Unbiased Analysis of Today's Healthcare Issues
My paper on how physician compensation affects surgery rates is being published in the May 2010 edition of Health Economics. The abstract from the article is below: “This paper employs a nationally representative, household-based dataset in order to test how the compensation method of both the specialists and the primary care providers affects surgery rates.…
One of the first steps after the passage of health reform is the creation of a high risk pool for uninsured individuals. This is help individuals such as 56 year old Laura Carpenter of Tuolumne, CA. Individuals such as With the $5 billion allocated for this task, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius…
The latest edition of the Cavalcade of Risk is up at Political Calculations. This edition of the CoR even uses an innovative bond-style rating systems to assist readers (the Healthcare Economist post received a Aa2 rating). Here are some additional links: Does WIC improve infant health? Can life sciences replace the car industry in Michigan?…
In general, I am weary of patents (see my Healthcare Manifesto and Against Intellectual Property posts). Sure, they may be useful to spur innovation, but they also harm innovation since one cannot modify or improve a product while there is still a patent. Further, patents generate rent-seeking where inventors spent tons of time wrangling to…
One aspect of health reform that has received little attention is passage of the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports(CLASS) Act. This act creates a long-term care (LTC) insurance program. However, the insurance plan in its current form is fairly limited. Those who require assistance with activities such as bathing, dressing, getting out of bed…
You feel great. You exercise regularly, eat well, and have no history of cholesterol problem. Then you’re just the person who needs Crestor! Why? Because Crestor not only treat high cholesterol, it also prevents the onset of cholesterol problems! To keep your heart working as hard as you do, ask your doctor about Crestor.…
Deciding whether to get tested for genetic diseases is a choice many people will face in the coming years. By knowing whether or not you are more likely to develop a given disease, you may be able to change your health habits or seek earlier medical treatment. In addition, genetic testing provides additional knowledge useful…
Obama’s budget deficit reduction plan: Cut wasteful Senator Program. The recession in Asia. The recession’s effect on America’s multimillionaires. Recent trends in illegal drug consumption. Erectile disfunction linked to heart disease.
Healthcare Technology News has a health reform themed edition of the Health Wonk Review.
Because it expands health insurance coverage, one of the key effects of the recently passed health reform bill is that it will decrease the amount of compensated care. According to an Urban Institute study: “…the cost of uncompensated care will fall from $62.1 billion in 2009 to $46.6 billion in 2019 under the Senate bill,…