Let’s assume there is a risky product, of which the government wants to discourage consumption. The good is dangerous, not infrequently killing people accidentally. The substance is of dubious quality, highly regulated yet poorly made and inconsistent. The products within this category are mislabeled, misbranded and often adulterated with harmful chemicals and other additives. Yet, these goods are popular among some people, becoming habit forming both psychological and physiological. The goods are blamed for social ills, including crime, homelessness, shiftlessness, poor health and even death. How should government discourage consumption of products like this? I’m talking about illegal drugs of course.
Category: Health Insurance
A Bogus Way to Reduce Medical Debt
I’ve written about medical debt in the past, explaining that not all medical debt is bad. However, medical debt is growing due to Obamacare. I’ve also explained that medical debt has many causes and it’s not always a lack of money. People sometimes refuse to pay because they think their bill is wrong (it often is). Or patients don’t pay outstanding bills because they believe their health plan is liable for the balance. This is just my opinion, but I suspect some outstanding medical debts are because patients think the bill is unfair.
Wednesday Links
- Dental insurance isn’t really insurance – it’s a discount service.
- A 20-year-old research paper with lasting relevance asks: Why are people getting fatter? Answer: they are eating too much.
- Is there a nursing shortage or is there a shortage of nurses providing care? And what’s the difference?
- Obese patients are often excluded from drug trials. Is that a mistake?
- After looting CVS, Target and other stores, what do thieves do with the loot? They set up shop on the sidewalk across the street and sell them. DC has made that easier by decriminalizing street vending.
Tuesday Links
- Gene therapy holds great promise. Employer paid health insurance is capable of paying for it.
- Why Sudafed might work despite the science: it’s called the placebo effect. (NYT)
- Was the RSV vaccine developed by experimenting on poor Black children? (NYT)
- Quote of the day by Arnold Kling:
This is a moment of choosing for the American left. Many will side with Cori Bush and Rashida Tlaib. That could damage the Progressive brand. It deserves to be damaged.