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 )

Help the Helpers

Bill Boyarsky / Truthdig Jan 2, 2014 This is a story of the poor versus the poor, a metaphor for income inequality in 21st century America. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

The U.S. Has the Best Health Care System in the World—for Drug Companies

BLANK Oct 14, 2013 Two new articles dive into the ways in which the pharmaceutical industry has gamed the market forces behind U.S. drug prices, and how sweetheart deals between doctors and financing firms are gouging the economically vulnerable. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Elderly Women Hit by Poverty More Often Than Men

BLANK Sep 30, 2013 An analysis of recently released census data finds a disconcerting difference in poverty levels between men and women -- particularly those over age 65 -- and unconscionably high levels for women of color. More than one in three Native American women live below the federal poverty line. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Relax, Relax at the Dying of the Light

By Thomas Hedges, Center for Study of Responsive Law May 9, 2013 AARP magazine, which boasts the largest circulation of any periodical in the world, used to focus on injustice, something it now calls "negativity." Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

Obama Budget

Bob Englehart, Cagle Cartoons, The Hartford Courant Apr 14, 2013 Dig deeper

What Would Thomas Friedman Write?

Staff / Truthdig Dec 31, 2012 The columnist receives the satire treatment; a gay GOP group places an anti-Chuck Hagel ad in The New York Times to get President Obama's attention; meanwhile, the Chinese government is mandating people visit their elderly parents. These discoveries and more after the jump. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Inside the Health Care Huddle

Staff / Truthdig Feb 26, 2010 In these clips from Thursday's bipartisan meeting on Capitol Hill, we see Republicans and Democrats making their cases for what should rank among the highest priorities in health care reform legislation. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

A Calamity in the Making

Bill Boyarsky / Truthdig Feb 23, 2010 A major reason for enacting health reform is the fate of elderly and disabled patients—especially the indigent—in nursing homes and assisted-care facilities Nobody is affected more by the confluence of the health care stalemate and the recession than these patients. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Getting Old in the Land of Independence

Ellen Goodman / Truthdig Jul 2, 2009 As a society, and as individuals, we are woefully unprepared for aging, even when it's our parents. About 34 million Americans provide at least some of the care for frail, aging family members, and yet we don't see it as a normal, predictable part of the life cycle. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

A Curry a Week

Staff / Truthdig Jun 3, 2009 A curry a week may keep the doctor away. Or more precisely, curcumin, a component of turmeric -- a key spice in curry powder -- has been found to prevent the onset of Alzheimer's and dementia if consumed once or twice a week. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Mexico City Unveils Bold ‘Free Viagra for Seniors’ Plan

Staff / Truthdig Nov 15, 2008 Now here's one way to win elections: Government officials in Mexico City are offering free medication to hombres of a certain age who suffer from erectile dysfunction. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )