Complex Systems, Part I
Visitors to John Goodman’s Health Policy Blog quickly realize that it’s different. For one thing, we have a sense of humor. For another, we understand that socialism doesn’t work. But…
The Global Burden of NCDs – Our Future Public Health Legacy?
How do you measure the toll of premature deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like lung diseases, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer? How do you measure the toll of premature deaths…
Bracing for More Medicare Cuts
I attended a depressing forum this morning on cost-saving ideas for Medicare to present to the Congressional “Super Committee” charged with coming up with $1.2 trillion in budget savings by…
Amgen Lays Off 300 Employees–Company Profits Average over $5 Billion a Year
Here’s part of that big job question once again. Do 300 employees really affect the bottom line? The company says it’s part of a restructuring process, we hear that all…
Does Technology for Doctors Depersonalize Patient Visits?
Some senior doctors are worried that the use of technology will cause medical care to become depersonalized. Sadly , it’s true that there are doctors who spend more time looking…
European Obesity Market on Track to Show Drug, Device Gains
The FDA put a slight dent in forecasts for obesity drugs, with a negative view (and decisions) in 2010 that it now seems to be backing away from. Having forecasted…
VC Funding Drops for Biotech, Medical Devices. Should We Worry?
Venture capital investment in New England dropped 45 percent in the most recent quarter, largely due to fewer deals in biotechnology and medical devices. The national trend is down, too,…
What Kind of Inequality Matters to You?
Science and Other News: What Kind of Inequality Matters to You? Here are 19 kinds of inequality, courtesy of Scott Sumner: Science and Other News: What Kind of Inequality Matters…
CLASS Act: An $86 Billion Puzzle
In a late Friday “data dump,” the U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, announced that the long-term-care program established under ObamaCare, the Community Living Assistance Services and…
Rent a Grandma
Through a company called Rent-a-Grandma, you can can rent grandmothers for long- or short-term, live in or live out. With 30 regular customers, a full-time rent-a-grandmother can make $500…
