- First human receives a computer chip implant that interfaces with the brain. (per Elon Musk)
- Canadian Health Minister: Canada will block drug sales to the US if they threaten to impair access for Canadians.
- How can childcare cost more than college?
- Sex matters: “female patients randomly assigned a female doctor rather than a male doctor [under Texas workers compensation] are 5.2 percent more likely to be evaluated as disabled and receive 8.6 percent more subsequent cash benefits on average.”
- If you are ever reincarnated, don’t come back as a crab-eating macaque. They are used for toxicology testing in the biomedical industry.
Category: Health Economics & Costs
Wednesday Links
- Evidence that blogging is effective.
- Eating disorders: They’re on the rise and people with one type of disorder often transition to a different one.
- Americans seeking health care are increasingly likely to get it from people who aren’t doctors. While a nationwide physician shortage has been mounting for decades, nurse practitioner numbers have tripled since 2010.
- In a first, the FDA has granted conditional approval for a new drug to extend lifespan. The manufacturer only has to prove safety. Proof of efficacy can come later. The catch: the drug is only approved for dogs. I have argued for this for humans for 40 years.
An Old Scourge is Back (several actually)
Syphilis infections are soaring in the United States. Once thought to be nearly eradicated, it’s making a huge comeback.
Monday Links
- More on what happens when the global population starts shrinking.
- Are we eating too much meat?
- By a 2003 act of Congress, the government’s contribution to Medicare from general revenues is never supped to exceed 45% of the program’s cost. So why has this law never been enforced?
- “Research suggests the [weight loss] medications may pay for themselves or even save money in the long run, by preventing heart attacks and strokes that lead to huge hospital bills.” Yet health plans around the country are dropping coverage. (NYT)