Health Beat: U.S. workers like their own benefits, but dissatisfied with healthcare system overall

Editor’s note: Each Wednesday, Talk Business & Politics provides “Health Beat,” a round-up health-related topics.
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U.S. WORKERS LIKE THEIR OWN BENEFITS, BUT DISSATISFIED WITH HEALTHCARE SYSTEM OVERALL
U.S. workers generally are not satisfied with the nation’s health care system overall, but often think more favorably about their own health plans, according to a recent study by the Employee Benefits Research Institute (EBRI). When asked to rate the U.S. health care system, many workers describe it as poor (27%) or fair (33%) and only a small minority rate it as excellent (3%) or very good (12%).

Dissatisfaction with the health care system is focused primarily on cost with 17% extremely or very satisfied with the cost of their health insurance plan, and only 15% satisfied with the costs of health care services not covered by insurance. The EBRI/Greenwald & Associates Health and Voluntary Workplace Benefits Survey (WBS) 2016 survey was conducted online June 16-23, 2016, using the Research Now consumer panel. A total of 1,500 workers in the U.S. ages 21-64 participated in the survey.

One-half of those with health insurance coverage are extremely or very satisfied with their coverage, while only 12% are not satisfied with their current health plan. Forty-five percent of workers say they are extremely or very satisfied with the quality of the medical care they have received in the past two years, 33% are somewhat satisfied, and 15% are not too (9%) or not at all (6%) satisfied.

One-half of all workers report having experienced a health care cost increase in the past year, down from 61% in 2013. Those experiencing an increase report they are changing the way they use the health care system, such as trying to take better care of themselves, choosing generic drugs, or delaying going to the doctor.

UAMS NAMES NEW DEPARTMENT OF RADIOLOGY CHAIR
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has named James E. McDonald, M.D., chair of the Department of Radiology in the College of Medicine, university officials announced Tuesday (Nov. 15). McDonald has served as interim chair of the department since May 2014. He has been a full-time faculty member and director of the department’s Division of Nuclear Medicine since 2010. He has served as director of UAMS’ Nuclear Medicine Residency since 2013 and was interim co-vice chair of the department from 2012 to 2014.

McDonald’s scholarly interests focus on helping radiology and nuclear medicine faculty members collaborate with faculty throughout UAMS to support research, education and patient care. An expert on the molecular imaging of multiple myeloma, he has been named a consultant to the UAMS Myeloma Institute. Under McDonald’s leadership, UAMS became the first program in the country to list and fill a combined residency in diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine through the National Resident Matching Program, which matches medical school graduates with residency programs. He has also conducted several clinical trials with novel PET radiotracers.

IRS BEGINS REGISTRATION FOR ADVANCE MONTH PAYMENT OF HEALTH COVERAGE TAX CREDIT
The Internal Revenue Service has opened the new registration and enrollment process for qualified taxpayers to receive the benefit of the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) on an advance monthly basis during 2017. Eligible taxpayers can have 72.5% of their qualified health insurance premiums paid in advance directly to their health plan administrator each month. Each payment made on their behalf to the health plan administrator lowers their out-of-pocket premium costs.

Taxpayers may be eligible to elect the HCTC only if they are one of the following:

• An eligible trade adjustment assistance (TAA) recipient, alternative TAA recipient or re-employment TAA recipient;
• An eligible Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) payee; or
• The family member of an eligible TAA, ATAA, or RTAA recipient or PBGC payee who is deceased or who finalized a divorce with them.

Eligible Taxpayers can begin registration here.