Category Archives: Cost of healthcare in the U.S.

Health emergency: Type 2 diabetes

Posted on January 21, 2012 | 5 Comments

Unless we develop better programs for detecting people with elevated blood sugar and helping them to improve their diet and physical activity and control their weight, diabetes will inevitably continue to impose a major burden on health systems around the world,“ Goodarz Danaei said from the Harvard School of Public Health in the United States. The most common type of diabetes, Type 2, is strongly associated with obesity and a sedentary lifestyle, which means Americans are not doing what the have to stay healthy and fit. Continue reading →

→ 5 Comments

Posted in Cost of healthcare in the U.S.

Tagged Diabetes

The social and financial costs of diabetes

Posted on January 18, 2012 | Leave a comment

The announcement that Nova is going to use Paula Deen as a spokesperson for their products has been met by a lot of criticism including this author. We have to remember that Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable and that a nationwide education and community-based lifestyle programs are what is desperately needed if we are to confront this disease and it’s terrible costs. Continue reading →

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Cost of healthcare in the U.S.

Tagged Diabetes, Diabetes mellitus

Pfizer’s agressive move on Lipitor: Who really benefits

Posted on November 30, 2011 | 2 Comments

According to today’s Times: “With Pfizer’s plans to try to maintain brand loyalty for the next six months becoming public, industry analysts have raised the company’s earnings outlook by 2 to 4 percent, and now estimate that it could retain 40 percent of the market through next year. Pfizer officials declined to comment on that estimate.” So who really benefits here ? The answer is simple..investors and Wall Street. Continue reading →

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Cost of healthcare in the U.S.

Tagged Atorvastatin, Generic drug, Medicare, Medicare Part D, Pfizer, Pharmaceutical industry, Prescription drug, Wall Street

The cost of healthcare

Posted on November 29, 2011 | 1 Comment

According to the Organization for Economic Development we spend $7,960 per person per year for health care in the U.S., totaling about $2.5 trillion. In comparison, the average OECD country spends $3,233 per person annually for health care. The U.S. Government currently covers 46% of U.S. health care expenditures, which means taxpayers foot the bill for $1.13 trillion of health care spending. In other words, taxpayers already pay $3,660 per person of the $7,960 annual bill for health care. Continue reading →

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Cost of healthcare in the U.S.

Tagged Direct-to-consumer advertising, Health care, Pharmaceutical industry, Prescription drug

Not watching what you eat and not exercising means higher insurance costs

Posted on November 3, 2011 | 3 Comments

It’s about time. More employers are imposing financial penalties on employees who say “No thanks” to wellness programs which means that if you want a burger and fries for lunch instead of a nice brisk walk you’re going to pay for your bad habits. The questions is will additional financial incentives be enough to get people to take responsibility for their own health ? Continue reading →

→ 3 Comments

Posted in Cost of healthcare in the U.S.

Tagged Employment, Health

Lipitor $4 co-pay card may not be enough

Posted on November 2, 2011 | 2 Comments

Pfizer is doing everything it can to keep Lipitor afloat as it approches patent expiration but even a $4.00 co-pay car may not be enough. As someone who takes Lipitor I was taken back by a letter from my insurer informing me that a generic version of Lipitor will be available by the end of the month and that there are also other generic statins available at a much lower cost. While they did not really give me any personal financial incentive to switch to generics it’s obvious that the push is on. Continue reading →

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Cost of healthcare in the U.S.

Tagged Atorvastatin, Food and Drug Administration, Health, Lipitor, OTC, Pfizer, United States, Wall Street

Alarming trend: Fewer visits to the doctor

Posted on October 31, 2011 | 3 Comments

The headline has alarming news “Decline in doctor office visits could be permanent.” Studies suggest that recent declines reflect cost-conscious patients training themselves to avoid making an appointment unless they believe it’s absolutely necessary. This is a serious problem for our nations healthcare and for drug marketers and it requires all of us to rethink basic DTC marketing. Continue reading →

→ 3 Comments

Posted in Cost of healthcare in the U.S.

The importance of strategic planning in the drug industry

Posted on October 25, 2011 | 1 Comment

Global drugmakers have cut tens of thousands of jobs ahead of patent expirations on their top-selling products, while a growing squeeze on medicine prices by cash-strapped governments is adding to the pressure to cut costs. The vast sales forces for major drugs going off patent, such as Pfizer’s cholesterol fighter Lipitor, are among the most obvious targets for job cuts but pharmaceutical companies are also working hard to optimize manufacturing productivity by closing less efficient factories. Some of this was easy to see coming and we have to wonder where was the strategic planning ? Continue reading →

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Cost of healthcare in the U.S.

Tagged Atorvastatin, Drug development, Drug discovery, Novartis, Obama administration, Pfizer, Pharmaceutical industry, Strategic planning

“No you’re not big, you’re fat and you’re going to die early because of it”

Posted on October 24, 2011 | 1 Comment

Many overweight and obese patients seen in hospital emergency departments don’t believe their weight poses a risk to their health, and many say doctors have never told them otherwise, a new study finds. Of overweight patients who reported that their weight was unhealthy, only 19 percent said they’d ever discussed it with a health care provider. And only 30 percent of those who reported being told by their health care provider that their weight was unhealthy agreed with that opinion, according to a study. It’s time to tell patients the cold hard truth about what how their weight is going to lead to a decline in wellness. Continue reading →

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Cost of healthcare in the U.S.

Tagged $153 billion, Emergency department, Health, Health care provider, Overweight, Patient, United States, Weight Management

Patients who don’t take their medications as prescribed cost the U.S. health care system an estimated $290 billion

Posted on October 12, 2011 | 3 Comments

Research by the New England Healthcare Institute shows that patients who don’t take their medications as prescribed cost the U.S. health care system an estimated $290 billion in avoidable medical spending each year. A study published last January in Health Affairs showed that while improved medication adherence for four chronic diseases leads to higher spending on drugs, it also produces substantial savings because of less hospitalization and emergency-department use. Continue reading →

→ 3 Comments

Posted in Cost of healthcare in the U.S.

Tagged Compliance (medicine), Health Affairs, New England Healthcare Institute, Patient, Pharmaceutical drug, Prescription drug, The Wall Street Journal, United States

A total approach to health is needed

Posted on September 29, 2011 | 1 Comment

As most readers know I am an avid bike rider. This year I have ridden over 3,000 miles since the weather here in California is usually great for year round bike riding and I work from home. I ride because I both enjoy it and it keeps me healthy. But how many people today really have the luxury of taking time to exercise ? What is needed is a total approach to health by employers, insurers and healthcare advertisers. Continue reading →

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Cost of healthcare in the U.S.

Tagged California, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Employment, Health, Healthcare Leadership Council, Merck, Physical exercise, United States