The health care reform debate has reached fever pitch, and is finally getting the attention it deserves. With more than 45 million uninsured Americans, many others woefully under-insured, and people going without needed care, the time is right for you to put in your two cents worth… or more.

Care2 Reform Health Policy seeks to provide news and commentary on health policy and related issues. Care2.com encourages active participation and provides readers with the ability to create full profiles, network with other people with similar interests, and comment… comment… comment. 

2,475 Care2.com (as of June 15, 2009) visitors have indicated their support to reform health policy. Won’t you join us?

As a regular contributor to Care2’s health policy cause, I welcome suggestions and insights from the community. If you have any suggestions about Care2.com, or health policy issues you would like addressed, please email: writer@webcampone.com.

I love pharmacies. There’s always a sweet old pharmacist who inquires about my family and eagerly answers all my questions. While he prepares my order, I linger at the soda fountain, sipping an ice cream soda through a long straw and chatting with my fellow customers as we wait. Or maybe that’s just an image conjured from those old black and white movies I love so much.

In today’s reality, we can’t so much as purchase over-the-counter sinus medicine without producing a government issued ID and signing on the dotted line. Why is the clerk looking at me like that? I know I don’t look exactly like my driver’s license photo, but I AM sick after all.

Hard to believe, but this modern-day annoyance is actually the result of the Patriot Act. All drug products that contain the ingredient pseudoephedrine (an ingredient used in making methamphetamine) must be kept behind the drug store counter and must be sold in limited quantities to consumers after they show identification and sign a logbook. The store must keep a record of your purchase for at least two years.

I’m not a fan of the making, selling, or use of illegal drugs. It’s definitely a curse on our society. Still, I’m annoyed at the intrusion of big brother into my simple purchase of cold medicine. Guess the days of a fully-stocked medicine cabinet are over.

The argument against government-issued ID as it relates to elections and voter fraud is that the policy unfairly discriminates against the poor, who often have no driver’s license and can’t pay the fee to get a government ID. Wouldn’t the same hold true for people who just want cold medication? No ID–no medicine. Seems harsh to me.

To make us feel even more alienated from our pharmacies, there’s a loophole in HIPAA regulations that allows drug stores to sell their patient prescription information to pharmaceutical companies. Naturally, big pharma is using that information to hard target their sales pitches directly to the consumer–by mail and by phone.

That explains why I’ve been receiving information and coupons for prescription medication in the mail. Not for the prescription medication that I currently use, mind you, but for a competing brand. So now we are not only bombarded by pharmaceutical ads on television, but we can be solicited directly, thanks to our local pharmacies and a legal loophole.

Most of us have little choice about the prescription drugs we need for what ails us. We should have a choice about who is privy to that information.

Privacy rights, eroding at an alarming rate, must be protected. At the very least, our medical information should remain ours to share.

Originally published on Care2.com

Simple human dignity and compassion. It’s hard to juxtapose that with end-of-life medical interventions that serve only to prolong pain and suffering, often against the wishes of the patient, while adding thousands of dollars to medical costs for no benefit.

Faced with such suffering and no hope of recovery, would you opt out if you could?

That’s exactly what one Washington woman did recently, becoming the first person to take advantage of the state’s Death with Dignity law. Diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer and certain death, she made a conscious, well thought out decision about her own death.

Read this post in its entirety and weigh in on our poll:

Dignity and Compassion in Assisted Suicide

Everybody’s talking about the recession and looking for ways to balance the family budget. Prices at the supermarket seem to rise with each passing month and shoppers are looking to cut corners.

One thing I keep hearing is that fresh fruits and vegetables are simply too expensive to buy. I beg to differ. They ARE expensive and getting more so, but you have to look at the big picture and you have to take a long, hard look at what else is in your shopping cart.

Seriously, how much did you fork over for that bag of potato chips? The ice cream… cookies… sugar-laden cereal? How many items in your cart represent food with little or no nutritional value?

The temptation to give in to comfort foods is a trap. The more you eat, the more you crave and the worse you feel, inviting preventable health problems. The loss of energy and added weight will only harm your sense of well-being.

Now more than ever, it is essential that we take care of ourselves in mind and in body. Food is all about fueling your body with what it needs — not only to survive, but to thrive. A diet rich in fresh produce, lean meats, and whole grains will keep you feeling balanced and energized.

Next time you’re at the grocery store… shop as if your life depends on it.

We’re walking for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society on April 18. Find out Why We Walk

Visit Ann’s Personal MS Walk Page

Visit Jim’s

Eight recent deaths due to salmonella bacteria in peanut butter may have been avoided, and point to serious flaws in our food safety net.

According the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s own website, its “review of the firm’s testing records–which were not disclosed to FDA and state inspectors during earlier routine inspections–revealed that there were instances in 2007 and 2008 where the firm distributed product in commerce which tested positive for Salmonella.”

Read this post in its entirety:

Health Care Reform Includes Food Safety

Health policy and health care reform are issues near and dear to my heart. That’s why I’m thrilled to be a health policy blogger over at Care2.com.

If you’re not familiar with Care2, it is the “largest online community of people passionate about making a difference,” and I’m proud to say that I’m part of the team. As one of several health policy bloggers, I’ll be offering news and commentary on all things related to health care policy and reform.

It’s an interactive community of news and causes, so you are encouraged to leave comments and get involved. If you have any suggestions for topics you would like to see discussed, please feel free to comment here, or drop me an email: writer@WebCampOne.com

Here’s the link to my posts. Please bookmark and share.

Care2 Health Care Policy - Ann’s Blog

Looking forward to seeing you are Care2.com.

I’ve been told that I have a nice complexion, but I’m certainly not getting any younger. That’s why I’m cautious about what I put on my skin and I try not to use any abrasive or potentially toxic products — I don’t need to borrow trouble.

“Green” is all the rage right now. You see it everywhere, from household products to office supplies — everyone’s going green. So why should our skin be any different? Green cosmetics, when used as part of an overall natural skin care routine, give me confidence that I’m doing right by my complexion. Naturally, that includes a well-balanced diet and plenty of beauty sleep.

I pay careful attention and look for safe cosmetics that contain no harsh chemicals or perfumes. Organic skin care is not as difficult or as complicated as you might think.

You’ve probably had pomegranate juice to drink on occasion, but you may be surprised to learn that pomegranate oils can also boost immunity, purify against damaging free radicals, and maintain skin health and appearance. All that and it’s 100 percent natural, too!

Every day, we come into contact with countless unknown chemicals in our environment. Much of that is not in our control, but it is within our power to choose safe and natural products for our skin care. It’s up to us to choose wisely. Think pomegranate.

One of our all-time favorite meals is salmon.

Aside from the obvious health benefits of salmon, the flavor, texture, and visual presentation of salmon dress up any meal. I’m hard pressed to name a more versatile main course. From the easiest of recipes to the most intricate, every cook can create a dish that will leave a lasting impression on guests.

I usually prepare salmon as a dinner entrée — something about it seems so elegant. Served with a crisp salad and a hearty green vegetable, it’s part of a well-balanced and healthy dietary lifestyle. Add some white wine and candles, and you’ve got the makings of a romantic dinner for two.

Recently, I discovered that serving salmon for lunch can brighten up the humdrum routine of the midday meal. I happened upon a salmon recipe for corn/salmon chowder that would make a comforting lunch on a cold winter’s day. I also plan to try my hand at salmon burgers and salmon rigatoni.

Would you believe there’s even a recipe for salmon cheesecake? Breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, appetizers, snacks… the variety of salmon recipes is virtually without end!

As for the children, healthy eating habits are ingrained at an early age. The food preferences they learn in early childhood will influence them for the rest of their lives. It’s never too early to get them started in the right direction.

Have questions about the nutritional value and safety of salmon? Get the straight salmon facts at SalmonoftheAmericas.com

You are what you eat. It’s a saying I take to heart.

The new year is a perfect time to start eating right. Forget about fad diets. Concentrate of fueling up on what your body needs to function properly.

A well-balanced diet is essential to overall good health and to ward off preventable illness brought on by poor nutrition. It’s not as difficult as you might think.

Fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, poultry, lean meats, and whole grains should form the bulk of your shopping list.

Use white foods such as sugar, white flour, pasta, rice and potatoes sparingly. The same holds true if it comes in a bag, box or can.

Use only olive oil, extra virgin if possible, because it provides more flavor. Canola oil is another good choice. Choose foods with lower amounts of saturated fat, trans fats, and cholesterol. Eat whole grain foods and plenty of vegetables for fiber and antioxidants.

Stay away from margarine. Buy butter or a butter substitute that contains no hydrogenated oil, no trans fatty acids, and has a precisely balanced oil blend to help balance fats in your diet.

Read labels! Look carefully at the amount of sugar, salt and unnecessary chemicals in the foods you buy. Pay careful attention to rules regarding refrigeration and expiration dates. Be sure to cook meats to the recommended temperature and follow proper cleaning guidelines to avoid contamination.

Don’t discount the extra pounds you will gain with those little in between meal snacks and sugary drinks. Don’t make dessert a part of everyday meals – save them for special occasions only.

High carbohydrate foods will give you a boost in energy due to a surge in blood sugar. That will be followed by lower energy and cravings for more high carb foods. You’ll be amazed how healthy and energetic you will feel if you manage to keep your blood sugar at a steady rate throughout the day.

Moderation, as always, is key.

Additional reading:

Fuel Up on Premium

10 Tips for Shopping Smart: It’s Healthier and Less Expensive

1. At the grocery store, it is wise to shop the parameter and wear blinders in the center aisles, where the high sugar, high carbohydrate foods are located.

2. In the produce section, select plenty of fresh vegetables, especially leafy greens. Fresh fruit is the healthiest choice for your sweet tooth. These items have a limited lifespan, so only buy what you can use within one week or so.

3. When buying bread, read the label to be sure that whole grain is the first ingredient listed.

4. Don’t shy away from the spice aisle – that’s where you can experiment with flavors!

5. Do read labels on items such as salad dressing, barbeque sauce, marinades and condiments because some brands may have unnecessary additives and an overdose of sugar. Also beware of added sugar in juice drinks.

6. Cereal, crackers, white rice, pastries, cookies, cakes, pies, potato chips, etc. should be severely limited. If you must buy soft drinks, caffeine free/sugar free (made with Splenda) are best.

7. In the meat department, fish and poultry are the healthiest choices. Lean cuts of pork and red meat are fine. Processed meats should be kept to a minimum.

8. Compare expensive brands with store brands – in many instances you will find the same ingredients and flavor at a substantial savings.

9. Keep a shopping list in a handy place in your kitchen and add to it whenever you are running low on an item. Shopping with a prepared list and keeping your trips to the store down to once a week will cut down on impulse purchases.

10. Remember that food is fuel for your body, so fuel up on premium!

I love this time of year! The colors of autumn make me feel warm and cozy, and the abundance of fresh produce makes me want to spend time in the kitchen.

Here’s a simple way to make sweet potato fries loaded with flavor. Sweet potatoes are packed with vitamins A and C, plus plenty of fiber, making it a nutritious side dish all year long.

All you need is:

* sweet potatoes * fresh ground black pepper * olive oil * basil * sea salt (You can skip the salt if you are on a low salt diet.)

Scrub the potato well and leave the peel on. Cut into large fries – I cut them like steak fries, or Texas fries. Arrange fries on a cookie sheet in a single layer.

Pour some olive oil over them and roll them around in it so that they are coated with oil. Sprinkle with sea salt – McCormick makes a sea salt grinder, which is what I use.

Bake at 350 degrees, uncovered, for about 35 minutes. (Cook time depends on how thick you cut them. Check tenderness with a fork.)

Sprinkle again with a mixture of sea salt, fresh ground black pepper and basil. They look great and make a pleasant change of pace. You can have them with a meal or serve them up for a snack.

Use this handy widget to get nutritional data on sweet potatoes prepared in a variety of ways.

There is a bit of a controversy about the health benefits versus risks of farm raised tilapia. Some studies indicate that it contains very high levels of omega-6 fatty acids and very low levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, and if you are prone to heart disease, you may want to reconsider eating tilapia.

For more information, visit The MayoClinic.com
Catfish and tilapia: Healthy or harmful?
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.

After reading up on the subject, I decided to continue to serve and enjoy tilapia — in moderation. I like to add variety by preparing this fish in different ways. This method keeps things simple and light, with the added bonus of a very short prep time.

Ingredients: tilapia filets * olive oil * black pepper * celery salt * paprika * basil * small chopped onion * fennel * white wine (optional)

Sprinkle olive oil in large frying pan. Add tilapia filets over a medium heat.

Add a small chopped onion. Season to taste with freshly ground black pepper, paprika, celery salt, basil, and fennel.

Cook halfway through and turn. (About 4 minutes each side.) Add a half cup or so of white wine. Season second side.

Freshly cut fennel (or parsley) adds a colorful finishing touch.

This is an amazingly simple recipe you can prepare in just minutes. The tender filets melt in your mouth! A hearty green vegetable compliments the subtle flavorings. Goes perfectly with a Pino Grigio, or other white wine.