Health Beat

Rick Scott’s “Inner Voice”

Below, an excerpt from an imaginary dialogue between Rick Scott and Rick Scott’s “inner voice” from Warren Langer’s blog “Still liberal at 83” http://stillliberalat83.net/2010/06/28/rick-scott-republican-candidate-for-florida-governor-talks-to-rick-scott...

Published Thu, Aug 26 2010 2:03 PM by Health Beat

Peggy Noonan vs. the New England Journal of Medicine

Let’s put to rest, once and for all, the idea--- or rather, the notion (it’s not even an idea, just a vague impression, based on hearsay) -- that the health reform legislation now under discussion includes no plans for containing... Read More...

Published Sat, Mar 06 2010 6:33 PM by Health Beat

Some Thoughts On the Word “Filibuster”

As I noted in the post below, the media seems to be turning “reconciliation” into an ugly word. But “filibuster” is the word with a more unsavory history. (Thanks to HeathBeat reader Barry Carroll who sent me a link to... Read More...

Published Sun, Feb 28 2010 6:45 PM by Health Beat

Obama’s Letter to Congressional Leaders: We’re Almost There

Today, President Obama sent a letter to Congressional leaders, offering to incorporate more Republican ideas in health care legislation. Don’t panic: Of the four ideas, two are excellent, one was almost certain to happen anyway, and one simply funds pilot...

Published Tue, Mar 02 2010 2:11 PM by Health Beat

The Unions Strike a Deal and The Truth About the Cadillac Tax

The Washington Post reports that union leaders are close to cutting a deal with Democrats on the so-called “Cadillac tax,” the 40% tax on expensive insurance plans that the Senate has proposed to help fund health care reform. According to... Read More...

Published Thu, Jan 14 2010 2:09 PM by Health Beat

The Massachusetts’ Vote

I didn’t post about the vote earlier today, because I cannot begin to predict what will happen next. There are too many variables. At this point in the process, a few politicians can begin to make demands that could actually... Read More...

Published Wed, Jan 20 2010 7:12 PM by Health Beat

Why Reformers Must Forge Ahead

While others seem ready to declare health care reform dead, Henry. Aaron explains why reformers must stay the course in the most recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine,. They have everything to lose, and nothing to gain... Read More...

Published Thu, Feb 11 2010 10:48 AM by Health Beat

H1N1 Vaccine Policy is the Path of Least Resistance

Health policy is best when it stands on the shoulders of rigorous scientific research—for example, restricting tobacco makes sense because it’s proven to reduce cancer rates and mortality. But sometimes health policy is built on a slightly shakier premise;...

Published Tue, Nov 10 2009 2:21 PM by Health Beat

Truth Squad: Medical Reporting on Mammograms—Part 2

Part 1 of this post described how the US Preventive Services Task Force’s (USPSTF’s) message about mammograms has been distorted by the press. Despite what you may have read, the Task Force did not recommend that women in their 40’s... Read More...

Published Wed, Dec 02 2009 1:52 PM by Health Beat

Studies Cast a Starker Light on Depression Drugs

The value of using antidepressants to treat mild to moderate depression came under fire recently after a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the drugs didn’t work much better than a placebo in those with... Read More.....

Published Wed, Jan 20 2010 10:09 AM by Health Beat

Anecdotal Evidence Does Not Make Good Policy

Recently, a series of anecdotes appeared on the website People’s Pharmacy, posted by readers who suffer from depression. They detail how switching from name brand antidepressants to generics—or in some cases from one generic to another—caused a return...

Published Mon, Jan 11 2010 3:37 PM by Health Beat

Who Voted for Brown in Massachusetts—and Why? Voters Cannot Oppose Legislation If They Don’t Understand It

The media continues to report that the Massachusetts vote was a referendum on health care reform—and that this has the White House worried. If so, the White House is wrong. Take a look at polling conducted by Hart Research Associates... Read More...

Published Sun, Jan 24 2010 12:50 PM by Health Beat

A Final Response to Cato on Public Support for Reform: Opposition Based on Misinformation Fading, Though Seniors Remain “Confused”

Summary: As regular readers know, not long ago Cato Institute senior fellow Michael Tanner published a 52-page critique of the new health care legislation titled Bad Medicine, and I decided to write a series of posts, rebutting Tanner’s arguments about...

Published Mon, Aug 02 2010 6:35 AM by Health Beat

A Permanent "Doc-Fix" Remains Elusive

For now, all those physicians who threatened to make a mass exodus from Medicare can take a breather. Last week, the House voted to once again delay the mandated 21% cut in physician fees by another six months; thereby ensuring... Read More...

Published Thu, Jul 01 2010 4:07 PM by Health Beat

Let Me Say It Again: Congress Will Not Slash Medicare Payments to Physicians

Summary: Opponents of reform will continue to pretend that at some point in the future, “Obama-care” will mean drastic across-the-board cuts in reimbursements to doctors who take Medicare patients, forcing many to abandon their patients. The Senate’s...

Published Sat, Jun 19 2010 11:29 AM by Health Beat

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