- Reprint of a Uwe Reinhart classic: how Republican administrations gave us health care price controls and Keynesian economics fiscal policy.
- OxyContin and the Sacklers return to TV in a Netflix series fact checked by Slate.
- Blue Shield of California tears up the prescription drug playbook and partners with Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company. (WSJ)
- Did you know the US government is stockpiling cheese ….. and raisins?
- What happens to the roughly 20 million people slated to lose Medicaid coverage? The vast majority have other insurance and apparently didn’t need to be on Medicaid in the first place. (WSJ)
- COVID experts calling for masks again — even at home!
Category: John C. Goodman
Why is Medicare Money Paying for Teslas?
Much of the $280 billion in savings from its Medicare prescription drug provisions [the IRA bill] were siphoned off to fund green policies such as $7,500 electric-vehicle tax credits. Medicare will keep only about 15% of the savings for some relatively inexpensive new benefits, such as a $2,000 annual cap on pharmacy spending. That’s unfortunate considering the program’s costs are projected to spiral from about $1 trillion this year to $1.8 trillion in 2031.
The New Weight Loss Drugs
It’s early, but nothing like these drugs has existed before… In fact, much about the drugs remains shrouded in mystery. Researchers discovered by accident that exposing the brain to a natural hormone at levels never seen in nature elicited weight loss. They really don’t know why, or if the drugs may have any long-term side effects.
Friday Links
Poll: one in three Americans have a tattoo.
Roughly three in 10 adults have been addicted to opioids or have a family member who has been. (NYT)
Harvard encourages students to apply for food stamps, despite $53B endowment.
AP: Yes, inflation is down. No, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) doesn’t deserve the credit.
Why the IRA’s green energy investments won’t affect global warming.