Health Beat

Does Insurance Save Lives? Maybe That’s the Wrong Question Part 1

If we had universal coverage, how many lives would be saved? This is the issue that the Atlantic’s Megan McArdle and the Washington Post’s Ezra Klein were debating last week. The controversy caught my eye because I’ve long been skeptical... Read More...

Published Tue, Feb 16 2010 2:00 PM by Health Beat

If Reconcilation Is a “Maneuver” . . .

Over at the New America Foundation’s “New Health Dialogue” blog Joanne Kenen comments on how the media is treating the term “reconciliation” when discussing health care reform. http://health.newamerica.net/blogposts/2010/health_reform_a_quick_thought_on_reconciliation...

Published Sat, Feb 27 2010 12:35 PM by Health Beat

The Top Ten Immediate Benefits Americans Will Receive When Health Care Reform Passes

Today, the Democratic Caucus of the House listed the provisions of the health reform bill that will take effect “as soon as health care passes,” The legislation would: Prohibit pre-existing condition exclusions for children in all new plans; Provide immediate...

Published Tue, Mar 16 2010 6:09 PM by Health Beat

Instead of Tort Reform, Why Not Focus On Reducing Actual Malpractice?

In his State of the Union speech in January, President Barack Obama appeared to throw a bone to congressional Republicans when he said, "I am willing to look at other ideas to bring down [health care] costs, including one that... Read More...

Published Fri, Mar 11 2011 2:26 PM by Health Beat

Medicare & Medicaid Fraud: Health Care’s Most Wanted Fugitives

For first time ever, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) is publishing a list, complete with the mug shots below, of HealthCare’s “10 Most Wanted Fugitives,” individuals who have... Read More...

Published Wed, Mar 30 2011 1:12 PM by Health Beat

High CEO Salaries at Nonprofit Hospitals Under Scrutiny…Once Again

Shock and outrage ensue every time the press gets wind of the million-dollar-plus salaries and other perks reaped by some CEOs at nonprofit hospitals. This year is no different—except that the ongoing recession that is forcing states to make painful....

Published Thu, Mar 24 2011 7:17 AM by Health Beat

Bribing Doctors

Over at GoozNews.com, Merrill Goozner raises a very good question. Under the headline “SEC Slaps J&J with $70 Million Penalty for Overseas Corruption” Merrill asks: “What’s the difference between what the medical supply company did abroad compared...

Published Mon, Apr 11 2011 11:10 AM by Health Beat

Going Beyond the “Dartmouth Debate” to the Most Important Question: Why Are Outcomes at Some Hospitals So Much Better Than At Others?

We all have heard that “spending more” on health care does not necessarily lead to better care. In fact, in regions of the country where care is more intensive and more expensive, sometimes outcomes are worse. This is the basic... Read More...

Published Mon, Feb 07 2011 1:45 PM by Health Beat

Digital Mammography Saps Medicare Dollars

Below, a guest post from the Center for Public Integrity, one of the country’s oldest and largest nonprofit news organizations. The Center’s mission is to produce “original investigative journalism about significant public issues to make institutional...

Published Fri, Feb 11 2011 6:04 AM by Health Beat

GOP Plan to “Chip Away at Health Law” Stumbles On Medicare Privatization

Less than a year after Congress passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a newly conservative House voted to repeal it. Aware that such a repeal was purely symbolic and would be blocked by the Senate and vetoed by... Read More...

Published Fri, May 06 2011 2:23 PM by Health Beat

News Flash-- In Debt Ceiling Negotiations, Pharma Is Now on “the Chopping Block”

It was only a matter of time. Eventually, Medicare would refuse to continue paying drug-makers whatever they choose to charge. Now, it appears that this is happening. (Kudos to Igor Volksky over at Think Progress Health. )http://thinkprogress.org/health...

Published Tue, Jul 05 2011 6:09 PM by Health Beat

Keep the Bar Raised on Reducing Hospital Readmissions

Last week the head of the American Hospital Association sent a letter to Donald Berwick, director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, stressing how “crucial” it is that the agency consider the racial and ethnic backgrounds of patients.....

Published Mon, Jun 13 2011 8:14 AM by Health Beat

Medicaid Heads to the Chopping Block; Again…

It’s starting to look like a sure thing: Medicaid will be a sacrificial cow in the battle to hammer out a bipartisan budget deal. The joint federal-state program that provides medical coverage for 69.5 million of the youngest, poorest, most... Read More...

Published Thu, Jun 16 2011 11:18 AM by Health Beat

Essential Benefits

Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services, said her agency would hold “listening sessions where Americans from across the country” could explain their priorities states have adopted laws requiring insurers to cover specific services...

Published Fri, Oct 07 2011 3:32 PM by Health Beat

Filed under: Medicare, Healthcare, Medicaid, Medicare Reform, National Health Reform

FDA Behind The Curve In Monitoring Safety of Approved Drugs

Over the past decade or so, there have been at least 20 prescription drugs removed from the market, including several cases of high-profile blockbuster drugs that were found to be harmful only after millions of patients had taken them. Vioxx,... Read...

Published Thu, Oct 13 2011 12:13 PM by Health Beat

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