Big Pharma Is Robbing Us Blind and We’re Letting It Happen

Robert Reich / Truthdig Oct 6, 2014 America spends a fortune on drugs, more per person than any other nation on earth, even though Americans are no healthier than the people of other advanced nations. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Medicine Is Racist Too

Natasha Hakimi Zapata / Truthdig Sep 2, 2014 The medical field has "race corrected" measurements that just go to show there are inherent biases that run through many threads in everyday life, despite our trust in seemingly objective science. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Why Are Obstetricians Among the Top Billers for Group Psychotherapy in Illinois?

Staff / Truthdig Jul 15, 2014 Illinois leads the country in group psychotherapy sessions in Medicare, and some top billers aren’t mental health specialists. The state’s Medicaid program has cracked down, but federal officials have not. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Following Abuses, Medicare Tightens Reins on Its Drug Program

Staff / Truthdig May 21, 2014 Medicare gives itself the power to ban physicians if they prescribe medications in abusive ways. The action follows a series of articles by ProPublica documenting inappropriate prescribing, waste and fraud in its popular drug program. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Even After Doctors Are Sanctioned or Arrested, Medicare Keeps Paying

By Charles Ornstein, ProPublica Apr 17, 2014 A ProPublica analysis of recently released data shows that dozens of physicians who received payments from Medicare in 2012 had been kicked out of Medicaid, charged with fraud, or settled claims of overbilling Medicare itself. Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

So You’ve Become a Patient Safety Statistic—Now What?

Staff / Truthdig Mar 27, 2014 Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

America’s Scary New Reality: The Poor Can’t Afford Pneumonia Treatment Anymore

Natasha Hakimi Zapata / Truthdig Mar 15, 2014 And guess who's behind this disastrous shift? Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The Perils of Problematic Prescribing: A Double Dose of Warnings

Staff / Truthdig Mar 8, 2014 Two new reports from the CDC show the dangers of overprescribing narcotics and antibiotics. Is there a way for doctors and consumers to make better decisions? Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

Medical Marijuana

Steve Sack, Cagle Cartoons, The Minneapolis Star Tribune Mar 6, 2014 Dig deeper

As Full Disclosure Nears, Doctors’ Pay for Drug Talks Plummets

Staff / Truthdig Mar 4, 2014 As transparency increases and blockbuster drugs lose patent protection, drug companies have dramatically scaled back payments to doctors for promotional talks. This fall, all drug and medical device companies will be required to report payments to doctors. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Hospital Bills

Angel Boligan, Cagle Cartoons, El Universal, Mexico City Feb 25, 2014 Dig deeper

Medicare Wants to Ban Doctors Guilty of ‘Abusive’ Prescribing, but What Exactly Does That Mean?

Staff / Truthdig Jan 15, 2014 When the agency that runs Medicare announced last week that it would take action against doctors who prescribe abusively in its massive drug program -- perhaps banning them -- it raised an interesting question. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )