MedCity Influencers

Since when are doctors a taxing authority? (Best of MedCitizens)

Every week, MedCity News highlights the best of its MedCitizens: syndication partners and MedCity News readers who discuss current events on MedCity News.com. Now here's the best of what YOU had to say.

Every week, MedCity News highlights the best of its MedCitizens: syndication partners and MedCity News readers who discuss current events on MedCity News.com.

Now here’s the best of what YOU had to say:

Proposed soda tax shows ivory tower delusions about working class Americans. “Has anyone ever considered that many of the people drinking these sugary drinks have very limited dollars and are drinking their lunches?How much does an organic lactose-free sugar free Kambucha Tea from Whole Foods cost?”

True barriers to reform: Frustrated entrepreneurs, fear, incrementalism. “We don’t really have the time for incrementalism. Medicare hits the insolvency brick wall around 2024 and it is estimated that our current trajectory will bring the U.S. from our current $2.8 trillion national healthcare spend to $4.8 trillion by 2020 – only slightly more than the likely M&A purchase price of the next Instagram.”

How one doctor’s imaginary friend tackles overprescribing, disease creep.  “Many experts think we have gone too far in prescribing pills. They argue that patients are over-medicated. As a doctor on the front lines, I’d have to give this opinion significant merit.”

The influence of health IT and EHRs. “When we talk about the health IT industry, medical professionals are not the only consumers. The world of healthcare realizes the importance of connected care and hence the end user has an integral role in shaping the future of a more efficient and effective healthcare system. Developments such as Patient Portals allow patients to stay connected with various practices, and further developments are likely to bring more cost savings. Health Information Exchange (HIE) is another example of interoperable healthcare networks designed to improve quality of care and medical response.”

Preventive Services Task Force advice makes it easy to spot artery scan scam. “I found in my mailbox a letter from some people who call themselves ‘Lifeline Screening.’ They are going to be in my area for one day only, and for $60 they’ll do an ultrasound screening of my carotid arteries. They’ll also do various other screening tests if I fork over even more dough.”


Deanna Pogorelc

Deanna Pogorelc is a Cleveland-based reporter who writes obsessively about life science startups across the country, looking to technology transfer offices, startup incubators and investment funds to see what’s next in healthcare. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ball State University and previously covered business and education for a northeast Indiana newspaper.

This post appears through the MedCity Influencers program. Anyone can publish their perspective on business and innovation in healthcare on MedCity News through MedCity Influencers. Click here to find out how.

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