Treats or tricks? Scary pharma ads, part 2
Halloween is time for costumes, spooky stories, and... drug advertisements? More
The narrative of “bad insurer” hides bad evidence
Why reporters need to look more carefully at evidence for costly treatments... More
Without full data, Vascepa trial results still a little bit fishy
Are omega-3 supplements the "new paradigm" in cardiovascular treatment? Not yet... More
One drug, 247 patents, $18 billion
A new report reveals how drugmaker Abbvie has abused the patent system to delay competition for its bestselling drug. More
Are bundled payments working? Yes and no.
New research on the CMS bundled payments program show mixed results - Let's break it down. More
Not-so-magic swizzle: A cautionary tale
Could something called "Magic Swizzle" be harmful? We talked with Dr. Ricardo Nieves about his winning vignette on the topic. More
To induce or not to induce, that is the question
A randomized controlled trial in NEJM finds that inducing labor reduced the rate of c-sections and hypertensive disorder. Does this mean we should induce labor in all healthy women at 39 weeks? It's not that simple. More
The four questions you need to ask your doctor
How do we get the right care in a health system that emphasizes doing more instead of doing better? The key is asking the right questions. More
Rankings revisited: What makes a hospital the “best”?
As the annual "best hospital" rankings have been released, we revisit our analysis of how hospitals get to be top-ranked. More
What’s driving America’s rural doctor shortage?
Every state in America has at least one county in which there is no doctor. What's driving the shortage of physicians and what can we do about it? More
One step into the future, and two steps back
Hospitals are developing the "check-up of the future" - but is it good for patients? More
Combating overuse in oral health: The lessons of “Flossgate”
How can we help the dental profession reduce unnecessary care? The answer lies in the power of patients. More
A shifting paradigm in oral health: When is it overuse?
When does a cavity "need" filling? It depends on where your dentist lies on the spectrum of changing ideas in dentistry. More
What exactly do we mean by overdiagnosis?
But how do we define overdiagnosis, and what makes it different from other screening harms such as false positives or overtreatment? More
Do patients have the “right” to proton beam therapy?
An industry-backed advocacy group argues that insurance should cover proton beam therapy for cancer patients. But there's no evidence the new treatment is better for most cancers... More
Can we pay doctors for quality instead of quantity?
Value-based payments are meant to shift physician incentives from quantity to quality. But many challenges remain in the path to successful implementation. More
Do non-profit hospitals need another tax break?
Non-profit hospitals are finally being taxed on excessive CEO pay, but some are trying to find loopholes around the law. More
UPMC expansion won’t improve Pittsburgh’s community health
The Pittsburgh health system giant is putting profits over patients with their proposed expansion, say Shannon Brownlee and Vikas Saini. More
New study reveals long-term risks of tonsillectomy
The number of children getting their tonsils out still varies based on physician opinion and patient demand. But a new study is changing the risk-benefit calculation... More
The direct primary care revolution
A small but growing group of primary care doctors are saying, "no more" to EHR requirements, useless quality measures, and indecipherable bills. More