“Over the next few years, drug makers are likely to face many new challenges, including government approved importation of cheaper drugs, Medicare negotiating for lower prices, stricter regulations of direct-to-consumer advertising, and (hopefully) a more robust FDA under the Obama Administration. With so many changes afoot, Big Pharma will have to evolve or suffer the consequences. Even drug executives see the need for a restructuring of the industry. Earlier this month, the head of pharmaceuticals at Roche told reporters that the ‘marginally-different-and-market-it-like-hell model [of prescription drugs] is over.’ But if that’s true, then what new model will take its place — and will it be any less troubling?” (12/19/08)

http://www.healthbeatblog.org/2008/12/the-future-of-pharma.html

“The one expenditure that a lot of people assume they have little or no control over is healthcare costs. Yet, a little common sense and a healthy dose of consumerism can reward savvy shoppers with significant savings without sacrificing care, says Devon Herrick, Ph.D., a Senior Fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis. Insurance options: Check your insurance plan; the end of December marks the end of open enrollment at many companies. For those insured through an employer, review your health plan choices. A Health Savings Account (HSA) might save you money over a PPO or HMO, especially with employer contributions. I have saved more than $9,000 during the past four years by taking advantage of my HSA. If on a non-group plan, shop around and consider increasing your deductible to reduce your premium and still maintain major medical coverage.” (12/18/08)

http://tinyurl.com/988hyl

“Some holiday gifts speak volumes about the giver. Are you the type who would fill a stocking with vitamins or fitness gadgets? If so, you’re obviously concerned about the well-being of the people around you. You’re also a bit of a risk-taker. When it comes to health products, it’s all too easy to end up gift-wrapping a package of nothing. Even the best items may not work for every person every time. And some are pretty much guaranteed to disappoint. This season — and every season, really — you’ll need an abundance of skepticism to go along with your holiday cheer if you truly want to give the gift of health. Consider the following five real-life products that are vying for a place in Santa’s bag. The whole package would cost more than $400. Their actual value is another matter entirely.” (12/15/08)

http://tinyurl.com/6hxrev

“Recently the FDA warned Coca-Cola over the use of the word ‘plus’ in its Diet Coke Plus product, saying it was mislabeled. Just a few days ago, however, the FDA issued a letter of no objection to Coke’s use of a new stevia sweetener (Truvia), even though the FDA apparently has no intention to actually GRAS approve the sweetener. Although this is speculation, I believe there’s a power play going on behind the scenes between Coca-Cola and the FDA. Here’s the short timeline I’ve constructed in an attempt to explain the recent actions by the FDA and Coke.” [editor’s note: Even those who think the FDA has a legit purpose in our society gotta be puzzling over this waste of taxpayer money! - SAT] (12/23/08)

http://www.naturalnews.com/News_000630_FDA_Coca-Cola_diet_coke.html

“It’s been two-and-a-half years since we began to implement our landmark healthcare reform law. Some 440,000 are newly insured and the state has by far the highest rate of coverage in the country. As President-elect Barack Obama and Senator Edward Kennedy prepare a new healthcare agenda for the country, people often ask what the nation can learn from the Massachusetts experience. … Whether the Massachusetts experience can serve as a blueprint or simply a point of comparison in the extraordinary challenge of crafting a national bill, there are lessons we can share with Washington.” (12/20/08)

http://tinyurl.com/8t64c5

“There are those who want lower insurance premiums but don’t want lesser coverage, or at least what they perceive as lesser coverage. Doc copay’s are not insurance but prepaid medical coverage. No one needs a doc copay but everyone wants a copay. So to accommodate those who think insurance isn’t insurance if it lacks a copay, carriers have been introducing lower premium plans that give more prepaid medical on the front end but strip away needed (catastrophic) benefits on the back end. This is a move in the wrong direction. … I coach all my clients in ways to keep their premiums affordable while protecting them on the back end. My traditional line goes something like this” You don’t have copays for tires, brakes and oil changes on your auto insurance. Why do you need them for health insurance?” [editor’s note: I used to think “copays” were a good idea; I’ve seen the light on that as well now - SAT] (12/18/08)

http://tinyurl.com/3hdk82

“When President-elect Obama outlined his economic stimulus package earlier this month, he emphasized the need to invest in the healthcare system’s infrastructure by pushing for electronic health records (EHR), nationwide. … On the face of it, I like the proposal because Obama is talking about spending money on something concrete, something that we definitely need, and something that, over time, should make U.S. healthcare safer and more effective. … Still, this is an ambitious undertaking. And there are questions to be asked. So I began asking them. Some of the answers were eye-opening.” [editor’s note: The issue here is privacy — until we’re sure our personal records are secure, this otherwise obvious step is a NO-NO. I’d love to carry data on my person, to be viewed (with my permission) if I enter a hospital or a doctor’s (or other healer’s) premises. But it must be secured against others viewing it, who might use that info for other purposes! - SAT] (12/17/08)

http://tinyurl.com/3qakem

“Contrary to popular belief, drug giant Bayer did not ‘invent’ Aspirin™. As early as 200 B.C Greek physician Hippocrates prescribed the first ‘Aspirin™’ by recommending the bark and leaves of the white willow tree to relieve pain and fever. This laid the ground work for the eventual synthesis of salicin– one ingredient of white willow bark. Carl R. Gerhardt first synthesized a better absorbed chemical cousin to salicin in 1853 — acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). Bayer trademarked the anti-platelet drug as Aspirin in 1889. The drug is not as safe as the natural counterpart. The side effects of Aspirin™ are so severe that they can cause a higher death rate relative to the populations who do not take it. Fortunately, the pain relieving ability, as well as any purported cardiovascular benefits, of the anti-platelet drug can be procured without the risk. Simply use the forgotten tea white willow bark. Its track record for safety is impeccable.” (12/14/08)

http://tinyurl.com/4mmft3

“Tennessee’s ranking of 45th in the nation for infant mortality and preterm birth earned our state a grade of ‘F’ on the March of Dimes’ recent report card. In Tennessee, nine out of every 1,000 babies born die before their first birthday. For black infants, that number is 17 per 1,000. The No. 1 cause of infant mortality is prematurity, defined as birth before 37 weeks of gestation. The rate of preterm birth in Tennessee, now at 14.7 percent, has increased 13 percent since 1995. It is time to stop wringing our hands and to invest in our future. A first step is to acknowledge the risk factors for preterm birth, including poor maternal health (obesity, diabetes and hypertension), lack of health insurance, poor maternal education, smoking and short intervals between pregnancies.” (12/17/08)

http://tinyurl.com/3wdcr8

“Do you grind or clench your teeth while you sleep? The truth is, most people occasionally do this at night without even knowing it. It is usually a loved one kept awake due to the grinding who detects the habit. The grinding or clenching of teeth is medically referred to as bruxism. Most people who suffer from occasional bruxism don’t damage their teeth and jaws. However, if constant bruxism is a problem, damage to the teeth can occur. In severe cases, a patient’s jaws and hearing can also be affected. The Pennsylvania Dental Association reminds the public that regular dental checkups every six months can also help detect bruxism.” (12/18/08)

http://tinyurl.com/54jsfo