Houston Healthcare Initiative's Podcast

Because of the Coronavirus/Covid-19 pandemic, 25–43 million people could lose their jobs and their health insurance. People who had a serious illness before the outbreak and job loss could be dealt a literally fatal blow. Others who had symptoms and even serious accidents while unemployed and without insurance could suffer more than they would have if their insurance were in place. But there are resources available as described thi...

If the stress and anxiety associated with the Coronavirus/Covid-19 pandemic were not enough, people who must go to doctors, clinics or hospitals, because of the virus or anything else, may also be more likely to receive a nasty surprise in the form of a much higher than expected bill. This bombshell applies even to those who have insurance and follow all the rules dictated by their healthcare insurance provider. Houston based neuro...

The current coronavirus/covid-19 pandemic is affecting the lives of everyone on the planet. All of us are asked to follow social distancing guidelines and self-isolate to curb the spread of the virus. Loneliness is one of the unexpected outcomes of all this distancing. Respected neurologist Dr. Steven Goldstein brings his medical opinions to how isolation impacts those who are most prone to both it and the coronavirus/covid-19 viru...

There are few tragedies that surpass bankruptcy, particularly one caused by medical bills. You leave the hospital, recover enough to return to work and discover the costs of your treatment are more than you can ever afford to pay. But the debt does not end at the hospital exit. The costs of health care are much more enmeshed in people’s lives than just the immediate issue of a hospital stay. The Bureau of Labor Statistics found tha...

Earlier this year both houses of congress were debating legislation that would end practices that led to surprisingly large and unexpected hospital bills. It seemed that passage was all but done. But over the summer, special interests — specifically hospitals and the private-equity-backed companies that have largely taken over their emergency rooms — are standing in the way; spending piles of money on their advocacy ads sponsored u...

Who is behind all those ‘government rate setting ads’ and what should the public know about them or do differently? For that matter, what exactly are they advocating? In his latest podcast, respected neurologist and founder of the Houston Healthcare Initiative CO-OP, Dr. Steven Goldstein discusses the intent behind those government rate setting ads that are now on radio and television.

Not knowing the source of these ads and who is...

With so many different parts to the whole health insurance debate, this week noted Houston based neurologist and founder of the Houston Healthcare Initiative Dr. Steven Goldstein will take one piece of it and that is the pre-existing condition. 

If you want to learn more about the Houston Healthcare Initiative CO-OP please visit the web site at www.houstonhealthcareinitiative.organd of course please come back next time for another ...

Lately, conflicting reports about infections and how to prevent them received a lot of attention. Are we right to be concerned with infections in summer? Should we and our children wash our hands, take showers every day and spend more time outside or, are these activities overkill? With what will be a good word or two about this is respected Houston based neurologist and founder of the Houston Healthcare Initiative CO-OP, Dr. Steve...

Pop quiz: Do pharmaceutical companies spend more on research or advertising? The answer may surprise you as the price of prescription medicine goes ever higher. These price increases cause many patients to forgo medication, putting millions of lives at risk. For example, insulin, which is needed by Type 1 diabetics for survival, has nearly quadrupled in price. The price of Lantus, a brand-name insulin that's a mainstay of treat...

No one believes that they can train themselves to not drink water, or drink significantly less than they should for any length of time. Why then do we think that sleep is somehow optional? We've read and heard about people who insisted they could train themselves to go without as much sleep as was always recommended. Best-selling author Tim Ferris, who wrote ‘The Four-Hour Work Week’ and ‘The Four Hour Body said the secret to s...

Summer comes early here in the Houston Area. And with each summer comes several common and avoidable illnesses that can ruin a vacation, a long weekend or any type of summer fun. Here with a strategy for avoiding or if not avoiding treating some of the more common hot weather hazards is well known and respected Houston based neurologist and the founder of the Houston Healthcare Initiative CO-OP, Dr. Steven Goldstein. To learn more ...

You don’t need a calendar or a thermometer to know that spring is here. Just listen to all that sneezing. I know one man who starts sneezing and will sneeze 15-30 times in a row. Most of us are not afflicted like that poor man, but the symptoms of allergies, colds, and even flu are very similar. Given that 2 of those 3 are contagious and potentially really harmful to people with asthma or other respiratory challenges, it’s importan...