Unbiased Analysis of Today's Healthcare Issues
On Wednesday, the U.S. men’s national soccer team upset Spain, the #1 team in the world (see video highlights). They will play in the Confederations Cup Final on June 28th against either Brazil or host South Africa. In honor of the surprising U.S. victory, this edition of the Health Wonk Review will examine some equally surprising findings…
The Boston Globe reports that “Overseers of Massachusetts’ trailblazing healthcare program made their first cuts yesterday, trimming $115 million, or 12 percent, from Commonwealth Care, which subsidizes premiums for needy residents and is the centerpiece of the 2006 law.” The reduction in the Commonwealth Care was caused by the bad economy. Not only does a…
Southern California is in the midst of a drought. What is the city doing to conserve water? They are resorting to new rules and ‘water cops‘. Apartments, Condos and Businesses can water: Monday, Wednesday & Friday Homes with odd-numbered addresses can water: Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday Homes with even-numbered addresses can water: Saturday, Monday &…
Yes: Jonathan Weiner, Professor of Health Policy at Johns Hopkins No: Michael Cannon, the Cato Institute’s Director of Health Policy Studies I agree with Weiner.
Three step formula to long-term Pharma profits: Step 1: Create revolutionary medicine. Step 2: Patent the medicine to collect in the profits. Step 3: When the patent expires, combine the drug with another in order to extend its patent life and keep profits high. Most people believe that Step 1 and 2 are ok. The…
Last week, I officially graduated from the University of California-San Diego with a Ph.D. in Economics. After 5 years of advanced education, how would I reform the current health care system? What principles are essential to a well-functioning health care system? I answer these question below in the “Healthcare Economist Manifesto.” Healthcare Economist Manifesto…
There is an interesting debate at the N.Y. Times discussing how to reform physician payment to increase quality and decrease cost. Below is an excerpt from a Seattle emergency room doctor. In this, they are half right: over-utilization is a driver of cost, and it is in part driven by doctors’ economic incentives. The underlying…
The Economist paraphrasing Nobel laureate Paul Krugman: Most work in macroeconomics in the past 30 years has been useless at best and harmful at worst, said Mr Krugman.
The book Systems of Survival (review) describes two moral structures: commerce and guardianship. Jane Jacobs describes the ethics of Commerce as a moral syndrome equal, antagonistic, and complementary to the ethics of politics, or Guardianship. Commerce provides the economic engine and the ethical framework for trade, technological advance, and individual rights that combine to make governments…
SuperBrands ranks the top brands: Overall Pharmaceuticals: OTC Pharmaceuticals: Prescription