The Future of Medicine - The High Cost of Medical Technology

The High Cost of Medical Technology

04/09/08 • -1 min

Medical technologies are often very expensive. The question at hand is are they worth it or do they just drive up the already high cost of medical care? In this podcast we explore how some technologies are very useful but need to be used only when necessary.

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Healthcare Reform Part I - Insurance

The United States is the only country in the industrialized world that does not assure insurance to cover the catastrophic medical care costs of all its citizens. But Republicans and Democrats differ widely on how to address this problem. Here is a proposed compromise that offers universal coverage but with a change in the tax code, more personal responsibility for behaviors, and reduced insurance costs through lessened mandates. It also returns to true insurance, not prepaid medical care. Use high deductibles and HSAs but offer primary care and preventive care to those who truly cannot afford it.

Next Episode

The High Cost of Drugs

New pharmaceuticals have had a major impact on health and life, but many of the newer drugs are prohibitively expensive. Some are marginally valuable. Others are superb drugs but are all too often used in lieu of making life style changes that would eliminate or at least modify the underlying problem. We need to change our approach to expecting a drug to solve our problems when simpler, less expensive approaches would work even better.