Twentysomethings Delaying Fatherhood; Sex Ed Highlighted
This past Father's Day saw an older group of dads celebrating for the first time, according to recent birth statistics from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Better family planning education and increased use of birth control are the major factors being cited for this delayed fatherhood trend.
Men are now twice as likely as they were in 1970 to become first-time fathers in their late twenties as opposed to their early twenties and more than 50 percent of individuals surveyed used a condom during their first sexual experience, according to NCHS data from 1990-1995.
Other leading sources attribute the trend to a range of factors like changing society values and young adults postponing marriage. "That message of making parenthood a planned event, an intended one, is getting through to more and more young people-we can see that in the increased use of condoms by sexually active young people," said Gloria Feldt, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, based in Washington, D.C.
Durex Consumer Products, makers of Durex condoms, based in Norcross, Ga., aggressively promotes comprehensive sex education and believes that it is the most important factor in delaying parenthood. The Durex Global Survey measures sexual behaviors and attitudes, nationally and internationally. (Durex Consumer Products, Inc., 888-55DUREX)
VHA Study Finds Not-For-Profit Hospitals Efficiently Deliver More For Less Healthcare
Lauding it as the most conclusive comparisons between community-owned not-for-profit hospitals and Columbia/HCA owned hospital operations, a VHA Inc. (Irving, Texas) study recently concluded that not-for-profits deliver better care for less money.
The study found that not-for-profit hospitals devote a larger portion of their resources to patient care, charge patients less for their services, provide more community benefit and are just as cost efficient as investor-owned facilities.
Studying data solicited from the Florida Agency of Health Care Administration, 57 hospitals were compared in six markets throughout the state. Among the key findings:
- Not-for-profit hospitals devote more of their budget to patient care staffing in every market studied, 3 to 30 percent.
- Not-for-profits were found to be as much as 14 percent more cost-efficient than their Columbia/HCA counterparts in nonstaff costs like medical supplies, drugs and lab expenses.
- Comparing hospital charges, the Florida not-for-profits charge anywhere from 9 to 28 percent less on inpatient services than their Columbia/HCA counterparts.
- And, not-for-profits seem to benefit the community more with increased charity care. The data indicates that not-for-profits provide 33 to as much as 89 percent more community benefit than Columbia.
VHA is a nationwide network comprised of leading community-owned healthcare organizations and physicians (478 community-owned healthcare providers and their 987 hospitals and organizations). The VHA network represents 22 percent of the nation's community hospitals and 26 percent of the nation's patients. (VHA Inc., 813/221-0030)
Despite Decline in Healthcare Fraud, Study Finds Providers Still Account for Most Cases
The results of a recent study conducted by the Washington, D.C.-based Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA) gave the insurance watchdog group the ammunition it needed to continue its hunt for healthcare fraud, especially among providers. Despite the decline in provider-based healthcare fraud, from 92 percent in 1993 to 78 percent in 1995, HIAA contends that providers still account for most of the reported cases.
Health insurance companies can boast considerable savings of $7.50 for every dollar spent on anti-fraud programs in 1995, up 75 percent from 1993, according to the 1995 anti-fraud survey that included 105 large, medium and small insurance companies throughout the country.
Based on these statistics, more and more anti-fraud insurance programs will be prompted to launch or enhance their anti-fraud programs, and healthcare providers will more than likely continue to be the key targets.
According to the study:
- Provider fraud accounted for 78 percent of all reported healthcare fraud cases in 1995, with 59 percent of the cases having to do with billing for services not rendered.
- Consumer fraud accounted for 20 percent of reported cases; falsifying claims was the top reason (69 percent).
- Most fraud, 70 percent, was detected before a fraudulent claim was paid.
- Healthcare professionals-including physicians, dentists, physical therapists, and chiropractors-perpetrated 76 percent of suspected fraud cases.
The study also reveals that organized crime has penetrated the healthcare industry in recent years. Criminal organizations have set up store-front medical clinics, bogus law offices, and diagnostic testing companies. (HIAA, 202/824-1787)
Prescription Drug Advertising Lacks Reach; Consumer Recall Is Low
Only 20 percent of consumers recall seeing TV ads for even the most aggressively promoted prescription drugs, revealed a new study by New York's Creamer Dickson Basford and its subsidiary CDB Research & Consulting, Inc.
Based on telephone interviews with 250 adult consumers last year in November, the study suggested that additional promotional support is needed to leverage the millions of dollars spent on ad campaigns ($600 million was spent in consumer advertising for prescription drugs), according to Dr. Larry Chiagouris, executive vice president and managing director of CDB Research & Consulting.
The study found that of the 20 percent who do sit up and take notice:
- Claritin, an antihistamine manufactured by Schering-Plough, and Cardizen CD, an angina and hypertension drug manufactured by Hoechst, had the highest awareness levels, 48 and 38 percent, respectively.
- The group that responds most to prescription drug advertising tends to be female at 53 percent.
- A third responded that they not only asked their own doctors for the advertised drug, but also advised others to do the same.
(Creamer Dickson Basford, 212/367-6849)