Will Medicare Break the Bank? The economic crisis fills the news, and rightly so. But there is another crisis on the horizon that may dwarf the dizzying “rescue fund” figures—the funding of Medicare, as Treasury Secretary Paulson indicated over a year ago.
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Statin Drugs—Are They Worth the Money?
Prescription drug spending has increased sharply in recent years and continues to be the fastest growing segment of healthcare spending. Americans spent $40.3 billion for prescription drugs in 1990; by 2006 that figure had risen to a staggering $216.7 billion.
Is Prevention a Campaign Myth?
Every radio and television station regularly airs public service announcements that cite you can catch cancer in time with early screening. The “catch it in time” mentality has become pervasive in mainstream medical circles, as well as among consumers, public health experts, and politicians.
Adverse Event Reporting—New FDA Report Puts Things in Perspective
Research published in the October 2008 issue of Pediatrics says that some of free prescription drug samples being distributed to pediatric patients may be unsafe. The researchers found that one in twenty American children received free drug samples in 2004—and that the most frequently distributed samples were unsafe to children. Four of the 15 most… Continue reading Adverse Event Reporting—New FDA Report Puts Things in Perspective
Fluoride—Good for the Teeth but Bad for the Kidneys?
One of the greatest public health successes of the 20th century, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is the fluoridation of most public water systems in an effort to control tooth decay. But recent research is showing that fluoride has several significant downsides—including harming the creation of tooth enamel.
The Japanese Paradox — Americans Have Changed the Fats in Their Diet
When Time magazine asked to Dr. Water Willett, of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard, to name the most significant scientific news of the 20th century, he said simply, “We changed the fats in our diet.”
U.S. vs Europe — Who Offers Children Better Health Care?
“America has the best healthcare in the world.” But is that true, or just more political jargon? Certainly Americans spend more than any other industrialized country on healthcare. But America falls short in how long we live—or how well.
Under the Influence — Doctors and Prescription Drug Firms
Today’s news, both political and financial, is filled with tales of greed and corruption. Vested interests ensure that earmarks litter important legislation. The lust for a quick profit and lax regulation have led to bank closures. Wall Street and Capitol Hill are now awash in finger-pointing by consumers whose investments are worth a fraction of… Continue reading Under the Influence — Doctors and Prescription Drug Firms
Chelation TACT Trial Announces that Enrollment Has Temporarily Ceased
The investigators and institutions that have been participating in the National Institutes of Health Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT) have temporarily and voluntarily suspended enrollment of new participants in the study. The lead TACT investigator, Gervasio Lamas, M.D., of the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine, received a complaint from an outside party… Continue reading Chelation TACT Trial Announces that Enrollment Has Temporarily Ceased
Where Do Your Representatives Stand?
Your Voice Counts on Capitol Hill The frenzied activity in Congress over the banking crisis is in response, at least in part, to an unprecedented outpouring of voter outrage. Less well publicized was the reaction to the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). It provoked the greatest outpouring of voter activity that Capitol Hill… Continue reading Where Do Your Representatives Stand?