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Health Inc. : Shots - Health News As spending on care rises, the business of health keeps getting more important. We feature news on and analysis of drugmakers, health insurers, hospitals, doctors and others in the business of providing health care.

Shots

Health News From NPR

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Tuesday November 23, 2010

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Caution: High Deductible Plans Might Be Bad For Your Health

November 23, 2010 • Both high and low income earners forgo care when they have to pay a lot out of pocket up front. And they both get stressed out about it, says a new report.

Monday November 22, 2010

Drug Industry Settlements In 2010 Largest Ever Under False Claims Act

Assistant Attorney General Tony West announces a drug industry settlement in September. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP hide caption

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Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

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Drug Industry Settlements In 2010 Largest Ever Under False Claims Act

November 22, 2010 • Assistant Attorney General Tony West says the law had become “one of our most successful civil enforcement tools,” allowing the Justice Department to recover billions that would have otherwise been lost in the system.

Friday November 19, 2010

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Heart Risks Lead To Withdrawal Of Darvon

November 19, 2010 • A prescription painkiller on the market since the 1950s is being withdrawn after new data showed it raises the risks for irregular heart rhythms. Critics had long faulted the drug for being ineffective. Safety worries mounted recently.

Thursday November 18, 2010

Among Rich Countries, U.S. Rates Worst For Patients

Being a patient in the U.S. is costlier than other rich countries, a recent international survey found. iStockphoto.com hide caption

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Among Rich Countries, U.S. Rates Worst For Patients

November 18, 2010 • A survey of 11 developed countries compared the experience of patients and found the U.S. came out at the bottom on almost every count. Some weak spots include costs of care and dealing with insurance companies.

Wednesday November 10, 2010

Freebies For The Public Health Crowd: Pencils, Matchbooks And Chocolate

A look at some of the stuff I snagged in the exhibit hall of the American Public Health Association meeting in Denver. Joanne Silberner/NPR hide caption

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Joanne Silberner/NPR

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Freebies For The Public Health Crowd: Pencils, Matchbooks And Chocolate

November 10, 2010 • How do exhibitors woo attendees at a public health meeting? A little hand sanitizer goes a long way. Chocolate also seems to get even the health-conscious to stop at a booth. Then there are the matchbooks against smoking.

Tuesday November 9, 2010

Feds Charge Retired Glaxo Lawyer With Obstructing FDA Investigation

Glaxo's world headquarters in Brentford, Middlesex, U.K. GlaxoSmithKline hide caption

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GlaxoSmithKline

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Feds Charge Retired Glaxo Lawyer With Obstructing FDA Investigation

November 9, 2010 • A former drug company lawyer allegedly obstructed a Food and Drug Administration investigation into the marketing of an antidepressant for unapproved uses. Doctors paid by the company allegedly promoted an antidepressant for weight loss.

Monday November 8, 2010

Doctors Back Away From Industry. A Little

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Doctors Back Away From Industry. A Little

November 8, 2010 • Doctors are taking less money from industry than they did in 2004, a national survery finds. But it's still the case that most doctors have a financial relationship of some sort with industry. Free drug samples, food and drinks remain common.

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Pricey New Blood Thinner Could Be A Deal

November 8, 2010 • A drug that costs $8 a day may be cheaper to use than an old generic that's only cost $1. Less stringent monitoring of patients on the newly approved drug is a big reason why, according to an independent analysis.

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Pfizer's Rheumatoid Arthritis Pill Shows Promise In Big Studies

November 8, 2010 • Human tests of an experimental medicine called tasocitinib show it works pretty well at managing rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. There are side effects, of course, including an increase in infections.

Wednesday November 3, 2010

Once Scrutinized By The Government, Rick Scott Soon Will Govern

Florida Gov.-elect Rick Scott, center, his wife Ann, right, and Lt. Gov.-elect Jennifer Carroll, left, wave to supporters after Scott's victory speech Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Wilfredo Lee/AP hide caption

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Wilfredo Lee/AP

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Once Scrutinized By The Government, Rick Scott Soon Will Govern

November 3, 2010 • For years, Florida's Gov.-elect Scott ran the biggest and brashest chain of hospitals in the land. But there was trouble, as government investigations ultimately revealed. After Scott left the chain paid $1.7 billion to resolve fraud charges.

Tuesday November 2, 2010

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Chopping Copays Makes Medicines More Attractive

November 2, 2010 • Pitney Bowes finds cutting copays for drugs to fight cholesterol and blood clots increased the likelihood people would take them as recommended. A study of the approach concludes the time is ripe for insurers and companies to cut some copays.

Friday October 29, 2010

Ghostwriter Spills Secrets On How Medical Manuscripts Get Made

Ghosts or medical writers? Paul Sapiano/Flickr hide caption

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Paul Sapiano/Flickr

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Ghostwriter Spills Secrets On How Medical Manuscripts Get Made

October 29, 2010 • Ever wondered about the folks who really write some of the biggest papers published in medical journals around the world? A ghostwriter sits down for a pre-Halloween chat about how the scientific sausage is made.

FDA Questions Diet Pill In Latest Setback For Weight-Loss Medicines

The menu may not have a new diet medicine anytime soon. iStockphoto.com hide caption

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FDA Questions Diet Pill In Latest Setback For Weight-Loss Medicines

October 29, 2010 • The Food and Drug Administration has a lot of questions about Qnexa, an experimental diet pill. Are the risks worth a modest improvement in weight loss? That remains the big bugaboo for the field of weight-loss medicines.

Thursday October 28, 2010

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Unpleasant Future Looms For Britain's NICE

October 28, 2010 • Britain's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is taking new fire. The agency has led the way in evaluating cost-effectiveness of treatments, but its rejection of some has been controversial. It may be relegated to an advisory role.

Wednesday October 27, 2010

Top 10 Federal Fraud Settlements Had Health Twist

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Top 10 Federal Fraud Settlements Had Health Twist

October 27, 2010 • When the government pays for improperly marketed drugs or health services, company insiders sometimes secretly tattle on the fraudsters. If the government follows through, whistleblowers can get a big chunk of the settlements.

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