A new article in Health Affairs reports that drug costs at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, a commercial insurance company, account for 25 percent of its total spending on health care. That means drug...
Diane Archer
Why you should ask your doctor if you can review your medical...
If you’re like most of us, you’ve never seen the notes your doctors take during a visit. So, it’s hard to imagine what happens when doctors share their notes. It turns out to be a...
Insurers drive up costs for people with diabetes
The Hill has an opinion piece on a new way that insurers are increasing their profits. Insurers drive up costs for people with diabetes, making it harder for them to get needed care. Instead of...
Governors’ association says US should break drug patents...
The National Governors Association (NGA), a conservative body, has issued a report in support of compulsory licensing for high-priced drugs, writes Nicholas Florko for IWP News. In simple English...
State blocks doctor from offering low-cost MRIs
Could it be possible that a state would block a doctor from offering low-cost MRIs? Dylan Scott reports for Vox that North Carolina is doing just that to Dr. Gajendra Singh. The state law effectively...
How best to quit smoking?
Smoking is the top cause for preventable death in the US. If you smoke, the good news is that it’s never too late to quit smoking, even if you are over 65. The only question is how best to quit...
Medicare coverage of nursing home care is very limited
Planning ahead for a time when you may not be able to care for yourself means recognizing that, unless you qualify for Medicaid, you may need to pay out of pocket for nursing home care. Medicare...
Multiple patents drive up drug prices
Many prescription drugs have patent protections that deliver monopoly pricing power to their manufacturers for far longer than the 20-years intended by the US patent law. A recent report by I-MAK...
To reduce risk of bankruptcy, plan ahead for retirement
A new survey by the Consumer Bankruptcy project reveals that a growing number of older adults find themselves unable to pay for their basic necessities. As the social safety net shrinks, retirees are...
Medicare for All is the only realistic way to rein in health...
My recent op-ed in the Washington Post explains why we cannot afford to live without Medicare for All. Expanding and improving on Medicare is the only realistic way for the US to rein in national...