Medicare's Cancer Drug Expansion

Last November Medicare expanded "off label" drug uses to treat cancer by expanding from one to four guides that can be used to authorize coverage. Critics say the drug guides aren't always supported by research and could be influenced by ties to the companies manufacturing the drugs.

As an example, one of the four designated guides is published by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a group of hospitals. The guide relies on panels of experts to review drugs, half of whom have financial ties with a cancer drug maker.

While it's compassionate to try and help cancer patients afford drug treatments the profit motive of the drug companies would seem to be the real reason behind this change and yet the latest illustration of their influence in Washington.

Hospital Errors

A World Health Organization study shows that hospitals can reduce the number of deaths from surgery by more than 40% simply by using a checklist according to a report in the New England Journal of Medicine. The 19-point checklist has nothing to do with high-tech but focuses on human error and basic medical procedures.

The study shows that hospitals using the checklist reduced their rate of death after surgery from 1.5% to 0.8% and reduced the number of complications following surgery from 11% to 7%.

It usually takes 17 years for a medical advance to become standard practice but the Institute for Healthcare Improvement is pushing for faster adoption. According to vice president Joe McCannon "Patients deserve it, and they deserve it now."

More Drug Safety Issues

People taking the newest antipsychotic drugs are twice as likely to suffer heart attacks and death as non-users according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. In other words they're no more safe than the older drugs they're replacing.

Sales of atypical antipsychotic drugs were up 12% in 2007 to $13.23 billion.

And the pharmaceutical industry calls this progress.

Laughter For Health

I've written about Humor Therapy before so here's your chance to enjoy laughter for your health, and it's free! On Wednesday this week PBS is starting a new comedy series hosted by Billy Crystal called "Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America" at 7 p.m. here in Dallas.

In these stressful times we need to laugh more than ever to return our bodies and minds to a healthy balance. Take the time and enjoy yourself!

Wall Street Journal Opinion Article

Today's Wall Street Journal (Friday, Jan. 9, 2009) has a response by Dr. Deepak Chopra, Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Dean Ornish titled "Alternative Medicine Is Mainstream" which is filled with facts and common sense. I highly recommend you read it so you can better respond to the anti-CAM hysteria in the country.

Drug Industry Shift

According to the Washington Post the drug industry is adopting an "if you can't beat them, join them" attitude towards health care reform. With Democrats taking control of White House and Congress the pharmaceutical industry is about to begin a $10 million advertising campaign supporting universal health coverage.

First they give up the ability to give out free pens and office supplies to doctors, now supporting universal health coverage ... where will all of these changes end?

Hopefully they'll end with Americans consuming less than 48% of the world's prescription drugs! With only 4.3% of the world's population it's absolutely crazy we spend so much on drugs only to rank #40 in the world for longevity.

Health Care Costs Grow Slowly

The figures are out for health care costs in 2007 and spending grew only 6.1% to $2.2 trillion or $7,421 per person. Health care now consumes 16.2% of our country's Gross Domestic Product. The good news is thanks to slower growth in prescription drug spending the rate of increase was down from the 6.7% rate in 2006.


The new administration has its work cut out to restrain the growing costs of health care in this country. Every family knows how the cost of health care is growing faster than their paychecks.