Health and Sanity category archive
Epidemiology 0
Robert Barholomew warns us not to be blinded by the panicky news coverage and even more panicky “social” media “shares” about the Coronavirus. Here’s some excerpts:
During the 2018-2019 flu season in the United States, about 75% of all deaths were age 65+. Roughly 17% were between 50-64. These two categories comprise 91% of all deaths. But look closer and you will see that many of them had an array of pre-existing conditions that left them with weakened immune systems. Early reports from China back this up, most of those who have died were already in poor health.
(snip)
There is a real danger that social media will spread fear and confusion.
Read the whole thing and inoculate yourself against hysterical hype.
Bill and Shoe 0
At $589 for a second, that comes to an hourly rate of $2,129,400.
Health Scare 0
Wendell Potter predicts the tactics health insurers will use to fight against anything that looks like “Medicare for all.” A snippet:
A Case of Health Some-Call-It Insurance 0
David discusses increases in the cost of his health coverage and explains why free market concepts don’t apply to health care.
Oblivious to the Obvious 0
How should one react when studies prove the obvious?
“The New Gotchas” 0
Thom discusses the latest medical scam: Surprise Billing.
Picking the Public Purse 0
Thom explains the “Medicare disAdvantage” scam.
HMOtrocity 0
Aside:
In retrospect, I’ve concluded that the more to HMO-style health care that started in the 1970s and 1980s as the way to “fix” American heath care was a big mistake. It effectively put American health care under the control of insurance companies, which are incentivized, as the neologism goes, to provide as little actual care as possible, and removed it from medical professionals, most of whom (and yes there is the occasional glaring exception) care about caring.
The Pusher Men 0
A small move toward truth in vending . . . .
(snip)
Drug companies responded that adding prices to their commercials could unintentionally harm patients.*
Much more at the link.
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*Yeah. Right.