Merck has released showing that it had a net 5.5% unit price increase across all its drugs in 2016. It is acting like it is some kind of a hero for its transparency. This is disgraceful, that increase in far above general inflation and personal income growth. It also makes no sense, because Merck's costs for the drug are undoubtedly going down. So should prices. The drug companies are inevitably going to get what they deserve for avaricious behavior.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/merck-reveals-details-on-u-s-drug-pricing-practices-1485518403I wouldn't normally mention this one, but too good to pass up, Asian hospital search app develop B-Bros raises a fresh 9 billion won (I think that is 37 cents after currency translation, no, its really around $7 million) for its app called "Ddocdoc". Iii Lovelovelove Ititit.
http://www.venturesquare.net/world/ddocdoc-additional-seriesb-investment/The year-end report from the National Venture Capital Association finds that 2016 was not as vigorous as earlier years in some respects, but still had a high level of venture…
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A study in Health Services Research finds that whether or not a hospital is part of a larger system has minimal impact on cost and quality outcomes.
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AssistRx, a vendor of software to facilitate use and management of specialty drugs, is acquiring Caret, which offers care management plans for various conditions.
http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/assistrx-acquires-caret-providing-users-with-cutting-edge-technology-boost-patient-care-2189648.htmKenSci has raised $8.5 million for its "machine-learning" approach to identifying and managing high-risk and other patient populations.
http://medcitynews.com/2017/01/data-death-kensci-raises/?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=41382895&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9N6xP0WDIWSD1wiEN7ZmbejnHMjWfyqBJCkERYx5ZN4-UgPhqwCkGhvWg4bdO7UUqR4L6CUSwQW0XJbAIpvfdfArGxLDThGT94PQFquHyi1wIv95k&_hsmi=41382895&rf=1CoverMyMeds, which helps drug companies get prior authorizations for expensive drugs, is being acquired by McKesson for at least $1.3 billion.
http://medcitynews.com/2017/01/mckesson-acquiring-covermymeds/?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=41382895&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_NIAdp2fH3La_TKeb4uDCYyg0lJax55wP7KFvvumltU3oO63cdrXfz0apFTBRXeYsHrZYvKwL2tM7sXK4j1-kWx-BxRq588WteuZQiv_whZ6jiTPM&_hsmi=41382895&rf=1The Commonwealth Fund issues a brief on designing a good health delivery system for complex, high-cost patients.
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About this Blog
The Healthy Skeptic is a website about the health care system, and is written by Kevin Roche, who has many years of experience working in the health industry. Mr. Roche is available to assist health care companies through consulting arrangements through Roche Consulting, LLC and may be reached at khroche@healthy-skeptic.com.