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

Unless you have asthma, you probably don’t know the cost of inhalers doubled starting the first of the year. This wasn’t due to market factors or greedy pharmaceuticals, nor did it improve quality of or access to health care.  It was due to a government regulation, just like the regulations on the mortgage, auto and airline industries that have contributed to their bankruptcy.

(more…)

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

I’m jumping the gun a bit, but I thought you should have a heads up in case President Obama mentions the new buzz phrase “medical home” in his State of the Union Address.

Since his election, President Obama hasn’t said much about universal health care, although I’m sure that’s his long-term goal.  He’s mostly talked about cutting costs, with a definition only politicians can get away with: Lower costs means slowing said costs’ growth. Instead growing 10 percent per year, maybe we can slow to 6 or 4 percent.

Of course any improvement, without diminishing quality, will be welcome.  Obama’s plan so far is to update health-care technology, such as implementing electronic medical records and (I hope he means) streamlining red tape.  Time will tell how much that will really save.

DOCTOR ORGANIZATIONS’ IDEA FOR HEALTH-CARE REFORM

Not to be left out of the health-care reform debate, professional medical organizations are pushing their own agenda. The concept of a medical home is big among primary-care groups like the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Physicians (internal medicine doctors).  The American Medical Association also thinks it’s a good idea.

WHAT IS A PATIENT CENTER OR PERSONAL MEDICAL HOME?

(more…)

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

Some drugs have a narrow therapeutic index.  You need just the right amount in your system.  Too little and it doesn’t work; too much and you can have toxic effects.  Doctors worry about these and many hedge on the side of caution by using the more expensive but trustworthy brand-name medicine.  But are they really more reliable than the cheaper generic alternative?

The latest JAMA takes on this question by trying to make sense of all past studies that have looked at cardiovascular brand and generic therapeutic levels in patients.

(more…)

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

Most everyone who reads this blog knows we need to stay healthy and fit more than ever in these tight economic times.  It helps us cope with stress, and who needs more medical bills by getting down and sick?

Stacy Berman, a fitness trainer who has written for JHMFD, sent me some “frugal fitness tips.”  We like Stacy and thought we would share.  See her bio at the end of the tips.

In the past, we’ve featured ways to eat healthy while saving money (here and here), but she offers some new tips on fitness.  I wondered what you’d think.  Here are the tips.

(more…)

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

Waiting for health-care reform?  Guess what.  It’s going to be a while, and no matter what the changes are, it will stay relatively expensive.  In the end, it’s still our responsibility to take care of ourselves, and to find ways to limit costs.  We can do that now.

Here are a few suggestions.

(more…)

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

Are you feeling the economic crisis in your kitchen?  Is it getting harder to maintain a healthy diet due increased food costs?   The American Diabetes Association came up with some tips on how to stretch your money while maintaining a healthy diabetic diet earlier this year. I thought this was a good time to post them.  From my viewpoint, their tips are practical for anyone trying to save money while eating healthy, not just diabetics.

They give an example recipe for grilled Asian pork kabobs that costs less than a dollar per serving, as well as substituting lesser-cost eggs and meats, using nonfat dry milk, and many other tips.  Most are common sense, but I’ll bet you will find a few you haven’t thought of.

Can you think of other tips to share?

Update-10/8/08- Related blog on tips to save money while eating healthy

by Jill Weisenberger, M.S., R.D., C.D.E.

I recently read that Americans are trying to save money by dining out less often. Rising gas prices and runaway food costs are putting us back in the kitchen. Seventy percent of those cutting costs are saving money by eating out less frequently rather than choosing cheaper restaurants or less expensive meals.

Well that’s one side effect of a slumping economy I can celebrate. When you’re in your own kitchen, you have so much more control over what you eat. You can control cooking methods, types of food, seasonings, portions and more. I have to admit that it makes me very sad how few people cook these days. Mac and cheese out of a box doesn’t count.

(more…)