Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Ideas About Health Care Decisions, Costs And Navigation
RealClear Health: Maximizers Vs. Minimizers: The Personality Trait That May Guide Your Medical Decisions – And Cost
Do certain people want more medical care than others do? And, does that matter? To consider this idea, start by answering the following question: Which of the paragraphs below describes you best? (Laura Scherer and Brian Zikmund-Fisher, 4/9)
KevinMD: How Much Health Can You Buy For $14,000?
While acknowledging these important exceptions, my concern is that the accepted indications for this shiny new medicine will eventually creep, as so many do, into a wider range of situations that could be more effectively, and economically, addressed through lifestyle changes. To illustrate the point, I used the $14,000 annual cost of the new cholesterol medicine as the basis to construct an alternative shopping list: one related to evidence-based healthy food and lifestyle choices. (Stephen Devries, 4/9)
Cleveland Plain Dealer: Despite Heated Debates On Health Care, Physicians Continue To Serve As 'First Line Of Defense For Their Patients'
In the coming months, many primary care physicians may find themselves in similar roles, as they are called upon to help their patients navigate issues of access, care and insurance as the debate over healthcare reform continues to simmer. For millions of people such decisions may become a life or death matter. (Walter George, 4/9)
