Rising health care costs spur more anxiety than job loss

By Nicole Lucht (contact), In Business reporter

Fri, Apr 17, 2009 (2 a.m.)

More people are worried about rising health care costs than they are about losing their jobs, according to a study commissioned by Catholic Healthcare West, parent of St. Rose Dominican Hospitals.

The annual Health Security Index surveyed 1,250 adults throughout the United States in February.

Although the index remained stable compared with the previous two years, it remained low because of people’s concerns about health care costs. The index measures perceptions of people’s confidence about their health and health care.

The survey found 69 percent of adults said they were worried about costs, while just 37 percent said they were concerned about keeping their jobs. Higher income families also expressed more anxiety, with 50 percent of households that earned more than $75,000 concerned about health care cost increases, up from 39 percent last year.

“Today’s headlines are justifiably focused on the overall economic crisis, but our Health Security Index findings show that health care affordability is a significant and enduring concern,” Catholic Healthcare West CEO Lloyd Dean said in a statement. “Simply put, health care costs too much. Change is clearly overdue and the need for improvement is undeniable.”

The survey found 51 percent believe the health care system is getting worse.

It also found employees of small businesses feel less secure regarding their health care, as opposed to those who work for large businesses, and 83 percent of those surveyed said they believe Congress should make affordable health care for everyone a priority.

The survey was conducted by Yankelovich, a part of the Futures Co.

Other health care notes:

An orthodontic residency program has been launched by the University of Southern Nevada’s College of Dental Medicine.

The first class has nine residents enrolled in a three-year, postdoctoral program. During this time, they will be trained to specialize in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.

The orthodontic residency program is the first in nation to incorporate a master’s of business administration, the university said.

“We are extremely proud to see our plan to launch an advanced education dental residency program come to fruition,” said Harry Rosenberg, university president. “The university and College of Dental Medicine administration, as well as the faculty and staff, have worked extremely hard to ensure this program meets the highest academic standards, while also ensuring that orthodontic services offered to the community will be outstanding.”

• • •

The American Acne & Rosacea Society elected Las Vegas dermatologist James Del Rosso this year’s president. The society promotes research in acne and rosacea to improve the care of patients with the skin diseases.

Del Rosso is a clinical associate professor of dermatology at the University of Nevada School of Medicine and Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Henderson. He is director of the dermatology residency program at Valley Hospital Medical Center and has a private practice at Las Vegas Skin & Cancer Clinics.

“I am ... excited about helping the society expand the scope of its educational activities in both acne and rosacea,” Del Rosso said in a statement. “I look forward to working with my colleagues who serve in the leadership of the (society) and anticipate very successful outcomes.”

• • •

For the health of animals: Mark your calendars for Heaven Can Wait Sanctuary’s fundraiser Gimme Shelter concert at 8 p.m. May 2 at Lake Las Vegas. Rolling Stone tribute band Jumping Jack Flash will perform on the floating stage.

“We’re so very close to achieving our goal of offering more affordable spay and neuter options to responsible pet owners,” Heaven Can Wait Sanctuary co-founder Harold Vosko said in a statement. “The Gimme Shelter Concert at Lake Las Vegas promises to be a fantastic evening, and we’re excited for the opportunity to raise the additional funds necessary to help make this much-needed program more accessible to the community.”

Tickets are $20 for general admission on the lawn, $40 for Water’s Edge seats and $75 for VIP, which includes seats on the floating stage, an exclusive complimentary gift bag and access to a private beer garden.

For more information, visit hwcs.org or call 227-5555.

See you there.

Nicole Lucht covers health care, workplace and banking issues for In Business Las Vegas and its sister publication, the Las Vegas Sun. She can be reached at 259-8832 or at nicole.lucht@lasvegassun.com.