by Leigh Ann Otte, managing editor

My Family Doctor has learned that Boniva and Tamiflu are no longer covered by the recently announced Medicare-discount agreement.  Whether their manufacturer Roche Pharmaceuticals will instate its own discount is unclear.

On June 20, the powerful trade group Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America made big news, announcing their members would offer a 50-percent discount to most people in the dreaded Medicare Part D doughnut hole. But today, the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest reported Roche is leaving PhRMA.

My Family Doctor asked Roche whether they would still offer the discount. (more…)

by Leigh Ann Hubbard, managing editor

In an interesting turn of events, relief is coming for seniors. Drug manufacturers are going to help pay for some medicines!

This sounds great, definitely, but we want to know from you: How much will it really help?

The News
Today, President Obama and industry trade group Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America announced a big deal, part of which involves the dreaded Medicare Part D doughnut hole.

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by Leigh Ann Otte, managing editor

On Friday, I blogged about some interesting resolutions from the American Medical Association’s annual meeting.  Today, as promised, it’s time for the My Family Doctor first annual Resolutions Awards (tongue firmly in cheek)!

Drum roll, please …

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by Leigh Ann Otte, managing editor

The American Medical Association held their annual meeting this week.  Obama’s speech there grabbed the headlines, but AMA members also voted on some interesting resolutions.  You may be surprised at some of the topics.  But first, some …

AMA FAQs

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by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

Last week Congress passed a bill that gave the FDA regulating authority over tobacco. The president is sure to sign it. It is supposed to be a blow to the tobacco industry and their advertising efforts. No more flavored tobacco or “light cigarette” claims.

But I have a few questions: (more…)

by Leigh Ann Otte, managing editor

Oh sure, CNN, Ashton Kutcher, Oprah and the like may have jumped on the bandwagon in the past few months, but we at My Family Doctor have been tweeting for more than a year.  Mm-hm.  Ahead of the curve, we are.

OK, I’ll stop.

If you’re new to Twitter or just want to discover more health tweeters, here are a few follow suggestions.  I’ll be doing this regularly for the Follow Friday festivities (the tradition of recommending good tweeters weekly).

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James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

I always dread seeing chainsaw injuries.  It is never a clean cut.  Even if the blade barely nicks the skin, it causes a nasty, dirty, macerated laceration leaving an ugly scar.  Of course the less you use the saws the more likely you are to get cut when you do, but experience is not immunity.  I have seen bad cuts in old pros.  Most of the time the the saw kicks back so fast and with such force you can’t stop it, and it cuts really well through flesh.

The CDC has good tips for preventing injuries.  Mostly take your time and stay focused on what you are doing.  Remove excess debris and wear goggles.  Keep your body out of the way of a kickback as best you can.  Have a partner within hollering distance and know where the limb will fall.  If you are helping, stay clear of danger.  You may think “duh”, but once I saw a patient (more…)

James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

Lawn mower accidents can be pretty devastating.  They can mangle a hand or foot, or injure an eye.  The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons released these tips to avoid lawn mower injuries this summer.  Even though they are simple and obvious, they are worth a read.  Every year I see someone who has something in their eye thrown from a lawn mower and occasionally I see more serious injuries due to rocks.

Often I see someone with a mangled finger or hand who tried to remove debris from the blades before they had completely stopped, or gets a bare foot or toe caught underneath.  I know of children being killed when they fall off the larger tractor type mowers.

Invariably the victims say they feel so dumb, but really they just had a lapse of judgement. 

Read these tips and keep them in the back of your mind.

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By far our most popular web article has been the pros and cons of universal health care originally printed in our January/February 2008 print edition.  Now that we know a little more about what the Obama administration is planning, we asked the debaters to follow up with their thoughts.

by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

Inflammation used to be easy to detect.  There was redness, pain and swelling.  Nowadays it’s not as easy.  It has been implicated as a major culprit in chronic diseases such as heart, cancer and stroke.  Read our newly posted article on why this is so, how to detect and treat it.