Imagine if finding out the cost of a particular treatment or procedure at a doctors’ office was as easy as locating the prices of entrees at a restaurant. The menu might read: school physicals – $40; office visit for a cold – $80; diabetes screening – $200.
The U.S. spends more than twice as much as the average developed country but ranks 27th in life expectancy, 31st in premature mortality, and 25th in the rate of cardiovascular mortality.
A majority, 52 percent, of those polled favor bigger government that provides more services for health — 37 percent favor smaller government that provides fewer health services.
Childrens’ hospitals across the country are adding towers and beds. The multibillion dollar building boom offers a case study of the expansive ambitions of hospital leaders and the faltering efforts of government to control spiraling costs.
Plan cuts $320 billion from Medicare and Medicaid, by changing how the government pays providers, slashing payments to drug companies, and changing the way it splits the Medicaid costs with the states.
So here it is, under our noses—the elusive big idea that might fix American health care—if only our society can embrace it: Less is more.
Employees will be experiencing higher co-pays and deductibles in their health insurance next year as employers continue to reduce their overall coverage to deal with rapidly rising costs.
Americans spend $477 billion a year MORE on health care than other advanced countries. So why do we pay so much compared to other wealthy nations? This infographic shows where your money goes.
Americans spend $477 billion a year MORE on health care than other advanced countries. So why do we pay so much compared to other wealthy nations? This, the second of two infographics, shows where your money goes.
FDA shouldn’t cave to pressure and allow Genentech to keep advanced metastatic breast cancer on the Avastin label, argues Merrill Goozner.
Bed bug summit in Seattle. New York Times reporters discuss possible impact of Sen. Edward Kennedy’s death on the health-care debate.
By Phil Galewitz July 24, 2009 While a cornerstone of President Obama’s plan to trim medical costs – an independent commission to determine how much Medicare pays doctors and hospitals – has run into strong opposition from powerful industry groups, certain hospital systems are breaking ranks and supporting it. Many are these are so-called “model” systems, [...]
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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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