Shots

Wednesday December 30, 2009

Health Inc.

CBO Affirms Savings From Malpractice Reform

December 30, 2009 • The Congressional Budget Office explains how an estimate of just $5 billion in deficit-reduction from malpractice reform swelled to $54 billion less than a year later.

Health Inc.

FDA Impostors Shake Down Internet Drug Buyers

December 30, 2009 • Some of the victims became targets after responding to telemarketing calls offering cut-price drugs. Other say they ordered drugs from Web sites, then got threatening calls from purported FDA agents who said they would arrest the buyer unless a la...

Tuesday December 29, 2009

Health Inc.

Heart Devices Often Approved On Weak Evidence

December 29, 2009 • An analysis of approvals for cardiovascular devices found shortcomings were common in the evidence relied upon by the Food and Drug Administration to make decisions. The researchers argue for higher standards.

Thursday December 24, 2009

Health Inc.

We Want A Lego MRI For Christmas

December 24, 2009 • If you love Lego and health care, then how about making your own toy MRI scanner and popping it in a CT machine for some clean, cool images.

Monday December 21, 2009

Health Inc.

Merck Hires Ex-CDC Chief Gerberding To Run Vaccines Unit

December 21, 2009 • Gerberding, an infectious disease specialist, made her name as a physician in the early days of HIV/AIDS. She came to the CDC in 1998, and was credited with smoothly handling the media after the mysterious anthrax attacks that followed the World T...

Health Inc.

Sanofi Leads Deal Frenzy With Chattem Purchase

December 21, 2009 • French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis said it would pay $1.9 billion for Chattem, a specialist in over-the-counter remedies. The acquisition headlines a busy day of wheeling and dealing in the drug industry.

Thursday December 17, 2009

Health Inc.

Nearly 60 Million Had No Health Coverage In 2008

December 17, 2009 • Among people of working age, about 1 in 4 lacked health coverage for at least part of the year. Overall, about 1 in 5 people in the U.S. had no health insurance for all or part of the period.

Health Inc.

Senators Against Drug Imports Got More Pharma Money

December 17, 2009 • Senators voting against a measure to legalize drug imports averaged 66 percent more in campaign contributions from Big Pharma than senators who voted for it. The difference: $85,812 vs. $51,803, spread over the period Jan. 1, 2003, to Aug. 12, 200...

Tuesday December 15, 2009

Health Inc.

Glaxo Discloses Doctor Payments For First Time

December 15, 2009 • For the three months ending in June, the drugmaker paid $14.6 million to about 3,700 people for speaking and consulting. That works out to an average of about $3,900 per U.S. health professional paid.

Monday December 14, 2009

Health Inc.

Marketing Boosted Hormone Treatment Far Beyond Menopause

December 14, 2009 • Critics say a maker of hormone treatments overplayed the benefits and minimized risks in a quest to boost sales. For years the drugs were touted as protection against all kinds of age-related health problems, including dementia and heart disease. ...

Thursday December 10, 2009

All figures for adults ages 18 to 44 and in 2006 dollars. Source: AHRQ

Health Inc.

Prescription Drug Costs Double Over A Decade

December 10, 2009 • The average cost of a prescription drug purchase hit $161 in 2006, more than double the 1996 price of $79.

Wednesday December 9, 2009

Health Inc.

Cost Of Medicare Buy-In Could Be Daunting

December 9, 2009 • For many of the four million uninsured people between the ages of 55 and 64, buying Medicare coverage could be daunting without hefty subsidies.

Monday December 7, 2009

Health Inc.

Gawande Looks To Barnyard For Health Cost Controls

December 7, 2009 • In the absence of a sweeping cost solution, the piecemeal approach taken by overhaul legislation may be the wisest course, writes Dr. Atul Gawande in the New Yorker.

Friday December 4, 2009

Health Inc.

Drug Companies Spend Less On Ads Aimed At Consumers

December 4, 2009 • Drug companies spent about $4.7 billion on advertisements aimed at consumers in 2008. Three-quarters of the money spent on marketing is still aimed doctors and other professionals.

Wednesday December 2, 2009

Health Inc.

Millions Face Insurance Crisis As COBRA Subsidy Ends

December 2, 2009 • The nine-month subsides made available to the unemployed starting in March have run out for those who collected them from the get-go.