The brand-name pharmaceutical industry has a drug problem: All 10 of the most prescribed medicines in the U.S. last year were generics, led by the defending champion generic equivalents of the pain-reliever Vicodin.
Survey also found that more than 40 percent of the respondents said that high costs had compelled them to forgo the care they needed—up from 29 percent in 2001.
KaiserHealthNews’ Bara Vaida interviews Group Health Cooperative’s CEO Scott Armstrong.
Conclusions conflict with Republicans claims the law would unleash a steep climb in spending but also draw into question President Obama’s contention that people who like their plans can keep them.
Looking to save money on healthcare? Consider asking your doctor for a discount. And remember, when negotiating for a better price: Cash is king.
U.S. companies are sending workers to out-of-town hospitals for surgery, saving 20% to 40% — more than enough to cover the travel expenses.
More than 30 states and Congress have passed laws requiring hospitals to publish their prices, but the information often is of little use to consumers.
In a study comparing the health systems of seven countries–Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, U.K. and U.S.–the U.S. comes last, again.
Regence BlueShield boosts premiums 17 percent Regence BlueShield will raise premiums for 135,000 individual health-plan members in Washington by an average 17 percent on Aug. 1, Seattle Times health reporter Kyung Song writes in today’s paper. “It is the third consecutive year that the state’s largest provider of individual coverage has boosted rates by double [...]
Virginia Mason CEO Dr. Gary Kaplan estimates that as much as half of the $2.3 trillion Americans spend on health care does nothing to improve health, according to a Washington Post article on efforts to curtail health-care waste.
LocalHealthGuide is a health news and information web service for Seattle and the Puget Sound Region. We are independent and unaffiliated with any hospital, medical association or insurer. If you have questions or if your group has an upcoming event that you would like us to cover, please let us know by going to our "Contact Us" page and dropping us a note. -- Michael McCarthy, Editor
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Seattle Times Health News
Experts divided over recommendation to screen children for cholesterol
Some clinicians say universal screening is an important tool to help identify children who are genetically predisposed to high cholesterol and to pinpoint others who could benefit from treatment. Others express concerns that screening may do more harm than good.
People in state high-risk insurance plans often feel left behind
The federal health law set up new plans that are cheaper and more comprehensive than the older ones run by states but consumers need to go without insurance for six months to qualify.
Peeking in on your doctor’s notes
Although federal law guarantees patients the right to examine and get copies of their medical records, providers haven’t always made it easy to do so. But the movement to give patients direct access to their health information has picked up steam, and policymakers have encouraged it as a way to empower patients to help manage their health and their medical care.
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