Today’s OpEds: Prevention Promise And Controversies; Hamburg And Collins On Personalized Medicine
The Promise Of Prevention Politico
"This new law could turn the current 'sick care' system, which focuses on treating those who are ill, into one that does a far better job of keeping people healthy. ... The new health care law could transform the role of prevention by taking unprecedented national approaches to avert chronic disease or detect it early" (Josh Seffrin, Larry Hausner and Nancy Brown, 6/15).
Should People Be Paid To Stay Healthy? The New York Times
Many health insurers, hospitals and government programs have created physicians incentive programs to prod doctors to alter the way they practice medicine and to keep costs down. Some employers and insurers have also developed "wellness" programs that cut insurance premiums for patients who lose weight or stop smoking. ... [But] do such payments raise ethical questions or alter the doctor-patient relationship? James C. Capretta, Karen Davenport, Kevin Pho and Arthur Caplan offer their opinions (6/14).
The Path To Personalized Medicine The New England Journal Of Medicine
Major investments in basic science have created an opportunity for significant progress in clinical medicine. ... scientists are developing and using diagnostic tests based on genetics or other molecular mechanisms to better predict patients' responses to targeted therapy. The challenge is to deliver the benefits of this work to patients (Dr. Margaret Hamberg and Dr. Francis Collins, 6/15).
FTC Head Says He Support AMA. He Should Be Investigating It The Christian Science Monitor
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz assured the American Medical Association today that he is not a socialist - despite the FTC's record of prosecuting physicians who refuse to sign contracts tied to government price controls (S.M. Oliva, 6/14).
Plenty Of Room Remains For Health Care Abuses The Aurora (Colo.) Sentinel
New regulations announced Monday by the White House underscore the need to protect individuals from unscrupulous employers or health care providers during the short time before recently passed health reforms take effect, but fall short of providing a comprehensive shield necessary before the transition (6/14).
Medicare Buzz Surrounds Accountable Care Organizations The Tennessean
It is expected that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will limit the number of ACOs per region. Accordingly, hospitals and physicians seeking the benefits of the shared-savings program may have limited options for participation (Dick Cowart, 6/15).
With Health Care, More Is Not Better Des Moines Register
Critics of health care reforms, who warned that "Obamacare" would lead to rationing health care, fail to acknowledge the new law will finally insure millions of people. They also fail to acknowledge that Americans should be using fewer health services (6/15).
