You might think that the FDA ensures that the drugs you’re taking are safe. And, generally, drug companies must complete several costly drug testing phases before the FDA approves a drug to go to...
Diane Archer
More data needed to drive down health care costs, improve...
A new Health Affairs blog post speaks to the need for Medicare to collect and report data on the hundreds of thousands of hip and knee replacements it pays for each year. Medicare should report this...
Most hospitals lose money on patient care
Most people in the U.S. perceive hospital charges to be astronomical. Not surprisingly, almost one third of health care spending in the U.S., 32 percent, is for hospital care, a total of $972 billion...
No increase in Social Security checks likely in 2017
For the second year in a row, people receiving Social Security should expect to see little or no increase in their Social Security checks in 2017; the increase ensures people’s checks keep...
More proof aspirin helps prevent heart attacks and stroke
More people use aspirin than any other medicine. It relieves fever, pain, swelling, and keeps blood clots from forming in your arteries. It can also help prevent cardiovascular disease and...
Who are the happiest people in the world?
Many believe that happiness is the appropriate measure for social progress and that public policy should be dedicated to promoting happiness. According to the 2016 World Happiness Report, the...
Should you care whether doctors take money from pharmaceutical...
A recent Pro Publica report finds that doctors at for-profit and southern hospitals are more likely to take money from pharmaceutical companies and medical device companies. What does that mean about...
Millions of Americans spend billions on alternative treatments...
There’s endless talk about the $2.8 trillion dollars Americans spend each year on health care. Believe it or not, that’s not all we spend on care. Millions of Americans, about a third of...
Medical device to remove fibroids causes cancer to spread
About half of all women have uterine fibroids. Some need them removed. A story in Boston Magazine explains how a medical device to quickly remove fibroids causes hidden cancer to spread, harming...
John Oliver: Be careful about how you save for retirement
In a recent Last Week Tonight segment on retirement plans, John Oliver warns that we need to be careful about how you save for retirement. “Financial advisors” may not know any more than...