Over the years I have often cited the figure that more than 60% of care, at least initially, is self-care when patients treat themselves with OTC drugs. As an aside, if we really want to boost access to care we need to force the FDA to move more prescription drugs to over the counter, or even behind the counter. A behind-the-counter drug is a drug that pharmacists are authorized to dispense without a prescription. Over the counter drugs, behind the counter drugs and prescription drugs are all available at pharmacies. Perhaps there should be more care available at pharmacies.
Category: Direct Primary Care
Saturday Links
- How much is Medicare spending on the new weight loss drugs?
- Data suggests only about 30 percent of the reported COVID-19 deaths were “from COVID-19” as the underlying cause.
- Drug induced deaths among Blacks is soaring. Is an open border the reason?
- More evidence that Fauci lied and covered up Wuhan Lab funding.
- Why Biden is wrong about wanting to repeal TCJA (the Trump tax cuts).
- Far more people drink alcohol than consume marijuana; but more people consume marijuana than consume alcohol on a daily basis. (WaPo)
- Ambroxol is a miracle drug for coughs and colds. It has been in wide use since 1979, and is available nearly everywhere in the world as a generic. But not in the U.S.
- Electrical impulses are helping paralyzed patients move.
Stanford: Gas Stoves Kill 19,000 People Annually
The first of the year the Biden Administration considered tightening regulations on gas stoves in households and businesses. The Administration claims it was not trying to ban gas stoves. Rather, the proposed rules were intended to reduce harmful emissions and make gas stoves more efficient. In the end the federal agency reached a compromise decision after a fierce backlash by Libertarians, Republicans, moderate Democrats, chefs, home cooks and everyone else who enjoys cooking and eating.
What difference Has Telemedicine Made?
In 2020, Medicare patients receiving care at health systems in the highest quartile of telemedicine use had 2.5 telemedicine visits per person, compared with 0.7 telemedicine visits per person in the lowest quartile of telemedicine use.
Source: Edited from “Medicare Utilization, Spending, And Quality, 2019–22” in Health Affairs.