How to treat healthcare costs
Submitted by seachange on Mon, 2008-08-18 13:40.
Boston Globe Editorial, August 8, 2008 Since no one doubts that universal (sic) healthcare in this state will be in trouble if costs keep spiraling, the Legislature wisely passed a health cost containment bill last week. Its biggest potential brake on rising outlays is its push toward computerization of medical records. But the most controversial part of the bill would curb rising healthcare costs in another way: by forcing the pharmaceutical industry to limit and disclose the gifts and fees it provides to doctors. ... How
Drug Culture
Consumer demand feeds into nation's drug culture. Margaret Ackerman, Nahant, Boston Globe, August 12, 2008 Your editorial on "How to treat health care costs" (Editorial, August 8) implies that legislation mandating a ban on gifts to physicians would decrease overall healthcare costs in the Commonwealth is misleading. One of the greatest challenges to prescribing medications, or treating viral illnesses such as colds without costly medications, is consumer demand. Advertisements for drugs inundate our culture and have created a mindset among consumers that unless they leave the office with a prescription, they are not being treated. © Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company