In this podcast, I review the news about how we spend trillions of dollars making intermediaries rich instead of making ourselves healthier. This week, I comment on several reports on likely links between pollutants and disease because it goes to the heart of our relentless focus on treatments rather than prevention, which makes sense if we are slaves to market logic in our decisions about where to direct our resources. I also touch upon developments in Medicare financing, state efforts to rein in drug costs, some Covid and long Covid...
In this podcast, I review the news about how we spend trillions of dollars making intermediaries rich instead of making ourselves healthier. This week, I comment on several reports on likely links between pollutants and disease because it goes to the heart of our relentless focus on treatments rather than prevention, which makes sense if we are slaves to market logic in our decisions about where to direct our resources. I also touch upon developments in Medicare financing, state efforts to rein in drug costs, some Covid and long Covid news, and the usual horror stories on the ongoing invasion of healthcare by private equity.
Here are all the links to the articles mentioned. I also include my email if you would like to get my digest direct to your inbox.
Medical News Today, “Another 3 common pesticides are now linked to Parkinson's disease risk,” Mar 9, 2024 https://bit.ly/4983ln7
Jessica Kutz, “Louisiana’s toxic air is linked to low-weight and pre-term births,” The 19th, Mar 14, 2024 https://bit.ly/3v7zjSQ
Jonathan Buonocore et al., “Climate policies to reduce motor vehicle emissions can improve children’s health, save money,” Science Daily, Mar 12, 2024 https://bit.ly/3Vq3aAv
Rebecca Pifer, “CMS launches model to increase primary care investment in Medicare,” Healthcare Dive, Mar 20, 2024 https://bit.ly/4a7T2Ry
Susanna Vogel, “Hospitals could face revenue hit if insurers play hardball over MA,” Healthcare Dive, Mar 21, 2024 https://bit.ly/3TSWkCj
Andy Miller & Renuka Rayasam, “Georgia’s Medicaid work requirements costing taxpayers millions despite low enrollment,” KFF Health News/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Mar 20, 2024 https://bit.ly/4a9oz5p
Dave Muoio, “Providers ‘wasted’ $10.6B in 2022 overturning claims denials, survey finds,” Fierce Healthcare, Mar 22, 2024 https://bit.ly/4acbqbS
Brett Arends, “Medicare Advantage is overbilling Medicare by 22%,” Morningstar, Mar 26, 2024 https://bit.ly/3PF2qnp
A. Bers, “Good progress in litigation against Medicare drug price negotiations,” Center for Medicare Advocacy, Mar 21, 2024 https://bit.ly/4avfovT
Casey Smith, “Indiana AG Todd Rokita files lawsuit against drug companies, PBMs over inflated insulin prices,” Indiana Capital Chronicle, Mar 20, 2024 https://bit.ly/4a9JmWC
Angela Roberts, “Baltimore sues Eli Lilly, other drugmakers for artificially inflating insulin prices,” Baltimore Sun, Mar 20, 2024 https://bit.ly/4cv4HeH
Maya Goldman, “States’ drug pricing boards off to a slow start,” Axios, Mar 22, 2024 https://bit.ly/4avKvYo
Sharlin Chatlani, “Taxpayers were overcharged for patient meds. Then came the lawyers,” Stateline, Mar 21, 2024 https://bit.ly/3TzfXOy
Matt Stoller, “Monopoly round-up: How FTC Chair Lina Khan cut inhaler costs to $35,” BIG, Mar 25, 2024 https://www.thebignewsletter.com/p/monopoly-round-up-how-ftc-chair-lina
Daniel Gilbert, “Failure of ALS drug puts a spotlight on controversial FDA approvals,” Washington Post, Mar 16, 2024 https://wapo.st/3TSIYG7
T. Edelman, “A model for nursing home enforcement,” Center for Medicare Advocacy, Mar 21, 2024 https://bit.ly/3PEVKFU
Sean Campbell & Charlene Harrington, “For-profit nursing homes are cutting corners on safety and draining resources with financial shenanigans—especially at midsize chains that dodge public scrutiny,” The Conversation, Mar 14, 2024 https://bit.ly/3VyKoHl
Jane Merrick, “Thousands of disabled people died after Covid treatment withheld, inquiry to probe,” iNews, Mar 22, 2024 https://bit.ly/4ctBH75
John-Paul Ford Rojas, “Britain is suffering its longest sick note epidemic for 25 years as 2.7 MILLION people claim they are too ill to work,” Daily Mail (U.K.), Mar 24, 2024 https://bit.ly/3TvKixv
Anthony J. Leonardi, “The attack on Long Covid: A revisionist assault,” Easy Chair, Mar 25, 2024 https://www.easychair.info/p/the-attack-on-long-covid
Jess McAllen, “How Covid changed nursing,” The Baffler, Mar 14, 2024 https://thebaffler.com/latest/how-covid-changed-nursing-mcallen
write me directly at tfrasca@yahoo.com or find my entire archive at nypan.org/single-payer-news
