GLG News by General and Acute Care Hospital Economic Experts

• Patients have generally expected their physicians to disregard costs when determining a treatment plan.  "Whatever's best, doc." • It is unusual for us docs to know what things cost in the first place. • As patients are increasingly expected to assume a greater financial stake...

Medical errors and nosocomial infections continue to be on the radar despite several years of heightened attention and regulatory prodding. There has been no requirement or incentive to document how much of each patient's cost is due to avoidable errors or complications. It makes sense that Medicare...

Increasingly patients are being hit with higher out of pocket costs and it is a sad, unfair reality that patients might have to balance necessary treatment against the financial burden they might incur. Doctors have  a role in educating patients on the cost of alternative treatments offered. The...

This report raises more questions than answers. It is important because it suggests more work be done in several areas 1. A full scale study, not just a meta-analysis is needed. Also what are the risks of related drugs like Actos? 2. The Feds need to get serious about creating a robust, responsible...

The fact that this deal was successfully brokered is a victory for HIV patients, poor countries and the free market. As pharmaceutical companies compete to get market share and to win the PR war, they will enter into deals such as these more and more. This is one case in which everyone wins.

The idea of medical tourism is not entirely new, but has become an increasing trend largely for cost reasons. Many patients equate quality of care with "US-equivalent" or even "US-associated". Interestingly the JCAHO which accredits US hospitals and programs has been expanding its scope internationally to...

  Abbott's new FreeStle meter does offer some good features, but it will be difficult for them to break through in a crowded market. Abbott needs to launch an adverising campaign to push the product even as it provides education as to how to best use the meter. Clinicians and Diabetes Educators...

The approval of this new drug is very good news as long as it's used per approved indications. This drug is new in a real way since it has  a novel mode of action. It's exciting that it has a short course; and since it's topical it can be prescribed even to young kids who have a difficult...

It was hardly surprising that this court upheld a ban on late term abortions. While it is true that the legal system reflects the values of society, it is becoming more diffuclt to separate legal decisions from political decisions. Judges increasingly tend to vote their political beliefs in favor...

As I have written elsewhere, P4P as a concept is really a given and, practiced well, is beneficial to patients and payors equally. The entire healthcare system benefits when evidence-based medicine is practiced and patients are treated according to the best science available, rather than by the...