■ First up, FoIB Jeff M tips us to some cancer-related good news/bad news:
"A group of new drugs is promising to prolong the lives and relieve the symptoms of men with advanced prostate cancer, but could also add billions of dollars to the nation’s medical bills."
In a sense, this is sauce for goose/gander, since we've already seen how politicized the battle over breast-cancer treatment Avastin became. These are, of course, valid and important debates to have, but we mustn't lose sight of the very real bottom line: peoples' lives are at stake.
■ Next, we consider the case of Dr. Susan Rutten Wasson. Is she a "renegade" or just ahead of the curve:
"[She's] a throwback to a time before HMOs, electronic health records and hospitals with fountains in their lobbies. She sees patients the same day they call if ... and usually charges only $50 for a consultation. She takes cash or check, but no insurance — and sometimes accepts gratuities of a dozen fresh eggs or a pie."
■ Finally, RandCorp's Lisa Sodders alerts us to a new Rand study on Medicare's new reporting thresholds:
"Effective January 1, 2012, Medicare will require insurers and self-insured companies to report settlements, awards, and judgments to a Medicare beneficiary to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services."
Big Brother, or Concerned Agency?
You be the judge.
"A group of new drugs is promising to prolong the lives and relieve the symptoms of men with advanced prostate cancer, but could also add billions of dollars to the nation’s medical bills."
In a sense, this is sauce for goose/gander, since we've already seen how politicized the battle over breast-cancer treatment Avastin became. These are, of course, valid and important debates to have, but we mustn't lose sight of the very real bottom line: peoples' lives are at stake.
■ Next, we consider the case of Dr. Susan Rutten Wasson. Is she a "renegade" or just ahead of the curve:
"[She's] a throwback to a time before HMOs, electronic health records and hospitals with fountains in their lobbies. She sees patients the same day they call if ... and usually charges only $50 for a consultation. She takes cash or check, but no insurance — and sometimes accepts gratuities of a dozen fresh eggs or a pie."
■ Finally, RandCorp's Lisa Sodders alerts us to a new Rand study on Medicare's new reporting thresholds:
"Effective January 1, 2012, Medicare will require insurers and self-insured companies to report settlements, awards, and judgments to a Medicare beneficiary to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services."
Big Brother, or Concerned Agency?
You be the judge.
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