There’s a quote attributed to Albert Einstein: “We cannot solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” Now in my fourth year at Einstein, I am inspired by this ideal to fight for healthcare reform, specifically a single-payer national healthcare program. Access and discrimination Today, a form of Read more
Insurance
Recent attention by the medical profession, Congress and the media has focused on the rising costs of new drugs, particularly for treatment of cancer and hepatitis C. This crisis is widespread, and is threatening any gains in healthcare savings in the U.S. and, more importantly, the health of patients who are unable to afford co-pays Read more
I boarded the 8:30 Metro-North Railroad train home from Manhattan recently after leaving a medical meeting. It had been a long and productive day, but now I was searching for a mint in my pocketbook because I had a weird taste in my mouth. All I found was a lollipop. Just before the train left Read more
One thousand dollars per pill? A single treatment course for hepatitis C virus to cost $83,000? How can those prices be justified? The drug-discovery process is a long one, fraught with disappointments and massive investment, no matter what the outcome. Some pharmaceutical companies argue that the high prices charged for their rare “blockbuster” drugs help Read more
Editors’ Note: Provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have taken center stage in recent negotiations to end the federal shutdown and raise the debt limit. Since the Supreme Court upheld the ACA in June 2012, our blog has explored the vast implications and practical changes wrought by this wide-reaching healthcare law. In this post, Einstein pediatrics Read more
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly referred to as “Obamacare,” is less than three months away from entering its next phase. On October 1, 2013, certain consumers, including those who don’t receive insurance from their employers, can seek coverage through healthcare insurance exchanges in the Health Insurance Marketplace. Coverage could begin as early as January 1 Read more
