Tuesday Links

Paragon study: In 2023, the federal government is expected to spend 6.2 percent of the economy (or more than $1.6 trillion) on mandatory health programs. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that within 30 years, the federal government will annually spend at least 9 percent of the economy on those programs. And this is a conservative estimate.

A little-noticed provision of the omnibus spending bill could give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the power to ban off-label use of approved therapies, even though 1 in 5 prescriptions written are for an off-label use.

Study: Laughter really is contagious – and that’s good. (WaPo)

Diversity training not only doesn’t work, it may actually backfire. So why are we spending $3.4B a year on it? (NYT)

Fourth Quarter lobbying: almost $7 million by the American Hospital Association and $6.6 million by PhRMA. As Milton Friedman said, the question is not why we get so many bad laws; the question is, why aren’t things worse?

Amazon will sell generic drugs for as little as $5 a month. But, no Medicare or Medicaid or private insurance.

25 of the 37 novel drugs approved in 2022, were first approved in the US.