How Can the U.S. Reopen While Limiting Harm to Americans? An Economics Professor Explains
(reposted from the Philadelphia Inquirer)
Medicare for all? How about Medicare for me?
A bipartisan push for more evidence-based public policy - but would it really improve decisions?
[cross-posted from the Health Cents blog on philly.com]
Republicans think they know how to regulate health care as thoroughly as Democrats
[cross-posted from the Health Cents blog on philly.com]
Bernie Sanders’ Medicare For All Plan
[cross-posted from the Health Cents blog on Philly.com]
Of Cadillacs, Coinsurance, and the People that Love Them
[cross-posted with the Field Clinic]
That Overpriced Cholesterol Drug? Let the Market Respond
[cross-posted from the Field Clinic]
Mergers, Monopolies, and the Medical Loss Ratio
cross-posted with US News
Health insurers are merging everywhere you turn in the newly reformed and more heavily regulated health insurance system. Anthem announced last week it will buy insurance giant Cigna for over $54 billion, acquiring more than 53 million new patients. And Aetna, earlier this month, announced its agreement to buy Humana, the nation’s fifth-largest health insurer.
Who Has The Most To Lose From Health Insurance Mergers?
cross-posted with the Field Clinic
In recent weeks, two sets of already huge health insurers—Aetna and Humana, Cigna and Anthem—have announced plans to combine. And more mergers may be in the works. Should the rest of us fear being trampled when these behemoths connect? The answer to that question, as with almost all questions in health economics, is “it all depends.”
Pay-for-Performance Is No Miracle Cure
Cross-posted with US News
What Does it Cost to Develop a Drug and Should We Really Care?
Cross-posted with the Field Clinic blog
How much does it cost to develop a new drug? The Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development periodically produces estimates for drugs that actually make it to market. Predictably, those estimates consistently generate a storm of criticism that the methodology behind them is opaque, and that they are, nevertheless, too high. The newest number is $2.6 billion (for 2013) - triple the estimate in 2003.
How Doctors Can Really Cut Costs for Medicare Patients
Cross-posted with US News
Should we tax parents who refuse to vaccinate their kids?
Cross-posted with the Field Clinic blog
Should Lower Income People be Allowed to Buy Cheap Health Plans?
Cross-posted with the Field Clinic blog
Young Invincibles? Who Needs Them?
Cross-posted with the Field Clinic blog