Viewpoints: The Future Of Entitlements? Listen To What The GOP Is Really Saying; Prices In Pharma Ads Would Mislead Patients
Editorial pages weigh in on these health topics and others
The Washington Post:
What Mitch McConnell Is Up To Is Even Worse Than Democrats Say
Mitch McConnell may be one of the most cynical politicians in the history of this great land, but at times he can be remarkably candid, as he was in a recent interview with Bloomberg News. Asked about the fact that the deficit is now projected to be $779 billion this year and $1 trillion by 2020, McConnell said, “It’s disappointing, but it’s not a Republican problem.” The real cause of debt is Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, he argued, saying that imposing cuts to those programs “may well be difficult if not impossible to achieve when you have unified government.” (Paul Waldman, 10/18)
The Wall Street Journal:
Trump’s Drug Price Bust
One thing Americans rightly hate about health care is that no one knows the true price of a service. How much did your last X-ray cost? Why are you suddenly paying more for a statin? The Trump Administration tried to address this frustration this week with a new rule requiring price disclosure on prescription drugs, but its cure is worse than the problem. (10/18)
The New York Times:
Does Anyone Really Know What ‘Medicare For All’ Means?
After decades in the political wilderness, “Medicare for all” and single-payer health care are suddenly popular. The words appear in political advertisements and are cheered at campaign rallies — even in deep-red states. They are promoted by a growing number of high-profile Democratic candidates, like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in New York and Representative Beto O’Rourke in Texas. Republicans are concerned enough that this month President Trump wrote a scathing op-ed essay that portrayed Medicare for all as a threat to older people and to American freedom. It is not that. But what exactly these proposals mean to many of the people who say they support them remains unclear. (Elisabeth Rosenthal and Shefali Luthra, 10/19)
The Washington Post:
The Trump Administration’s Latest Plan To Lower Drug Prices Is Hollow — And Maybe Counterproductive
Everyone — well, maybe everyone but pharmaceutical manufacturers — thinks that drug prices in the United States are way too high. The big question is how to bring them down. On the campaign trail, Donald Trump vigorously advocated for Medicare price negotiations. But so far, his biggest policy proposal, which arrived Monday, merely suggests that the government require pharmaceutical companies (many of which, for disclosure, I have personally invested in) to show list prices in their TV advertisements. For some reason, it does not require such pricing information for radio, newspaper or magazine advertisements. (Ezekiel Emanuel, 10/18)
The Washington Post:
The Trump Administration Is Also Punishing Legal Immigrants. Here’s How.
Many people assume that the Trump administration’s immigration agenda is about punishing the undocumented. But for a taste of how it is punishing legal immigrants — and their U.S.-citizen families — consider the case of Maria, a doctor who came to California legally from Mexico. The first thing you need to know is that when her first child was born, five years ago, Maria had trouble breastfeeding. (Catherine Rampell, 10/18)
Georgia Health News:
There’s More To Vaping Than You Think — And It’s Not Good
The bottom line is that vaping is not a safe alternative to cigarettes, and carries increased risks for young people, including addiction. It’s also illegal for people under age 18. So talk to your children about the dangers of vaping, and if they want to quit but feel they can’t, talk to your doctor or an addiction counselor. (Melanie Dallas, 10/18)
Stat:
Consolidation Is Hurting Hospitals' Supply Costs, Not Helping Them
When health systems merge, one of the goals is to gain economies of scale, lowering costs through the bargaining power that comes from being a bigger player. Yet despite a consolidation wave in hospitals, it appears that they are paying more for supplies than they did a year ago.In the past three years, two-thirds of the country’s leading hospital systems saw declining operating income, resulting in nearly $7 billion in lost earnings. It’s a dire situation that looks even worse when you consider the relative strength of the overall economy. Supply chain costs are second only to labor and represent 30 percent of hospitals’ expenses. That cost could rise to the top of the list by 2020. (Rob Austin, 10/19)
San Jose Mercury News:
Humane Society Initiative Will Drive Up Food Costs
California’s egg farmers support cage-free production. But Proposition 12 will result in fewer eggs produced in California and fewer egg farmers, and that will lead to higher prices, just as happened the last time voters approved a poorly written initiative drafted by the Humane Society of the United States. (Debbie Murdock, 10/18)
Boston Globe:
Fact, Not Fear, Should Guide Voters To A Yes On Question 3
All residents of the Commonwealth should be able to use and access our public spaces without experiencing discrimination based on who they are. For that reason, the BBA is an active supporter of Yes on 3: Freedom for All Massachusetts, a broad, bipartisan coalition working to defend these nondiscrimination protections at the ballot box this November. (Jonathan M. Albano, 10/18)
San Antonio Press Express:
Marketers Are Overcoming Unique Challenges To Build Campaigns For The Nascent Cannabis Industry
Though the concept of “marijuana marketing” still intimidates, building marketing campaigns for cannabis brands, retailers, products and services requires no new methodology. Learning a little bit about the plant always helps, but any skilled marketer can analyze and solve problems in this industry. (Rosie Mattio, 10/18)
