Category: Cost of Healthcare
How Long Do You Want to live… with Alzheimer’s?
Several close family members developed Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia before they died. They all required institutional care. Alzheimer’s is an insidious disease that robs the victims of the person they were. It robs them of the people they loved as they forget the names and faces of family and friends. It robs them of their dignity as they can no longer care for themselves and must be fed, bathed, clothed and toileted like a toddler. It sometimes robs them of their legacy, as their care is so costly they have to bankrupt themselves before qualifying for Medicaid coverage.
Wednesday Links
- To stay healthy, eat nuts, beans and whole grains.
- Can germs be good for you? One study says yes.
- Drug shortages are affecting half a million consumers. The problem has persisted for more than 20 years.
- Rep. Dan Crenshaw’s bill would abolish “disparate treatment based on ethnicity or creed” and “compelled speech” at colleges and universities that receive federal money.
- The US has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries. Could lack of civility and empathy be the reason?
Counterfeit Weight Loss Drugs Endanger Patients and Profits
Semaglutide is in short supply. That is the generic name for a weight loss drug from the class of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. You may have heard of them under the brand names, Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy. Injections are taken weekly, and a month’s supply is around $1,400 if paying cash with a GoodRx coupon. Semaglutide is also prescribed for diabetes that does not respond to other treatments. Obese patients can expect to lose anywhere from 15% to 20% of their body weight. That is why it is in high demand and supplies are tight. The drug class is new and it works. Food cravings fall and patients report forgetting to eat. Oprah even admitted taking it.