is already the single leading cause of disability in Australians aged 65 and over. The ageing of the population is the main driver, with the number of Australians over 60 rising from 4 million to 10 million by 2050, the report shows. Also, the rate of dementia in the population is higher than was previously thought. The chief executive officer of Alzheimer's Australia, Glenn Rees, said the study was not alarmist but was based on ''middle of the road'' assumptions. The report's author, Lynne Pezzullo, said that ''within our lifetime'' dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases would overtake disorders such as cancer and cardiovascular disease as the major threats to health and quality of life. But the report shows that the picture need not be quite so grim if more people exercised, stopped smoking, and controlled their blood pressure. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Uganda: Pregnant Women Require Quality Care - AllAfrica.com Posted: 31 Aug 2009 05:03 AM PDT 31 August 2009 editorial A midwife and three nurses of Mityana Hospital were last week arrested over neglect of duty that led to the death of a woman in labour and her baby. The patient was allegedly neglected after failing to raise Shs50,000. This incident that awaits the courts to deliver justice has brought to light persistent complaint that often, women in labour, are subjected to dreadful experiences such as neglect, insults, demeaning and cruel treatment. Such behaviour may be common among just a small proportion of midwives. However, any behaviour that distresses a woman in labour is unacceptable, offensive and life-threatening and must be investigated and all measures taken to stop it. The Mityana Hospital case also exposes the level of degeneration of health facilities in the country. This newspaper strongly advocates safe motherhood; that is why we find it intolerable that for every 100,000 live births, 435 mothers lose their lives while several others are left with chronic ill health. The challenge of safe motherhood is even higher in rural communities where timely interventions for preventing maternal deaths are almost non-existent. We have inadequate family planning services, very few skilled birth attendants and emergency obstetric care. Majority of rural women deliver while supervised by either traditional birth attendants, unskilled neighbours or on their own. It is disheartening that women are reduced to giving birth in bushes while trekking to distant health centres, with some of them bleeding to death due to lack of care. Midwives are essential in reducing this alarming trend of mothers dying as a result of pregnancy-related complications, many of which are preventable if our government invests more in basic health care. We cannot over emphasise the need for increased government support for health professionals in terms of salary and staffing to avoid cases of overworked midwives attending to pregnant women. It must be stressed however, that medical workers are expected to serve with the highest degree of professionalism because they are dealing with people's lives. Core values of the medical profession must be respected and expectant mothers must receive the highest quality of care. It is unforgivable that a government that can spend Shs1 billion on treatment of eight officials over just 24 months can't provide comprehensive reproductive health services. Women must not be allowed to die while bringing another life into this world! Be the first to Write a Comment! This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

When Baby Proofing Your Home, Stress Proof It Too, Says Chicago ... - PR.com Posted: 31 Aug 2009 12:38 AM PDT Chicago, IL, August 31, 2009 --(PR.com)-- "People spend more time decorating than taking the time to prepare themselves and their relationships for one of life's most enormous transitions," says Joyce Marter, co-founder and lead therapist for the Chicago counseling practice Urban Balance LLC. "Pre and post baby couples counseling can help families get ready for the imminent changes, plus help strengthen a couple's communication skills, and assist with a financial and logistical plan. This can decrease stress and help avoid the relationship meltdown that occurs all too often after the birth of a child." Marter says that baby planning and counseling should start in late second or early third trimester of pregnancy. Counseling after the baby is born typically takes place in the first 2-4 months. Pre and post baby counseling is not exclusive to couples having their first child. Marter adds that same sex couples should consider the same time-line for planning and counseling purposes. Imminent mothers especially need to understand that significant change is imminent. "For a woman giving birth to a child, there is a massive amount of transition in her life. Pregnancy affects the mother-to-be emotionally, physically, sexually, and relationally." Additionally, women who have been dealing with other issues, such as eating or mood disorders must be especially vigilant preceding and immediately after giving birth. "Women with a history of depression are more likely to experience post-partum depression," Marter notes. "It is a good idea for these women to stay connected with their mental health care providers to work at preventing depressive dips or managing them as best as possible." As exciting as bringing a new baby into the world can be, it is important to understand and prepare for the financial aspects of raising a baby. "Money concerns and decisions about working after the baby is born can be challenging," Marter says. "This is a very personal decision, and some women do not have the choice whether to remain at home or work. For these women, returning to work can be extremely difficult and exacerbate feelings of separation anxiety or 'mother guilt.' Preparation and planning can help lessen the strain and keep resentment from building in a relationship." Changes in household arrangements inevitably lead to changes in how parents view themselves. "The loss of the 'professional self' and the new identify as a mother is an enormous transition," Marter says. "For some, this shift in identity can also impact self esteem. There is a loss of social support as well as structured time. This can increase feelings of isolation and put increased stress on relationships." Baby counseling can help new mothers and families with tested strategies for creating a productive, happy environment for the new child and the parents. "A baby affects a couple emotionally, physically, financially, and logistically. Spending time discussing and planning for these changes can go a long way to smoothing the transition." Finally, Marter, a mother of two herself, says couples need to view their relationship as a system that grows with each child, and to celebrate that growth. "The love and energy that is created with a new family is wonderful, but there needs to be an acceptance of the changes and challenges a growing family encounters." For more information on pre and post baby counseling visit: www.UrbanBalance.org ### This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Breast Milk vs. Formula: Which Is Healthier for Your Baby? - The Daily Green Posted: 31 Aug 2009 07:33 AM PDT Medela feeding and breastmilk storage bottles are BPA-free. The bottles of made are polypropylene. EarthTalk is a Q&A column from E/The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: What are the pros and cons of feeding babies formula versus breast milk? And if I purchase formula, should I spend the extra money on the organic variety? --Suzy W., via e-mail It is generally acknowledged within the medical community that breast milk is the ideal first food for babies, though modern formula brands can get the job done, too. Human breast milk naturally contains the vitamins and minerals a newborn requires. According to the website KidsHealth.org, breastfed infants have less difficulty with digestion than their formula-fed counterparts. And since breast milk is easily digested, breastfed babies have fewer incidences of diarrhea or constipation. Also, researchers have found that infants fed with human breast milk have lower rates of hospital admissions, ear infections, diarrhea, rashes and allergies than bottle-fed babies. Meanwhile, a raft of studies suggest that infants who are fed breast milk may have lower incidences of asthma, diabetes, obesity and other health problems later on in life. "Human milk is made for human infants, and it meets all their specific nutrient needs," says Ruth Lawrence, M.D., spokeswoman for the American Academy of Pediatrics and professor of pediatrics and obstetrics at the University of Rochester School of Medicine in New York. "We've known for years that the death rates in Third World countries are lower among breast-fed babies," she adds. "Breast-fed babies are healthier and have fewer infections than formula-fed babies." Another related upside to breast milk is cost savings -- both for families and the larger health care system. Mothers who can't or choose not to breast feed end up spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars per year on formula, and higher incidences of illness and disease down the road means higher costs for all. One concern with breast feeding is that toxins present in mom's bloodstream can make their way into baby. But a 2007 study by Ohio State and Johns Hopkins University researchers found that levels of chemicals in breast milk were far below U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maximum acceptable levels for even drinking water, and that indoor air in typical American homes contains as much as 135 times as many contaminants as mother's milk. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control maintains that the benefits of breastfeeding far outweigh any chemical exposure risks. "To date, effects on the nursing infant have been seen only where the mother herself was clinically ill from a toxic exposure," reports the agency. Of course, not all mothers are able to breastfeed, and in such cases formula can be a healthy alternative. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates all baby formulas to ensure purity and that they meet nutritional requirements. Parents should know, however, that they may not be avoiding chemical exposure by opting for formula. Non-organic formula can contain the same or higher amounts of chemical residues left over from its raw materials. One way around this is to buy organic formula. Leading makers include Nature's One, Earth's Best and Bright Beginnings. Enfamil and Similac also now offer organic varieties. GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it here or via e-mail. Read past columns here. Friend us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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