I post these reviews of Health Affairs to help give people some general sense of current topics in health services research, although as I have noted, this journal has become even more infested with far-left ideology, which shapes its article and editorial choices. (August Health Affairs)
The lead commentary discusses how Medicare negotiates with drug manufacturers and suggests using a more rigorous approach to those discussions. Personally, I think Medicare should just set the price that it and the Medicare Advantage plans will pay, and set it low, like at Medicaid pricing levels. But that won’t happen because drug companies are among the largest political contributors and the biggest lobbyists in DC.
Another article discusses the growth of Medicare Advantage and the issues with the program, which now covers more than half of all beneficiaries, although that number may decline in 2026. The idea is great, as usual with government, the execution is poor, particularly in regard to payment methods. The plans are generally great for beneficiaries, as there often is no premium and greatly reduced copayments and deductibles as well as supplemental benefits. Outcomes are also better for beneficiaries in the MA plans. The cost can be reduced but again, insurance companies are big contributors and lobbyists.
Other articles discuss the teen mental health crisis, without at all addressing the real cause–indoctrination in the public schools with hateful, divisive, depressing ideologies, including the completely whacked gender ideology gibberish. You would be depressed and anxious too if your head was filled with this insane garbage all day. Ban phones, ban political indoctrination, do what Charlie Kirk was doing–give children and young adults a hopeful, meaningful vision of life.
Another article focuses on a theme near and dear to me, the overpayment of incompetent hospital managers. Hospital administration in general is dreadful. The only thing executives have been good at is consolidating with other systems, allowing them to raise prices and lower quality, while getting paid a fortune. But the higher compensation doesn’t extend to the rank and file workers, as the pay gap with CEOs grew. In other hospital news, urban ones are playing games to be classified as “rural” for some purposes, which likely takes money away from real rural hospitals, who need help the most.
We learn that doctors are participating less is so called value-based payment programs, like accountable care organizations. Why would they participate when it just means greatly increased regulation and administrative expense and not much if any more compensation.
DEI and other leftist themes are prominent in the issue. We find support for Dem statements that we need illegal immigrants to wipe our asses in nursing homes. We learn that leaving abortion to the states hurts women’s health, with zero evidence. Several articles have “equity themes”, I won’t waste my or your brain cells describing them.
