New research has identified proteins, found in a single drop of blood, that may hold clues to our health and the diseases we’re likely to develop years into the future.
Category: Health Economics & Costs
Medicare and Wegovy
A report by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) estimates that treating even half of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries with obesity would cost $166 billion per year, nearly the cost of total spending on all prescription drugs in 2022 ($175 billion).
Source: STAT (gated)
Tuesday Links
- Kamal Harris’ health plan: Medicare for all, with private insurers participating – like Medicare Advantage.
- Surprise: low voter turnout benefits Democrats, not Republicans. “The likeliest voters are Democrats, while the ones who are less likely to vote are Republicans.”
- Message to the White House: inflation isn’t caused by greed. (WaPo)
- Estimating the cost of our bureaucratic health insurance payment system.
- What happens when you give people $1,000 a month with no string attached? They spend it. They also work less. “For every $1 of free money received, participants’ earnings dropped by at least 12 cents and total household income fell by at least 21 cents.”
Should You See a Dental Therapist?
Many Americans cannot afford to spend $1,000 a year on dental care for mostly routine maintenance. That’s not even counting unexpected costs like root canals, dental implants and crowns. Too many people put off dental care until it’s an emergency and their teeth need extensive care. Dental care is an unmet need for much of rural America, and in cities and suburbs as well.