Overcharged in the emergency room
When 8-month-old Jeong-whan Park fell off a bed and bumped his head, his parents took him to the emergency department at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. It took doctors little…
Forget price controls, treat health care like any other product
To address the high price of health care, California is considering price controls. Assembly Bill 3087 would create a nine-member board to “set prices for everything from a physical exam to an…
Why does Wall Street love Trump’s ineffective drug-price plan?
After President Trump announced his plan for reining in prescription drug prices, shares in drug companies and pharmacy benefit managers spiked. Why? Based on Trump’s campaign rhetoric — drug companies are "getting…
Here is what Trump should do about the drug pricing problem
In a 2017 press conference, President Donald Trump said that drug companies were “getting away with murder.” Later this week, he’s going to offer a program for making drugs cheaper. Which…
Why do the insured pay more for prescriptions?
If you’re like us, your health insurance coverage includes a prescription drug benefit. The benefit isn’t free, but you’re willing to pay for it because it saves you money every…
Jail time for Martin Shkreli won’t fix drug prices. Globalization will
Before sentencing notorious pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli to seven years in prison, the federal judge presiding over his criminal trial ordered him to turn over “Once Upon a Time in…
What Kmart’s settlement says about health care fraud
Perhaps because its size was so small—“only” $59 million—the press paid little attention to Kmart’s recent settlement of False Claims Act (FCA) litigation in which it was accused of overcharging…
Cuomo’s smart attack on the flu — and MDs’ monopoly on basic care
Gov. Cuomo has signed an executive order allowing pharmacists to give flu shots to children. The governor’s recent budget proposal also includes a provision that, if approved, will allow Walmart, CVS…
Who’s to Blame For the Shortage of Doctors? Doctors and Politicians
After missing an appointment with a physician recently, one of us was tongue-lashed by a medical assistant who explained that the practice has a months-long waiting list for new patients. …
Make Trumpcare the First Big Step toward a Free Market in Healthcare
Say what you will about Obamacare—at least President Obama eventually took ownership of it. When it comes to the American Health Care Act, President Trump isn’t ready to do that.…