The New York Times reported yesterday on the increasing frequency of prescriptions for stimulants (commonly used for ADD and ADHD) being given to children who have no medical problem. These children receive medication because they have been struggling in school. According to the article, children who are struggling in school, especially those in low-income situations, can … Continue reading
Category Archives: Healthcare
Obama’s Bad Medicine
Wednesday night’s presidential debate between President Obama and Governor Romney provided the American people with the most substantive policy discussion of the campaign. Of course, much of what both candidates said was so vague as to be meaningless, but nevertheless, it was refreshing to leave the pettiness that has pervaded the election behind for an … Continue reading
Electronic Medical Records: A Case for Innovation
This past Wednesday, October 3, The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) teamed with Doctors Helping Doctors to hold a conference discussing the current state of Health Information Technology (HIT) in America. In conjunction with the meeting, BPC published results from their survey, which asked doctors about their preferences and needs of HIT. The results suggest that … Continue reading
Are states ready for the Affordable Care Act?
An article in the Washington Post this week stated that only 13 states and the District of Columbia have formally stated that they intend to set up state-based health insurance exchanges. What about the other 37 states? The other states are either behind in their planning, or they have decided not to operate exchanges, the article continued. The … Continue reading
Vouchers are a Good Thing
As a college student living in Washington D.C., Groupon and Living Social deals have become my lifeline to food and entertainment. I live for the moment where my emails come through and offer vouchers that allow me to have amazing deals on the best things around town. Yes, vouchers do that! I love any kind … Continue reading
Expert Panels: Both Sides of the Argument
Expert panels have received criticism because of their science-driven approach based on risks and benefits. Those opposed to the idea of these panels argue that any economic approach to medicine does not take into account the value of a life. Others go to the extreme of saying that any analysis of cost-effectiveness or quality measurements … Continue reading
Money and Medicine, revisited
Yesterday, PBS premiered a show called “Money and Medicine,” wherein two hospitals were studied (Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles and Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City) and compared according to their health spending and health outcomes. The film was not incriminating or condescending to either hospital; rather, these examples were used … Continue reading
Another Burden on the States
October 1st is quickly approaching, as it signifies another deadline in the long list of regulatory requirements for the Affordable Care Act. As mandated by HHS, all states must submit a list of “essential health benefits” that will be required to be included in all individual and small group market plans within and separate of … Continue reading
Growing Costs at the End of Life
This week, the Bipartisan Policy Center published, “What is Driving U.S. Health Care Spending,” a report that details the main drivers of health care cost growth. This paper is part of BPC’s Health Care Cost Containment Initiative, which Senator Bill Frist heads alongside Democrat Senator Tom Daschle. The program is taking a close look at … Continue reading
Regulations and Organ Donations: An Unhealthy Recipe
The waste and inefficiencies that plague healthcare in the United States are well known and well documented, but recently the New York Times published an astonishing article that reveals the extent of the problem. The article reports that nearly 18 percent of kidneys that could potentially be used in life-saving transplants are discarded each year … Continue reading
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