News
National Journal | QUICK TAKE: White House to Force Drug Companies to Disclose Doctor Payments
The disclosure standards are part of the 2010 health care overhaul and are based on evidence that payment for such activities can influence treatment decisions, encouraging doctors to use more expensive drugs and medical devices.
Econ Comments and Analysis
Washington Post | Cutting heath-care spending the old-fashioned way
It turns out that there is a way to control health spending: clobber the economy. When unemployment rises, people lose health insurance. They see doctors less often; they put off elective surgery; they cut back on drugs.
Blogs
Atlantic: Megan McArdle | The Healthcare Rorschach Blot
Part of Obamacare was a transitional "High Risk Pool" program to cover people who were unable to get insurance until the rest of the law's provisions kicked in in 2014. The program allocated $5 billion. Medicare's chief actuary assumed that it would attract 400,000 people, the experience was not quite what had been expected.
Marginal Revolution | The median wage figure and the health care costs figure
The average health care insurance premium today is over $15,000 and by 2021 it may be headed to $32,000 or so.
