Summary: A new article in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine describes how the price charged by US-based COVID-19 manufacturers exceeds production costs
The McCanne Health Justice Monitor is produced by a team of health policy experts and single-payer champions. For more information, and a complete archive of entries, visit the HJM website. For an archive of Quote of the Day entries from Dr. Don McCanne, click here.
Achieving Racial and Ethnic Equity in US Health Care
Summary: The Commonwealth Fund just released an important national and state-by-state review of inequities in health care. The findings are unsurprising and distressing – higher
Thanks Giving
Summary: In recognition of this week’s US holiday, today’s post offers heartfelt thanks. First, for a terrific documentary film. Second, to all the groups contributing
Charity Doesn’t Fill the Health Care Void
Summary: St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis TN promises not to bill families for medical care. And they don’t. But parents travel long distances to
Working Families and Businesses Need Medicare for All Now
Summary: Job-based health insurance premiums increased twice as fast as inflation over the past year, despite 2020 being a year of very low medical payouts
Aducanumab as a Lens on U.S. Health Care
Summary: The June 2021 FDA approval of Aducanumab for Alzheimer’s, despite absent evidence of clinical benefit, and now a sharp increase in Medicare Part B
We Cringe When Hospital “CMO” Means “Chief Marketing Officer”
Summary: Big academic hospitals like Harvard’s Mass General Brigham now mount huge marketing efforts, similar to those of consumer products corporations. The message is clear:
Veterans Health Administration Under Attack
Summary: Veterans Day weekend is the perfect moment to contemplate actions from Washington that threaten the Veterans Health Administration, one of the finest elements of
ACA Private Plans Financial Barriers Rising
Summary: The Affordable Care Act uses private plan Marketplaces and tax subsidies to try to make insurance affordable for middle class families. New research shows
U.S. Ranks 36th Out of 37 Nations on COVID-19 Mortality
Summary: A new study quantifies the loss in life expectancy due to COVID-19 in nations around the world. The US is in the worst tier,
When will we transform our deadly insurance system?
Summary: New research with vital statistics data finds that since 1990 overall US mortality has increasingly worsened compared with other OECD countries, in poorer and
Insurers Avoid Loss Ratio Limits by Shifting Profits to Provider Subsidiaries
Summary: Insurers don’t appreciate limits on their profits. So, to circumvent federal “medical loss ratio” rules, they buy up medical providers and send the excess