Health policy

3,425 articles · Since 2007

Articles, page 160

What can John Mackey and Whole Foods learn from publicizing their views on health reform?

August 21, 2009Aug 21, 200918

Today's health care communications lesson is brought to you courtesy of Whole Foods ... I mean John Mackey. John Mackey's stepped in it again. Last week, Mackey, the libertarian CEO of natural-foods behemoth Whole Foods, wrote an op-ed piece on…

Today’s health care communications lesson is brought to you courtesy of Whole Foods … I mean John Mackey.

John Mackey’s stepped in it again. Last week, Mackey, the libertarian CEO of natural-foods behemoth Whole Foods, wrote an op-ed piece on health reform for The Wall Street Journal. But Mackey felt it necessary to republish it on his blog because the Journal editors lightly edited it, Journal headline writers wrote a …

Is it fair to compare American health care with systems in Europe or Canada?

Ralph Silverman, MD, FACS, FASCRS

August 18, 2009Aug 18, 200944

I am tired of the comparisons people make between health care in the United States and other countries. For instance, there are those who think that we should have universal health care because some European countries and Canada do. It…

It is true that those countries do have universal health care, but is it a fair comparison?

Who does Canada rely on to defend its borders? When the Germans invaded France in World …

AMA: A look at the facts on health reform

American Medical Association & J. James Rohack, MD

August 13, 2009Aug 13, 200919

The following is part of a series of original guest columns by the American Medical Association. by J. James Rohack, M.D. As members of Congress return to their districts this month, it should be a time for thoughtful dialogue on…

The following is part of a series of original guest columns by the American Medical Association.

by J. James Rohack, M.D.

As members of Congress return to their districts this month, it should be a time for thoughtful dialogue on health system reform so that when lawmakers return to Washington they can complete their work. Physicians nationwide are engaged and passionate about the health reform debate. After all, physicians are forced …

Real physician voices, twice a week

Free, and one click to unsubscribe.

ACP: Putting effectiveness into the health care equation: Rational or rationing?

American College of Physicians

July 30, 2009Jul 30, 200917

The following is part of a series of original guest columns by the American College of Physicians. by Steven Weinberger, MD, FACP “Effectiveness” has become a buzzword these days in discussions about healthcare reform. It is often accompanied by different…

The following is part of a series of original guest columns by the American College of Physicians.

by Steven Weinberger, MD, FACP

“Effectiveness” has become a buzzword these days in discussions about healthcare reform. It is often accompanied by different preceding modifiers, such as “cost” or “comparative,” each conjuring up different images in the minds of physicians, patients, insurers, and the pharmaceutical industry. Some say that cost effectiveness and comparative …

AMA working for reform that benefits patients and physicians

American Medical Association & J. James Rohack, MD

July 26, 2009Jul 26, 2009

The following is part of a series of original guest columns by the American Medical Association. by J. James Rohack, MD Physicians know first-hand the frustrations of caring for patients in our broken system and also the joys of patient…

The following is part of a series of original guest columns by the American Medical Association.

by J. James Rohack, MD

Physicians know first-hand the frustrations of caring for patients in our broken system and also the joys of patient care that get us out of bed before the sun rises. The AMA is committed to getting health reform this year – so that the joys can again outnumber the …

Should doctors support Congress’ health reform efforts?

Kevin Pho, MD

July 20, 2009Jul 20, 200937

The American Medical Association recently gave unqualified support to the House health reform bill, H.R. 3200, and that is drawing the ire of some of their supporters. To be sure, H.R. 3200 is the most left-leaning of the proposals, and…

The American Medical Association recently gave unqualified support to the House health reform bill, H.R. 3200, and that is drawing the ire of some of their supporters.

To be sure, H.R. 3200 is the most left-leaning of the proposals, and there is clear ideological opposition to the so-called “public plan,” which expands the government’s role in our health care system. It’s a tremendously sensitive topic, with some expressing their outrage …

Health Care Reform: Putting Patients First, medical bloggers at Washington, DC

Kevin Pho, MD

July 20, 2009Jul 20, 20094

Well, that was fun. This past Friday, I participated in Health Care Reform: Putting Patients First, an event put together by Better Health's Dr. Val Jones. It was an impeccably organized gathering, and provided medical bloggers a valuable opportunity to…

Well, that was fun.

This past Friday, I participated in Health Care Reform: Putting Patients First, an event put together by Better Health’s Dr. Val Jones. It was an impeccably organized gathering, and provided medical bloggers a valuable opportunity to discuss health care reform. Great timing too, given the fact that two major reform bills were introduced earlier …

Improve primary care access before guaranteeing universal health coverage, my address at the National Press Club

Kevin Pho, MD

July 17, 2009Jul 17, 200927

The following are my prepared remarks at Health Care Reform: Putting Patients First, held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, on July 17th, 2009. President Obama recently declared that, "We are not a nation that accepts nearly 46…

The following are my prepared remarks at Health Care Reform: Putting Patients First, held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, on July 17th, 2009.

President Obama recently declared that, “We are not a nation that accepts nearly 46 million uninsured men, women, and children.” And indeed, finding a way to provide universal health coverage to every American is one of the focal points in today’s health care debate. …

ACR: Reducing medical imaging costs requires a short term investment

James H. Thrall, MD

July 9, 2009Jul 9, 20098

The following is a guest post from the American College of Radiology. by James H. Thrall, M.D. Health care reform cannot be approached with a “one size fits all” cost-cutting mentality. Reducing costs in the long term often requires an…

The following is a guest post from the American College of Radiology.

by James H. Thrall, M.D.

Health care reform cannot be approached with a “one size fits all” cost-cutting mentality. Reducing costs in the long term often requires an investment in the short term — particularly, in regard to medical imaging.

Medical imaging saves lives. Imaging also saves dollars through earlier disease diagnosis, less invasive medical procedures, shorter hospital stays, and …

5 top medical comments, July 5th, 2009

Kevin

July 5, 2009Jul 5, 20092

Here are some of the more interesting comments readers have left recently. 1. Rogue Medic on how Oprah should be handling medical issues: If she is going to give medical advice, and she is giving medical advice, and she is…

Here are some of the more interesting comments readers have left recently.

1. Rogue Medic on how Oprah should be handling medical issues:
If she is going to give medical advice, and she is giving medical advice, and she is going to focus on giving advice contrary to the guidelines of reputable medical organizations, maybe some of her viewers need to start suing her for the bad medical advice.

I am guessing …

Read more…

5 top medical comments, July 5th, 2009

Can the American Medical Association still be an influential voice in health reform?

Kevin Pho, MD

June 29, 2009Jun 29, 20099

The repercussions after Obama's speech to the AMA's delegates continue to be felt. Not least of which are the murmurings of the other professional physician groups, who say that the AMA does not represent a majority of physicians. In this…

The repercussions after Obama’s speech to the AMA’s delegates continue to be felt.

Not least of which are the murmurings of the other professional physician groups, who say that the AMA does not represent a majority of physicians. In this piece from pediatrician Rahul Parikh, he notes that about 30 percent of physicians are AMA members. Remaining doctors belong to groups with more liberal political leanings, including the American …

ACP: Embracing a culture of cost-effective health care

American College of Physicians

June 25, 2009Jun 25, 200917

The following is part of a series of original guest columns by the American College of Physicians. by Steven Weinberger, MD, FACP In his column in the June 1 issue of The New Yorker, Dr. Atul Gawande used the example…

The following is part of a series of original guest columns by the American College of Physicians.

by Steven Weinberger, MD, FACP

In his column in the June 1 issue of The New Yorker, Dr. Atul Gawande used the example of McAllen, Texas, to illustrate the widely disparate spending on health care around the country. This oft cited article captured the attention of President Obama, who reportedly has made it required …

Reflections from the AMA: President Obama’s Speech

American Medical Association & J. James Rohack, MD

June 21, 2009Jun 21, 2009

The following is part of a series of original guest columns by the American Medical Association. by J. James Rohack, M.D. We have a historic opportunity for health reform this year and the AMA was delighted to welcome President Obama…

The following is part of a series of original guest columns by the American Medical Association.

by J. James Rohack, M.D.

We have a historic opportunity for health reform this year and the AMA was delighted to welcome President Obama to our Annual Meeting in Chicago earlier this week. Like the President, we are committed to health-care reform that will provide all Americans with affordable, high-quality health coverage.

I was personally honored …

My reaction to President Obama’s speech to the AMA

Kevin Pho, MD

June 15, 2009Jun 15, 200978

I was seeing patients during the actual speech, so I had to rely on the transcript. The points that interested me the most were any language pertaining to malpractice, addressing the AMA's recent concerns about the public plan option, and…

I was seeing patients during the actual speech, so I had to rely on the transcript.

The points that interested me the most were any language pertaining to malpractice, addressing the AMA’s recent concerns about the public plan option, and reforming the physician payment system.

I think he did pretty well.

Regarding the physician payment system, he again addressed McAllen, Texas, which is fast becoming the symbol of what’s wrong with American …

Maggie Mahar: Removing the hazardous waste from healthcare

Maggie Mahar

June 8, 2009Jun 8, 20097

Most of us are now familiar with the estimates that as much as one-third of our health care dollars are squandered on ineffective, often unnecessary, unproven and overpriced products and services. But which third? The fat in our health-care system…

The fat in our health-care system is not hanging out conveniently on the edges of the steak, waiting to be trimmed. It will take a scalpel, a keen eye, and a steady hand to remove at least …

5 top medical comments, June 7th 2009

Kevin

June 7, 2009Jun 7, 2009

Here are some of the more interesting comments readers have left recently. 1. David Block on the ACP's guest column, A practice model for increasing the appeal of General Internal Medicine: Weinberger talks about the efficiency of Care. Our commentators…

Here are some of the more interesting comments readers have left recently.

1. David Block on the ACP’s guest column, A practice model for increasing the appeal of General Internal Medicine:
Weinberger talks about the efficiency of Care. Our commentators talk about the efficiency of Consumption. Weinberger assumes the one-on-one of two individuals, known to each other, who together negotiate the terms of personhood. Medicine is “spiritus”; no wonder he became …

Read more…

5 top medical comments, June 7th 2009

Physician payment reform is the key to fixing the health care system

Kevin Pho, MD

June 1, 2009Jun 1, 200913

Changing the way doctors are paid is more important than the debate over the public insurance option, or the arguments over whether we should adopt a single-payer system or not. Atul Gawande's recent New Yorker article is a tour de…

Changing the way doctors are paid is more important than the debate over the public insurance option, or the arguments over whether we should adopt a single-payer system or not.

Atul Gawande’s recent New Yorker article is a tour de force, and gets down to the core of why American health care is so expensive. I won’t bother summarizing it here – it deserves to be read in its …

7 top medical comments, May 17th, 2009

Kevin

May 17, 2009May 17, 2009

Here are some of the more interesting comments readers have left recently.1. Anonymous on whether IV sedation is overused:I think it depends on the patient and on the procedure. For my colonoscopy, I did prefer the sedation. It wasn't something…

Here are some of the more interesting comments readers have left recently.

1. Anonymous on whether IV sedation is overused:
I think it depends on the patient and on the procedure. For my colonoscopy, I did prefer the sedation. It wasn’t something that I cared to remember.

But I’ve also had a core needle biopsy of an abdominal tumor. The tumor was right …

Read more…

7 top medical comments, May 17th, 2009

AMA: Curbing the rise in health care costs is key to health-system reform

American Medical Association & J. James Rohack, MD

May 14, 2009May 14, 2009

The following is the first in a series of original guest columns by the American Medical Association.by J. James Rohack, M.D.In an unprecedented endeavor aimed at achieving health-care reform this year, the American Medical Association (AMA) stood with President Obama…

The following is the first in a series of original guest columns by the American Medical Association.

by J. James Rohack, M.D.

In an unprecedented endeavor aimed at achieving health-care reform this year, the American Medical Association (AMA) stood with President Obama and other key health-care stakeholders Monday to announce efforts to “bend the spending curve” on health care. U.S. health-care …

Op-ed: Unbiased research for doctors is good medicine

Kevin Pho, MD

March 26, 2009Mar 26, 2009

The following op-ed was published on March 26th, 2009 in the USA Today. As a primary care doctor, I am frequently faced with decisions where the choice is not always clear. Do the latest, more expensive drugs work better than…

The following op-ed was published on March 26th, 2009 in the USA Today.

As a primary care doctor, I am frequently faced with decisions where the choice is not always clear. Do the latest, more expensive drugs work better than the less costly, older medications? Will ordering an MRI help me treat a patient’s lower back pain? Often, the answer to these questions is, “I’m not sure.”

Because …

Health policy

Articles, page 160

Real physician voices, twice a week

The Podcast

Latest episodes

Most popular

The Podcast

Latest episodes

Most popular