lasik new york city

What is the FSA Program?

The FSA Program is permissible under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 125 and consists of
several programs.

They are:

• the Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) Program,

• the Dependent Care Assistance Program (DeCAP),

• the Medical Spending Conversion (MSC) Health Benefits Buy-Out Waiver Program, and

• the Medical Spending Conversion (MSC) Premium Conversion Program.

You are encouraged to read this brochure carefully. It covers the major features of the FSA Pro-
gram’s applicable rules and regulations. Also, included in this brochure are HCFSA and DeCAP
worksheets (Pages 13 and 14), which may assist you with the calculation of your contributions to
each FSA Program for Plan Year 2010.

HCFSA is a way to help pay for eligible out-of-pocket medical expenses, while reducing your tax-
able income.

Note: HCFSA is covered under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
This means that the FSA Program is required by law to safeguard a participant’s and eligible health
care recipients’ personal information, including Protected Health Information (PHI). In order for us
to release personal information to third parties, the participant and eligible health care recipients
must complete the HIPAA PHI Authorization Form

DeCAP is a way to help pay for expenses to care for your child(ren) or other eligible dependents,
thereby reducing your taxable income, while you and your spouse work or attend school full-time.

By enrolling in HCFSA and/or DeCAP, not only do you plan for anticipated health and dependent
care expenses, contributions are deducted from your paycheck before federal and Social Security
taxes are calculated, thereby reducing your gross income for federal and Social Security tax
purposes.

MSC Health Benefits Buy-Out Waiver Program enables eligible employees who have non-City group
health coverage to waive their City health benefits in return for an annual cash incentive payment.

MSC Premium Conversion Program enables eligible employees to pay for their health plan contribu-
tions on a before-tax basis, thereby reducing their gross income for federal and Social Security tax
purposes.

If you are eligible, you may participate in all of the programs. Participation in any of the programs,
except the MSC Premium Conversion Program, is on a voluntary basis.

Who is Eligible to Enroll?

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lasik nyc

NATIONAL CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS
Health Care Entrepreneurs:
The Changing Nature of Providers1
The market for medical care does not work like other markets. Providers typically do not disclose prices
prior to treatment because they do not compete for patients based on price. Payments are usually not
made by patients themselves but by third parties — employers, insurance companies or government.
And the amounts paid are not really market-clearing prices; they are “reimbursement” rates negotiated
with bureaucratic institutions and networks. Furthermore, when providers do not compete on price, they
usually do not compete on quality either. In fact, in a very real sense, doctors and hospitals are not com-
peting for patients at all — at least not in the way normal businesses compete in markets.
Executive Summary
This lack of competition for patients has a profound effect on the quality
and cost of health care. Long before a patient enters a doctor’s office, third-
party bureaucracies have determined which medical services they will pay for,
which ones they will not and how much they will pay. The result is a highly
artificial market plagued by problems of high costs, inconsistent quality and
poor access. In addition, critics complain about fragmented care, uncoordi-
nated care, failure to use simple technology (including the telephone, e-mail
and the Internet), lack of electronic medical records (EMRs), the absence of
safety-enhancing software, the lack of adequate patient education and prob-
lems related to rationing care by waiting.
Can the market for medical care be different? Interestingly, in health care
markets where patients pay directly for all or most of their care, providers
almost always compete on the basis of price and quality. And because they
are not trapped in a system that pays for predetermined tasks at predetermined
rates, providers are free to repackage and reprice their services — just like
vendors in other markets. It is primarily in these direct-pay markets that
entrepreneurs are creating many innovative services to solve the very problems
about which critics of the health care system complain. In fact, these
solutions are usually a necessary part of the entrepreneurs’ business models.
What follows are some examples.
Cosmetic Surgery. Cosmetic surgery is rarely covered by insurance.
Because providers know their patients must pay out of pocket and are price
sensitive, patients can typically (a) find a package price in advance covering
all services and facilities, (b) compare prices prior to surgery, and (c) pay a
price that has been falling over time in real terms — despite a huge increase
in volume and considerable technical innovation (which is blamed for increas-
ing costs for every other type of surgery).
Laser Eye Surgery. Competition is also holding prices in check for vision
correction surgery, and laser surgeons compete on quality as well. Recent
quality improvements include more accurate correction, faster healing, fewer
side effects and an expanded range of patients and conditions that can be
treated. For instance, rather than traditional Lasik surgery, patients can pay
$200 to $300 more per eye for the newer, Wavefront-guided Lasik.
Policy Report No. 318 by Devon M. Herrick December 2008
ISBN #1-56808-196-0
www.ncpa.org/pub/st/st318/st318.pdf
1This work/research was funded by the Ewing Marion Kauf fman Foundation. The contents of this publication are solely the responsibility of the Grantee, the National Center for Policy Analysis.
About the Author
Devon M. Herrick, Ph.D., is a senior
fellow with the National Center for
Policy Analysis. He concentrates on
such health care issues as Internetbased
medicine, health insurance and
the uninsured, and pharmaceutical
drug issues. His research interests
also include managed care, patient
empowerment, medical privacy and
technology-related issues.
Herrick received a Ph.D. in Politi-
cal Economy and a Master of Public
Affairs degree from the University of
Texas at Dallas with a concentration in
economic development. He also holds
an M.B.A. with a concentration in fi-
nance from Oklahoma City University
and an M.B.A. from Amber University,
as well as a B.S. in accounting from
the University of Central Oklahoma.
National Center for Policy Analysis 12770 Coit Road, Suite 800, Dallas, TX 75251 972.386.6272 www.ncpa.org

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what is mesothelioma

Mesothelioma
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma (also known as ‘diffuse’ or ‘malignant’ Mesothelioma) is a
form of cancer, which affects the thin membranes which line the chest
(pleural mesothelioma). Less commonly it can affect the linings of the
abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma). It may also surround the organs
found within these cavities for example the heart, lung and intestines.
Pleural Mesothelioma
The pleural lining has two layers - an inner (visceral) layer which lines the
lung and an outer (parietal) layer which lines the chest wall. The pleura
produce fluid to lubricate the space between the two layers allowing the
layers to slide comfortably over each other as we breathe.
Pleural Mesothelioma causes the pleura to thicken. This may make it
press on the lung or attach itself to the chest wall. Fluid, sometimes
several litres, can collect between the two layers and cause
breathlessness. This is known as a Pleural effusion.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
The peritoneum also has two layers, the inner (visceral) layer which is next
to the abdominal organs and the outer (parietal) layer which lines the
abdominal wall. Peritoneal Mesothelioma causes the peritoneum to thicken
and fluid to collect in the abdomen, this collection of fluid is called ascites
and causes the abdomen to swell. Peritoneal Mesothelioma is much less
common than Pleural Mesothelioma.
3
R. Lung L. Lung
visceral
pleura
parietal
pleura
Left pleural
cavity
Right pleural
cavity
Mediastinum


What causes Mesothelioma?
Exposure to asbestos is responsible for the majority of cases. There are
thought to be possibly other unknown causes. It has previously been a
rare disease but is now occurring more frequently because of the heavy
use of asbestos in the post-war years. For most people diagnosed with
Mesothelioma the exposure happened 20-40 years previously. (It may in
some instances be a longer or a shorter interval than this.) Sometimes the
asbestos exposure may have been very brief and not always easy to
identify. Mesothelioma is however more common in people who have had
repeated exposure, usually in a work environment. There are several types
of asbestos all of which have been known to cause Mesothelioma.
How is Mesothelioma diagnosed?
Early diagnosis is difficult and in most cases the first obvious sign is
sudden breathlessness caused by an accumulation of fluid in the pleural
space - a pleural effusion. It may be accompanied by other symptoms
such as chest pain. Scans and X-rays can provide strong evidence to
support the diagnosis especially coupled with a history of asbestos
exposure. However, other diseases can produce these symptoms and to
be certain of a correct diagnosis more investigations often need to be
carried out.
Scans, Fluid taken for laboratory examination, possibly needle biopsy or
keyhole surgery to take a biopsy (a small sample of tissue) are likely to be
carried out to help with the confirmation of the diagnosis. These tests and
results may take several weeks to complete.
Is there any treatment that may help?
Mesothelioma responds very little to the normal cancer treatments such as
chemotherapy and radiotherapy. There are a number of trials being run in
an attempt to improve treatment but nothing has been found to cure this
disease. Any treatment offered depends on several factors. These should
include patient choice, how well someone is, and how advanced the
disease is.
The initial most helpful treatment is that which deals with symptoms.
Removing fluid from around the lung can help to relieve breathlessness.
Firstly the fluid may be drained either by drawing off fluid or inserting a
small drainage tube. However the fluid often reaccumulates and the chest
physician or surgeon may perform a procedure called a ‘Pleurodesis’.
Mesothelioma

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lasik dallas

Be sure to tune into Dallas WFAA Channel 8 and watch president and chief eye surgeon Jeffrey Whitman,
M.D. as he discusses the following topics:
March 10th Diabetic Retinopathy-Retinopathy (damage to the retina) is caused by complications of diabetes
mellitus, which could eventually lead to blindness. It is an ocular manifestation of systemic disease which
affects up to 80% of all diabetics who have had diabetes for 10 years or more.
April 14th Cataracts- A cataract is an opacity that develops in the crystalline lens of the eye or in its
envelope. Early on in the development of age-related cataract the power of the crystalline lens may be
increased, causing near-sightedness (myopia), and the gradual yellowing and opacification of the lens may
reduce the perception of blue colors.
May 26th Dry Eyes- caused by decreased tear production or increased tear film evaporation.
June 16th Flashes and Floaters
July 21st Conjunctivitis- Commonly called "Pink Eye" is an inflammation of the conjunctiva (the outermost
layer of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids), most commonly due to an allergic reaction or an
infection (usually bacterial, or viral).
August 18th Crystalens - Crystalens replacement lenses not only correct your cataracts, they give you back
your full range of vision—allowing you to see near, far and everywhere in between. In fact, many people who
choose Crystalens hardly, if ever, need glasses or contacts again.
September 15th What is a Stye-how do you treat? An infection of the sebaceous glands at the base of the
eyelashes. While they produce no lasting damage, styes can be quite painful.
October 20th Age-Related Macular Degeneration- the center of the inner lining of the eye, known as the
macula area of the retina, suffers thickening, atrophy, and in some cases, watering. This can result in loss of
side vision, which entails inability to see coarse details, to read, or to recognize faces.
November 10th Lasik- Laser-Assisted in situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is a type of refractive laser eye surgery
performed by ophthalmologists for correcting myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.
December 15th Presbyopia- The condition where the eye exhibits a progressively diminished ability to focus
on near objects with age.
A complete range of progressive ophthalmic services are facilitated by an extraordinary group of experienced
physicians who are board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. Treatment for cataracts,
glaucoma, LASIK surgery, and corneal disease as well as routine eye care is offered by the Key-Whitman
Eye Center.

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